The STW aficianados amongst will know that I’ve been trying to flog a dead horse (Commencal Skin Ti 29er) for the last 8 months or something mental to no avail. The previous much loved frame that I was the first and only owner of, cracked along the seatstay in April 2012 so I got in touch with the LBS, who were outstanding btw, about warranty replacement. They got in touch with Commencal who first offered to replace just the cracked tube which involved sending the frame back to Taiwan at my expense, I wasn’t happy with this as you can imagine.
I then found a post about a dude who had bought the same frame second hand (voiding the warranty), had a similar problem and had sent it back and been given the option of a new Ti frame that he’d have to wait 3 months for or a brand new Carbon frame that he could have straight away, I thought this was a bit odd and quite annoying so I got in touch with Commencal.
They initially took ages to respond so I phoned them and they repeated their offer of tube replacement at my expense, I asked why I was getting a poorer offer than other fella and after some too-ing and fro-ing they asked me to post them the frame and they would inspect it to assess my usage.
Again they took ages to confirm receipt so I phoned, they told me that they’d only be willing to replace the tube but that they’d post it to Taiwan, I had a moan citing other fella’s far better offer despite not being the original owner and they eventually capitulated and offered me the same options, pretty crap so far and it was now June.
I opted for the Ti frame and said I wait, they told me it’d be 2-3 months. 2 months passed, nothing. 3 Months passed, a 29er had been shipped from factory by mistake, they’d get another sent, it’d be two weeks. Still nothing. Someone was going to Taiwan in October, they’d bring my frame back with them, November came, still nothing but then at last in December, the frame arrived!!!!
And it was a 29er!!! Screw it I thought, I’ve replaced the frame now anyway, surely somebody out there will want a brand new Ti 29er frame. 8 months on and nobody wanted it but guess what, for once Commencal have come through. They’ve agreed to have it back and replace it with a 26” frame which is winging it’s way to me now. They’re not too bad after all then. I’ve just got to decide what to do with it now.
