I have a trek frame that needed replacing. I love Treks replacement service.

I go to my LOCAL LBS and I understand there is a charge to strip my old bike with the old (but higher end parts). I have no issue with that, they are charging a fee for that. I decided well, I can strip the bike myself. I have the tools. So I did. Afterwards I brought the frame to the LBS and they began the warranty replacement procedure by taking picture of the crack etc. Some time passes by and I get a call that my new frame is in, rather "The bike is here, bring your parts over and we'll swap em" I am happy. I didn't think much of it because I already in my mind thought he was referring to the frame
So I told them great so I'll bike up the frame later on in the day. However, apparently there was miscommunication and he thought I was going to bring the parts in.
I corrected him and said No, just the frame I'm going to get, not realizing that it was a whole bike setup that was sent to them

So here are the issues
(1) If I want the frame, I have to pay a stripping fee
I was a bit annoyed at hearing that because I'm like ********** I didn't realize that Trek sent a pre assembled bike and not just a frame (which I understand because its just easier for them)
(2) If you want to build the bike with your old parts theres a fee in that (which again I understand, its labor)


However it was my intention to build my bike back up with the frame in order to prevent that cost

So after I let them know that was my intention, they said they'll strip the bike and you'll get the frame with no warranty. (I understand that, that has to do with a qualified person building the bike, which I mean I'm pretty proficient at fixing my bike, almost all my components aren't stock)
Now, I dont want to NOT have the warranty. So now that leaves me in a rut


I said well, if TREK sent you a totally new bike, I'll pay for the assembly of the BIKE because I figured I'd use it for teh winter and save my better component for the spring. I even asked a TREK REP who used to work in a bike shop that, usually they'll just give you a new bike, like an even exchange ,but because I have different components, its essentially a different bike so the situation is a bit different than just giving you a replacement bike.

I was like, I dont want to make teh store lose money, let me pay for services rendered. So I tried to see where along the line will the LBS lose money if it did such and such

Here are the scenarios, that I'd like to bring to them


1) They have the bike in the box that is preassembled, they'll build it and I'd pay for the labor cost in that.
2) They have the bike in the box that is preassembled, strip it and they'll give me the frame (I'd WONT HAVE to pay for labor) but I'll have no warranty
3) They have the bike in the box that is preassembled, I bring in my old parts and they'll do the swap and I'd have to pay for it - and they keep the new parts
4) They have the bike in the box that is preassembled, I bring in my old parts and they'll do the swap and they'll keep the new parts in exchange for the service


I dont want to seem like I'm being greedy, or a bad customer. If they do a service I'll pay

What I wanted to do in the beginning was just get the frame and I'll do my assembly but since the waranty thing..that may not be a good idea (its my second time im doing a exchange same situation and literally about a year from the previous exchange, this one occured) (Back then they helped me out because I was going thruogh some things so they didnt' charge LABOR) (I'm a pretty frequent visitor)

So I was like well, if you have the bike, just build it for me and I'll pay for that. Because then I'll use that bike's component.
I was trying to justify the cost of the assembly, and I did. They build I pay.Not too outrageous, 75$

The issue is they dont want to do that. they want to keep the parts of the new bike, like pretend it doesn't exist.

I was hoping I could at least exchange the parts for the labor. However I rather pay for the bike to be assembled with the new parts because I'll use it for the winter.

So my question is am I wrong, where am I wrong and or what should I do.

I can understand them not wanting to build the bike and give it to me because thats basically giving me a new bike for a less. Now, I'd understand that if they bought the bike but it was sent to them no cost at all so they aren't actually losing money. This is another reason I am looking at this option. I actually benefits me a lot in this regards.

I missed a bit of the story on what happened to the original frame.

Talk to Trek directly.

If they are expecting you to trade a bare broken frame for a complete bike, then I'd just accept the bike in a box, and do with it what you wish.

If not, then the parts aren't yours to "give" to the LBS. Your LBS would have to work out whether they would buy the parts from Trek, or ship them back.

The original frame is gone i guess iunno. The LBS already HAS the NEW BIKE that Trek sent them. The NEW BIKE has the frame.
I asked TREK can't i just take the box home with me and let me assemble it myself so no one is doing labor but me, but he said no they cant allow that.

So you brought up a interesting point
The shop may actually just send EVERYTHING but the frame back?
I did talk to TREK but I didn't have the info to tell about my warranty case so they could look it up. But I told him everything, and he said the same thing, that its a new bike basically and everything there is mine (mine as in, its belongs to the bike), .

Its a Dual Sport bike not a fancy domane or anything if that makes a difference.

So I could be a case of the shop actually not keeping the parts for themselves but sending it back to Trek? thats another scenario is what youre saying?

What would they charge you for assembling the bike? I'm reading the $75 was charged for the previous exchange, right?

They're providing a service, even if it's just facilitating the warranty exchange.

We get a lot of posts asking what bike to buy. My go-to answer is to shop for a shop first. Find the right shop, people you are comfortable dealing with, buy a brand that they carry in a price range that you're comfortable with and you'll never go wrong.

When you are shopping for a shop, one thing to think about is who you are going to have to deal with if you have a warranty issue.

Take the new bike home, and do the swap yourself. You get the old parts, the new parts, and the warranty.

Here's my understanding of the situation:

You had a frame warranty replacement issue. One option is to get the new frame with your personal parts installed for no fee, in exchange for the parts off the factory bike which the lbs keeps for their troubles (#4 above). This sounds like a completely fair deal. You get the frame you were guaranteed with your parts installed for no extra dollars. Lbs gets some compensation for their service. Trek avoids the added expense/logistics of importing both built and nonbuilt framesets and compensating dealers for warranty repairs. Win-win-win.

Ask the LBS what your options are... select the least objectionable option... write a check. Enjoy your new bike.

+1 This would seem to be the thing to do.

It just seems to me that they LBS you are dealing with are being jerks wanting to make money on something that they shouldnt. This is probably not the fault of Trek.

Also since you did have a frame problem, there is no way I would let the LBS cheat you out of the frame warranty on the new bike.

Is this a Trek store or an independent LBS? I can't see you getting back more parts than you turn it (if you return a frame you get a replacement frame, not a replacement bike until you return a whole bike).

I can see them not wanting to warranty items you install (like them have to tune everything for free after you avoided their fee by installing it yourself) but the frame set should be guaranteed by Trek regardless of who install the parts in the frame. That point would be a big sticking point for me and would have to be resolved before I went any farther.

On another note. This is the second cracked/failed frame you've had in a year? What's going on with that?

Trek won't warranty a frame built up by anyone but I Trek dealer, I believe, because they cannot be sure that some guy building his own bike for the first time didn't screw up the frame by cross-threading something or whatever.

LBS can only warranty its own work. Paerts manufacturers warranty parts, Trek warranties the frame.

If he takes the new bike home as is, her gets the frame warranty. If he swaps his old parts onto the new frame, he gets the new parts, which Trek sent him as part of the warrantied frame replacement deal.

This is what happened with a frame that broke on me. I'm a competent mechanic and might be a better one than the guys who work at the shop if my discussions with them about doing something that "just can't be done" is any indication. But the bike manufacturer didn't know me from Adam. Pay the fee and get your bike. No, it doesn't feel right, paramountx, but that's the way it is.

Why not take the new bike assembled by the shop to keep your warranty. The assembly fee on a pre assembled bike can't be too dear.
Then swap out the parts you don't like with the one's taken off your damaged frame.

My LBS charged me $250 to do the parts swap for a warranty frame replacement. When I complained to Trek the basically said "there's nothing we can do about it. The dealer charges what they want."

Compare costs, with engine replacements into your Car.. (its more)

I read your post over several times and I still don't understand the issue. So you have a frame that is being replaced by Trek for the second time. Now, how much is your LBS charging?

Also if you know, what is going on that you find yourself sending a frame back to Trek for warranty replacement twice?

Charging for labor can be normal, I know a few local bike shops that do that. They're facilitating the process and their piece of the process ensures the warranty is supported - this is how most industries work. You can't do work to a car/dishwasher/fridge/washing machine, ... yourself and be covered by a manufacturer's warranty, so it shouldn't be a surprise here. I think you're putting too much thought into all this. Pay the cost to have them be part of the process & if that pisses you off then don't do it in the future.

I think your being too picky. Take which ever option is the best for you and pay the money. You are getting a good deal either way. Your local bike shop isn't a government funded organization that can just pass their costs onto the tax payer. And the bike company is being really good to you with their offer.

Every car or motorcycle warranty claim I've ever done has always included the labor to swap out and in the parts (the shops get paid by the manufacturer, not the customer!): why can't the bike industry behave the same way! Cheapskates.

Trek offers a lifetime warranty on frames, and this is OP's second warranty claim. How many car or motorcycle manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty?

You should not have to pay to strip the frame. That is between Trek and your shop.

If you blow a transmission in the car and the car manufacturer sends you a whole new car (saying you can only have the transmission), do you have to pay to get the transmission pulled?

My opinion of a warranty is that it should cover manufacture defects, not stupid mistakes. Is this a steel, aluminum, or CF frame?

If you mess up the BB shell due to your heavy handed wrenching and improvising, that would be on you.
If you over-torque the seat post clamp, that would also be on you.

If the BB to seat tube junction cracks, then unless that could be proven part of your build, then it should be on Trek no matter who did the assembly.

Having a whole new bike sitting in the shop just sounds strange. We don't have a lot of details about the warranty repair in this thread. I suppose if the warranty replacement was on a NEW bike (< 2 yrs old?) then one might expect a bike-for-bike swap (what happened to all the original parts). On the other hand, if it is an old bike, (> 10 yrs old), then it is hard to match components, and one might expect just a bare frame.

One of the other things to keep in mind. If a few years have passed, and you're getting a new upgraded model, there undoubtedly will be a few of your old parts that just won't fit on the new bike. Different seat posts, bottom bracket, stems, handlebars, etc.

There would be advantages of starting with a "complete" bike, then swapping parts as needed, or perhaps just keeping the new model.

Obviously you can't see the entire picture. If the bike shop has agreed to make the brand new bike road-ready for a $75 fee and you get to have new parts on the new bike plus keep all of the old parts stripped from the broken frame, that seems to be a hell of a deal. Don't obsess on the assembly fee even though you think the bike shop should do it for free.

OP, I didn't mean to imply that you messed up the frame in any way, just that trek's policy is that unless a Trek dealer assembles a frame, they won't warranty it---which is why if you take a bare replacement frame and build it up, they won't warranty it.

I still say, get the new bike, let the shop assemble it, pay what it costs ... it is a cheap deal to get a new, fully warrantied frame right?

Then do the swap at home and save the parts, or EBay them.

Either way, you get a working bike with a brand-new, warrantied frame, which is a lot better than most of us get if a frame breaks.

Kind of a weird scenario if you ask me.

Option #1 shouldn't have much of a labor charge as the bike is mostly assembled when it comes in the box from Trek. Depending on the components, I'd probably go that route. Then you can strip it at your leisure and sell the components you don't want or keep them as spares. PLUS you get a warranty on the replacement frame/bike. That's worth something.