Bicycle Mechanics - Trek 7.5 fx bent rim

I purchased a new Trek 7.5 FX a few weeks ago....on my first ride with it, the rear wheel squeaked with each revolution. I took it back to have it looked at, and of course, it didn't squeak for them. After a couple more rides with this annoying noise, my husband investigated it and discovered the rear rim was bent (side to side). I took it back again today and showed the dealer. They pretty much blamed me for it being bent, when I know I didn't do anything to cause that! So they're going to straighten it for me...no charge. I wanted the rim replaced...they wouldn't do that. My question is, will this bending/straightening affect the wheel in the future....weaken it or make it susceptible to bending again? I'm kind of PO'd that they assumed I caused the bend.....I paid over $700 for this bike, I've been handling it like gold! Any thought or sugggestions would be appreciated!

Common occurrence.
Wheel was not tensioned properly.
You did nothing to cause this.
Most bike shops offer to fix it for free as a tune up.
You do not need a new rim.

If it happened on the first ride then I would guess they didn't true the wheels as part of the new bike prep...if they blamed you for knocking the rim out of true (which was the issue, it was out of true) then I woul dhave asked for a manager or owner. Powers2b is correct most shops will retrue your wheels at the free tune up which they all tend to give after 30 days or 90 days or something. This is enough time that if something is going to come loose it has and the cables will stretch so braking and shifting will also be adjusted.

So there is nothing wrong with your wheel but the shop to me sounds suspect.

I have a new 7.5 FX and have experienced a similar problem. The spokes on the rear wheel got very loose and would make a creaking sort of noise as I rode the bike, after just a few miles. First the shop just tightened the loose spokes, but then the spokes got loose again after a few more miles and I took it back to the shop again. The shop then dropped the tension on all the spokes and gradually retensioned and trued the wheel, and so far it's still tight, round, straight, and noise-free.

The shop then dropped the tension on all the spokes and gradually retensioned and trued the wheel, and so far it's still tight, round, straight, and noise-free.

Yup. Tell your dealer that you want them to do that.