TO members, I have been an avid cyclist for 15 yrs and ride a colnago road bike. I wanted a new Italian frame this summer and have been thru a nitemare. I ordered a steel frame from USA EURO BIKE in Cocoa Bch. Fla. in June. I received it in Sept. and my local bike shop couldn't get the Dura Ace BB to thread all the down becuase they felt the shell was cross threaded. I contacted the company and I sent frame and BB for back examination at my expense! He explained to that my bike shop was not cognizant of Italian frames, and that a "special tool" was needed. I was skeptical since my shop services Italian frames with a local racing club I belong too, and have been in business for over 20 yrs. USA EURO BIKE sent the frame back to me with BB installed and billed my account an additional $45. Well, he installed it backwards and it was crooked. I sent it back to him, (at my expense again) for re-examination. He is refusing to accept that the frame is damaged and refuses any responsibility. My only options are to have it sent back to me, (at my expense) or he keeps it and charges me a 10% restocking fee and a store credit for the balance. I offered a another frame but no deal! I filed a dispute with my credit card company and all documentation and I received a credit for a full refund, but he has 45days to contest this. Hopefully by mid December I will be able to shop for another frame. Be careful of .com companies and importers who have poor business practices. Any ideas on what else I can do?Thanks, Shawn

Contact your local Better Business Bureau and the Better Business Bureau in the city of the USA Euro Bikes.

Also, write a letter to the President of the company and explain your dilema (though he/she may be the one you are communicating with already). Be sure to tell the company president exactly what you want done such as refund your money, replace the frame, redo the work, etcetera.

Mike, he is the president, he runs this business from his house. I have also contacted the BBB in his area. They told me since he wasn't a member, they couldn't offer me any assistance. The BBB filed a formal complaint with him, but he insists there is nothing wrong with the frame. Thanks, Shawn

Shawn

The other thing you can do if you are not getting a response is to direct his attention to this bike forum and any other forum or newsgroup that cyclists would be interested in. Tell him that if you don't get better service that you will post to all these forums to let everyone know about his business dealings. Let him see all the business he is likely to lose or has lost already due to the poor publicity which you can initiate. These .com businesses can be killed just as fast as they start up due to the wonderful power of the web. He would be much better off giving you a full refund and a public apology than to fight this war with you in public.

Best of luck to you.

Mike

Be sure you are getting a frame with good parallel facing and intact threading in the BB shell. Despite the pedigree, it is possible that the factory did not thread the drive side as deeply as they should have.

That's the best bit of advice yet. I've been ripped off before, and it really annoys the living sh*t out of me. It sounds like the guy doesn't deserve to be in business.

To Captain Crunch, I have e-mailed him that I was going to notify national cycling puplications and all the cycling forums I could, to complain about his service. He just blows me off. I also e-mailed Doccordi directly with a formal complaint in Oct. and they have yet to respond. It can be a long cold winter in N.C. and even if the credit card company resolves this dispute in my favor, this is not over. It's the "special tool" and the fact that I'm out over $125 in shipping costs that makes so angry! FYI, the frame was $1500! I also contacted the State of Fla. Consumer Affairs Divsion and they can't be any assistance. Thanks for all of the advise. If any other members can offer me any advise, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Shawn

Shawn

Have you actually followed through with posting to the forums and newsgroups. Maybe once he sees that you are are doing something he may change his mind. Why don't you post his email address and then everyone from the forum can send him a nasty letter stating that the word is spreading and that his business is doomed.

If nothing else it will tie up his site with lots of junk mail.

Mike

It is very important that Dura-Ace bottom brackets be installed while the faces and threads are perfectly parallel. If it is installed into an out of parallel BB, it may be ruined and unusable. The new Dura-Ace BBs are very touchy.

In other words, the guy may be right in a way. The frame may be just fine for a different type of BB such as an Ultegra or better yet a Phil Wood BB that is Shimano compatible.

Since the guy has been such a jerk about it, I'd cut my losses and try out another BB in the frame. You should also be aware that your LBS may have contributed to the problem by the installation. If you have faith in them as mechanics though, you should consider buying a frame from them in the first place, it may be worth the extra expense to buy from them rather than try and save a few bucks using mail order.

As a fomer bike shop manager, I know how it feels to try and compete with mail order and then try to cover for a customers frustrations. There's a lot to be said for developing a good relationship with a good LBS.

I hope he doesn't contest. If he doesn't, take your money and run!!!! If he hasn't done good business this far, he won't do good business down the road. There has got to be other ways to get Italian road bikes in the USA. I wouldn't try a new BB, or anything, cut your losses and get out of this guys schemes. Thats my take on it.

I couldn't agree more. Although it is too late now. Large jobs or large parts like frames, I get at the LBS. Smaller parts and clothes from shopping around . Its worth it in the long run, especially if you have a good relationship with your LBS and can indeed trust them.

I hope it works out for you though.

To everyone, this guys e-mail site is usaeurobike .com or eurocycle@aol.com. I all ready have a excellent relationship with my LBS. I had 2 options with my budget. $$$ with frame and less on components or less $$$ frame more on components. I thought I found a great deal on the frame to let me do both. A costly mistake! I have been riding Italian slx frames in the past and wanted foco steel. My LBS couldn't provide a frame within my budget. But you are right, the extra $$$ is better than the stress and frustration with a guy who can't give great service. Reguarding the BB, when he installed it backwards, the fixed cup was one the left adj. was one the right and it was crooked.This will cause problems with the shifting because crankset will not be parallel to the direction of travel. Which will cause the BB bearings to wear prematurely. I've called several professional shops in the country to confirm that under no circumstances should it be reversed. Get this, he said he had 3 affidavits stating that the frame is perfect from defects and wanted to send me copies 6wks. ago. I am still waiting!! I built my last bike myself, a Colnago with D/A without the "special tool" and have 20,000 miles on the orginal BB. The last 14,000 training with a local racing club I joined 2yrs. ago. I think I know this stuff, or thought I did. Thanks, Shawn

The new Dura-Ace BBs do require a special tool as they've been redesigned. They are very finicky and my advice to all is to go with the Ultegra as it is nearly the quality of the DA but is not nearly as touchy with the installation.

There are some components I will almost always cuts corners on, I go with the Chorus rather tha the Record on brakes etc. Cranks and hubs however are not an area to cut corners on.

BTW, I do think some of the American frames are the best, I do understand the thing about the Italian frames, but there are a few Italians that have emmigrated to the US and make good frames here. Shop around a bit, you might see that tradition right here in the US.

Until then though, live and learn sorry to hear about all the trouble.

Oh yeah, if you need that BB replaced, these guys can do it for $120. They're the kind of guys I was just talking about.

https://www.simocycles.com/html/frames.html

To Felix, thanks for the tip. If it comes to this, shouldn't this company pick up the tab? What do I do if he refuses? What a mess, all I want is a new frame! Thanks, Shawn

Yes, they should pick up the tab, but I'll bet they won't even give you the option.

Try this, give those guys at Simonetti a call, tell them about the mess you have. Pay for all the shipping and repairs. Keep the receipts and THEN take the guy to small claims court in his own state. File it right there in his home town, also keep receipts of your transportation costs. Get affidavits from the guys that do the repair, keep every bit of correspondence from the guy that sold it to you and anything else you can document.

Most small claims will find in your favor if you document evrything correctly and if you behave in a resonable manner while in court. There are no lawyers involved and you should recoup the expenses if you document them. You can consult a lawyer for advice, but you won't be able to count that expense (I think).

To Mike, and other members, I found a great web-site and filed a complaint. ConsumerAffairs.Com. They are publishing it in thier newsletter. I am forwarding it to USAEURO BIKE's e-mail. Thanks, Shawn

To all members, well guess what, the SOB is contesting!!!! He refuses to stand behind the products they sell. I have all documentation and plan to fight this to the bitter end. The original deposit was in June and it is almost Jan. UNBELIEVABLE!! Shawn