Cracked Jeffsy frame, no warranty?

PB Forum :: YT Industries
Cracked Jeffsy frame, no warranty?
  • Previous Page
Author Message
flag bonkmtb
Posted: May 6, 2020 at 8:58 Quote
I've been struggling with YT on a warranty claim for a cracked downtube on a Jeffsy and wanted to reach out to the PB community here to get an additional point of view to make sure I'm not being unreasonable.

The frame developed a crack on the bottom of the downtube, just above where the shock is connected. There is no paint damage, just the crack on the carbon and I had no crash. See the picture of the crack below:
photo

I contacted YT and they said: "It does appear to be related to an impact of some kind."
Their offer was to replace just the front triangle under crash replacement for $1,200

My first 2 reactions where:
How could they claim it's an external impact given that it doesn't have any paint damage?
$1,200 just for the front triangle on a bike that is sold for $5,000 seems very unreasonable.

I questioned them about the claim of it being an external damage even with no paint damage (is the paint stronger than the carbon??), and they asked me to ship the frame to them so they could cut it up and look internally to verify if it was external or not. I was skeptical to let them make that decision, as it could be completely biased. It's like letting the lawyer from the other party judge your case...

Since I didn't have any other option, I sent the front triangle in, they cut it and, as expected, they kept the claim that it was caused by an external impact and it can't be covered by warranty. This is the picture from the inside:
photo

So now I'm stuck with no bike, after using it for about 1 year, less than 500 miles on it (MN winters are real) and with the only option to buy a front triangle for $1200. With that money I could almost buy a brand new full frame (front and rear triangles + shock) from another company. Doesn't really make sense to stay with a YT after this experience...

Anyways, just wanted to get some ideas if I'm being unreasonable or if their warranty process just doesn't really work.
flag Fellip89
Posted: May 6, 2020 at 9:48 Quote
dannn do what the yt warranty . yt need do warranty for that this not good
flag flaviotortuguita
Posted: May 6, 2020 at 10:05 Quote
WTF? Its a Shame for YT.
I Will think thousand times before buy another YT, without warranty is impossible.
flag freitasdh
Posted: May 6, 2020 at 14:28 Quote
@intensecycles is straight forward.
They solve the problem real quick, you should go for that one.
flag jordanopalacio
Posted: May 6, 2020 at 17:29 Quote
That clearly looks like a crack!!!
I had 3 frames replaced with Giant and it was all smaller than this.
flag Camstyn
O+
Posted: May 10, 2020 at 0:18 Quote
I’d buy a different brand frameset, send them their rear triangle with a printout of this thread, a picture of your new frameset and instructions to stick their rear triangle where the sun doesn’t shine.
flag mark-p
Posted: May 10, 2020 at 3:12 Quote
The problem with this is because they have destroyed the frame to "prove" that is is impact damage you are now totally shafted. At least before you could have taken the option have it assessed at a specialist for repair (professional CF repairs can be fine) that would probably have cost less that the $1200 YT are quoting.

Did they state that the frame would be destroyed as part of the inspection?
If not then you may have something but the big problem is that it is not worth your cost and effort to take it very far. Companies know this and the end user gives up because they have more to lose than just starting again.

I certainly would not take their offer up and as you have suggested, just get a replacement from somewhere else.

Utter tossers.
flag 530220
Posted: May 11, 2020 at 9:33 Quote
You can’t buy a carbon frame for 1200 they are close to 3000 ... still a bummer.. that’s a hard one I broke a frame yt On a Impact and it looked like that ... so it’s a tough one for both sides .. good luck
flag Loki87
Posted: May 11, 2020 at 9:47 Quote
To be fair, i can see where they´re coming from with the impact claim. A frame simply cracking on the underside of the downtube like this is rather rare and it does indeed look a bit like impact damage. Of course if you´d hit a rock there´d be scratches, but if you hit a metal pipe for example, that can totally damage the carbon but leave no traces on the paint.
I´m not saying that´s what happened, but there are people who take their bike to the skatepark and attempt to pedal grind or whatever, then hit the rail with the downtube.
I also think this is a fringe case which YT should have warrantied simply because it´s the right thing to do if there´s any doubt involved or at the very least given you a heavily discounted main triangle for like 400$
The insulting part when it comes to offers like this is that the quote they gave you will still make them money. No way they´re paying that amount of money for a main triangle.
So maybe try and reason with them on whether they´d be willing to give you a reasonable offer since the case isn´t as clear cut as they try to make it seem. Maybe they´re willing to avoid the bad PR if you show willingness to compromise.
After all, if they give you a new frame at production price, you´re both happy with the result.

On another note, i think it´s rather laughable that the bicycle industry gets to destroy your property in order to check whether a warranty claim is sucessful or not, because it leaves the customer without any product and only the manufacturer stands to win in these circumstances. If they had returned the cracked frame you could have had it repaired, but the way they manage their warranty claims now has taken that option from you, even though you agreed to it. Just imagine Ford cutting your car in half to check for manufacturing issues, then returning the two halves to you claiming the failure wasn´t their fault...
flag Teuton
Posted: May 14, 2020 at 20:08 Quote
looking at the pictures, I don't see any way for this to happen other than an impact.
flag Garrett3938
O+
Posted: May 26, 2020 at 9:45 Quote
YT gives limited support, in my case none at all, after they get your money. I had an SRAM SX derailleur, which has known issues and very poor quality, broke off and got sucked into my rear wheel bending it, the chain, the cable. I have had to replace the derailleur with an XT, the shifter, because it broke as I was setting it up, rear wheel, and cable to the tune of around 700 bucks. YT refused to offer ANY support with SRAM and the defective derailleur which is contrary to their supposed warranty policy.

The takeaways are as follows, SRAM SX is absolute garbage, and YT will not support their product. I like my Capra, but I won’t buy another YT bike.

Garrett
flag cmcrawfo
Posted: May 26, 2020 at 10:46 Quote
This highlights the challenges associated with a product that isn't supported by a dealer network.

Assessing damage like that remotely, particularity in a world where so many people use frame protection is supper challenging.

Generally, the most expensive frames have the best warranty programs... heck, the most expensive things have the best warranty programs. So in a way, you get the level of service you pay for. As the materials and construction are all very similar, warranty and after sales care are often what your extra dollars are paying for.

It totally blows for the OP, but its an excellent cautionary tale about how this company manages these types of issues.

There are non destructive imaging techniques they can use con CF components to evaluate the quality of layup and assess potential damage.granted, Locating and Accessing them is challenging.
flag zimm17
Posted: Jun 13, 2020 at 12:22 Quote
I'm no carbon expert, but I would try getting it repaired if the only other option is buying a new frame or triangle.
flag Bigboyboost29
Posted: Jun 14, 2020 at 11:47 Quote
cmcrawfo wrote:
This highlights the challenges associated with a product that isn't supported by a dealer network.

...ing.

Meh. No dealer needed to say the same thing. It's a tough situation, I agree with the several thoughtful posts itt. Pay up the $1200 and don't hit anymore stuff with your downtube.

Not trying to be an ass, but that was either there when you bought the bike, or an impact happened. It doesn't look anything like a "developed" crack.
flag provin1327
O+
Posted: Jun 25, 2020 at 10:09 Quote
Teuton wrote:
looking at the pictures, I don't see any way for this to happen other than an impact.

Can you elaborate on that?

Garrett3938 wrote:
YT gives limited support, in my case none at all, after they get your money. I had an SRAM SX derailleur, which has known issues and very poor quality, broke off and got sucked into my rear wheel bending it, the chain, the cable. I have had to replace the derailleur with an XT, the shifter, because it broke as I was setting it up, rear wheel, and cable to the tune of around 700 bucks. YT refused to offer ANY support with SRAM and the defective derailleur which is contrary to their supposed warranty policy.

The takeaways are as follows, SRAM SX is absolute garbage, and YT will not support their product. I like my Capra, but I won’t buy another YT bike.

Garrett

This is not always true. I have had to deal with YT USA customer service two times (first for a creaky bottom bracket that wasn't actually a creaky bottom bracket but they sent a replacement, my misdiagnosis, and second for a replacement chainstay guard) and both times I received amazing, fast service.


To the OP, can you give us some more information to accompany the picture of the inside of the frame that YT supplied. What did they say about it?

Also, you can't even get close to buying a full carbon frame + shock for $1,200. You'll be paying at a minimum $2,500 which is double what YT is asking for. Yt's offer of $1,200 seems reasonable to me.
  • Previous Page

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.014993
Mobile Version of Website