Foffa Bikes

"Hoist by his own petard" is a phrase I've always been fond of.

Post away.

Excellent

Well there is far too much text to post now. In summary, I was worried because he wanted to meet me to look at my otp I'm selling, which I thought was strange given he's a mechanic and that he could (probably) have a far better machine.
I was right in my concerns in that he is holding me personally responsible for this thread and the demise of his income because I started this. He did say however that he was genuine about the purchase but mistakenly read it as a Langster, which his mate wants.
In the continuing corrospondence he is defending the quality of his work and his and his Dad's business in a rational explanatory fashion and is genuinely sorry for making me feel worried.
I am encouraging him to take this out to the open so we can put an end to this once and for all.
It has it seems all but ruined his business, which I'm sure no one wants.
I understand that it would be exceptionally daunting to take on this entire forum, and they both feel that they would be mobbed for what ever they say.
I think we should give them a chance to right the wrongs with the mechanical issues addressed here without attacking them and putting aside the ridiculous way both of them have carried themselves.
Both Father and Son have pm'd me separately to let it be known that the inflated prices are nothing to do with them as they merely supply the bikes to Dani.
Shall we try and put an end to this as peacefully as possible?

It's really not that important though is it?

Like a lame old horse, this thread should be taken out into the yard and shot.

I'm confused, Wicksie. Didn't you say that the PMs were threatening?

It's really not that important though is it?

Like a lame old horse, this thread should be taken out into the yard and shot.

Sage-like...

I was right in my concerns in that he is holding me personally responsible for this thread and the demise of his income.

he did the same to me, expect it's from Ian, not his son.

I said I feel threatened, but because he wanted to meet me when it was clearly not about the bike. He said that he really wanted to lay in to me because I started this thread, but since I've layed in to him back, the situation is much calmer, and he apologised for making me feel threatened.
Sorry if I made it sound like he sent me death threats.

Both Father and Son have pm'd me separately to let it be known that the inflated prices are nothing to do with them as they merely supply the bikes to Dani.

That explain why Dani thought the brakes cost £100 in general.

I said I feel threatened, but because he wanted to meet me when it was clearly not about the bike. He said that he really wanted to lay in to me because I started this thread, but since I've layed in to him back, the situation is much calmer, and he apologised for making me feel threatened.
Sorry if I made it sound like he sent me death threats.

Alright, so just some good old-fashioned misdirected aggression-turned-sobbing and in the end you made up?

meanwhile in other news

250.00 bob jackson anybody

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bob-Jackson-bicycle-

Is it inappropriate to post PM's from the people this thread concerns?

depends if it's personal or an attack of some kind I'd say..

If you think it's in the interests of the forum then do it.

Hey guys, I am just getting this issue ready to take out to the paddock!

I think that there has been some good feedback from everyone & we will of course take that on board in the coming months as hopefully the business develops nicely.

With regards to the prices I mentioned, they were based on rough estimates from your LBS, and not from what you can gather on the internet after spending time looking for the best deal. As a small business I currently don't have huge bulk buying power but will of course try my best to give better value for money in the future.

To clarify Ian (hacked2) is actually one of my suppliers and not part of F0ffa directly. He has worked very hard to supply most of my bikes, and we have taken on board plenty of comments since I started a while back. These include now supplying powder-coated frames, as well as other improvements related to structural integrity.

Also I usually do point out to our customers that these are not brand new bikes, and have been tested at the best of our ability. They do come with a 12 months warranty which is not something many bike shops would do on vintage frames.

Anyway, thank you once again for those that have respected me coming on this forum and showing good will. I hope we can now all (including Ian and Adam) put this issue to bed, or out in the paddock and let's hope 2010 is a good year for everybody!

Dani

fucking hell! this is mad shit.

ain't this captialism at work?

successful business model:

With regards to the prices I mentioned, they were based on rough estimates from your LBS, and not from what you can gather on the internet after spending time looking for the best deal. As a small business I currently don't have huge bulk buying power but will of course try my best to give better value for money in the future.

Dani Foffa

Still doesn't explain why you had to goto Evan's for a price for fitting brakes when you supposedly have been in the industry for years.

The slightly harsh thing about this thread is that because LFGSS ranks so highly on google this thread comes up as the 3rd rank on a search for 'foffa bikes'. Say, in the future, all the problems are ironed out and Foffa start offering decent bikes at good value then all these 'teething problems' will still be very visible to anyone thinking about purchasing from Foffa.
However I still don't get how someone with that experience has to go to Evans to find out how much it costs to fit a brakeset though (and not realise they are still getting ripped off).

The slightly harsh thing about this thread is that because LFGSS ranks so highly on google this thread comes up as the 3rd rank on a search for 'foffa bikes'. Say, in the future, all the problems are ironed out and Foffa start offering decent bikes at good value then all these 'teething problems' will still be very visible to anyone thinking about purchasing from Foffa.

why is that harsh? it is accurate...

Say, in the future, all the problems are ironed out and Foffa start offering decent bikes at good value then all these 'teething problems' will still be very visible to anyone thinking about purchasing from Foffa.

if all the problem are ironed out and Foffa start offering reliable bike (I don't care if it decent or not, as long it's reliable), then there'll be positive praise from LFGSS about Foffa bike instead.

thus, 'boosting' his business and able to make profit, I'm sure he'll able to get feedback from this topic to help improved his business and bike.

it's a win-win.

Yes I see your point. What I mean is that any future praise will always be tempered by the (currently fair) criticism they have received. I suppose it is the internet age we live in now. Foffa may well be best off changing their name and having a fresh start considering the online criticism it has had (and not just from here!)

No different from a feedback score on E Bay.
Be nice and do a good job and you have a good rep: cock up repeatedly and all can see for ever.
This is the new way.

No different from a feedback score on E Bay.

bingo.

Brick Lane Bikes have some criticism, but they're still going strong, and I did notice that they're better than 2 years ago when it come to customer service, obviously not perfect but better for sure.

They do come with a 12 months warranty which is not something many bike shops would do on vintage frames.

Is it any accident that the keyword driving the SJSC ad script at the moment seems to be "Tool"?

From the shit that has been posted on here as examples of Fofferized bikes, the term "Vintage" is taking the piss. They're the kind of cheap utility bikes you can buy from scrap yards and Police auctions for almost no premium over the market price of scrap iron. Top whack for that *Gorgeous Baby Blue*™ thing before it got Foffed, assuming the components hanging off it wre not reusable, would be £10 if you were only buying one; those kinds of thing are usually flogged as job lots as they are of so little value.

From the shit that has been posted on here as examples of Fofferized bikes, the term "Vintage" is taking the piss. They're the kind of cheap utility bikes you can buy from scrap yards and Police auctions for almost no premium over the market price of scrap iron.

+1.
Iv seen these 'vintage' bikes go for as little as £2 and never more than £20 at police auctions.

this shop do even better sounding bikes

http://studentbikeshop.com/RACINGBIKES.html

this shop do even better sounding bikes

http://studentbikeshop.com/RACINGBIKES.html

That Raleigh TI is nice.