SPECIALIZED........not really.

[vanniri]

My own story about Spes SA:

 

In August of 2004 I decided to buy a M5 S-Works frame only. After enquiry through my LBS the frame was ordered. No delivery date was specified but Spes SA confirmed frame to be included in a order already place with Spes USA. Delivery expected +/- 1 month.

 

Nothing happend for 3 months. My LBS got sick of me, so eventually they gave me the direct contact numbers of the Spes SA gentlemen. After numerous calls it turned-out that Spes SA was busy negotiating an extension of the distribution contract with Spes USA. At the same time Spes SA was also in talks with an equity stakeholder - apparently an equity injection was required/desired from Spes USA. During this sensitive period I was requested not to rock the boat by contacting Spes USA directly - I agreed.

 

All of the above delayed the delivery of the frame (all stock delivery was delayed according to Spes SA). During this time the frame was always either one day from arrival or one day from clearance at customs. This kept on till January/February the next year.

 

During February the next year I visited a famous shop in Pretoria. One of the shop assistants told me they "just" sold such a frame in my size a week before. The owner of the shop came over and stopped the conversation - at the stage I thought it quite odd.

 

Eventually I recieve a 2005 frame in April. Extremely happy, excellent frame! Too late for the Cape Epic, which I ended riding on a Santa Cruz Blur (what a pleasure it was to deal with the SC importer - his SC business was still very small at that stage).

 

In October during warm-up at a major race I met a guy riding a frame (same 21 size) like mine. He used to be a cycling buddy of the owner of the above shop - both very "famous" racers at that stage, although this guy stop competing to focus on studies. He told me he was extremely lucky to find the frame since he enquired during February and received the frame in the same month - apparently they had one ready in the warehouse which just arrived. Putting two and two together them made me realise what happened.

 

The lack of integrity shown by the owners during the above episode made me decide never to buy from Spes SA again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kamikaze]

That?s my point!

 

 

 

There is no ?specialized SA?, only some dude who wants sole importing rights (and a way to please his buddies).

 

Screw him, if you have a problem, go directly to the source in the USA!

 

 

 

The same goes for ANY product which is not made here in SA.

 

 

[Orvor]

I bought my Epic 5 years ago at Summit Cycles. Since then, not a single breakage or component failure experienced. Shocked at whats happened to the prices since then. Get this: I paid about R17,500-00 and its replacement value is now R32500-00 for insurance purposes. Anyone wanna steal an EPIC?  Kidding for the record.

 

I guess your whole experience can be soured by one guy, but for me there is only one brand (ok maybe I'd try FELT or the Giant Anthem next).

 

 

[gremlin]

Their prises is crazy, Put on handle grips, Saw them for R260 and when I took my bike in for a service went up to R290 in 3 days.

 

But then when I had a problem with the rear hub the LBS ordered the part and it was sorted, as it was still under waranty. Also My LBS is always willing to help. They get a quick responce from Specialized. When I baught my bike, the other shops I had to wait at least a week to get the bike. Dunkeld ordered the bike for me, the guy from Specialized came and droped the bike off personaly, setup was done and had the bike withing 3 days.