portland376

I just picked up a Trek Madone 5.2 SL which was built up with an Ultegra triple. I want it changed to a double. I have put absolutely no miles on the bike as of yet. In general, will a LBS exchange these parts free of charge? I want it done correctly and I'm not sure what all would need to be changed out in order to accomplish this. It would seem since the parts on the bike are all brand new they could simply just exchange everything out and charge me for the labor....but that could just be my naive thinking. Does anybody have any experience with this????

the beef

Makes sense to me. Though you might have the occasional prick LBS that declares your crank 'used' and worth half as much just because you took it home. At the least it should be considered used and in excellent condition. Expect to get a credit on the triple crankset towards a brand-new in-box double crank if that's what you're goin for. You'll pay a little bit plus labor.

Or they could be nice and just charge for labor. Or even better and they could do it all on the house. But all LBSes are different.

gruppo

It's curious that you didn't tell the shop you wanted the double when you were considering buying the bike. At that point there was an opportunity to negotiate a mutually beneficial outcome. Waiting until after the fact is unfair to the shop. In my experience the reasonable thing for you to do is to ask that if you buy the necessary components will they split the installation costs with you? Then you need to sell the leftover stuff yourself. In short, don't hold the shop accountable for your mistake.

portland376

I actually spoke with the shop before I walked out with the bike about putting a double on it instead of the triple. They were going to charge me full price for purchasing a new double. This didn't make any sense to me, but I took the bike home as is anyways. Like I said, no miles have been put on the bike other than the test ride and there's not a mark on the components. It just seems odd to me to be charged full price for the double when I could simply exchange out the parts and they could use the triple on my bike for another new build in the shop.

Grasschopper

2 years ago when my father purchsed his Trek 5200 the LBS swapped the existing triple crank for a double for free...they changed the BB, the crank and both dreailleurs. Again this was at time of purchase...he never took it home and was part of the sale agreement.

San Rensho 

Not sure what you mean "They were going to charge me full price for purchasing a new double.". They were going to charge you full price for the entire bike if it was a double? If thats the case, then its pretty clear they were giving you a discount for a triple, which is less desireable. Can't get out of the deal or change it because you got a good deal on something you didn't want.

On the other hand, if the double/triple wasn't discussed and wasn't part of the negotiations, if you are really nice, then you should be able to get some kind of discount for the double.

portland376

Meaning, they were going to have me purchase a double crankset (at full price) to put on the bike....on top of what I'd already paid for the triple which came with the bike. Like I said it didn't make any sense to me.

Tequila Joe

Poor customer service IMO. I wouldn't have bought the bike from them.

briscoelab

Once they build a bike up with certain parts, you really can't just exchange things thinking what you have is "new".... it isn't! They likely wanted to charge you because this bike came from Trek with the tirpple, and they didn't have a Ultegra double laying around.... so, they would hav to order one. This means they would be eatting the cost of the crank and/or ders. You can't expect them to do this. It isn't like swapping stems out at a later date to work on fit or something. If you worked it out at the time of sale, as part of the deal, that's one thing. Moral of the story is, buy what you want the first time The fact they weren't willing to cut you a deal at the time of purchase.... that would have steered me clear of the shop altogether. Unless you were getting a really sweet deal on the bike. IN which case, you can't expect a lot from them, as they were already giving up a lot of their margin.

If you are nice and fairly reasonable, I bet they'd give you some kinda discount on the parts... or at least not charge labor to install them. You can easily sell the Ultegra stuff yourself on Ebay to recoup some of the money.

operator

Why doesn't it make sense...? You were about to walk out the door with a triple until you decided you wanted a double, if they take that crank/bb off they can't sell it as new because it isn't. They'll also have to do labour to swap it out.

Charging you for a double crank makes perfect sense because you didn't indicate that at the time of sale. A very generous LBS would swap it out for free given that you pay for the double. I'd say just ride the triple. Or take it and sell it on ebay and buy a double yourself and install it.

portland376

I'd indicated BEFORE i walked out the door and BEFORE i paid for the bike that I wanted a double. And I wouldn't expect them to sell the triple separately if it was taken off my bike labeling it as "new", but it would seem they could just as easily put it on another bike in the shop that gets test ridden just as mine had.

Regardless, I left the shop with the triple because I was happy with the bike and I'm sure I can deal with the problem on my own. I was simply wondering if anybody else had experienced this same problem, and whether or not your LBS simply exchanged out the parts.

spdrcr5

This is actually easily resolved. Return the bike for a refund. You sound like you just came home with the bike so should be able to return it. Then either order a 5.2 with double from this shop or go somewhere else and get your 5.2 with double. Either way, return what you have and get what you want.

It is unfair to expext the LBS to swap out the components for a double with the triple parts already installed without your having to purchase the double parts. My understanding of this swap would entail not only the right crank/rings but also the bottom bracket, left brake/shifter as well as the front deraileur. That's basically half the group.

Why did you even agree to take the bike home? It sounds like they wouldn't work out a deal with you at time of purchase yet you decided to purchase anyway? That makes no sense and it's not as though you're even enjoying the bike because you haven't ridden it yet.

briscoelab

My LBS would exchange the parts... but not for someone with your attitude Take a deep breath and calm down. Seriosuly, either take the bike back for a refund, or cough up the few hundred bucks to get the parts you want. If you can afford a Madone, you can splurge for the $300 it would cost to get the new parts you want. THen sell the other stuff.... you'll come out maybe $100 in the hole and won't be trying to screw over your LBS for your mistake of not buying what you wanted to begin with.

briscoelab

The left shifter woudl be fine. But, he would need at least a new crank (obviously) and a front der. The long cage rear der woudl work alright, but I'd get a short cage too. Still, that's only like $350 worth of parts if you shop around.

superslomo

Does it matter that the bike was test ridden? I think that's what OP is saying???

If it's been test ridden over time, then the cranks/chainrings aren't new.

Which might well be why they won't swap them for free, even if they would normally do so.

What's the problem with keeping the triple on the bike?

operator

The existence of this thread says otherwise.

jrennie

I went down to the chevy dealer and bought a new corvette, as I was driving it off the lot and home I realized i would rather have a z06. Do you think the will swap the motor and trans for free?

New parts needed:
double crank
Bottom bracket
labor for the change out and adjusting the FD

Old "Used" Parts they are now used even if it was only a test ride
Triple crank
bottom bracket

Now we are talking about a nearly $4000 bike and if the shop was smart they would at least work a deal or help in some way, stupid way to loose a customer but I dont think you will get them to eat $500 worth of parts.

SaddleBags

This question, I'm sure belongs on the mechanics forum, but isn't the 6600 and the 6603 BB the same? According to the shimano website, they are listed seperately as 6600 and 6603 but the specs are the same. For triples using the 6600, I think you just need to add a BB washer. Am I wrong?

To the OP, ride that triple like you stole it and Congrats on your new bike.

urbanknight

Short conclusion: You shouldn't have walked out with the bike if you wanted a double.

Long explanation: Walking out of a shop with a product means you are satsified with the deal as is, unless you have it in writing that something needs to be changed. New car dealerships actually make you sign a paper that says so (in case some of you don't read what you sign).

Personally, if I were the shop owner, I would offer to sell you the parts for a double (you know you need new cranks, rings, derailleur, and bottom bracket, right?) for a 10% discount and free labor. Inside my mind, I'd be a little annoyed that you bought one product and then changed your mind after walking out (although you did say you mentioned it before leaving the shop) but I might chalk it up to you being a newbie who didn't really know which one he wanted.

As for selling the triple off the bike you walked out with, there might be a liability issue. If the crank somehow developed a crack on the way home from the shop and then the LBS sold those as new after replacing them for you, they are liable for any injuries. I'm sure the same rule of thumb applies to bikes as new cars. Once you drive it off the lot, it's "used", even though it had gone on numerous test drives off the lot before.

portland376

Alright, well now my brain just hurts Am I happy with the triple I have on my bike....yes. Would I have rather had a double on the bike.....yes. Did I want that double enough to pass up the deal on the bike I received.....no. I asked about ordering the bike in a double and it wasn't possible as they weren't getting in any more '06 bikes. Trust me I'll ride the hell out of the triple and I'm sure exchange over to a double at some point in the future. I have absolutely zero problems with the LBS, they've treated me great in the past and I'm sure they will continue to do so in the future. Like I said, my original post was a general pondering as to whether or not anybody else experienced this issue. The replies I've received have been great....if not somewhat maddening....but that's why i love this site And in reply to saddlebags post.....thanks for the congrats on the new bike, I'm stoked to get back out on the road!

jrennie

Important statement omitted from OP

kw2dio

I purchased a 2006 Trek Madone 5.2 SL in June. I was looking for a double, but unfortunately there was nothing in stock at the LBS or at Trek (only triples). The LBS ordered a triple from Trek and converted it to a double for me... free of charge. This was all agreed upon before the LBS placed the order with Trek.

Pedal Wench

I had a bike shop offer to do this on a bike I was going to buy - actually, exchange a triple and a compact, along with the proper derailleur. At no additional cost for parts or labor.

shoerhino

I had the exsact same experience. I purchased my 5.2 SL in May and there were no doubles at the LBS or in stock at Trek so they ordered a Triple and switched it out. If they had said no, I still woud habe gotten the bike with a Triple, as this was not a deal breaker for me.

terrymorse 

Here's what I do in such a situation:

1. Buy the stock bike.
2. Take off the parts I don't want, replace with parts I do want.
3. Sell the removed parts on eBay, as "take off" items from a new bike.

If I shop around, I usually break even on the parts.