IvyGodivy

The title says it all. How many of you went to buy a new bike (not last years model, not used) and discovered scratches and/or chips?

Why am I asking? Glad you asked, it's because of a discussion I had with the lady yesterday about how she wants to go Surly not only because she prefers the look of a Surly but also the last two Trek bikes we got turned her off to Trek.

Examples:
1. She bought a new mountain bike from Trek a few years back. After we got it home (and didn't even ride it yet) she found in one particular spot a lot of scratches. Clearly she was upset and we got it replaced and all was well.
2. This year I get a Gravel bike and also not ridden yet and also new. Yet after we removed it from the store my fiance find a chip of the paint missing. We went in and got a $100 knocked off.

So is it just Trek or is this not so uncommon with other manufacturers? We are questioning the quality of Treks or are we just having bad luck?

Phil_gretz

tl:dr: Getting a few bucks knocked off is the right answer. Don't worry about chips or scrapes.

I think that getting the seller to give a discount is the way to handle this. Typically, there can be vibration and rubbing during transport, and chips can happen anytime during assembly or display at a retailer. I've had a dozen of bikes drop shipped to me and I've seen a few small spots of wear.

I personally don't care about chips or scratches, as my bikes will get beat up pretty quickly because they get used. Especially a mountain or gravel bike, where there will be mud, grit, stones, sticks, falls, crashes and leaning the bikes on all kinds of odd objects like boulders, fences, briars and such.

But you should be satisfied with the condition of a new bike when purchased.

IvyGodivy

That's the thing, I expect and don't mind wear and tear caused by me. But when it comes new from the store I expect it to be in perfect condition unless it's used. While they compensated me for the issue my question is why this is even happening before use. To me it's either bad luck or lack of quality or not being properly handled before it gets to the customer.

That in short bothers me.

revcp 

Did both bikes come from the same shop? I can't imagine Treks are handled more roughly during building or ship than any other brand, but the issue might be the shop. That said, however, I would say it's a incredible run of bad luck.

IvyGodivy

Two different shops. One was Zanes and the other was a Trek store.

jefnvk

So, what do you expect them to do with the line of bikes a kid knocked over while dad was buying his new bike, which all picked up minor nicks and scrapes? Sell them all at used for a substantial discount?

Maybe I'm not OCD enough to care about such things, but if the shop knocked off a few bucks because there was a small scratch, I'd be more than happy. There was a bit of a nick in one of the decal of the only bike I've ever bought new, I didn't even bother to ask for more money off when I noticed it unboxing it.

IvyGodivy

Ugh call it what you want new anything coming damaged isn't right.

jefnvk

Then carefully inspect it before purchasing and taking it home, and demand a perfect one if it isn't to your satisfaction?

IvyGodivy

Still waiting for the answer to my initial question than what is acceptable or not. The question is how many of you have bought new bikes finding some sort of damage on it?

livedarklions

Not me, but I'm probably going to scratch it myself within 48 hours of purchase. I have to lock my bike up from time to time, and scratches are just an expected consequence of use.

Are you sure you didn't scratch them while carrying them on the car? That's a bit of a coincidence that you discovered both on the way home after taking them out of the store.

jefnvk

I fail to see were you are really going with this. If there was a good one sitting next to it, I would probably pick the good one, price being the same. If not, I'd probably just buy the blemished one, assuming the blemish is small and does not affect functionality. If there was any sort of discount, I'd lose all care as to any blemishes, and buy the cheaper one. As I stated before, my new purchase (which was mail ordered) came with a slight blemish in a decal, unbeknownst to me. No biggie.

To me this is like worrying about the new car on the dealers lot that has a bit of rust on the rotors after a thunderstorm. Some handling scuffs are unavoidable in the bike world. In both cases, it seems like you were well taken care of when the issue was raised, if you will only accept perfect bikes to the point $100 off for a bit of a chip is unacceptable, make sure to scrutinize your purchase before making it.

Flip Flop Rider

is it acceptable, I don't know, did you accept it? The stores tried to satisfy you as a buyer. You can always not buy the thing (whatever thing)

livedarklions

Not to completely hijack this utterly pointless thread, but has anyone gotten a scratch on a bike that actually improved the appearance of the bike?

I haven't, but I could see how it might theoretically be possible.

Also, anyone seen any good biking movies lately?

Flip Flop Rider

slow day at work huh

Phil_gretz

I thought that The Bicycle Thief was a terrific movie, although I haven't seen it in a while. I've also enjoyed Breaking Away very much. I even thought about buying a reproduction Cinzano jersey recently, but decided against it. Fellow riders might cringe, expecting me to plunge my pump into their wheel without provocation.

IvyGodivy

Oh just forget it. I'm out!

fietsbob

Remember a bike mechanic in a small retail shop takes home less money than a bartender..

IvyGodivy

So? You want me to feel sorry for them? You want to make more money then find jobs that allow that. Sometimes doing something you love for a living isn't practical.

livedarklions

Just when you thought you were out, they drag you back in!!!!!

PaulRivers

It's a tradeoff you get for being able to test ride the bike before/without purchasing it. I apply the "grandma test" to most things - would my grandmother notice the damage? If yes, it's to much, if no, don't worry about it.

If you really want a pristine bike you can ask them to order you a new bike from the warehouse/manufacturer that no one has test ridden before.

Knet

Sooooo............

You bought a gravel bike.
You took the gravel bike home.
You came back to the bike shop and complained about a paint chip on your gravel bike.
The bike shop gave you $100.

Sounds like the bike shop went the extra mile for you. Not sure how you blew past that and got to "does Trek have a quality problem".

Metieval

worse than selling damaged goods, are people that intentionally derail/hijack threads.

IMO we live in an age of very little respect. (as can be seen here with intentional thread hijacking).

All bike shops will have employees that will not respect the Items that a future customer will purchase. This isn't just Trek, but Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, etc... or any of those shops that also sell Surly/Salsa/Soma/AllCity etc...

As for Trek, I think their quality is low. Trek also owns Electra and I have seen serious quality issues with Electra.

As for the following 'quote' whatever happened to the era of you damage it, you buy it? Respect isn't the only thing that is going to hell, Morals are too it seems.

Paul Barnard

Ultimately we all get to decide for ourselves whether or not it is acceptable. I tend to be a little anal, so I inspect them closely before I buy.

themp

On my purchase from an LBS, I had to take a bicycle that was on the floor and already built. I ask if they would build me one and the answer was no. I was spending $1200. I tried to pick the best one on the floor. When I got it home I found out that the saddle stem had been scratched up pretty badly(it was hidden in the tube). Seems when a customer tried out the bicycle they adjusted the saddle for that person and scratched things up. I am a perfectionist, so figured this was just a message to live with it, and I did. I have purchased new automobiles also thinking it would be perfect, but usually they are not.

Doctor Morbius

In the guitar world a pre-scratched guitar is called a relic and it costs more than one that is in pristine condition. I don't get it at all, but there seems to be a demand for such nonsense as people are willing to part with their money for a NEW guitar with FAKE wear.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...e-stratocaster

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...by-dale-wilson