mgc2017

Hi all,

Just bought & received a brand-new Mavic Elite S wheelset from Ebay. Funny - I was getting a great deal ($575 USD) and thought "this is almost too good to be true!". They arrived in excellent condition, with one exception:

Each wheel had, in the inner surface of rim, some odd short bits of tape, as below (one picture with black tape, one with tape removed). I removed the short section of tape, and each wheel had several scrapes/markings that were identical wheel-to-wheel. On each wheel, as below, there is a ~5cm flattened scrape, along with two pin-sized indentations.

I am thinking that either:

1) I have been dishonestly sold 'factory rejects', hence the good price
2) This is a standard factory process, with markings present on every wheelset, that 99% of users never notice

Any thoughts?

CliffordK

Where are those markings with respect to the valve stem?

Stravacyclist79

Mavic Ksyrium Elite S Wheelset | The Colorado Cyclist
They're $529 here if these are the same.
Maybe you can return?

jimc101

That's the joint point, where the rim is welded together.

Looking at the freehub, it appears to never have had a cassette fitted,

mgc2017

Ah yes, I forgot - each are 180 degrees relative to valve stem, so directly opposite. Lends support to my "this is on every wheelset" theory.

CliffordK

As jimc101 stated, it is just the seam from connecting the two halves of the rim.

Some of the rims are welded.
Some are pinned/riveted.

Nothing to worry about, unless you have a pinned rim with a visible seam that should have been welded, or have a welded joint that should have been pinned per manufactures specs.

According to the Mavic site, the Kysrium Elite S has a welded seam.
Ksyrium Elite S | Mavic - United States
SUP | Mavic - United States

It may still be pinned, but you should not see the seam on the outside of the rim.

Anyway, don't worry about it. It should be fine.

Rondar

Yesterday 2 different Mavic Ksyrium Elite S deals ended with 420 and 450 USD bids on eBay. I can't say you got the cheapest deal. I would return them if I could.

velociraptor

Yes, you did not get the deal you think you did. And next time, put some socks on those powered doughnuts before you snap a pic please.

coolcamaro12

From connecting two halves of the rim?

rpenmanparker 

Not two halves, rather closing up the circle when starting with a one-piece curved extrusion.

bigredkevbot

Mavic Ksyrium Elite/Elite S wheelset
Sorry Pal...

PhotoJoe 

Brand New.

Used

Not apples to apples.

mgc2017

Indeed - they are not only unused, but they are also the 2015 model.

CliffordK

Return them?
On what grounds?
He has won the E-Bay auction.
Paid for the merchandise.
Received Shipment.
Altered the merchandise.

And now you think he could get a better deal so he should return the now altered rims?

Rondar

No not exactly. He has a "reason" to return the wheels PLUS it is not a good deal. So why not(if possible) return them and get decent ones with a better deal?

PhotoJoe 

I'm curious as to what the "reason" is that you're referring to. Because he found a better deal after he bought them? That's not how ebay works and this is the type of person that I hate dealing with on ebay. The time to determine if it's a good deal or not is before you press that "buy" button. Not after.

OP - It looks like you got legit wheels, at a fair price. You didn't get the best deal, and you didn't get ripped off. I'd ride them, and feel good about it all.

Stucky

Understand (for the future) that if you buy new stuff on Ebay, you're likely dealing with someone who works out of a U-Stor-It rented garage, and who gets their merchandise from salvage sales; or who buys rejects/2nds; etc. When buying new, buy from a legitimate retailer with a good reputation and return policy and customer service and/or an authorized dealer. Something like wheels (as opposed to computers, for example) I might be willing to buy 2nds- but I want to know that they are 2nds; and I want a substantial discount- and NOT to have to pay the same price as I would for 1st. quality nerw ones if i shopped around.

Your wheels may be fine, but it looks to me like they are clearly 2nds- but not much you can do about it now- as it wouldn't be worth shipping them back, as long as they function properly. Maybe contact the seller and see what he has to say, then leave appropriate feedback to accurately describe your experience.

PhotoJoe 

What do you see that tells you they are "clearly 2nds"? I'm not in any way disagreeing with you. I don't know enough about these wheels to know, and thus my question. Or is this an assumption based on the fact they came from ebay?

dtrain

I'm sorry, but how are they altered now and why do we think they are 2nds? Some crazy talk in here on both sides.

Keep 'em. They are fine. You didn't get a great deal, but you didn't get scammed.

CliffordK

Seconds?

As we've already established, the pinholes are part of the seam.
The tape is supposed to be there.

Do you have a Mavic ksyrium elite comparison rim that is better? With different tape over the seam?

Perhaps the seller did the same thing the OP did... Curiosity killed the cat!!!

In the end it will all get covered by the rim tape.

There is Nothing to complain about.
There is no reason for bad feedback.

Just mount up the tires, and ride and enjoy the new wheels.

They are altered because they used to have factory tape on the seams.
They no longer have that tape.

Now, perhaps it could be put back, but it still isn't the factory tape as the gule has been disturbed.

It isn't a big deal, but send it back to the seller, and they have to explain to the next buyer why the tape isn't original (or, perhaps that had already happened).

But, nonetheless, put some electrical tape over it if he wants, but it should all be covered once the rim tape is in place.

dtrain

^ I totally disagree with sending the wheels back. But it's a pretty big stretch to call them altered by the buyer.

Stucky

I'm just assuming that a name-brand manufacturer making anything above Walmart-bike quality wheels would not finish their product in such a way. I mean, even the freakin' $30 Alex rims that came on my old BD bike, didn't have that. But I don't know, you may be right. It would seem pretty shoddy for a name like Mavic and $500 wheels....

I do agree with you and CliffordK though- he should just throw some electrical tape on there, and use 'em.

Me? I'd probably go find some Mavic wheels at an LBS or ask here on the forum if that is standard practice with such wheels. I don't normally advocate leaving bad feedback- in 16 years of Ebaying, I've only left a negative feedback twice. If it were confirmed that wheels were indeed 2nds, I would think maybe a neutral feedback, something like "Shipped fast w/ no damage, but new wheels were factory 2nds".

bt

stucky, you're out of your league.

Homebrew01

Summary:

OP bought wheels that have tape over the normal joint, to protect the tube from any potential burrs.

Therefore he has been defrauded and should get a full refund, including shipping costs.

OK....

Elvo

$575 for a wheel design that hasn't changed in 9 years?