So yesterday I received my new bike. As I was setting up I noticed a large and deep chip mark close to rear derailleur. Several spots are down to primer but one spot is down to carbon (see attached pictures).
I am 99% sure it was damaged not on its way to me, but on its way to importer/store i bought from since there were no corresponding damages on the box in that location.
However they didn't notice the chip mark during their set up tests before shipping to me, which is pretty strange.
But I digress. They are offering 900 USD discount so then I will be getting the bike for 2550usd total, which is ends up being half price from MSRP. I will be feeling if the carbon has a "give" in that location, but assuming it doesn't, should I take the risk? Or ship it back and ask for full refund? Any tips if I were to decide to repaint that spot myself? (Have experience with airbrush) Thanks.
by FoxhoundBat
17 Comments
It’s hard to tell if it’s into the carbon, if it was me I wouldn’t risk it and I’d go for a new bike.
I would take the discount
This is a brand new bike?
I could go either way with this, honestly. Assuming it’s still treated as a brand new sale and you still get the factory warranty, and assuming there is indeed no structural damage, a $900 discount seems reasonable and would mean you would get an excellent deal on this bike.
On the other hand, if it were me, I’d really prefer to have an explanation for *how* this happened as well just to verify that whatever caused this massive chip in fact did not structurally damage the seatstay. Because that would also be my first assumption otherwise – that something nearly catastrophic happened to this bike to take such a big chunk out of the seatstay.
Maybe if you could get a signed statement or something saying the factory warranty still applies and would not be invalidated due to damage in that area. In that case, I’d personally take the $900 and try to repaint it myself.
Personally, I wouldn’t trust damage in that location. To me, it doesn’t look like a scratch but likely an impact that caused the paint to peel off. Doubtful that it was an application defect as it’s very localized and through different layers as you said.
While a $900 discount is nice, it won’t be worth it when you have a 100% damaged frame when if/when it goes.
I personally would not feel comfortable taking that bike at speed on the road, which would ruin my ability to use it.
I would take the discount under one condition.
Document the damage very well and have them put in writing a frame replacement if it becomes an issue later on.
From the photo it looks like a chip caused by unpacking, e.g. the hub endcap was stuck on the frame and they pulled too hard, down to the primer, carbon only showing in one spot, no deformation visible – so the shop is likely trying to salvage their own fault. I would see if you can squeeze a little more out of them, 1000 is a nice round number, and still put in writing that you are hesitantly accepting the discount at the guarantee of a frame replacement should the damage proof to be more severe and require so.
The next step is then to find your local car body shop, have them take the scanner to the paint to get a small touch-up can mixed up for you and patch it over.
I would take the discount and ride it like a rented mule. I have damage to the seat stay on a CF bike even worse than what you show here (bike fell over and struck a curb) and I’ve (175#) put ~7000 miles on it since. With CF you will see some flexion long before there is a failure – this would result in paint cracking and chipping, so keep an eye on it for a few months. In addition, CF in this region is almost certainly solid, and designed to take quite a bit of abuse. Source: Structural engineer with >30 years, one of my earliest projects was an industry-first composite battery tray for the automotive industry.
Sell it to me!
Yes if it’s still under warranty it may be a great deal.
Recreating the same paint, same lacquer, and blending it in… Is a job for really good professionals with expensive equipment.
Wrapping that tube with blue/coloured electrical tape looks surprisingly smart
Fixable yes but if DIY painted it will never look the same.
The money offered is good though!
If you can live with it, take the discount but make sure that you document the damage and that there is an agreement that IF the frame fails (and it most likely wont), it’ll be covered under warranty. Other than that, be happy that you’ve saved USD 900 and don’t have to be heartbroken about the first chip/scratch that will inevitably come with use.
Dude, I’d take that for even a $50 discount. Zero structural damage or impact from that missing paint. Just go to Walmart and buy some nail polish in that color.
I would take the discount and bring it to an auto paint shop to get paint matched. I had a chip like that and I paid like $30 for a container of paint that perfectly matched my bike. You would never know it was there.
Take the discount and find the matching nail polish color: [https://www.ulta.com/p/opi-x-wicked-nail-lacquer-collection-pimprod2048036](https://www.ulta.com/p/opi-x-wicked-nail-lacquer-collection-pimprod2048036)
It may be “new” to you but that bike is pre-loved. The cassette & chain are immaculate (probably replacements) but there seem to be a few chips and scratches on the paint, even scrapes on the plastic disc thing.
with those 900$ u can buy a new bike lol take the discount
If it was MTB or cross bike I’d take the discount in a second. But for the road bike we’re looking at I’d send it back.
Purely personal choice – depends on stuff like how many bikes you own, is this purchase a big deal for you or just another bike, were you planning on racing / commuting on it so it’s getting marked up anyhow etc etc.
Get some touch-up paint that matches (you don’t want uncovered carbon exposed to the UV rays in sunlight). None will ever notice the scratches.