I followed this thread to the point of frustration. It seems that all the respondents that have actually used Cycle Art have no complaints, I only hear negative comments from those that contemplated using their service. Jim has been helpful on the phone and email's several times and the pricing doesn't seem out of line. Has anyone priced competent body shops lately?
David Cowie Sutherlin,Oregon below zero brings out the below zero in folks....
Steve Neago wrote:
> Interesting that I tried to get a "price list" from you concerning the
> telephone quote at that time, but you would never send it in writing to me
> by postal mail. I have heard that others experienced your same pricing
> methods and no firm quote with similar concerns, perhaps they could
> contribute to this discussion. You played games on pricing with me and I
> don't like to play games in a business transaction. Other people supposed
> like the "art" you say that you create for them, but I think that art is
> subjective and I have real concerns about CyclArt business practices.
>
> When we first talked by email, you baited me with a low basic cost and when
> I called to confirm the quotation in writing you brought out a list of
> added charges discussed below. You told me the warranty was three months in
> the telephone conversation before the CR was created and you later changed
> to 2 years. To say this has always been your policy ignores your records of
> what was quoted to me. You are playing with the facts and inflated charges
> at your convenience rather than examining your records from the past. I
> kept my records including this telephone conversation, but what happened to
> your records?
>
> As far as insurance, that is between you and Pergo where you apparently did
> not perform good customer service by trying to overcharge him and supposedly
> damaged his frame while blaming him.
>
> Good luck in your next career,
>
> Steve Neago
> Cincinnati, OH
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Cunningham" <Cyclartist@cox.net>
> To: "'Steve Neago'" <questor@cinci.rr.com>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 1:34 PM
> Subject: CyclArt Pricing
>
> Steve,
> Please don't misrepresent the facts.
> Since our beginning in 1976 we have had a published price list that has been
> mailed out by the thousands and on our website since 1990. It is so detailed
> that I sometimes have people complain that it's like a tax form! Generally
> people are impressed with the attention to detail and that it presents many
> options that they may not have considered. That's what Custom service is
> about. A one price fits all is like saying one size bike fits all. Our
> warrantee has always been clearly stated & it has never been less than 2
> years. Any shipping damage is covered by our insurance. Here is a link to
> our order guide: http://www.cyclart.com/
>
> Jim Cunningham, CyclArtist
> Vista, CA
> http://www.cyclart.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Steve Neago
> Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 4:30 AM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]CyclArt Quality & Overcharge Concerns by Pergolizzi
>
> I wonder if CyclArt is being selective on facts regarding "published prices"
> because these have not always been fully disclosed in the past. My past
> experience years ago with CyclArt regarding a frame repaint quotation was
> not the best. The initial "basic" email price from CyclArt at that time in
> no way resembled their far higher final price quotation by the end of the
> later telephone quotation. This is why I chose not to do business with
> CyclArt. It sounds like Pergolizzi had a similar experience like me with
> CyclArt on "floating prices". Fortunately, I did not experience
> Pergolizzi's pain in receiving a frame and paint job allegedly "damaged in
> shipping" according to CyclArt.
>
> I know that CyclArt's quotation to me for a "basic" frame repaint included
> numerous additional charges not fully disclosed in their "basic" price at
> that time:
>
> frame paint stripping & prep charges,
> head badge removal/reinstall charges,
> parts removal charges for only a headset
> frame alignment charges,
> frame minor ding charges,
> fancy lug charges,
> frame paint masking charges,
> fork painting charges
> type and color of paint charges,
> multiple layer paint spray charges,
> paint special application charges,
> decal purchase charges,
> decal application charges,
> pinstriping charges,
> multiple clear coat charges,
> packing and box charges,
> shipping charges,
> shop material charges,
> and a possible 10% undeclared miscellaneous charge on top of that!
>
> After all of those charges, the CyclArt paint warranty was only for 3
> months. The CR archives has documented some past concerns with CyclArt
> quality. Meanwhile, other CR members said they are completely happy with
> the quality of work performed by CyclArt.
>
> Companies change pricing over time and CyclArt may have changed their
> policies, but I maintain that CyclArt adds numerous required charges that
> literally "nickel and dime" a customer with higher costs. A more reasonable
> business policy would be to create a "one price does all" instead of all
> these incremental charges. The bottom line is that the listed "basic" price
> is not what you will finish with because there may be numerous required
> additional charges disclosed on their website. This is why I purchased my
> own HVLP spray equipment to paint my frames for my projects!
>
> CAVEAT EMPTOR regarding CyclArt!
>
> Regards, Steve Neago
> Cincinnati, OH