CAAD5 problem
 

So I got my taxes returned yesterday and I decided to buy one of the new c'dale capos in red. I paid $800 for the complete bike plus some tax. I traded the bike shop the free wheel it came with for a fixed cog off of one of the langsters they had. The bike comes with really bad componenetry which is unfortunate but not unexpected. The ride is really smooth and I love the frame. I can't wait to upgrade the drive train though.
I decided to go on a short ride today with my brother. I argreed to meet him at his house but he wasn't there so I had to wait for him to get there. So I sat down on a curb near his place. When I was at curb level I noticed a dent on the drive side seat stay. I was outraged because I knew god damn well I didn't drop anything on my bike since I got it (the dent is on the top side of the seat stay). So I go to the bike shop where I got it after my ride to show them the dent and demand a new frame. They basically tell me that it's my fault and that the mechnic didn't notice it yesterday while he was switching the cogs. But that's bull **** because isn't very noticable. The dent goes in about a milameter or two but doesn't have any scratches around it. I'm positive I didn't do this because it seems like I dent you would notice making. Is it possible the factory shipped it with a defect? Is it possible that the mechnic did it when he was assembling the bike for me earlier in the day? What are my chances of getting a new frame?

Sorry to hear, but its like getting a car. You gotta call out all defects before signing the contract. You cant buy it and bring it back with problems you could have caused and blame it on them. No one has any proof of anything. A dent does not file under 'maufactuer defect' in my book (now if you snapped the chain stay, thatd be different). Its the way of the world, not just your bike shop. Chalk it up to a life lesson and dont worry about it, it should ride fine.

If the bikeshop didnt notice it, the mechanic didnt notice it, and it took you a long time to notice it.... odds are nobody is going to notice it. Go ride that new bike!

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http://www.bongobongostjohn.com/blog2/images/bondo.jpg

I would say the chances of getting a new frame are next to none. If you have a longstanding relationship with the shop and you have bought many bikes from them, then you would have a good shot. It sounds like this may have been your first purchase from them and they don't know you other than just that one dealing.

Since they cannot be liable for any damage thay may have happened after it left their care, they will probably refuse to replace.

Their responsibility is to deliver you a new bike in properly tuned form.

Your responsibility was to review the bike before taking delivery to ensure it met your expectations.

To their knowldege they did their part, and you cannot expect them to assume liability for damage that *may* have happened once you took posession.

Before flipping your ****, I'd find another of the same bike and check it to be sure they're not manufactured that way. Some bikes come "predented" to give the chainwheel a tad extra clearance.

KJ

http://www.bicycleexoticadirect.com....ainstay_lg.jpg

Oops, saw it was a seat stay, not a chain stay. Reading comprehension is not my strong suit today, apparently.

the thing is, there are no scratches around the dent. i don't think the paint on that thing is that durable, it looks sort of like a manufacturer defect. would that argument hold any water?

probably not. if it is as small as you say it is i wouldn't even worry about it at all. ive been riding a bike with a dented seat stay for months now (its even aluminum! how stupid i know!) just keep a close watch on it and you should be fine.

who cares?

I just dropped a few bucks on a phil/deep v wheel, and when i removed the velocity stickers from the rim, i noticed that the sticker conveniently covered up blemished paint.

Am i gonna go back to the shop that built it for me and demand they rebuild me a wheel? **** no. at best, I'm gonna see if theres a good way to touch it up, but scratches and dents happen, i figure now the first nick on the rim is out of the way i guess.

you're comparing a $50 or so wheel, to a $600 frame.

No he is not.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Phil-Wood-Track-...QQcmdZViewItem

You shell out for Phil Wood hubs they damn well better come polished and with a free *******.

and are you seriously passing the blame after you did not properly inspect a $600 frame before you purchased it?

Contact Canondale directly. Tell them the story. Talk about how you are a big fan of their products and you heard such good things, yadda, yadda. Contact as many people as you can until you get some response.

If it's a manufacturer thing (which seems to be the case here) then they've heard it before from others.

They will likely send you a new frame for free.

That's what Bianchi did for me.

my rear wheel cost half what your frame cost. factor in the tire and cog and is almost 2/3rds the price.

so:
1. I'd say the cost difference is moot considering it's not very big.
2. My blemish was hidden under a sticker, which means that until I got it home and removed the sticker, there'd be no way for me to even know. I inspected the wheel thoroughly at the shop, and found no flaws, because there were none visible.

We're talking about your rim not hub, but anyway, i totally missed the point you tried to make in your last post

I think his point was his wheel was worth a decent amount too, and he managed to quit his b*tchin' about some cosmetic stuff. So buck up and just go ride your bike. Thats what I got from it at least.

dude, the frame is thin walled aluminum, i'm not worried so much about cosmetics as i am my ****ing seat stay failing doing 35 mph down a city street. know what i mean?

define "thin walled aluminum" - i wouldn't say a cannondale capo fits the bill...
it shouldn't really be a problem if its as you describe (the dent goes in a millimeter or two) but its on you for not noticing it before walking out of the shop..

if a dent you couldn't even notice (and the mechanics[IF they did it] didn't notice it either) is enough to make your seatstay fall apart, you bought the wrong bike.

and if you want to get snide, you should have said 50 dollar rim, not 50 dollar wheel.

well it got the point across