Does anyone know about Specialized mtb's?

[kek23k]

Hey all,

Got a major problem and could do with some help. My brother bought a Specialized Stump Jumper Carbon a couple of months ago for an exotic amount of money. He's been on it about 3-4 times, last weekend being the most recent. Going down a gravel track he came off and the back off the frame snapped. I haven't seen it myself but it's where the hydraulic cable feeds into the frame below the seat stay. It appears to be a weakness around this hole.

Long story short, my bro took it back to the dealer and they said there is no warranty and they could replace the frame (with a different frame) for £450.

I checked on the Specialized website and they seem to offer a lifetime warranty for certain parts and at least a 1 or 5 year warranty for frames.

Am I wrong to believe my brother has a valid point in that the bike was not fit for purpose? He's not a heavy lad and wasn't injured in the fall, so I can't see he was doing anything ridiculous.

I know a lot of you o0pler's do some mountain biking and you are always so helpful (creep!). I hope you can help me with some advice, or tips regarding getting some satisfactory recompense.

Cheers

[carlin]

Originally Posted by kek23k

Hey all,

Got a major problem and could do with some help. My brother bought a Specialized Stump Jumper Carbon a couple of months ago for an exotic amount of money. He's been on it about 3-4 times, last weekend being the most recent. Going down a gravel track he came off and the back off the frame snapped. I haven't seen it myself but it's where the hydraulic cable feeds into the frame below the seat stay. It appears to be a weakness around this hole.

Long story short, my bro took it back to the dealer and they said there is no warranty and they could replace the frame (with a different frame) for £450.

I checked on the Specialized website and they seem to offer a lifetime warranty for certain parts and at least a 1 or 5 year warranty for frames.

Am I wrong to believe my brother has a valid point in that the bike was not fit for purpose? He's not a heavy lad and wasn't injured in the fall, so I can't see he was doing anything ridiculous.

I know a lot of you o0pler's do some mountain biking and you are always so helpful (creep!). I hope you can help me with some advice, or tips regarding getting some satisfactory recompense.

Cheers

Hi Mate,

Alot of the specialized stuff is usually under warranty they used to have 5yrs i believe it was.
I used to ride FSR Carbon years ago, that had 5yrs

Check the manual & sales document it should tell him on thier.

If it was second hand then they wont be interested, as it's not from new.

Also they used to place sticker on the frames centre tube warranty details check that too.

I know one of the guys who used to ride with us he had coyote XC2 rear carbon swing arm. This cracked wasnt covered in warrabty due to him being to heavy for the frame
Some peolple dont realise carbon frames do have weight limit to what they can take.

check this link

outhttp://cdn.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/pdf/WarrantyConditionsEwww.com.pdf

Hope he gets it sorted out

[kek23k]

Hey thanks for the response and for confirming what I had found so far, ie that it should have a 5 year warranty. He's definitely not too heavy, our kid cant weigh more than 10 stone wet through. Now if it was me at 15st I wouldn't be posting hehe!

I think the dealer is trying to pull a fast one, have you ever had any experience of this? The other thing is the dealer still has the bike, which is why I can't look at it. I've told my folks to go get it back (our kid is in either Greece or Jordan).

Thanks again for the warranty pdf, I'm going to do some more digging and failing that pay this dealer a visit myself.

Have you had any experience of dealing with the UK Specialized distributor at all?

*Forgot to add that it was brand new and it's an 09 edition, cant remember the specific model though

[craigosh]

Pretty sure Specialized distribute themselves in the UK. They are supposed to be pretty good on things like this so sounds like the dealer is trying it on. Who is it?

Friend of the family binned it on his stumpy carbon, crackin it in a similar place to your bro, was replaced on warranty and they didn't even ask for the old one back, just pictures and a receipt.

He sorted that through Leisure Lakes, though he was working there at the time.

Did he buy it complete or build it up? only problem he might have is if he stuck a bigger rear disk brake on it than he should have.

[kek23k]

Funny you should mention Leisure Lakes because that's who it is!

Bike was bought as a complete unit and nothing has been added or removed. Don't suppose your friend still has any contacts there still?

[carlin]

Hi Mate,

Which Leisure Lakes are we talking about?
I used to go to the one in Swadlincotes they are fantastic at that please.
Thier used to be swedish female MTBer who was working thier was fantastic to deal with.

I havent had any bad issue's with Specialized frame's i did have gear lever issue after month they replaced it straight away with know problems
It's abit strange that Lesure Lakes are saying this as they are probably one of the biggest Specialized dealers around.

Specialized have UK based dist, i would contact them direct.

But you need to get the bike back, shouldnt leave it with the dealer.
Esp when it's something they are saying isnt under warranty.

But yes if he has upgraded the rotor disc more than the size recommended then it wont be warranty covered.

Hope you get it sorted out mate

[Captain-Codpiece-The-2nd]

I used to work for a spesh S-works dealership, and have first hand experience as to how the warranty system works, and how to get the best results. First off Specialized do distribute themselves in the UK via their HQ in Leatherhead (near chessington world of adventures). The dealer does implicate the warranty on their behalf, so first point of contact is with them. This is where the problem lies....I used to run the workshop of a very well known dealer down south, and we had a guy come in with a Allez frame, 4 years old, which had a crack in the chainstay. We dealt with spesh and they were happy to upgrade to a new Allez frame FOC. The owner of the shop however decided to charge the customer for a "cost replacement". Now I am not implicating anything here, but some dealers will try and pull the wool over peoples eyes so just be careful! There is a commonly used term in the bike trade, JRA (just riding along) dealers get this all the time and are very tight on warranty issues(Little Johnny was just riding along and both his wheels buckled and the forks bent). The distributor is much more understanding generally . You need to get some pics of it and if you are not happy send the pics direct to spesh, who will at the very least have the frame sent back to investigate it. They will be looking for any tell-tale signs of accident damage, and beleive me if there are any they will find it! They are like CSI.....lol.

This will still be done through your local dealer as spesh don't deal direct, but if you send them the pics and explain the situation they will pressure the dealer. Beware, the dealer will want some money out of you, be it postage, or labour for stripping the frame.

Bottom line is unless there are any signs of impact damage you should get a replacement. You can claim Not fit for purpose if it gets nasty, but to be honest a well worded email to spesh should avoid the need for this.
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[kek23k]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great responses. I'll let you know how I get on. BTW, it's the LeisureLakes in Bury.

Thanks again. oOple the font of all knowledge hehe

[craigosh]

Sorry mate he doesnt work for em anymore, it was the preston one anyway.
To be honest i've found service from LL to be fairly poor, never particularly helpful at the Preston one and heard stories about them refusing to sort things out properly when breakages happen. Another mate bought a headset from them for his BMX and in 2 months the bottom cup sheared, they refused to do a thing.

Just my 2 cents....

[JonyNitro]

Since they moved to where they are now there attitudes stink, when they was at wash lane? they were top guys then, hope you get sorted by the sounds of it you need to tell them who is the boss dont let them get one on over on you if its in warranty they have to replace it, Read the small print, they are just trying it on so you pay more, it it was me there wolud be trouble,I would stalk them night and day, that's the truth.

hope you get sorted

[kek23k]

Got a bit of an update, Specialized are insisting its impact damage and are only willing to offer a discount on a better frame, should be £1300 they are offering it for £450. LL have offered an alternative if they take the frame for £450, they will offer my bro a different bike. I'm assuming this will be a new bike, but no doubt of lower spec although he can take his pick of manufacturers.

His existing bike is still in bits and still at the shop.

Obviously this is a bit of give from their part, so my folks have made some head way. I think with confirmation that is IS Specialized calling the impact damage, we won't get the warranty replacement I wanted.

So what do you guys think, should we pursue this along the consumer rights/fit for purpose route? Should he take the replacement frame at £450, money he doesn't really have right now. Or should he deal with the shop and get a different bike?

My only thoughts on the different bike option is that essentially its a win for the shop, they will take the frame build up his bike and sell it as new or nearly new for a profit (they must know they can make a profit or this wouldn't have been offered I'm sure). If he takes the frame he could do this himself, but I'm sure his opinion is that he's spent enough (and I can understand that).

He's currently overseas so if he takes the shop's option he wont be able to choose another bike until he gets back.

I think it depends what bike the shop offer him as a replacement and the value of that bike compared to his original purchase.

[turbo_brick]

Contact Consumer Direct (what was Trading Standards), it might mean getting an independant opinion from a specialist on what caused the damage, if it gets that far and they are still denying fault, but they are usually helpful.

Was it bought on a credit card might be a question they will ask as they should help with any such issues.

The dealer you bought it from should be trying to resolve things with you not specialized as your brothers contract *sale* is with them not specialized.

(mrs) turbo_brick

[Captain-Codpiece-The-2nd]

If the bike is accident damaged then you won't get very far with "not fit for purpose". You do need a second opinion. How have spesh decided it has been accident damaged? Has it been sent to them? Or has LL workshop done a report? If it is the latter then its worth getting the bike back and taking to another dealer. Can you get pics up on here of the damage?
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