Nims

Hi all,

I ordered a custom wheelset from MG a while back and was very pleased with our conversation. No suprises there. When we spoke in mid May, I was told that the wheelset would be built and ship either May 30th or 31st. On June 1st I spoke with someone at odds and endos who just wanted to verify my shipping address and CC info. On June 2nd I received an email with shipping information.

The tracking # on Fedex.com provides the following info:

Tracking number:126844810013358
Ship date: Jun 2, 2006
Status: Package data transmitted to FedEx

Jun 2, 2006 9:35 AM Package data transmitted to FedEx GULFPORT, FL


Up until yesterday, it also said "Estimated shipping date: Jun 7, 2006" under the ship date. Now that is gone. Obviously the wheels didn't show up yesterday. I know that shipping dates provided are always estimates and that isn't my concern. My concern is that the Activity hasn't changed.

"Package data transmitted to FedEx" states basically that MG scheduled a pickup and paid/printed a shipping label. However the package either hasn't left MG's shop or somehow all the fedex scans aren't updated.

Our office manager said she's never seen FedEx not update their scan's, so chances are it is still at Mike's shop?

I don't want to cry wolf here and I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just curious for those of you who have bought wheels from Mike what the average shipping time was like and how your shipping transaction went.

For those who will tell me to call, I've called multiple times a day yesterday and today to no avail.

-James (who will be ecstatic once the wheels get here and will forget all about this)

Nims

update (the first post was written this morning)

I have called probably 20 times today and not once talked to anyone. Yes, I left a message. :-/

BarconsOrBust

Mine came pretty quickly last February...I've had nothing but good customer service experience, although I do remember him being out of town once, so maybe he is out again and that's why you haven't heard back? Don't fret, he'll take care of you...I am impressed by the value and quality of the wheels, but overwhelmed with how much concern and dedication Mike has for making sure his customers are satisfied.

SEAtrain

I think Mike must be very busy. It took some persistance to finally catch up to him (~1week). He appologized and told me he was attending to personal matter, concentrating on existing orders, and was forced to put sales calls on the back burner.

He gave me very good recommendations based on my needs. I would describe him as personable, knowledgeable and helpful. I ordered (I think) May 15th ish. This is my first order with Mike. Build date was scheduled for May 30. I made contact by phone May 30. They weren't complete because his supplier shipped him the wrong hubs for my build.

Since then I haven't been able to make contact. Lots of emails, lots of phone calls. Yesterday and today he seems to have turned off his message machine so I can't leave a message.

I'm hoping they're in transit. From other MG posts and my gut feelings, I'm sure I won't be disappointed in the wheels. I am a little disappointed in the customer service aspect, but I think this time period must be an aberration.

Nims

Seatrain it sounds like you and I are in a similar boat.

The main difference is that someone from odds and endos called me on the first and said "Your wheels are done and ready to ship, I just wanted to verify your info" So my wheels are done, my credit card has been charged! (Key point), but the wheels haven't left the shop. I actually got his message machine once today, began to leave a message and it cut me off before I left my phone # or anything. I have faith in Mike and I'm willing to be patient, I'm just a little confused.

SEAtrain

I suspect he must have been called away for some good reason. Family emergency? Based on everything I've read about him, I can't believe he would willingly miss ship dates and leave us hanging without good reason.

Nims

Update:

I just spoke to Mike and cleared everything up.

Honestly I am a little dissapointed. Basically he said that my wheels had been built yesterday and that they were shipping out today. I was told they would be built on the 30th or the 1st at the latest. The goal was to have them at the beginning of this week. Now they won't be here until mid next week.

He didn't really have a good answer as to why they weren't built. When we spoke in mid-may, he had a clear calendar of work to get done and said I would be fit into a 2 day window. So in my case, there was no waiting for parts or anything, just didn't get done.

Tracking # still isn't showing any info online, hopefully by tonight it will.

-James

Nims

Forgot to mention, he said their answering machine was dead and they were working on replacing it. As for the second half of your statement, it seems like he missed my ship date (by a week) and left me hanging without any reason at all.

I'm sure it'll be a great wheel and he seems like the nicest, most well intentioned guy, but it's still a little dissapointing.

formula4

FedEx Tracking will say "Package data transmitted" for a looooong time. No worries! It is actually normal. I have used it before and felt the same when I saw it on there for so long. Google your problem, and you will see what I mean.

Nims

Maybe what I said wasn't clear (or you didn't read it ). I just talked to Mike, the wheels were supposed to ship on the 1st, my credit card was charged on the 2nd, the wheels didn't leave his shop until today (The 9th).

The reason FedEx said "package data transmitted" is because he paid for the shipping and printed a label with a tracking #, but never actually had them picked up.

SEAtrain

Yes, it appears so.

I tried another phone call and left another message, but I highly doubt that I'll get a response. Combined with your experience, I'm increasingly disappointed with the service. It wouldn't take much to return a phone call or reply to one of the many emails I sent. It'd be nice to know where things stand.

PedalMasher

Yes Mike needs to hire someone to help him with customer service. He builds 4 to 5 wheelsets a day. With that cash flow and perhaps a price increase he probably could cover the additional costs easily.

SEAtrain

Nims,
Could you please keep me updated. You're my barometer since our build dates were scheduled the same day.

Thanks!

Nims

According to the tracking #, they were picked up from Mike's shop on Friday and left a FL fedex terminal on Saturday. No update for today so I assume they're on a truck in the middle of the country somewhere.

You should really call Mike and see where he's at with your build, especially if you need them for anything specific.

-james

SEAtrain

Yes, I'd love to speak with Mike to find out my build's status. Only, he doesn't respond to email or phone calls. I've emailed 5+ times and phoned 10+ times since June 1. I'm REALLY trying not to get bent out of shape over this. I keep telling myself that I'll be getting a great wheel set ... someday.

I hope your wheels arrive this week. Again, I appreciate the updates.

SEAtrain

Hi Nims,

I finally heard from Mike yesterday. My wheels shipped June 6 which means they were one week late which isn't so bad. Not knowing was bad. His email indicated that he responded to an earlier email, but I never received it.

I was hoping to change delivery instructions before they shipped. Delivery required a signature, and, of course, no one was home to sign. Fortunately, I'm a persistant sort. I discovered my area has three primary FedEx locations (air, freight & ground). I know because I visited each last night. I finally made contact with the ground driver and chased him down along his delivery route.

Most importantly, they are very nice wheels. Wheels are mounted and ready to ride. Much lighter than my old wheelset. Smoother than my Record-10 hubs.

Regards.

Nims

Wheels arrived today and are beautiful. The weights are amazing. With rimtape, the front comes in at 650g and the rear at 870g. So 1520g with rimtape for the pair. That is anodized as well. Unlike most sets where the advertised weight is absurdly low, this set is actually lighter than advertised. I'll have some pictures up once I have a cassette on.

Velocity Aerohead V rims in Anodized - Electric Red
Wheelsmith AE15/XE14 aero spokes - Black
Speedcific Serenity Hubs 28f/r - Black
Speedcific Serenity Skewers - Black
Combination Al/Br Nipples - Black

Should look beautiful with a black tire and an all carbon/black bike.

rruff

Any specs on those hubs? What do they cost? I don't see them on his website...

Nims

He said it's their new hub that's lighter than the perception model. The only downside is that the rear is 10spd only.

That probably explains why my weight was under what I expected.