Bicycle Mechanics - Wheel that won't stay true

I just had my rear wheel rebuilt and it won't stay true. It was the stock rim that came on my entry level Allez (Ritchey hub and Alex rim) and had about 3500 miles on it prior to being rebuilt with DT spokes. It worked fine for about 2 weeks and then went out of true. The LBS straightened the wheel and retensioned the spokes but when they stressed the rim it went out of true again.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

The LBS has offered to buy the spokes back and to sell me a new rim at cost to make up for the time and bother I've incurred. I'll be out the labor cost for the rebuild but ultimately should break even due to getting a new rim at cost. The LBS said none of the nipple holes in the rim look damaged/dished but they couldn't explain why the rim won't stay true...

Go for it man... I really hate to say this but those wheels are bad news! I have never warrantied so many wheels as I have the Specialized Allez Alex wheels. I think the problem is the rim truthfully... I have seen it on Marins with Alex rims as well. Definately ditch that wheel, and take the LBS's offer, which is a pretty decent one. I don't know why it happens, I had an expert wheelbuilder from Velocity examine one, and he retensioned it himself, and it did the same thing, AGAIN. All I can think is poor manufacturing tolerances?

I concur with seely. If a rim won't hold true, even with the spokes properly tensioned, it is dangerous at worst and a big inconvenience at best.

Go for it man... I really hate to say this but those wheels are bad news!

Seeley (and John E too),

Thanks for the replies - I knew I was SOL and I was just hoping to understand why I was SOL. I figure I'll go with built rim the LBS has on hand (105 hub a Mavic rim) - the LBS said that would be approximately $40. It's hard not to look at a bigger upgrade (Cosmos pair) but I figure I'll save my money for a complete bike upgrade in a couple of years...

You mentioned warranty problems on Alex wheels - are you a shop owner or employee? Just wondering what your perspective is on bikes (from the other side of the counter) for when I do upgrade. Is there any merit (added value) to staying with a bigger manufacturer (Trek, Specialized, etc) or is service better when you go with a smaller company (Airborne, Guru, etc). I dream about getting a Pinarello Opera or Prince when I upgrade but I know I won't have the spare coin to pay the premium just to have an Italian name on my frame.

I'm an employee... Specialized is better on warranty and service than the smaller companies typically... they have more money to play with so a headset here and wheelset there isn't a big deal to them. I have dealt with Pinarello in the past and haven't been impressed, both times on issues with the integrated headsets... they were slow to respond to us and reluctant to send parts. I know of three aluminum Colnago's with stripped bottom brackets hanging in three different shops right now. One shop refuses to work on them period now. Their steel bikes are really nice though. For Ti Airborne is the only way to go though IMHO. They didn't start by making golf clubs *ahem litespeed* and are real cyclist enthusiasts with good service.

In the end though get whatever makes you want to ride more and will leave you grinning everytime you look at it. As much as I like my american roadbike I'd love to have something that says Pinarello under me.