I'm all set to order a Trance 1 frame at the end of this week or early next week, and today the dealer threw a serious wrench into my plans.
They insist that in order for my warranty to be in effect, I MUST pay them (the dealer) to assemble my bike complete, even though I am re-using parts from another bike. No ifs ands or buts. No negotiating. Either I pay up, or no warranty. Their charge is $110.
Is this legit?
Does anyone have a phone number for Giant USA so I can call and confirm this absurdity?
My present plan is to walk in with exact change on Friday and tell them the full-price charge for build-up is a deal-breaker. I guess the point is, are all of you folks on this forum who are building up Trance an Reign frames hiring the dealer to do it for you, or taking your chances with warranty coverage, or is this dealer just trying go stick me for $110?
I'm all set to order a Trance 1 frame at the end of this week or early next week, and today the dealer threw a serious wrench into my plans.
They insist that in order for my warranty to be in effect, I MUST pay them (the dealer) to assemble my bike complete, even though I am re-using parts from another bike. No ifs ands or buts. No negotiating. Either I pay up, or no warranty. Their charge is $110.
Is this legit?
Does anyone have a phone number for Giant USA so I can call and confirm this absurdity?
My present plan is to walk in with exact change on Friday and tell them the full-price charge for build-up is a deal-breaker. I guess the point is, are all of you folks on this forum who are building up Trance an Reign frames hiring the dealer to do it for you, or taking your chances with warranty coverage, or is this dealer just trying go stick me for $110?
Pay particular attention to the very last line, which I've highlighted:
A. Giant Bicycle, Inc. ("Giant") warrants the frame and rigid fork of each new Giant brand bicycle and Giant brand frameset to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the bicycle. Paint finish and all other original components, and all Giant brand repair parts, replacement parts, and accessories, are warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one year from the original date of purchase. This warranty applies only to bicycles and framesets purchased new from, and assembled by, an Authorized Giant Dealer.
My read is that your bike needs to be built up by an Authorized Giant Dealer or the frame warranty is void. This brings into question the validity of a warrant should the original purchaser swap out parts themselves after a GAD build. Sounds like a grey area to me, and I'd ask the LBS to put you in touch with their Giant rep.
Wow, that really bites. So when I get my new Trance3 and have had it a while and go to replace some components that are worn or that I don't like I void my warranty? What's the sense of buying a frameset? I think this could be something that would be "overturned" by a lot of local laws, seems a bit wrong to me.
Wow, that really bites. So when I get my new Trance3 and have had it a while and go to replace some components that are worn or that I don't like I void my warranty? What's the sense of buying a frameset? I think this could be something that would be "overturned" by a lot of local laws, seems a bit wrong to me.
I could be dead wrong. It doesn't make much sense though, but I would guess they have to protect themselves. I guess their out is that if something on the frame breaks, it could be the result of how an item (say a set of cranks and bb) was installed. If the dealer screws up the install, then hey, Gian't's responsible for the warranty repair, because they're an Authorized Dealer. If Clyde botches the job, then there's no recourse on the part of Giant. From a purely legal standpoint, it makes sense. From the standpoint of practicality, it's nonsense. I can't imagine with the amount of competent owners out there that do their own builds, that warranties go out the window as a result.
My suspicion is that the warranty language "assembled by" is intended to apply to complete bikes that come from the factory unassembled, and not to framesets that are to be mated with customer-supplied parts kit.
Definitely, though, I am going to have to consult with Giant. I don't really have a beef paying them to install the crankset/bottom bracket, fork, and heck, I'll even go for the brakes and handlebar for that matter. But for parts that do not even come into contact with the frame (say, pedals...), how does that affect Giant's warranty? Dealer protection scheme. Keeps you from legitimately buying a frameset over the internet or mail order... if it HAS to be assembled by a local Giant dealer.
There is another Giant dealer here... I'm going to check what their policy is on this.
My suspicion is that the warranty language "assembled by" is intended to apply to complete bikes that come from the factory unassembled, and not to framesets that are to be mated with customer-supplied parts kit.
Definitely, though, I am going to have to consult with Giant. I don't really have a beef paying them to install the crankset/bottom bracket, fork, and heck, I'll even go for the brakes and handlebar for that matter. But for parts that do not even come into contact with the frame (say, pedals...), how does that affect Giant's warranty? Dealer protection scheme. Keeps you from legitimately buying a frameset over the internet or mail order... if it HAS to be assembled by a local Giant dealer.
There is another Giant dealer here... I'm going to check what their policy is on this.
That is total ********, I would take my business elsewhere, I am a Giant dealer and believe me I have NEVER heard such BS. First he is charging you to build up the bike that is to be warranted. I can see maybe $25.00 to assemble a bike but $110.00 is a joke. Secondly the bike does not have to be built by a dealer to be warrantyable. Call Giant and see what they have to say about it, they might not even no he is doing this kind of blackmail and may even do something about it.
That is total ********, I would take my business elsewhere, I am a Giant dealer and believe me I have NEVER heard such BS. First he is charging you to build up the bike that is to be warranted. I can see maybe $25.00 to assemble a bike but $110.00 is a joke. Secondly the bike does not have to be built by a dealer to be warrantyable. Call Giant and see what they have to say about it, they might not even no he is doing this kind of blackmail and may even do something about it.
Well, I went to both Giant dealers in Austin. Same story in both places, except for the second place did call Giant while I was there and asked them, whereupon Giant confirmed that it's sort-of their policy but they can't enforce it and don't really intend to.
So, even Giant seems to think it's a gray area.
So I am kind of stuck. There are two Giant dealers in a 50-mile radius and both are singing a similar song. One dealer quoted me a price for the frame $200 less than the other... so they are getting my business between the two. But I do plan on pressing a bit more about the build-up or at least the cost when I go to order the bike most likely on Friday. I figure I might have more leverage if #1 I'm in the shop with cash in my hand, and #2 if I am there while the manager is in.
I was considering hiring the shop to cut down my disc brake lines to fit the new bike frame and re-bleed the brakes for me, and also considering having them install the crank and fork/stem since I want to be able to make someone redo it other than me in the case that it creaks. So, I will likely try and negotiate for JUST these services in the "build up", and at most half of the price they are quoting me for the work... half the work, half the price. Seems fair to me. I'll pay them $50 to do the brakes (since bleeding Hayes disc brakes is not exactly easy), face the BB shell and install cranks, and put the fork on so they can feel confident I'm not putting some 9" travel DH fork on the bike.
I'm with you though, it's kind of crap. If they won't play, I'll just buy the frame and take my chances on warranty I guess.
Well, I went to both Giant dealers in Austin. Same story in both places, except for the second place did call Giant while I was there and asked them, whereupon Giant confirmed that it's sort-of their policy but they can't enforce it and don't really intend to.
I'll pay them $50 to do the brakes (since bleeding Hayes disc brakes is not exactly easy), face the BB shell and install cranks, and put the fork on so they can feel confident I'm not putting some 9" travel DH fork on the bike.
I'm with you though, it's kind of crap. If they won't play, I'll just buy the frame and take my chances on warranty I guess.
Bummer, but I think your plan makes perfect sense. You're gaving them install the parts which would have the most impact on the frame IMO. Installation of levers, derailleurs and other "peripheral" items have little or no bearing whatsoever on the integrity of the frame while they are in use.
Keep in mind what the Giant rep said. It seems like they would honor the warranty regardless. As I originally stated, they have to protect themselves and have some sort of recourse from blatant destruction of the frame due to a sloppy install.
buy it from the cheaper shop and if there is a warranty issue, tell them the other shop built it. if that doesn't fly then just take it to another giant dealer. there is no way the are gonna be able to tell who put the bike together.
If my 2001 NRS 1 would have been warrenteed for the ghost shifting, my LBS would have charged $100.
And when I bought it originally I had to essentially rebuilt it. This shop sucks so bad, before it left the shop I had to reseat the front disc pad (they said the rubbing was normal, but the pad was in wrong), and the headset was loose.
Then I went back the day after I bought it. The front and rear derailleur cables were not bedded in, in 2 miles all I got was chatter. In that same 2 miles, 4 of the 6 rear disc rotor bolts had fallen out.
Shop response: Huh, worked ok on the stand. And we put on the front rotor, not the rear. That was done at the factory, the front was tight, right? We put that one on.
Didn't even offer me replacement rotor bolts. I had to ask for them.
That shop would not even touch my bike to air up a tire...don't trust them to do it right.
i work in a bike shop that deald giant as well as rocky, devinci, jamis, fuji, haro and all manufacturers require the bike to be brought in with all of the parts on as it was when it broke. after inspection by the dealer the customer can choose to do the teardown themselves. when the frame comes back from warrenty the bike must be re-assembled by the dealer. i would have to say that if you had bought the bike/ frame there you should be able to get the build up done for almost half the price. my shop charges $80 to do a build upand or frame swap(teardown takes all of 5 mins) and usually we break if the frame and/or all the parts were purchased at the store then we would charge mabue $60 if the customer wanted a break. allthough if the bike is still under our stores 1 year servide warrenty the teardown and build up is done free of charge. NOTE: all prices are in cdn dollars.
I just got my Trance frame this week and am building it myself, but I work at a shop so my deal isn't applicable to your situation. I think they are ripping you off at that build price.
Are they giving you a year free tune-ups/servicing for that price? If so, then it may be worth it to you if you can't true wheels, adjust ders., etc. If you can work on your own bike and have the time, then it isn't.
Also, I think if you build the bike and the frame cracks and it can't be blamed on how you built the bike then it will be covered. The bike has a warranty against manufacturer defect pure and simple.
But, on that note, we had a racer get his new frame this week and 'needed' to ride it the next day so he built it up himself that night, next day on his ride his rear der. wrapped around broke his hanger, cassette, and chain. Der. was bent too. All because of a slight misadjustment of a der. Now if had bent the dropout or seatstay or chainstay or crashed because of this and needed a replacement it was all on him. This is why builds should be done by a competent mechanic.
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