Mercian measurement query

hey all -

Quick bit of advice would be appreciated. I went up to Mercian in January to get measured up. Having riden some similar sized frames back in London after I got measured I began to get worried I had got my dimensions wrong and gave them a call to say I would like to come back up to get redone. They said fine, come up as the frame is no where near built.

I therefore went back up, got remeasured and added an extra 1 cm onto the top tube as that felt better.

Now they have just called me to say, whoops, actually the frame has been built before they could pass that new top tube length to the shop so they can't do my new measurement.

I am slightly pissed as I have wasted the cost of going up there and a whole day of my life in Derby again (sorry for anyone who lives in Derby). Also I am trying to work out whether the 1cm out frame is a big deal for me. The whole reason I went for a custom fit is because, well, I want it to fit. However I do recognise that 1cm diff in the top tube is no great thing. Basically I am thinking about the below and any thoughts you guys have would be much appreciated:

a) telling them I want them to redo the frame and make it the correct measurement (as to put it mildly mercian charge a ridiculous premium and it should be right)

b) tell them I am pretty pissed and ask for a reduction in the frame cost to take account of my wasted costs/ time etc.

Any opinions?

if they charge you less will it make the frame fit better?

Longer stem?

Longer stem?

good point

depends on what stem they specified for the fit?
if it was 120-130 i wouldn't want to go to 140 to make up the 1cm difference.
if it means going from a 110 to 120 it wouldn't bother me.
if it was your error giving them the wrong measurements in the first place it's partly your fault but it's their fault for telling you to go up there again when the bike had been built.
tricky one to call.
i would ask for the cost of the train fare back?

ironicallly the reason I first decided to go to mercian for a custom build as I have a ghetto long stem on my present bike to overcome a too short toptube.

coppithat - if they charged me half it would definitely fit twice as well...

I reckon you'll have a fight on your hands... Totally their fault for telling you to come up in the first place tho', you could easily make that one stick if you made enough of a fuss... If you're paying for full custom you should get it 100% right, otherwise it'll start getting on your nerves after a while... What if? etc. etc. That's what I think, anyway... :]

yeah, I think it will turn out to be a massive hassle.

completely agree with you teenslain, i know I should be able to ignore it but the fact that it is a custom build and it is 1cm out by what i want it will definitely start to grate over time.

i'll be interested to see how acriminous it gets. my ultimate fall back is to cancel the order I guess but I will see what they suggest.

writing them an email now asking them to remake the frame. think it will go down like a lead balloon.

i say tough, mercian won't budge, they are small company working on tight margins

In a strict legal sense (I have the misfortune to be a lawyer in my day job but normally never extend it across to my life) they are at fault. We had a contract to build the bike, we both agreed to vary it (by me coming up to remeasure, them agreeing to this and them accepting the alteration to the specifications I gave them) and they then, in breach of that, went ahead and built the frame. if it is considered a material breach I can terminate the contract and claim damages. If not considered a material breach I can just claim damages.

they may be a small bike company but the margins they must make on the bikes are not insignificant and I am a far far smaller individual with far less margins.

So what are the measurements of the unwanted frame? Finding someone who wants it could be part of the ideal resolution.

I began to get worried I had got my dimensions wrong
Don't you mean they? If that's the case then tell them you want the frame rebuilt to the correct specification. By remeasuring you and telling you a different size, they admited measuring you wrong in the first place.

Don't ask them for compensation for your time spent. Don't ask them for a reduction in price for a wrongly sized frame. Their frames are all lugged (right?) so it's not even that big of a deal for them to redo it. They've probably got loads of time on their hands due to the recession anyway.

mercian, bugger up a measurement ? well I never

I am a lanky wierdo so my frame is pretty much the size of a small room so I am not sure anyone else wants it/ could fit it.

Well I am still waiting for their response. The thing is I want a Mercian, so badly, they are beautiful beautiful creatures so I want this all to go nice and smiley with them. But realistically I want the frame the size I had it remeasured it at (not matter how small the difference).

I have heard rather a few stories of Mercian bodging it recently.

I have heard rather a few stories of Mercian bodging it recently.

Could you be more specific? The only one I heard of recently was a brake stay not allowing a rear wheel on. But every manufacturer/customer can balls things... I know of a burnt out DB9 with almost delivery mileage on it - and warranty claim was declined!

Possibly speak to Cyclefit & pick their brains re the dimension to see what difference it could make

Having spoken to Mercian a few times (I have a frame on order), they seem very reasonable & straightforward, albeit a small company - who is fortunately busy, but on going back to them, without wanting to appear patronising you may catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

grant will fix the rear brake prob but is taking his time...
i didn't ask but i assume that they won't charge me for their mistake as he said that he was sorry for the problems caused.

"You may catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"
I love it.

hey all -

Quick bit of advice would be appreciated. I went up to Mercian in January to get measured up. Having riden some similar sized frames back in London after I got measured I began to get worried I had got my dimensions wrong and gave them a call to say I would like to come back up to get redone. They said fine, come up as the frame is no where near built.

I therefore went back up, got remeasured and added an extra 1 cm onto the top tube as that felt better.

Now they have just called me to say, whoops, actually the frame has been built before they could pass that new top tube length to the shop so they can't do my new measurement.

I am slightly pissed as I have wasted the cost of going up there and a whole day of my life in Derby again (sorry for anyone who lives in Derby). Also I am trying to work out whether the 1cm out frame is a big deal for me. The whole reason I went for a custom fit is because, well, I want it to fit. However I do recognise that 1cm diff in the top tube is no great thing. Basically I am thinking about the below and any thoughts you guys have would be much appreciated:

a) telling them I want them to redo the frame and make it the correct measurement (as to put it mildly mercian charge a ridiculous premium and it should be right)

b) tell them I am pretty pissed and ask for a reduction in the frame cost to take account of my wasted costs/ time etc.

Any opinions?

if the BELOW post is true then why did you post the ABOVE? the below post kinda goes legal and difinitive, no?

please forgive me if i am missing something.

yours confused

In a strict legal sense (I have the misfortune to be a lawyer in my day job but normally never extend it across to my life) they are at fault. We had a contract to build the bike, we both agreed to vary it (by me coming up to remeasure, them agreeing to this and them accepting the alteration to the specifications I gave them) and they then, in breach of that, went ahead and built the frame. if it is considered a material breach I can terminate the contract and claim damages. If not considered a material breach I can just claim damages.

they may be a small bike company but the margins they must make on the bikes are not insignificant and I am a far far smaller individual with far less margins.

The below post is definitely true but as with all legal stuff you have to consider whether you want the delay, difficulties and agro in pursuing that route.

Whilst I could do the legal route this might not get me what I want (a properly fitting Mercian bike) as they may just say live with the frame being out (and even if I then reject the frame and get my money back through legal means it doesn't get me the bike I want) and I am therefore trying to work out whether I should just lump a 1cm out toptube and what others have done if they have had similar situations.

Ironically for someone who works in litigation or dispute resolution I really really hate being involved in any conflict with others.

Finally, I suspect the quality control on a bike being handbuilt by Mercian where you kick up a bunch of legal things which just annoy them might suffer... badly.

Tiswas. Haha that was me. That was a bad day in Derby. As soon as I got out the station I got a puncture and had to walk to Mercian in the rain to fix it!

The whole point of making that big step and getting a custom build is surely that it fits just the way you want it to. Your own bike, built for you, so any little niggly doubts you had about any previous frames is corrected and you have a frame for life. One you could pass on to your kids who could think 'how cool is it that I fit my dad's bike'. At least that is what I would hope I would be paying for if I was to pay for a custom build. And I would love a custom Mercian. To my mind, if you 're shelling out for a custom frame and they have taken your measurements - stick to your guns and get the bike you want - you'll only end up buying another if you're not happy.

I am a lanky wierdo so my frame is pretty much the size of a small room so I am not sure anyone else wants it/ could fit it.

No harm in finding out though? (Come on: let us have a laugh at the extent of your lanky weirdness ;-)

Well blow me down with a unipack. Mercian have replied and the friendly approach with a light stick in the background worked. Redoing the frame and apologising for the delay. My love for Mercian rises.

I'll stick the frame measurements on here tonight so you can have a laugh