Fastr Pastr

Just a props to Specialized who replaced two broken frames for me within a month. My 2001 Allez broke on the Tahoe Sierra Century at the weld for the chain stay and the wheel mount. My wife's 2004 Crossroads had a fluke crack in the steerer tube. Specialized gave her a complete new bike and replaced my frame and fork with a 2006 Allez Pro! What a beautiful upgrade.

I took the opportunity to throw in new Shimano compact cranks and Ultegra deraillers. I'm back in bike love!

Thanks also to Bob's Bikes for their hard work and professionalism.

clutchy

awesome! It would appear that spec'd is serious about their warranties. That's good to know.

qmsdc15

Yes, although the dealer who sold me the Rockhopper, Larry Black at College Park Bikes swore they wouldn't replace my frame because I was a messenger, I called Specialized directly and they said "No way, we don't discriminate against bike messengers.". The guy I spoke to asked me if I had any other problems and I mentioned a broken axle and seat rail, so they sent me a hub and saddle, too!

FarHorizon

My LBS sells Specialized. I've never needed their warranty, but I've been happy with both the shop and the Specialized products I've gotten there. Good to know that if I ever need the warranty, it's there!

This isn't the first thread I've seen where folks who needed service from Specialized got what they needed. I'm sure it won't be the last.

Velomancer

+1.

I had a 2004 Roubaix Pro frame replaced under warrantee and they gave me a 06 S-Works Roubaix

v1k1ng1001

What is the deal with Specialized selling disposable bikes built in Taiwan these days? My old American-made S-works M2 mtb has lasted me almost 9 years!

I don't want to ride something that is flying apart on folks after 2 or 3 seasons. Call me old fashioned, but I think you should be buying a bike, not a subscription to a frameset.

Fastr Pastr

I hear what the one commenter is saying about not wanting to suscribe to a frameset, but I think things happen and I'm very happy with the service I got from Specialized. I just wanted to throw out a thank you for their service and for the LBS that did such great work.

In other news, I did the Dam ride from Mill Valley, CA yesterday -- it was AMAZING!!! This bike is night and day different from the last one. I wouldn't have thought that would be the case, but even on this first real ride I found myself far more comfortable and trusting the bike very much.

clutchy

the thing about making super light frames is that people still expect them to be highly durable like the 25-30 lb. steel bikes.

I'm impressed that builders will still offer a exceptional warranty even though the bikes are becoming more fragile.

in this case we get cake and we get to eat it.

Velomancer

I would think a lifetime warrantee says "we stand by our product and expect it to last a lifetime and if it doesn't we'll replace it". It wouldn't be good business to offer a lifetime guarantee on a frame/bike that's not going to last more than 2-3 seasons.

I choose my bikes for a combination of reasons (a LARGE proportion is comfort and the next would be design/look/feel). All other things being equal the final decision is governed by how good the warrantee is and how it is honoured.

I had a friend that was made to jump through hoops to get a frame replaced by the manufacturer (and told/posted the story to every who would listen)... mine was replaced and upgraded without question. The faults were different (my mate had a snapped seat stay and on my bottom bracket sleeve detached from the frame) but I know which company I'll sing the praises of... Specialized!

unkchunk

Wow, when I had problems with my Specialized they told me it's was illegal for them to communicate with me. All communication had to go through the bike store. That was about 15 years ago and maybe things have changed now. Anyways, I still won't buy anything with Specialized written on it.

Velomancer

I had no direct communication with Specialized. Everything went through the bike shop where I made the purchase.

Fastr Pastr

Their rep saw my frame and my wife's bike through the LBS. They also warranteed some wheels for my a few years ago and that was also handled through the LBS.

Sorry for your bad experience, but they've been a great brand for me.

unkchunk

After that experience I wouldn't recomend any brand name to anyone, I would tell them to shop LBS first. I wonder how much positive/negative experience is due to the manufacturer or to the LBS. Then, no one in the shop wanted to deal with me. I wasn't "foaming at the mouth" like angry or anything, I was just curious to find why the bolt snapped. It seemed liked the people would go and hide in the back of the shop. After about a month of nothing happening I tried to go around to the manufacturer. And that's when Specialized lost me. Anyways, I think you have to include alot of your positive experience to your LBS too. Seems like your guys moved alot more than mine did.

Fastr Pastr

I have no doubt that you're correct about the role of the LBS. As I'm sure you know, it's really hard to find a shop that you feel like you can trust. Even chain stores can have different cultures based on management.

I have been looking for a LBS to try and really be loyal to and I stopped into Bob's Bikes because they are a Specialized dealer and because the Performance (who is not a Specialized dealer) nearby had lost their really great head mechanic. I will continue to go to Bob's now because I feel they went the extra mile for me.

A good relationship with your LBS is key. I stopped going to the shop where I got the original bike because I could never get any service there. The guys were nice, but it was just chaos in the shop and their work would never stand up.

Michigander

Thats better than I can say about Giant.

Fastr Pastr

Sorry to hear that. My buddy had his TCR replaced by Giant when it cracked. He was happy, but the only snaffu was that they refused to throw in the matching fork since his would work. Yeah, it would work but it would have looked ridiculous! I felt they were being pretty stingy when they pulled that.

BlazingPedals

The best warranty is one you never need to use. But it's good to hear that Specialized tries to stand behind their product. I can believe unkchunk's unpleasant dealing with them was really caused by an unresponsive dealer. My guess is that there is a contractual requirement that all problems are to be handled by a dealer. In that case, another dealer could have picked up the fumble and run it in for a touchdown.

Fastr Pastr

I totally agree. I think if my LBS had dropped the ball, I'd still be frustrated and trying to motivate myself to go ride my MTB.