Specialized - We're being ripped..

[LukeV-2]

It's not just opinion. Some of us have presented facts here. The local agent is under no obligation whatsoever to honour a warranty on a product they didn't import themselves. Fact.

 

Should they out of goodwill? No. You've shown them none. Opinion.

 

I get you.. One for one i guess... If its in their regulations then I'll just have to deal with it.. I wont go making a scene..

Edited March 13, 2012 by Fruity

[BigGuy]

Of course, the cycling industry is like a mens shower, the public feel they are being ass ripped and in return can't wait for the soap to drop.

Sounds like a fair deal.

Tumbles, you have oodles of posts, when are you gonna learn that you can't put milk in to a coconut

@Dangle, you remember those Spez shoe strap clips you helped me with? The Melrose Arch shop wanted 3 times as much for just one (and you supplied both, fitted). BTW they are still working nicely.

[Tumbleweed]

I'll have my helmet and see what happens if it cracks.. For now i'll just hope it doesnt.

 

Best you read this then:

 

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

The following information pertains to helmets purchased in the USA only. For warranty information

outside the USA, please contact the authorized Specialized dealer or distributor in your local market.

Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. warrants to the Original Purchaser of this product that the product

is free from defects of material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of

one (l) year from the date of the original purchase. If within one (l) year from the date of the original

purchase, this product is found to be defective in material or workmanship under normal use or service,

Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. will, at its sole option, repair or replace the product without

charge, provided that the Original purchaser returns the product to an Authorized Dealer indicating

the specific reasons for returning the product and proof of date of purchase. Specialized does not

warranty any helmet damaged by heat.

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO, AND IS VOID AS TO, EFFECTS OR PHYSICAL DAMAGE

RESULTING FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT, IMPROPER REPAIR, IMPROPER FIT, ALTERATIONS, MODIFICATIONS,

OR USE CONTRARY TO THAT INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SPECIALIZED DISCLAIMS

ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THE WARRANTY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, AND EXPRESSLY

DISCLAIMS THE WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY.

SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC. SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL

OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY BREACH OF ANY EXPRESSED OR

IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY IS EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL

OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AND ALL OTHER REMEDIES GUARANTEES OR

LIABILITIES ARISING BY LAW OR OTHERWISE.

No person or representative is authorized to assume any liability on behalf of Specialized Bicycle

Components, Inc., in connection with the sale of this product.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitations

on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to

you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary

from state to state.

[Tumbleweed]

I get you.. One for one i guess... If its in their regulations then I'll just have to deal with it.. I wont go making a scene..

 

Here's hoping that nothing happens that'll crack it...

[Wyatt Earp]

@Dangle, you remember those Spez shoe strap clips you helped me with? The Melrose Arch shop wanted 3 times as much for just one (and you supplied both, fitted). BTW they are still working nicely.

Great stuff, thanks for the feedback

[LukeV-2]

So seems they might know the deal with the price difference so they cover themselves with those terms..

[Shebeen]

It's not just opinion. Some of us have presented facts here. The local agent is under no obligation whatsoever to honour a warranty on a product they didn't import themselves. Fact.

 

Should they out of goodwill? No. You've shown them none. Opinion.

the whole exclusive distributor model is just so outdated in the global village. anyone with an internet connection and a credit card has access to bike parts that only ten years ago was the privilege of a tiny few(eg lbs, agents, distributors). does it hurt spesh SA if you buy their stuff overseas?well you're doing it because it's considerably cheaper(hardly a crime), and you're spending money on their product versus a number of locally sourced alternatives - not necessarily theirs. in the past ten years spesh has gone from a brand with low local penetration to one of sa's biggest. not all of these have been bought here, but when you see masses on the startline they all help sell and grow the brand.

 

i think the only warranty that is really worth anything, and is actually regularly used is for your frame. the rest are just paper and promises that hardly ever get cashed in.

 

people who put a lot of faith, energy and money behind their brands(ie. spesh head office) will eventually realise that they need to join the party. well they they do know already, but are just trying to milk it for as long as possible until we the consumer give them the collective finger. if you think you've been screwed over by a brand, you document it and post it online with evidence and tarnish away till they give in or you've had your fun.

 

ps. this viewpoint was only strengthened last week when i tried to stay loyal to my locally bought helmet brand. the thing is 5/6 years old now, and their the ones saying it's worth replacing. i'd like to trade it in and get some discount similar to crash replacement. no such luck. instead i just got one from another brand because it was on special

Edited March 13, 2012 by The Dictator

[Danger Dassie]

Concept Cyclery has always been called that, as a flagship store for Spaz merch.

Burry's car is more than likely earned by the salary he receives from Specialized as an international sponsor. Or just as likely, a sponsorship deal brokered with a local dealership, similar to what he did years back with a car. Mind you, none of this 'knitting circle info' is relevant to the topic is it ...

 

A number of facts have been put down, such as duties etc... Not to mention the retarded distribution chain we sit with. Stuff docks here en route to Europe etc, however it only gets offloaded once it reaches Europe and THEN redistributed back down to SA because we fall under the European distribution network. So this adds to the problem as well, and it's not only the cycling industry that have this issue.

 

End of the day, the retail mark up in cycling goods is minimal compared to most other retail sectors and definitely compared to other industry sectors.

In fact I know some on the hub/cycling work for celluar comms/banking/finance etc ... Lets talk about your mark ups eh

[covie]

 

ps. this viewpoint was only strengthened last week when i tried to stay loyal to my locally bought helmet brand. the thing is 5/6 years old now, and their the ones saying it's worth replacing. i'd like to trade it in and get some discount similar to crash replacement. no such luck. instead i just got one from another brand because it was on special

Thats total wishfull thinking, so what your saying is i should take my torn assos back and get a discount on my next pair? No logic in that i used the product way past its usefull life and so did you, you dont take your torn 5 year old underwear back to the retailer and demand discount on new ones do you?

[SL7]

Good luck with importing a Specialized product. If you succeed in buying the Spez helmet online, please pop me a pm so that I can also shop there please.

Andre, try this website: http://thetristore.com/brand/Specialized/

[Big H*]

A helmet is a very personal item. Unless you had the exact one before, how will you know which size you will order and will it fit the geometry of your cranium. If you fitted one locally and then ordered one from abroad, you will have to handle the moral dillema.

 

Buying overseas is not easy as you have to do a lot of research into your product. I do not buy cycling clothing, shoes or helmets over the internet, unless it is a replacement.

 

If the shop in question is too expensive in order to pay for their posh locale, time will tell if they can survive.

[Caerus]

Andre, try this website: http://thetristore.c...nd/Specialized/

 

Would be interesting to see a direct comparison between the prices here and what they are charging overseas

[Sandro]

If a local reseller can't price their goods to retail at a competitive price to overseas then they deserve to be in a position where people are buying grey. Sorry. Agents don't pay retail, they buy ex works and that discounted price should be enough to compensate for duties and transport etc. and to retail at a competitive price,and if not then they need to negotiate better terms with the exporter.

[Tumbleweed]

If a local reseller can't price their goods to retail at a competitive price to overseas then they deserve to be in a position where people are buying grey. Sorry. Agents don't pay retail, they buy ex works and that discounted price should be enough to compensate for duties and transport etc. and to retail at a competitive price,and if not then they need to negotiate better terms with the exporter.

 

Fair enough, but is the market here big enough for the local agents to leverage the better terms of which you speak?

[Shebeen]

 

Thats total wishfull thinking, so what your saying is i should take my torn assos back and get a discount on my next pair? No logic in that i used the product way past its usefull life and so did you, you dont take your torn 5 year old underwear back to the retailer and demand discount on new ones do you?

except for the fact that helmet marketing tells me to replace every x years. Marketing or science telling me it's beyond useful life?

[covie]

except for the fact that helmet marketing tells me to replace every x years. Marketing or science telling me it's beyond useful life?

except for the fact that helmet marketing tells me to replace every x years. Marketing or science telling me it's beyond useful life?

 

Thats not marketing my friend thats the usefull life of the helmet that has expired. all the sun sweat and multiple knocks you had renders it brittle and hence not safe anymore. Its your choice if you want to keep on riding and crack your skull, or get a new pip protector.