I am looking for advice. I bought a Salsa Vaya new from my local bike shop who then packed it for me to be shipped to me via BikeFlights. I insured the bike. The bike arrived today. The box has a few holes in it and my previously new frame has 3-4 chips in the paint along with a good size scuff on the crank arm.
It APPEARS that the damage is cosmetic. I still have the box and took pix.
My bike shop is aware and has offered to speak with BikeFlights as needed. I have not filed any claim with BikeFlights yet, as I want to look it over or maybe even have a mechanic look at it to be sure its good to go.
With it being brand new and purchased from a licensed dealer, you should most certainly get what you paid for; a brand new bike. BikeFlights does a lot of business with FedEx, they can handle it. With a shop as your intermediary, you shouldn't have to lift a finger (once the photos are sent).
Save all of the packaging, internal and external! FedEx will try to prove that the bike wasn't packed properly and may ask for evidence. That is your bike shops battle to fight, though.
Of course, you could also be able to extract a settlement from FedEx for damages and keep the bike as is. Depends on how you feel about the aesthetics (and assuming that there was no structural damage).
Sorry your new toy arrived busted. That always sucks.
Right on...so it was just two chips in the frame and one in the fork, a scraped crank arm and slightly bent disc. I have an estimate from LBS to replace the frame, crankset and disc and rebuild the bike. Frame is steel (Salsa Vaya Tiagra) and the box had a couple of holes but no evidence of crushing damage.
I'm taking it out tomorrow for a short ride to check shifting and ride....have not had it inspected by bike shop but could do so maybe.
Estimated covers 65-70% of the total cost of the bike...the chips are small, and It'll get more. Just hoping to be compensated for the damage.
I work for a bib box Company, specifically the tool dept. Around Christmas time which is my busy season lots of the tool boxes come in with hidden damage because they throw heavy weight on top of them. I actually believe that is what happening to the bike boxes being shipped as they aren't very careful with them.
Since bike flights was at fault which they have insurance I wouldn't settle any less than a new bike frame. Who knows maybe you can talk you LBS to keep the extra parts. Good luck.
I would have the LBS inspect it before I took it for a ride. The more you can leave it like it was in shipment the better off you should be.
I filed the claim for a new frameset replacement, new crankset and replacemnt disc rotor since mine is now bent just enough that it will not true well. I also included the cost of rebuild of the bike plus the safety check I had done on the bike in Miami.
I sent the claim and all the pictures I had to BikeFlights and the bike shop that packed it and from whom I purchased it.
Now I am waiting..fingers crossed I can at least get reimbursed for the damages.
I filed the claim for a new frameset replacement, new crankset and replacemnt disc rotor since mine is now bent just enough that it will not true well. I also included the cost of rebuild of the bike plus the safety check I had done on the bike in Miami.
I sent the claim and all the pictures I had to BikeFlights and the bike shop that packed it and from whom I purchased it.
Now I am waiting..fingers crossed I can at least get reimbursed for the damages.
I think that you have heard that the squeaky wheel gets greased. If they don't want to cover it I would threaten them to post on all media outlets that they messed your bike up. I had a problem with bike flights once. They said if I shipped my bike out on a certain day that it would arrive at the city I was flying into on a certain day. When I called back to do the reservation they bumped it up by a day. I pretty much told then that wasn't what I was told. They actually record their online chats and said yes you are right we will 2nd day air it instead of 3 day express for the same price. They then messed that up and then had to next day air it to get it there on time. Guessing they didn't make much money on that reservation.
Thanks. I just received notice that my claim will be honored but I have to send the frame to them before I get paid. Unacceptable. If that is the case, the only acceptable solution is a new bike, in which case I'd be happy to send the old one back in. Salsa does not sell my frameset separately and I should not have to coordinate that process and packing up of the frame (also a cost I did not anticipate.)
Not happy with BikeFlights nor my bike shop for leading me down this path.
Be greatful you are using bike flights. I got an Sworks with 700$ estimate of scratches thanks to UPS and after 3 months of fighting they said that the bike box that the bike shop professionally packaged didn’t meet shipping requirements. Bike flights is typically good and the only company to ship with, ever, IMHO. You wouldn’t even have got the option for any compensation with UPS. Complete scammers
Good point. I am grateful. It'll work out. I am not sending them the frame. I am just going to call them and explain the situation. Ultimately the bike is rideable. I just see a frame replacement as the value for the damage. I do not intend to replace it...I'd rather be compensated for value lost cost of having it inspected and then apply that money to the bike how I see fit.
Final update: I spoke to BikeFlights re: the fact that the the bike had only suffered cosmetic damage and I could not order nor did I want to order and replace the frame. They paid me $590 to cover cosmetic damage to frame, wear on crankset, new disc rotor and the safety check performed by a LBS in Miami. The customer service rep was really easy to work with and understanding of the situation.
No complaints. I felt as though it was a more than fair settlement. The alternative was a new bike and me shipping this one back to them I guess. That was not worth the hassel nor my time in this case.
Kudos to BikeFlights for making the process less painful. The LBS that I purchased it from, was helpful although I felt like they should've addressed the estimate with a little more scrutiny since the frameset they used for value was a 2016 frameset that was not the color I wanted nor the proper size.
Thanks Z! I've already added a a ding to the frame of my own! The bike will be used for as much riding as I can do when I spend time in Miami working...all it really needs is a new disc now. Paint chips have been sealed with nail polish.
My bottom line is and lesson learned is this...BikeFights is very easy to work and negotiate with from my experience during this shipment. I highly recommend them. Pack your bike as well as you can...if this had been a new carbon gravel bike, this may have been a much more expensive and painful process.
Yeah I have had very good luck with them also TimmyR. The one time they told me 3 days to get my bike there and then when I went to make the reservation they said 4 and shipped my bike next day air on their nickel because of numerous mistakes on their part. This last summer when I was out in Colorado they picked up my bike at a different location that I had made the reservation for and since I couldn't get a new pick up tag on it they had no problem with picking it up at the hotel I was staying at. At my end they have always been great to work with and if you do 3 day standard shipping about 1/2 of what you pay to ship it on the airlines. You don't have the hassles either as they pick it up at your house.
