Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.MPH2
12-04-07, 09:52 AM
If you purchase a bottle cage from ELITE, you can expect as part of "normal wear and tear" that it will break in two and become unusable. What you cannot expect from ELITE is for them to stand behind their product, offer a replacement, offer a repair or even to offer a replacement purchase at a discounted rate.
My wife purchased 2 ELITE CIUSSI INOX water bottle cages for me for Christmas. I like the old-school look of the cages, they look good on my bike and they have worked quite well. The cages are lightweight and made of hollow tubular stainless steel. This summer one of the cages hollow tubes snapped in two right at the point where the attachment plate is welded to the rails.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/MPHtwo/BIKE%20PORN/is_00004.jpg?t=1196783404
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/MPHtwo/BIKE%20PORN/Bottlecage_2.jpg?t=1196783456
Naturally I contacted ELITE ITALY for a replacement since the structural failure of the component was from normal use and not a result of a crash or other abuse. They referred me to RENEE SPREADBURY with PRONET INC. for the return. I shipped the broken ELITE cage to PRONET at a personal cost of about $5. PRONET returned the broken cage to me by Priority Mail stating:
“The product is being returned to you without being repaired or replaced. It has been determined that the problem the product was returned for is not covered by the defects in material or workmanship warranty but is “normal wear and tear” expected during the use of any product…”
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/MPHtwo/BIKE%20PORN/Bottlecage_1.jpg?t=1196783482
Quite simply if you use an ELITE cage for its’ intended purpose you can expect that it will break and become useless. The cage’s MSRP is $40. This is not a wonder material it is steel and for $40, I expect a cage that will not break. I have cages sold for one quarter the cost that have lasted longer. The shipping cost alone borne by PRONET and myself probably would have covered the replacement cost, but apparently they don’t want to set a bad precedent by standing behind their own product.
What do you guys/gals think? Should we boycott? Can someone offer a suggestion of another cage that will look good on my rig?
My wife purchased 2 ELITE CIUSSI INOX water bottle cages for me for Christmas. I like the old-school look of the cages, they look good on my bike and they have worked quite well. The cages are lightweight and made of hollow tubular stainless steel. This summer one of the cages hollow tubes snapped in two right at the point where the attachment plate is welded to the rails.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/MPHtwo/BIKE%20PORN/is_00004.jpg?t=1196783404
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/MPHtwo/BIKE%20PORN/Bottlecage_2.jpg?t=1196783456
Naturally I contacted ELITE ITALY for a replacement since the structural failure of the component was from normal use and not a result of a crash or other abuse. They referred me to RENEE SPREADBURY with PRONET INC. for the return. I shipped the broken ELITE cage to PRONET at a personal cost of about $5. PRONET returned the broken cage to me by Priority Mail stating:
“The product is being returned to you without being repaired or replaced. It has been determined that the problem the product was returned for is not covered by the defects in material or workmanship warranty but is “normal wear and tear” expected during the use of any product…”
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/MPHtwo/BIKE%20PORN/Bottlecage_1.jpg?t=1196783482
Quite simply if you use an ELITE cage for its’ intended purpose you can expect that it will break and become useless. The cage’s MSRP is $40. This is not a wonder material it is steel and for $40, I expect a cage that will not break. I have cages sold for one quarter the cost that have lasted longer. The shipping cost alone borne by PRONET and myself probably would have covered the replacement cost, but apparently they don’t want to set a bad precedent by standing behind their own product.
What do you guys/gals think? Should we boycott? Can someone offer a suggestion of another cage that will look good on my rig?