Moose

This is a BS response... not every customer is going to satisfied just walking away from a situation resulting from negligent work.

Most mechanics would take a fork out of the frame to cut it. It's easier to cut when it's clamped into a cutting guide that's mounted in a vice. You get better results and can file off the burrs more easily, you also avoid wielding a sharp tool near the frame and getting metal shavings all over the bike.

If the profession is in it's last days it's because of this kind of service.

How does this fit into your story? Why would Soma owe you any thanks?

jefnvk

I was once offered a mechanics job on nothing more than the fact the shop needed one desperately and I had told them I was in looking for parts for my down to frame MTB->Touring rebuild.

I wouldn't have a clue how to cut a steerer tube, never owned a bike it was necessary. Of course, they wouldn't offer even half my auto engineering salary and already had an occasional night and weekend guy, so I shot them down.

Moose

It doesn't take a ton of specific knowledge to keep sharp tools with many teeth away from finish painted surfaces on expensive carbon fiber frames.

Bmach

I would really like to see pix. I find it hard to believe that any good painter could not fix it. You sound like all you want is blood for something minor that CAN be fixed. And yes it is here and there.

Moose

You are absolutely right...as long as the scratches or "gouges" as the OP described don't go beneath the finish and into the carbon. If the carbon is cut that could create stress risers which may develop into a crack.

Alot of the discussion here is meaningless without having someone who knows what they are looking at inspect the damage.

jefnvk

I can't count the number of times a tool has slipped while working on my own goods and marred something cosmetically (or my fingers less than cosmetically). It really isn't that hard for me to see how someone else can slip up.

If it is that big of a deal, take them to court, and start doing your own wrenching if you wan to completely avoid this situation again. Otherwise, settle for whatever they offer, they seem to have wanted to make it right by having it clear coated again. That is more than fair, I personally would have been happy at list price on some accessories. This whole discussion is absurd.

Nachoman

Day one, picking up a new bike from LBS, I put a little ding in the top tube.
It still annoys me to this day. And my DIY attempt to cover the scratch with non matching nail polish made it look worse.
OP, I can relate, but let's see some pics of the damage.

tagaproject6

indyfabz

As I figured it would, this thread is going down the same path a relatively recent thread of a similar nature did. As such, I say...

****

Dreww10

The bike is not in my possession, otherwise I'd post a photo.

I'm not whining nor "out for blood" as another commenter above alludes to. I simply came here to ask if this was negligent and what a fair request for my time and trouble. They have offered to attempt repairing it. My concern and the reason I'm hesitant is that that could easily make the situation worse if not done right. And, despite what commenters here seem to think, I am considering the plight of the shop here, as well: a repair could be much more costly than they believe, and I hate to see them shoulder such a cost as much as I hate that it happened in the first place.

fietsbob

Just Take care of the scratch itself.. probably had enough touch up paint in the shipping box to cover the scratch ,
just the New Bike display tags don't have all that stuff in them..

But if like My Local Shop.. there is a bin, where many of the little brush in cap bottles are saved.



...

Fastfingaz

,,,,, I bet you if he'd go to a woman's cosmetics dept find the nail polish area get the color that fits and some clear coat and raa raa raa,,,, done , yeah it ain't gonna be the same but,,,,,,

Nelvick

That is exactly what i will do in that case. Happy ending for both.

autonomy

What's the hassle worth to you? I just picked up a new bike from REI and low and behold it has 2 spots on the fork where something rubbed against the paint down to the metal. I contacted REI and they said to call the shop and see if they have touch up paint. In all fairness, I should receive a nearly perfect bike and if I really wanted to, I could go an return this bike and get a new one.

But, in reality bikes that get used will get lots of dings and scratches. I have little free time so I'm more interested in spending it on riding the bike than looking it a it or, god forbid, arguing with customer service/getting exchanges. So I just put some nail polish on it and made it 'mine'. If they already offered to try and repair it, I would accept that and see how it comes out.

Iride01 

Scratches and cuts in the clearcoat should be the easiest to fix. And if done by anyone with reasonable experience painting auto bodies should look pretty good depending on money and time someone is willing to spend on it.

It's when the color underneath gets scratched that you have a bigger problem of matching things.

noimagination

The shop already said what they're willing to do to make this right. Either take that, or ask for a fix that is of equivalent value (what that might be, I don't know).

I agree with others that the original maintenance (cutting steerer tube) should be comped.

Agreed that they were careless. Agreed that I would be upset in the same situation. Other than fixing the clear coat, though, I don't know what else one could ask. A full frame sand/repaint/recoat seems extreme. Seems to me you either have them get the clearcoat patched, or live with the scratches, or cover the scratches with something (someone suggested a sticker - or, you could go for the Tri look and put one of those pouches on your top tube).

Sorry, it sucks, but stuff does happen: we don't have to like it, we just have to deal with it.

Pretend a vulture tried to rip out your liver and, although you beat him off with your frame pump, it scratched your top tube. Even more effective if, at the end of your tale, you scream "Damn you, Zeeuuusss!!!" (consider changing your screen name to something involving Prometheus, or fire)

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northtexasbiker

Assuming it's just cosmetic they've offered to fix and you don't want to out of fear it will look worse. I am not sure what else you expect of them. They aren't going to pay to have it completely refinished by a carbon fiber specialist, nor are they going to give you discounts of that worth.

big chainring 

A little WD-40 on the scratch and buff with soft rag. Done.

wphamilton

I understand the attitude that all bikes get scratches, just buff it out, stuff happens etc and I can see the point, but if it was my bike and a conspicuous scratch I'd be upset and the shop would need to fix it. I'd let them do the touch-up which might be fine, and if not then they'd have to go to Plan B, whatever that may be. But in the end, whatever it costs them to fix the damage is their issue, not mine.

Reynolds 

It was a stupid mistake by the mechanic, he should apologize and the shop should offer you some compensation - next job for free, an accesory for your bike, something like that - but it's not the end of the world IMO.

Juggy_Gales

I would want to be compensated for damage.. even to the clearcoat..

But yea, it would be helpful if he posted some pics so we could even see the damage..

I mean.. what solution were you looking for? what are you expecting the bike shop to do to make it right?

Nooner

The bike shop screwed up and scratched the bike.
They offered to repair the scratch.
What's this thread about?

city_cowboy

So many former bike shop owners and employees in this thread.

Emphasis on "former."

city_cowboy

Yeah it's difficult if not impossible to judge the extent of the damage without a few photos.

There are actually a couple of auto body shops locally that do solid work with dent repair, painting and detailing, and I am not in a very big city. I don't know if the auto body shops would be as successful working with a bicycle frame but I don't see how or why it would hurt to call them and at least inquire.

Generally speaking I refrain from allowing others work on my bike or even locking it up for me. It's amazing how many gorilla fisted morons work on bikes. I want to say bike shop employees are a step up from felons banging out license plates in the state pen but I'm not so sure about that.

checoles

I wouldn't use that shop again, and I'd be sure to let others know that whilst yes, they were highly regarded, they did scratch my bike whilst doing something that could've been prevented had they bothered to do the job correctly.

As the bike is still ridable, and its only a couple of scratches, I don't think you'll get anything. Could kick up a fuss and get hold of a free winter jacket or something? But apart from that, there isn't much you can do apart from let the shop send your frame off to a auto-repair shop.

Or, the best option, stick a rad sticker over it

Happy Riding!
Che