My S-Works Tarmac from last year was set up using Retul too aggressively for me including cutting the fork
Had a negative 6 degree stem

Now that i have a proper fit they need to have 20-25mm of spacers and 17 degree stem

since the fork was cut I cannot have 40mm spacers and 6 degree positive stem

which looks better more spacers/6 degree positive or 25mm spacers and 17 degree stem?
which is more stable?

Probably does not matter much. Can't you get by with just flipping your current stem upwards and using as many spacers as you have? That would be cheapest. If you can't get comfortable it's cheaper to get a 17 degree stem rather than a whole new fork.

Is the fork a matched set with the frame? If so, you are SOL cost-wise. I would recommend the new fork, more spacers and the lower angle on the stem. But if you need 40 mm of spacers and a + stem, that whole frame is too small for you. It is not just a fork problem. BTW, how tall is your top bearing cover? You may be able to improve the appearance of the bike with a taller bearing cover and fewer spacers.

But seriously, I think you need a bigger frame or at least one with a taller stack (taller head tube should do it).

52cm frame is right size
I am getting negative drop from saddle to bars similar to other bikes I have always ridden
Just want to make sure not losing anything between each setup
Which one is more stable and looks better?
Bike shop cut fork which i never asked them to do and resulted in wrong fit
Since that is the case if 40mm stack and 6 degree stem is better answer they will have to get me a new fork for free
It is a fork that matches the frame so this is a big deal that bike shop messed up
It is a S-works Tarmac that looks like comes only with shorter 20mm worth of room on fork (in case maybe they did not cut fork)

I hear ya, but you should not need 40 mm of spacers (the upper limit) with an up pointed 6 deg stem. That says you would profit from a larger frame or at least a more upright geometry type frame. Just my opinion and no need to duke it out about it. Your best bet is to get the fork replaced for free, use the tallest bearing cover you can find (new headset if necessary), stay with the more attractive 6 deg stem but flipped up, and let the rest be spacers. If you need 40 mm of spacers, so be it.

The frame is not the right fit for you. I guess you won't be changing it anyway, in which case the +17 degree stem is the more stable and the worse looking option. But if you're going to have a spacer stack and an upward pointing stem in any case, you might as well go for the functionally better setup.

you can order a new fork from specialized and have it recut... just an option

If the LBS cut the fork without asking you first than they should make it right and get a new fork at their cost.

How much would a new fork cost?

Even if I did not learn about this until a year later?
Took them that long to even send me the Retul Bike Fit report
when I compared to other bike fit reports and this new one on the S-Works I realized how different they were and how wrong the fit was

A lot. I don't have an exact figure, but probably somewhere in the $400 range, plus they would charge $50-100 for labor.

Why the poor communication? I was sent the Retul report via email the next day when I had my fit done. Even if you are finding all this out now, the fact that its a year after it was done and you've been riding it this long weakens your argument. They certainly should have told you they were going to cut the stem, rather than giving you the option of placing the spacers on the top of the stem. Have you talked to them yet or are you soliciting opinions before you approach them?

Have not spoken to them yet
There are no spacers above the stem
just 20-25 below stem and then stem
No room to add more spacers which is the problem
Want to add a few more spacers and maybe flip stem from negative to positive 6 degrees

Retail took this long because fitter is so flighty and did not get around to it

Never asked about cutting fork

Just want to make sure it was cut vs. coming that way

Specialized says forks come with 30-40mm of space; not sure if that includes the area where stem attaches (if it does then looks like comes that way and was not cut)

Talk to the shop. If they are willing to give you a new fork for free, that's great.

Otherwise, buy a 17 degree stem and use what you have. Buying a new fork is going to be prohibitively expensive IMO.

I did not buy an SWorks Tarmac to put a 17 degree stem on it
Rode pretty fast last year with prior set up so just wanted to fine tune things

Just curious which set up is more stable and looks better

I can afford a new fork but should not be my expense if bike shop messed up

Your choice, but to be candid I am suspecting you either bought the WRONG bike (ie you should have bought a Roubaix) or you got the WRONG size.

Maybe both.

New bike shop confirms bike size and model works for me
Just a little too aggressive fit
Not way off

OK. I hope you find a good solution to this problem.

According to your first post, you need to add 20 mm of extra spacers (to the 20 mm you already have, so far from slammed) and flip the stem to positive angle. That's a 40 mm difference in drop. I would say "way off" is quite a good way to describe it.

wouldn't going from negative 6 to positive 6 be splitting the difference?

A few manufacturers also make 10 or 12 degree stems. You may not need to go to 17 to get what you want.

Sounds like a Roubaix is in your future.