Folding Bikes - damaged chainring on delivery

UPS just delivered a new Dahon Jetstream P8 and the chainguard and chainring are completely bent in towards the frame. It must have happened in shipping. The parts need to be replaced, or the guy needs to send another bike. Sorry I don't have the pictures of it with me, but I'm sneaking around here at work...

This is my question. As I work out what the guy can do for me, and this is a store not a private seller, I was thinking of my options. Is it just as easy to replace these parts and try to get a credit from the original shipper as it would be to have another bike shipped and have to ship the other one back? Either way it's inconvenient, but it's a simple fix isn't it? I can't do it myself because I don't have a crank puller (is that the right term?) But I can take it to my lbs and have it done.

What about parts? Are they standard ones that my lbs should have? Or should the original guy provide them?

I hate the idea of fixing a brand new bike, but it seems almost more practical to do that. Especially if he'll credit some money back on the bike to cover the cost of the fix and then some.

How much would something like that cost to do? Or...should I just buy the tools and do it myself?

I just want to ride it...said with great disappointment!

UPS just delivered a new Dahon Jetstream P8 and the chainguard and chainring are completely bent in towards the frame. It must have happened in shipping. The parts need to be replaced, or the guy needs to send another bike. Sorry I don't have the pictures of it with me, but I'm sneaking around here at work...

This is my question. As I work out what the guy can do for me, and this is a store not a private seller, I was thinking of my options. Is it just as easy to replace these parts and try to get a credit from the original shipper as it would be to have another bike shipped and have to ship the other one back? Either way it's inconvenient, but it's a simple fix isn't it? I can't do it myself because I don't have a crank puller (is that the right term?) But I can take it to my lbs and have it done.

What about parts? Are they standard ones that my lbs should have? Or should the original guy provide them?

I hate the idea of fixing a brand new bike, but it seems almost more practical to do that. Especially if he'll credit some money back on the bike to cover the cost of the fix and then some.

How much would something like that cost to do? Or...should I just buy the tools and do it myself?

I just want to ride it...said with great disappointment!


Simple fix.. no need to remove the crank.. remove the chain ring bolts with proper hex wrench (probably 5mm) .. remove bent chain guard and chain ring.. then either bend them both back in a vise or flat surface with mallet blows, or install another chain ring of the same bolt pattern and number of teeth from any local bike shop.... enjoy the ride..

Oh, that's great news. I didn't realize you could do it without removing the crank. Obviously I'm quite the novice at bike fixing.

Oh I just feel so much better now!

I would file a damage claim with UPS. They can then pickup the bike at their expense and return it to the seller. Let the seller and UPS work out the finances. Have the seller send you a new replacement bike.

It's a bit over-reacted to ship the whole back and forth... ask the LBS to ship you another chainring of the same, in the meantime agree to straighten the one on the bike out as it will allow you to ride. But if the cranks are bent, then ship the whole bike back.

Yes, definitely check the cranks.

I've seen bent chainrings in the past (out of package) and the cranks were also slightly bent.

As a rule of thumb the distance from the end of the crank to the frame should be the same on both sides.

The seller turned out to be a really good guy. He ordered a new crank from Dahon and is going to send it to me. He even offered to reimburse me for the installation. I went to my lbs and the guy is going to see if he can straighten the chainring and guard so I can ride, and then I'll replace everything when I get it.

The seller even offered to take the bike back if I was unhappy.

Calhoun Cycle. Very honorable guy.

Calhoun Cycle is my local bike shop. Great group of people working there and the owner is awesome. Happy to hear that they are taking care of you. I just bought my second bromton from them 2 weeks ago.