Has anyone gotten their alien?
#26
The Neighbor of the Beast
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#28
The Neighbor of the Beast
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You have to give him credit for coming on here and facing the music tho.
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Howdy. This is Joseph from Alien Bikes. Here is the short version of what the current status is:
The frames were delayed by first errors in construction.
Then the new remade frames were delayed by weather.
Then I went away for "vacation" that had been planned months in advance so I couldn't change when the frames arrived later than planned. This meant I couldn't email that often so issues took longe rto resolve.
Some of the boxes were mislabeled so the frames needed to be individually measured to make sure no size mix-ups happen.
The frames are at a 3rd party warehouse that does storage and packing for mail order companies. They provide an excellent service, but it means sorting out things like the mislabeled boxes takes a long time with lots of back-and-forth.
The frames are all there, and are being sorted and will ship soon.
I'm new to this and this is the first batch, so I guess I should have been more cynical about what shipping dates to expect. I understand some folks are frustrated by the delays and "run-around" but I'm sure they will think it was worth the wait once their frames arrive!
I will have nice pics soon showing details, but in the meantime here are some snapshots (ignore the crappy paint):
https://alienbikes.com/track_frame/track_frame.html
I hope to have some pics of customer bikes soon. And a bike is to be reviewed on fixedgeargallery as soon as it is painted and assembled.
Thanks!
Joseph
The frames were delayed by first errors in construction.
Then the new remade frames were delayed by weather.
Then I went away for "vacation" that had been planned months in advance so I couldn't change when the frames arrived later than planned. This meant I couldn't email that often so issues took longe rto resolve.
Some of the boxes were mislabeled so the frames needed to be individually measured to make sure no size mix-ups happen.
The frames are at a 3rd party warehouse that does storage and packing for mail order companies. They provide an excellent service, but it means sorting out things like the mislabeled boxes takes a long time with lots of back-and-forth.
The frames are all there, and are being sorted and will ship soon.
I'm new to this and this is the first batch, so I guess I should have been more cynical about what shipping dates to expect. I understand some folks are frustrated by the delays and "run-around" but I'm sure they will think it was worth the wait once their frames arrive!
I will have nice pics soon showing details, but in the meantime here are some snapshots (ignore the crappy paint):
https://alienbikes.com/track_frame/track_frame.html
I hope to have some pics of customer bikes soon. And a bike is to be reviewed on fixedgeargallery as soon as it is painted and assembled.
Thanks!
Joseph
#33
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All of these cases (to my knowledge) were resolved to the customers satisfaction with minimal hassle. No need to send back to me for inspection or anything. A couple digital snapshots, and some email is enough for me. Even though I am convinced at least some of these were user error, I consider it all under the heading "**** happens" and dealt with it in a way that made everyone happy.
My suggestion is that anyone who rides a low gear and/or hard (as in aggressive skids, etc) should certainly get a better cog than the one supplied just to save everyone some grief.
Joseph (alien)
#35
No plan.
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I lold, but Joeseph seems to be a good guy and the company seems to be off to a good start, with the expected start-up troubles. Terror in Pink's new groupie is always pessimistic and has posted nothing useful or positive in any thread I've seen.
Overall alien's customer service seems on par as with Tony, Mike, or any other smaller bike shop.
Overall alien's customer service seems on par as with Tony, Mike, or any other smaller bike shop.
#36
Don't Hate.
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that does storage and packing for mail order companies. They provide an excellent service, but it means sorting out things like the mislabeled boxes takes a long time with lots of back-and-forth.
The frames are all there, and are being sorted and will ship soon.
):
https://alienbikes.com/track_frame/track_frame.html
The frames are all there, and are being sorted and will ship soon.
):
https://alienbikes.com/track_frame/track_frame.html
#38
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I would start to be wary of Alien Bike. Email communication has fallen off the map as of mid June. I had to ask around to other online bike heads to find out that Alien Bikes are posting in forums like this instead of sending out mass email to paying customers about their major issues.
Attn: Joseph of Alien Bikes, please make things right!
Attn: Joseph of Alien Bikes, please make things right!
#39
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this is the email I received today in response to an email i sent a few days prior:
i'm patient, but i can understand how people would be bothered by this wait. his email response did not take that long in my case, though i did CC the email to both of the alien contact emails.
Hi Steve,
Your frame is at the powder-coater now. I don't know exactouy how long it will take, but not loong now.
The cranksets are in stock ready to ship. BB's are not quite ready to ship. They will be in afew days.
Sorry about the delay!
Joseph
Your frame is at the powder-coater now. I don't know exactouy how long it will take, but not loong now.
The cranksets are in stock ready to ship. BB's are not quite ready to ship. They will be in afew days.
Sorry about the delay!
Joseph
i'm patient, but i can understand how people would be bothered by this wait. his email response did not take that long in my case, though i did CC the email to both of the alien contact emails.
#40
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Yah, got a response to my 2nd email:
I am stoked. He also offered a slight refund, but I'd rather he get on his feet with the 1st run!
Also, these are lookin hot: https://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm
Hey Ray,
Sorry about the delays :-(
Your frame is ready to ship, but I'm waiting for the seat-post binder bolt. I didn't realize it was just sitting there waiting for just that. I can send out the frame asap, and get the seatpost binder sent out when it comes. That way you can at least get started painting.
Joseph
Sorry about the delays :-(
Your frame is ready to ship, but I'm waiting for the seat-post binder bolt. I didn't realize it was just sitting there waiting for just that. I can send out the frame asap, and get the seatpost binder sent out when it comes. That way you can at least get started painting.
Joseph
Also, these are lookin hot: https://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm
#42
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Yah, got a response to my 2nd email:
I am stoked. He also offered a slight refund, but I'd rather he get on his feet with the 1st run!
Also, these are lookin hot: https://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm
I am stoked. He also offered a slight refund, but I'd rather he get on his feet with the 1st run!
Also, these are lookin hot: https://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm
I wonder if that's Joseph? He seems younger via email.
#43
ready for the freakout
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#44
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#45
ready for the freakout
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here's an update from fixedgeargallery's forum. i'm assuming "admin" is the guy who runs FGG and is the dude in the above photos.
Originally Posted by admin
As some of you might know, by some mysterious alignment of the stars, Alien's US warehouse just happens to be here in Traverse City, Michigan. Joseph is in Oslo, Norway .... just go figure that one out.
We (Powdercoat Studio) are therefore handling all of the powdercoating for Alien. I too, have been waiting a bit, not Joseph's fault I assure you. The shipment was delayed by the rain and flooding in Illinois, then by US Customs in Chicago. There have also been some delays with the warehouse, and I just got (Friday) the first group of 24 frames to have powdercoated for customers. Yikes, like each step in a process, I wish they were baby steps instead of 24 big steps all at one time.
Astute Gallery viewers might also notice that this evening we launched Hell Yes, which is all being done in-house. I'm totally swamped, my friends.
https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/hell-yes/
Some have drilled forks, some with bbs installed, etc. We're getting them into our system as fast as we can, and I realize that is no excuse. HOWEVER, I think you are going to be blown away when you see what they look like.
https://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm
I wasn't expecting to have to clean up the seat tubes, but Friday I ordered a 27.2 seat tube reamer and adjustable hone. See a couple of the photos as to why. Looks like everything else is just fine. Lugged, flat crown, more, and more. They all have a phosphate anti-rust coating, that's what you see in the photos. They'll get the seattubes reamed when they come back from PC, and that won't hold up the delivery anymore than me getting 24 frames all done !!
We (Powdercoat Studio) are therefore handling all of the powdercoating for Alien. I too, have been waiting a bit, not Joseph's fault I assure you. The shipment was delayed by the rain and flooding in Illinois, then by US Customs in Chicago. There have also been some delays with the warehouse, and I just got (Friday) the first group of 24 frames to have powdercoated for customers. Yikes, like each step in a process, I wish they were baby steps instead of 24 big steps all at one time.
Astute Gallery viewers might also notice that this evening we launched Hell Yes, which is all being done in-house. I'm totally swamped, my friends.
https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/hell-yes/
Some have drilled forks, some with bbs installed, etc. We're getting them into our system as fast as we can, and I realize that is no excuse. HOWEVER, I think you are going to be blown away when you see what they look like.
https://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm
I wasn't expecting to have to clean up the seat tubes, but Friday I ordered a 27.2 seat tube reamer and adjustable hone. See a couple of the photos as to why. Looks like everything else is just fine. Lugged, flat crown, more, and more. They all have a phosphate anti-rust coating, that's what you see in the photos. They'll get the seattubes reamed when they come back from PC, and that won't hold up the delivery anymore than me getting 24 frames all done !!
#47
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has anyone actually got their frame yet? still waiting on mine. i understand that there have been certain delays, but i still have no idea when i will be getting my frame;
#49
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I'm stoked. Mine came in mid-last week, and looks great!
Got to wait another week for my powdercoater dude to get in from the river, then it's ON!
thanks for all ya do Joseph!
Got to wait another week for my powdercoater dude to get in from the river, then it's ON!
thanks for all ya do Joseph!
#50
not actually Nickatina
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Damn, wanna see dem PICS.
I emailed Joseph, he said weight of frame/fork is 1900g (or maybe he meant frame only, not sure). That's about 4lb - not bad at all for steel and fairly standard really.
I emailed Joseph, he said weight of frame/fork is 1900g (or maybe he meant frame only, not sure). That's about 4lb - not bad at all for steel and fairly standard really.