my new bike
 

i went and ordered a new 2002 Giant Rainier. when i went to pick it up i noticed it has last year's forks and cranks on it. what gives? i told thge bike shop i wanted the correct parts for this year or a refund.
will/can Giant get the right parts or are the old ones on there because that's all they have left. should i settle for it as is?
the forks and cranks don't look like they are as good of quality as the 2002 parts. are they? does anybody know? any help/answers will be greatly appreciated.
the bike is sitting in the shop and i'm sitting here all bummed.:(
aaaaarrrggghhhh!!!
Henry.

So your saying, instead of the "giant" cranks you go some Suntour cranks? And instead of a Marzocchi EXR you got a Z.5? Well, the suntour cranks look exactly like the giant ones, and they probably are the giant cranks with a different name on them. And for the fork...the new EXR is the exact same as the Z.5 from last year, except the EXR has aluminum stantions and the Z.5 had Alloy stantions.

the 2002 Giant cranks are much beefier than the 2001 Suntour cranks.
the 2002 forks have a thicker lower tube, and a much stronger looking wheel attatchment area, there are other differences too.
my friend got the same bike, so i was able to do a side-by-side comparison.
these parts are not the same.

Please correct me if I am wrong on this, but I have heard that the products from today's SunTour company tend to be of considerably lower quality than those of the original Japanese company.

In my experience, you should be proud to have SunTour components... on a department store bike. Proud to have them... until they break a week later. :rolleyes:

If you bought a 2002, you should get a 2002. I read in one of my many magazines that it isn't as uncommon as people think for bike shops and sellers to swap parts on new bikes, and that it is important to make sure you are getting what you paid for. So make this guy give you what you bought, even if the differences are minor.

Like Fubar said, if you ordered a 2002, then you should get a 2002. You did the right thing leaving it the shop. Had you taken it home, you would have tacitly [and legally] consented to the deal, swap and all.

If on the other hand, the shop has tal=ken your money, then they are legally obliged to deliver the product you specified. If no money has been exchanged, and you have nothing in writing, then the transaction isn't binding on eaither of you.

Tell the shop that you REALLY want the 2002. Here are some suggestions:

1. If you've already paid for it, remind the shop that they are contractually obliged to deliver the product you paid for.

2. If you have not already paid, tell them that you will not pay for last-year's model, OR buy last year's model at a significant discount. I'd say 15-20% would be significant.

3. Start shopping at a different shop.

I would tell the shop that they better get it together. Or they can pull some comparible parts off their shelves and make you happy that way. If they don't want to bring in what originally ordered then i would go to another store let them know what happened and that you want them to order the bike but with the parts that you want on it.

OK, now i'm happy.
the bike shop called Giant and told them what happened, Giant said that it was unusual. (yeah right) anyway they sent out another bike that has all the correct parts on it. the bike shop (Bicycle Doctor, los angeles, CA) was very helpful and took care of everything promptly and professionally.(in my opinion).
now i can find out how really out of shape i am :)
thanks for all the replies.

Great News and congrats on the new arrival.

Now we want to see pictures, muddy ones preferred!

L8R

i live in so. cal.
we're havin' a drout.
i won't be seeing mud unless i go far away :(
if i get pics i'll post them.

Giant is known for good service. I don't think they ship the wrong bike very often.