gizzsdad

I recently ordered some nice wheels from a site recommended on this site. The wheels are advertised on the web page as using Hed's special 23mm wide scandium clincher rims. I received the wheels yesterday and noticed that are no markings on the rims at all. I didn't think too much about this until one of my conspiracy theorist friends suggested - "How do you know you got the Scandium(Ardennes) instead of the regular C2 rims?"

This morning I called Hed and asked that question. I was told that Hed does not sell the rims separately other than the actual Ardennes wheel, and that they would not recommend the scandium for a rider of my weight (225#).

If what Hed is telling me is true, then I apparently overpaid for my wheels, and how do I approach the wheel builder without being too confrontational? But at least one of them is not being truthful.

Any thoughts??

TriEngineer

did the site where you bought the wheels post a rider weight limit? If they did not, call them up and ask for a weight limit. If they say that their wheels will be fine, impress upon them that you were in contact with HED and that they specifically said the wheels are not for you. Ask for a refund.

gizzsdad

The site recommended them for riders over 210. Actually, their build has more spokes than HED's 'stallion' build. HED is saying that I did not get the Ardennes rims, and what I got, while 20 grams heavier per rim, is more appropriate for me. But HED's Ardennes wheels are about $200 per set more that the other C2 rims.

Quel

Email the builder and ask for an explanation. If the explanation is poor and you still think you got taken for some money, then I'd probably take it up with paypal (or however you paid).

AngryScientist 

this is what i would do. include all the facts that you have gathered. leave emotion out of it, you entered into a business deal, you should treat it as such, dont worry about hurt feelings, present your case, state the facts and go from there.

coasting 

if you were ripped off and you know for sure, then there is no dilemma. confront him with the facts.

FlashBazbo

Yeah, you don't want to exceed HED's weight limits. (I'm 168 lbs. and the Ardennes with the 190-lb. limit didn't work for me.)

If you've got the lighter wheel, you need to change. If you didn't get the lighter wheel, you need a refund.

kleinboogie

Let the builder present his side before proceeding. There may have been a miscommunication which can happen when ordering by phone or online. As others said, if the explanation is weak and doesn't line-up with HEDs statement then the builder has some questionable practices or doesn't really know HEDs policies. GL

PhilNYC

Imho, if the wheelbuilder delivered to you anything different from what you asked for without telling you, then you have every right to return the wheels for a refund...

darkadious

wait what?

Uni-Vibe

This is why you buy from your Local Bike Shop rather than internet pirates.

coasting 

i've had shoddy work by clueless bike shop too.

intence

Are you sure you received the cheaper rim? I would contact the builder. It may or may not have been intentional.

DScott

Can you, um, measure the rims to see which ones they are?

Regular rims are 19mm wide, btw...

WhyFi

^^^ no, the HED C2 rims are 23mm, but there are two different versions, the Scandium ones that they use on the Ardennes and the "regular" ones that they use on all of the others. Without marking, they would look identical... except HED doesn't offer the Scandium rims for sale separately, hence the OPs dilemma.

I would just call the builder and see what's up. If it doesn't go well, return the things, stop payment, etc.

gizzsdad

I did email the builder. His explanation was that he builds wheels for another company that has permission to use the HED C2 scandiums. He guaranteed that my rims are scandium. Below is a link to the wheelset he builds for them. A call to HED confirmed the permission to buy/build the Ardennes rim, which probably also explains the lack of markings.

My wheels are identical to these except that mine are built with CX-Ray spokes:

https://www.eucycleimports.com/index....w=article&id=2

MDcatV

+1. unless you know what you're doing, internet orders are for bar tape, nutrition, and water bottles.

Psimet2001 

So...what's the problem then - besides being fairly large to be riding on a scandium rim.... ....and CX Ray spokes.

Psimet2001 

Obviously I disagree. There are many of use who are just like any other shop - it's just that our products need a larger market in order to succeed - local markets are too small. Would you rather have a local shop that does 10-20 wheel builds from scratch each year or a builder that builds hundreds or thousands from scratch?

....besides....all of us are SOMEONE's local shop.

colombo357

When then that's pointless then. I use duct tape instead of bar tape, and I buy all nutritional products from my local 7-Eleven. Why can't I buy bike parts online? Am I not allowed? Please give me permission.

gizzsdad

None - now that I can be sure I have what I paid for.

MDcatV

apple meet orange. since i can see your face, talk to you in the interwebs, and have some feel for who you are based on those factors, i dont view psimet.com the same way as a more traditional etailer that folks find a "screaming deal" on a wheel set, buy it, get it, looks different, is out of true, doesnt have rim strip, or whatever and they are left without a way to resolve their disatisfaction.

Psimet2001 

Totally understandable - just wanted others to keep in mind that most of us small guys are having to go to the web to stay afloat - but by doing so we haven't sacrificed our eye on quality.