Initial note from Paul: "... I told him what I wanted done, remove the dent, keep the existing paint, and touch up some of the larger eyesores..."
most recent note from Paul : "...Cycleart led me to believe I could restore my frame to its previous glory - I was really excited to have my bike looking close to the day my father bought it for me...."
Was it a touch-up job or full restore???
Not taking sides. But it seems what we have here is a failure to communicate (from Cool Hand Luke ) ....... maybe from both directions - who knows----
I think it is unfortunate that a specific business is being discussed here - since none of us can know the precise facts of the matter - and without a dick nixon taping device, the parties involved likely are not sure specifically what was discussed over time. Perhaps the lesson is to agree in writing what is being sought, and what will be delivered - a contract, as it were.
One thing we can all appreciate is that restoration work of any kind is a tricky business - i bet Joan Rivers had some complaints for her plastic surgeon.
damien roohr canton, ct
Original Message ----- From: "Paul Ozzello" <paul.ozzello@b2b2c.ca> To: "Andrew R Stewart" <onetenth@earthlink.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 12:12:04 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [CR] Disappointing Cyclart experience
Hi Andrew,
I'm not saying I was wronged and I'm not accusing. I'm disappointed because Cycleart led me to believe I could restore my frame to its previous glory - I was really excited to have my bike looking close to the day my father bought it for me.
I should have consulted the CR list before hand, but I met a few people from my hometown in NJ that had nothing but praise for their work so I was 'sold'. I don't doubt that Cycleart is capable of some fine restorations, but don't ask me to ship my frame to you when you clearly have no intention of working on it. The whole 'it's not worth the effort and don't bother our artists' is just lame and almost insulting. You tell me you can do the work, I'm willing to pay you, I know the bike itself is 'worthless' but I have a lot of sentiment tied to it, then after months of discussions you're only offer is to send me the frame back as-is?
It's frustrating. Tell me it's not your cup of tea before I go through the hasstle and expense of shipping it to you; Christ we don't all pick our money from trees. What I take issue with is with Cyclart's attitude; it's uncommon to deal with someone so arrongant and pretentious in the cycling industry, especially in the US.
I'm recounting my story because I wish I had known before hand what type of business I was dealing with. Finding a competent frame restorer is no easy taks; it took me months of research to find the right place; that Bianchi is my 'baby' and I won't trust it to just anyone :)
Anyway, I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I'll give a call to the places you guys recommended once I get the frame back (if Cycleart hasn't junked it).
To be continued!!
Thanks guys,
- Paul
-----Original Message----- From: Andrew R Stewart [mailto:onetenth@earthlink.net] Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 8:28 PM To: paul.ozzello@b2b2c.ca; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] Disappointing Cyclart experience
Paul- There is much about your post that I take issue with. But what most gets to me most is that you have not been wronged yet you accuse. Tending a proposal is not a contract to do the job to the buyer's specs.
>
> I sent my 1985 Bianchi Veloce to Cyclart for repair. It's a middle of the
> road
> model that doesn't have much monetary value, but it was my first real bike
> and
> I won a number of races with it when I was a kid; so it has a great deal
> of
> sentimental value. The top tube has a minor dent from a collision I had
> with a
> car 25 years ago that I've wanted to have repaired ever since. A number of
> people recommended Cyclart so I emailed Jim Cunningham.
>
> I told him what I wanted done, remove the dent, keep the existing paint,
> and
> touch up some of the larger eyesores. He said that was a pretty basic
> repair
> and suggested I send it to him for an estimate. When I eventually got the
> estimate, it was for a dent repair and a cheap powder coat. I called Jim
> and
> explained to him how keeping the original paint was very important to me,
> that
> I didn't mind if it didn't come out perfect.
>
> You could tell from the conversation he didn't want to be bothered, going
> on
> about how his painters/artists wouldn't find much motivation from such a
> job,
> that there was little satisfaction or gratification to be had from such a
> project. After I told him how much the bike meant to me, he appeared to
> understand and accepted to give me a quote for the work requested. Several
> few
> weeks later, Jim obviously changed his mind; I got a mail from Susan with
> the
> original estimate (dent removal plus re-finish).
>
> I contacted Cyclart once again asking for a quote for a complete
> CycleTique
> treatment for the frame realizing it would be costly. Apparently, Cyclart
> has
> no interest in doing the work and offered to send me back the frame as is.
>
> Were my expectations too high? I was willing to spend considerably more
> than
> what the bike was worth for a simple frame repair and explained it to them
> long
> before I ever sent them the frame. I wrongly assumed Cyclart would
> understand
> the passion emotion and history that an owner can have with a particular
> bike;
> what a disappointment.
>
> Could someone recommend a shop that would do such a repair?
>
>
> Paul Ozzello
>
> Montreal Canada
>
>
> _______________________________________________
Andrew R Stewart
Rochester, NY