About a month and a half ago, I purchased a Gios Torino frameset for my wife. Some of you might remember...., and many helped me locate a good frame painter, decals and advice on all such matters. The issue was that there was a nice Super Record seatpost stuck in the frame, but the frame showed no signs of excessive rust or decay or misuse. I put down $40 deposit for the sale price of $125, on the understanding that the shop owner, would remove the post and later sell me some SR parts at reasonable prices to build up the bike after it returned from the painters. Well, it is a month and a half later and I visit the frame each week, but the owner who is highly knowledgeable and respectful of older bikes has made no considerable effort to extract the seatpost. Each week he sprays the juncture from inside and outside, and as my wife says, she guesses he hopes the seatpost fairy will come and extract it. He has not used a heat gun, nor for any of his honest responses to my urgings, has he made more than one attempt at muscular exertion. My wife is so pissed off, but I warned her not to loose it with him, as he could decide not to make any further effort, and just will return our deposit. He also could deny us good prices on SR parts too. This whole transaction is largely based on good faith, mutual love for old bikes and good relations. I have made personal visits and at times the whole family, myself, my wife and my nearly two year old all pack it in for a visit to "Broken Spoke Bike Shop". I am naturally good natured and patient but a recent event has me near the point of just saying "faget abboutt itt!"
Today I visited the shop a week after he said he was going to try the heat gun, but he admitted he hadn't yet. On each visit every $6 customer gets the royal treatment, but my bike just lays in corner adding new dust to it's 25 years of patina. Wouldn't you know it, a new old bike is on the rack, and getting the primo treatment today. An old 58 cm Atala is having its headset rebuilt, cables changed, etc, and new wheels and tires fitted. He picked it up from another dealer today for $150 and it was all SR. His mechanic was oggling the beautiful lines while my bike was neglected.
Well, maybe there is no profit in a $125 frameset, but this was the agreed on price. I even mentioned that last night I picked up an old steel lugged Allez for $42.99 on Ebay with a stuck seatpost!!! He didn't get the hint, but he was more than willing to give me advice on how to extract the post, and all the methods I could use. On the issue of advise, he is always more than friendly. His old bikes stay on the shelves, even though he prices them reasonably at $500 and less ... All campy Speedwell, new 80's SR Atala, old track bikes, Rigida original and complete bike, 3Rensho frameset, A Damilier frameset, etc... etc...
What should I do? What would get the best result?
Garth Libre in Miami Shores Fl.