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Would you buy a new bike from a shop with a paint chip?

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Would you buy a new bike from a shop with a paint chip?

Old 05-19-06, 07:57 PM
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Would you buy a new bike from a shop with a paint chip?

I went to pick up the bike I ordered this evening, and on the top tube in a very visible location I first saw what seemed to be a paint smear as if it was touched while still wet which was underneath the clearcoat. I wasn't absolutely thrilled by that because I would see it every time I got on the bike, but I was going to live with it.

While I was waiting, I saw on the side of the seat tube a paint chip that was exposed down to the steel metal underneath. It wasn't a big chip, about 2mm diameter but it was there, and steel tends to rust.

The thing is, I hadn't even rode the bike yet and it had the paint chip plus the minor cosmetic defect. So I told them to call the company on Tuesday and get it exchanged.

Would you guys have done the same thing?
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Old 05-19-06, 08:02 PM
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Absolutely. A new bike should have no blemishes.
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Old 05-19-06, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by CommuterRun
Absolutely. A new bike should have no blemishes.
Or a nice discount.
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Old 05-19-06, 08:38 PM
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OTOH, once you get more chips/scratches, you wont feel [i]quite/[i] as bad...
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Old 05-19-06, 09:05 PM
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I would have done the same as you. Why shouldn't it be perfect for as long as possible?
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Old 05-19-06, 09:13 PM
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would i buy a new bike from a bike shop with a paint chip? I don't think that the condition of the building or the walls of a building would prevent me from buying an item from there, unless there was lead-based paint from an older building. The lead could cause health concerns for the shop employees.
Did you also check for asbestos?
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Old 05-19-06, 09:23 PM
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The reality is: They often come out of the box marked in some fashion or another. You might get a small amount knocked off for the the chip or you could wait for another to come in and cross your fingers that it is perfect.
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Old 05-19-06, 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by RiPHRaPH
would i buy a new bike from a bike shop with a paint chip? I don't think that the condition of the building or the walls of a building would prevent me from buying an item from there, unless there was lead-based paint from an older building. The lead could cause health concerns for the shop employees.
Did you also check for asbestos?
I'm going to go out on the patio and play the flute in my slippers while I contemplate this one.
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Old 05-19-06, 09:47 PM
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A question that only you can answer.

Every dealer's rep that I've ever talked with would give me a credit for a paint chipped frame. I'd put a piece of tape on the bike to mark the chip and cut the price. I've had customer's who couldn't bear to think about buying a chipped bike regardless of price and I've had customer's who figured they'd chip the bike's frame within a week and couldn't wait to scarf up the bargain. both kinds of people are OK with me.
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Old 05-19-06, 10:45 PM
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I've never worked in bike shop so I don't know how bikes come in, but I've looked at lots of new bikes and have never seen any chips or marks on the paint, so if I did buy a new one and it had a chip, I'd at least like money off or get a replacement. It would just annoy the hell out of me to see a chip on my NEW bike every time I went to ride, even though it probably would eventually get scuffed up. I remember I got a nice new Trek mtn bike over ten years ago, i was so anal for the first year about keeping the frame looking nice even waxing it, having a big scratch or chipped paint would have ruined the entire new bike experience. Same thing goes with new cars, or just about anything new.

I won't be surprised if the guys that work there give you a hard time, to them its just another bike that works and looks fine, but just be really nice and show a lot of appreciation...
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Old 05-19-06, 11:20 PM
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I would ask for a bargain and grab it, like some people mentioned above ;-)
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Old 05-20-06, 01:43 AM
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Originally Posted by SemperFi
I would have done the same as you. Why shouldn't it be perfect for as long as possible?

Ohh No.. there is NOT a Skankee on this forum!
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Old 05-20-06, 01:27 PM
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The last new bike I bought I put a nice little chip on the top tube with my cleat before I even left the shop. I was actually really glad to just get the whole "perfect bike" thing over with.
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Old 05-21-06, 10:29 AM
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I would buy it...its only a paint chip. I would put many more of my own on my bike than that single solitary one
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Old 05-21-06, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Silverexpress
Consider Titanium. You can buff out the scratches.
Yeah, but unless painted they are so blah looking. But to the main point, it is irrelevant what anyone else would do - all that counts is if YOU are willing to accept damaged, new merchandise.
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Old 05-22-06, 03:49 AM
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I would try to get a discount for sure, but I don't really care. You should see the scratches on my bike! (And me if you want to be picky - yes, I have scars too)

Of course, you do realize that everyone up your way pays for this perfection? It cost a lot more to make sure things stay cosmetically perfect - and it comes out of your wallet. We experience it down here - want a home built to Tico specs? 10 to 14 thousand. Want a home built to North American specs? 60 to 250 thousand. Difference in experience? Well, your neighbors might be afraid to visit because they will be afraid of damaging your "perfect" home. Personally, I prefer my neighbors to be comfortable in my home. We have been here in Costa Rica (business and now living) for more than 4 years now. It sure does change how you look at things.

I wonder what the price tag is for that new bike experience?

just my dos colones (if you are not aware, that is only worth about 1/5 the amount as 2 cents...)
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Old 05-22-06, 08:26 AM
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When I was buying a bike for college, I was looking at a Gary Fisher and noticed that it had a scratch on it. The scratch was maybe a quater inch long. I mentioned it to the sales lady and she didn't really seem to care. She just said, don't worry about it, you'll get plenty of scratchs using it. I tried to point out that it was a new bike that should be in flawless condition and kind of hinted at a discount or something but - as I said - she didn't seem to care. So I bought somewhere else.

The way I look at it is that you are buying new so you should get a flawless bike unless you get a discount for the imperfection. You wouldn't buy a new car that had a dent in it without a discount would you?
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Old 05-22-06, 09:27 AM
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Sooner or later my bikes all end up with scratches, dents, dings, chips, etc.
I prefer they be as perfect as humanly possible when I purchase a new bike. That way I can be the person who puts all the defects on my bike.
The exception being if I recieved a discount for said bike. I like saving $$ even more.
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Old 05-22-06, 11:48 AM
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yeppers.... i would have asked to have it re-ordered... or a nice discount for the TWO flaws! but then... i'm anal like that!
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Old 05-22-06, 04:06 PM
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I would NOT buy a chipped up bike unless they knocked off a nice chunk of change. Course my new bike is already getting beat up because of some spectacular crashes I've managed to get myself into over the past couple of months. My hubby is inheriting this bike at the end of the year when I upgrade. He was upset yesterday when I scratched it. He pointed out that chicks are supposed to be timid riders and not crash. Yeah, right! LOL!
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Old 06-05-06, 09:08 AM
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I suppose it's possible they didn't see the flaws - but, if they set up the bike and inspected it, they should have also noticed the paint chips. As long as you are willing to wait for a re-order, then, that is what I would do. It would annoy me that I had to find those chips, myself - not unlike buying a car with cosmetic flaws that the dealer didn't tell you about.

Chances are they were noticed and a decision made to see if they could move the piece at full price, and react if the customer picked it up.

I can be very patient and understanding about defects that aren't obvious and show up down the road. I still expect the seller to be accommodating - but I am much more understanding.

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Old 06-05-06, 10:06 AM
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Chances are they were noticed and a decision made to see if they could move the piece at full price, and react if the customer picked it up.
If the shop I went to ever did that, i'm going to a different one. That's called dishonesty.
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Old 06-05-06, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
A question that only you can answer.

Every dealer's rep that I've ever talked with would give me a credit for a paint chipped frame. I'd put a piece of tape on the bike to mark the chip and cut the price. I've had customer's who couldn't bear to think about buying a chipped bike regardless of price and I've had customer's who figured they'd chip the bike's frame within a week and couldn't wait to scarf up the bargain. both kinds of people are OK with me.
This wins my prize for best answer of the day. You sound like the owner of the lbs I use.
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Old 06-08-06, 11:27 AM
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If you want wall art, buy a brand new flawless bike, regardless of hassle or cost!!
Me? I buy used bikes and USE them for what they were intended for. In the last two weeks I bought a Gary Fisher AL-1 for $60. I also got a perfectly functioning, albeit FILTHY, Specialized Crossroads for $20.
Perfect bikes remind me of High School, where the "jocks" had ultra fancy 4x4's and not a SPECK of dust on them! What a waste! I'll bet they had their girlfriends wash them for them every day!


FLIP SIDE; I paint bikes for a living (if you could call it that) and am ultra anal about details. The cable guide on the bottom of the bottom bracket has to be as perfect as the middle of the top tube! Just the way I am about it. Go figure!
 

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