I’m the seller here, so you can flame away.
The photos used were for when I first built the bike (only a few months ago, but were using some parts (saddle (SLR Road) and skewer (XTR) from my road bike)). The saddle was later replaced with a Specialised Henge Comp and Bontrager Skewer and that’s how it was ridden
The fork was a genuine mistake – it was sold to me as a 140mm Fox Kashima 29er fork. I think I added CTD (to the description) even though the pictures clearly show RLC. Still, not as advertised and my mistake, though not an intentional one.
I did change the tyres, (Specialised Purgatory 2.3/2.2 > Kenda Nevegal 2.2 DTC JTS) but again, this was over a month ago and the bike has been ridden several times since then. I never noticed cracking, but then, I’ve never through to check.
The bolts were swapped as I’ve not ridden it with those bolts as they’re only 10mm in length and look great for photo’s but were swapped immediately. I intended to buy some replacement Ti bolts of appropriate length but never go around to it. The sale was a reluctant and rushed one.
None of this is in dispute and I’ve admitted it’s my error and my fault.
In addition, the buyer wants the pedals pictured (I’ve never been held to this in a bike sale…ever) another stem (I never mentioned the stem length, but did intimate that the bike fitted me perfectly with an 80mm stem) as the 100mm one is too long, but 90mm will apparently do, replacement pads for the brakes, new bearings for the wheel (less than 200 miles, but have been sat for a year…so maybe), new bearings for the 60mile old BB. All of which I’ve agreed to.
In addition, the buyer also wants an additional £350 returned to him as a partial refund to cover the fork, a brake service and rebuild and a new front rotor as the old one is too thin… Coupled with all of the other parts, this equate to an almost £550 refund/cost. I think this is too much. I’ve agreed to both all the parts requested plus a partial refund of £150 (enough for a fork service, brake rebuild, new front floating rotor) or a full refund, but the £350 + parts is too much, I’d rather refund, repair and resell than sell the bike for an equivalent of £650.
I have never objected to a refund, nor have I dodged any questions or communication. The only things I’ve offered serious objection to are the pedals and the cost of the partial refund.
The sticking point is the shipping. I didn’t want to ship the bike, I offered collection or meeting up. He said that he received “preferential rates for shipping and that If I could go and get a box from Halfords, he would arrange for it to be collected and shipped”. I agreed – I shouldn’t have.
My mistake was listing it in a rush, I never intended to be in any way duplicitous.
As for the comments of trader – certainly not. Serial bike swapper/part whore – guilty. Is £10+k really a lot in bikes these days?