Rudy Project, CWC and crash replacement

[Java001]

I really enjoy buying from CWC and have done so on a number of occasions.

 

As long as products bought were priced better than at my lbs, I have never really been hassled by the fact that some products sold by CWC were not supplied to them via the so called “authorised” SA distributor …………

 

With a local distributor adding no manufacturing value and playing mostly the role of handling agent at what is rumoured to be a substantial cost passed on to the LBS and/or it’s customers, I have never quite understood why in this era of global trade and internet sales, the concept of an authorised local distributor still exists or have any hope to survive in future ?

 

But inevitably when price is a primary deciding factor, you get what you pay for ………… bought a Rudy Project Zuma from CWC a few months ago, it survived a minor fall intact, but with a small hairline crack on the inside. No problem, I thought – everybody tells me about the brilliant Rudy Project service, but just to make sure that I had a warrantee I phoned CWC only to be told that these helmets did not carry a crash replacement warrantee.

 

So yes, I am very jealous of the posts complimenting ASG about good service; lesson learnt on this side – to other hubbers CHECK HELMET WARRANTEES CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY grey.

[brad890]

I really enjoy buying from CWC and have done so on a number of occasions.

 

As long as products bought were priced better than at my lbs, I have never really been hassled by the fact that some products sold by CWC were not supplied to them via the so called “authorised” SA distributor …………

 

With a local distributor adding no manufacturing value and playing mostly the role of handling agent at what is rumoured to be a substantial cost passed on to the LBS and/or it’s customers, I have never quite understood why in this era of global trade and internet sales, the concept of an authorised local distributor still exists or have any hope to survive in future ?

 

But inevitably when price is a primary deciding factor, you get what you pay for ………… bought a Rudy Project Zuma from CWC a few months ago, it survived a minor fall intact, but with a small hairline crack on the inside. No problem, I thought – everybody tells me about the brilliant Rudy Project service, but just to make sure that I had a warrantee I phoned CWC only to be told that these helmets did not carry a crash replacement warrantee.

 

So yes, I am very jealous of the posts complimenting ASG about good service; lesson learnt on this side – to other hubbers CHECK HELMET WARRANTEES CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY grey.

 

well looking at the rudyproject website with regards to warranty they state

 

"Rudy Project helmets are warranted by Rudy Project North America for three (3) years from date of purchase against defects in materials and/or workmanship"

 

so basically you wont have crash warranty but say the plastic covering starts to peal off the polystyrene then you'll be good for a replacement.

[brad890]

As far as i know Giro and Bell do crash warranties. others only do workmanship defect warranties, so basically it boils down to fine print.

[Inusc]

I really enjoy buying from CWC and have done so on a number of occasions.

 

As long as products bought were priced better than at my lbs, I have never really been hassled by the fact that some products sold by CWC were not supplied to them via the so called “authorised” SA distributor …………

 

With a local distributor adding no manufacturing value and playing mostly the role of handling agent at what is rumoured to be a substantial cost passed on to the LBS and/or it’s customers, I have never quite understood why in this era of global trade and internet sales, the concept of an authorised local distributor still exists or have any hope to survive in future ?

 

But inevitably when price is a primary deciding factor, you get what you pay for ………… bought a Rudy Project Zuma from CWC a few months ago, it survived a minor fall intact, but with a small hairline crack on the inside. No problem, I thought – everybody tells me about the brilliant Rudy Project service, but just to make sure that I had a warrantee I phoned CWC only to be told that these helmets did not carry a crash replacement warrantee.

 

So yes, I am very jealous of the posts complimenting ASG about good service; lesson learnt on this side – to other hubbers CHECK HELMET WARRANTEES CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY grey.

Thanks for the warning mate wonder witch other stuff is not covered ?

[Yang]

I pranged a few weeks back and one of the struts on my lid (RP Zuma)broke. I called up ASG and they said there was no problem with replacement at 35% of the price. It makes good business sense since it keeps me loyal and my hands off another brand. It also gets us talking about the brand on chat forums- self-perpetuating publicity- win-win. Ups to ASG.

Edited July 20, 2011 by Yang

[Inusc]

well looking at the rudyproject website with regards to warranty they state

 

"Rudy Project helmets are warranted by Rudy Project North America for three (3) years from date of purchase against defects in materials and/or workmanship"

 

so basically you wont have crash warranty but say the plastic covering starts to peal off the polystyrene then you'll be good for a replacement.

Joh maybe ASG must tel us if that is true!

[LUVBIKE1]

If your bike is insured, then your normal household / bike cover should cover this. I had a huge wipe-out 2 years ago and mutual and federal, paid for e replacement saddle & new helmet. no questions asked - might be worth a try ?

[Big H*]

Java, the very last word in your post is "grey", care to elaborate?

[RedRover]

Joh maybe ASG must tel us if that is true!

 

According to this link, they offer a 35% off RRP crash replacement guarantee.

Edited July 20, 2011 by RedRover

[brad890]

According to this link, they offer a 35% off RRP crash replacement guarantee.

 

ok maybe ASG offers a different policy to Rudy USA, as the above extract was from the .com site.

 

best thing would be to give ASG a call and ask them

 

Call us on:

• 012 751 4131

• 012 751 4135

• 012 751 4130

• 012 751 4132

• 012 751 4133

• 012 751 4134

 

Email:

info@asgsport.co.za

 

Address:

116b Glen Avenue

Willow Glen

Pretoria

South Africa

 

 

 

 

let us know what they say after you've given them a shout.

[Inusc]

According to this link, they offer a 35% off RRP crash replacement guarantee.

Isn't it 65% thats bell's and Giro's

[Mavro]

check the ruby project website for the warranty. Most of these companies now carry a international warranty.

 

To give you a couple of examples:

I bought a Nikon camera from the States and I there was something wrong with the camera. I went to Nikon SA and they said that the camera was not from SA. After a small debate they agreed to repair the camara.

 

I also bought a ipod from Europe and it needed to be repaired. Apple SA repaired it, no hassle.

 

In summary, dont take there crap, but first do your research....

[Java001]

Java, the very last word in your post is "grey", care to elaborate?

 

The following appear under terms and conditions on the CWC site:

 

Guarantee

 

The authorised South African distributor of these products is under no obligation to honour the manufacturer's guarantees/warrantees or to provide aftersales service. Chris Willemse Cycles and our international suppliers will still carry the normal warrantees/guarantees of these products aswell as providing after-sales service.

As I know of a number of crash replacement's @ 35%o n Rudy Project helmets that have been dealt with via local bike shops, I have linked CWC's indication that a crash replacement warrantee was not applicable to my purchase of the helmet as an indication that it was a grey import.

 

Copied below some detail which appears on the ASG site, which defines "grey", as I also understand it.

 

GREY IMPORTS NOTICE

THIS NOTICE IS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS FROM

UNLAWFUL TRADE PRACTICES AND / OR PURCHASING FAKE PRODUCTS

 

 

ONLY DEALERS DISPLAYING OUR OFFICIAL DEALER SIGNS OR WHO ARE LISTED ON OUR WEB SITE AS DEALERS MAY OFFICIALLY SELL, SUPPORT AND SERVICE OUR BRANDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

 

IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT A DEALER PLEASE CONTACT US AT

0861 783 972

 

 

IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT A SMALL QUANTITY OF PINARELLO, RUDY PROJECT & SIDI BRANDED PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN GREY IMPORTED INTO SOUTH AFRICA AND PINARELLO, RUDY PROJECT & SIDI LOGOS AND BRAND NAMES WHICH ARE COPYRIGHTED TO THEIR REGISTERED AGENTS ARE BEING USED WITHOUT CONSENT. THIS ACTION MIS-REPRESENTS THE BRAND AND IT'S RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL LEGALLY IMPORTED ASG SPORT SOLUTIONS BRANDS

HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS ON THE BOXES AS WELL AS THE BRANDS!

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SERIAL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY REMOVED FROM THE BOXES OR ACTUAL PRODUCTS OF GREY IMPORTED GOODS. OBVIOUSLY THIS ACTION IS DESIGNED TO HIDE THE SOURCE OF THESE PRODUCTS AS THERE ARE CURRENTLY MAJOR LAWSUITS UNDERWAY TO ENFORCE BRAND COPYRIGHT BY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AGAINST GREY IMPORTERS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA!

 

ASG SPORT SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INSTIGATE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS IN CASES WHERE SERIAL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY REMOVED FROM OUR BRANDED PRODUCTS AS SERIAL NUMBERS ARE USED TO FIGHT CRIME IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

 

ASG SPORT SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD WILL NOT BE OBLIGED TO SERVICE OR SUPPLY SPARE PARTS FOR ANY GREY IMPORTED BRANDS.

 

PLEASE NOTE: THAT GREY IMPORTED PRODUCTS DO NOT CARRY FACTORY GUARANTEES OR FACTORY SUPPORT OF ANY KIND.

 

PARALLEL IMPORTS ARE GREY IMPORTS WHEN THEY ARE NOT SANCTIONED

BY THE COMPANIES THAT HOLD BRAND COPYRIGHT.

 

 

 

What are grey Imports?

 

Goods that are parallel imported without the legal sanction of the manufacturer or their distributor who also holds copyright on the Brand. These units are then sold cheaper by companies whose only claim to fame is that they will beat any price. Beware of companies that base all their marketing only on price. They only want your money and by illegally importing branded products on which they have no rights to sell or service - you are left high and dry when problems do occur. Please note that such dealers also use famous branded products to get you into their stores so that they can sell CHEAP no-name-house-brands that they import - which by the way, they make huge profits on!

 

 

IF I buy on the Internet from an unregistered dealer is it "GREY"?

 

YES IT IS! Products imported by a WEB company are not supplied by ASG Sport Solutions and have absolutely no service support or access to spare parts in South Africa. All goods parallel imported must be clearly defined according to South African law (Please read the text at the bottom of this documents outlining your rights.

 

 

Can parallel imports be legit?

 

YES - but only in extreme cases where manufacturers have chosen more than one distributor in an economic area for the same brand This is not the case in South Africa for ASG SPORT SOLUTIONS Branded Products.

 

 

 

Where do grey goods come from?

 

 

Unknown - Grey imports are not purchased from the legal manufacturer or their representatives due to legally signed distribution agreements with each country.

 

Grey goods are generally supplied by dubious business people who obtain goods from unknown sources and far from cutting down middlemen it actually increases the number of people in the supply chain. The possibility of these goods having been obtained illegally by misappropriation cannot be discounted. Also most imported grey products are discontinued items that are already obsolete by the time they are offered for sale in Southern Africa.

 

Irresponsible Companies that sell grey imported products often go bankrupt as the service and goods returned costs eventually destroy their profitability, leaving frustrated and angry consumers as well as shareholders of these companies high and dry without any legal recourse.

 

 

Can ASG Sport Solutions brands be legally parallel imported.

 

NO!

ASG Sport Solutions signed international distribution agreements with their distributors relating to imports, sales, service and guarantees for each economic area. ASG Sport Solutions is the sole distributor for Pinarello, Rudy Project, Sidi, San Marco, Most, Scicon & Ftech in Southern Africa and Africa in most instances.

 

 

 

Are Parallel/Grey imported goods guaranteed.

 

NO!

ASG Sport Solutions empowers their distributors by agreement to give a manufacturers guarantee on products imported by the distributor for each area.

 

 

Are there international manufacturers Guarantees for ASG Sport Solutions brands?

 

No!

Only ASG Sport Solutions products that have been purchased in South Africa through our appointed dealer network carry a manufacturer’s guarantee. Even units purchased in another country by an individual are not guaranteed in South Africa but are still serviceable at a price on presentation of an original sales slip.

 

 

Can a grey importer offer a legal manufacturers guarantee.

 

No!

Without official access to the service and spares departments of our brand companies a manufacturers guarantee is impossible. Businesses purporting to give such a guarantee are in breach of the copyright act and are misrepresenting the brand. The guarantee that a grey importer offers is also meaningless without access to our service channels as most components are designed for and are unique to our products these are also protected by international copyright law.

 

Please note that the product design, the brand LOGO and the entire product including all its parts that carry the brand LOGO of the manufactured product is copyrighted.

 

 

How do I know if the product you bought has a guarantee?

 

If you cannot find your dealer listed on www.asgsport.co.za/dealerlocator Phone, mail, fax or email us the Model and serial number of your product using the numbers listed at the bottom of this document.

 

 

PLEASE NOTE:

 

The South African Government has enacted the law described below which clearly states that a person who grey/parallel imports a product must clearly advertise the fact it is not sanctioned by the brand holder and has no official guarantee.

 

The following article describes this law!

 

Local "grey" importers who sell branded goods which they have imported – Must clearly indicate that the products are not covered by a manufacturer's service, warranty or support this include the support of the local distributor.

 

The department of trade and industry has declared it an unfair business practice for retailers not to tell consumers that they're not authorised by the manufacturer to sell these goods. A notice declaring this business practice unlawful was published in the Government Gazette.

 

Retailers of grey imports must now include a prescribed warning, in all their advertising, websites and brochures, saying:

 

"The authorised South African distributor of this product is under no obligation to honour the manufacturers' guarantees/warranties or to provide after-sales service for self ("grey") imported branded products."

 

This effectively means everything grey imported has to be clearly marked as such! Failure to comply will lead to civil prosecution for infringement of the act.

 

Official importers who have signed trade agreements with factories to brand products in South Africa and are responsible for service of officially imported products.

 

IF YOU HAVE BEEN DUPED INTO BUYING A GREY PRODUCT WITHOUT BEING PROPERLY INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT IMPORTED FROM AN OFFICIAL SUPPLIER THEN IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO DEMAND ALL YOUR MONEY BACK.

 

 

 

ASG Sport Solutions (Pty) Ltd

 

TEL: 0861 783 972

0861 222 353

 

FAX: 012 807 3684

 

info@asgsport.co.za

 

PoBox: 53960

Menlopark

0102

[udxcob]

I think HKGK

[Tankman]

If your bike is insured, then your normal household / bike cover should cover this. I had a huge wipe-out 2 years ago and mutual and federal, paid for e replacement saddle & new helmet. no questions asked - might be worth a try ?

 

They will replace your saddle no questions asked because that is part of the bike. You shoes, helmet, glasses, clothing, gps etc. must be specified. If not specified you can claim under the all risk portion as long as each items value is less than R1000.

 

So you can claim a Top Sport helmet under all risk but a proper helmet must be specified.

[scuzzy]

I am not trying to bad mouth CWC at all here, but when I enquired about RP at ASG, they did spesifically say that if I buy from CWC they will not cover it under theur waranty.

 

Don't know about the behind the scenes politics, but that was said to me in a mail.