When I was scouting for the 036 frame I asked few vendors for a quote. Essentially the choice came between Dengfu and XMIplay. Dengfu was cheaper and their site is more professional. But Paul from XMIplay reacted faster to my emails and was able to answer most of my technical questions while the girl from Dengfu was most clearly lost or had no interest. So I asked Paul to lower the price and went to order from him. Paid with PayPal and started to wait. Paul’s behavior changed from that moment on.
First it took XMIplay more than 2 weeks to ship the frame and reminder from me like - “what’s goin on guys?! why aren’t you shipping the frame?” This is despite the fact that Paul assured me before that this frame is on stock and ready to be shipped. But ok. Another month, a pack of papers which I had to fill for the customs and 50 euros later I got my frame!
Unfortunately my excitement upon getting it evaporated very quickly. I am pretty sure XMIplay sent me a bumped one.
When I unpacked the frame - I saw that the headtube was hit on the lower ring at sharp angle. The paint got cracked and lower cup got bent, so that the headset didn't fit in anymore. The frame was wrapped very very well, I'd say - nukeproof and it is lower ring, it is not exposed to the bumps during transportation. So I am pretty sure XMIplay have sent me already bumped frame. But, I cannot be absolutely sure. Also the plastic insert which holds the pivots was snapped in two. It didn’t seem to cause any problems though, because of the good wrapping.
After few emails back and forth, when I was slowly getting angrier and angrier, Paul reacted with a promise that they gonna reimburse me if I go to the LBS and ask them to reface the cups and repaint the frame. But apparently Paul meant Chinese bike shop, while I live in Germany. His reimbursement readiness lay around 10$. May be you can do this job in China for 10 bucks, but not in Germany. Refacing the cups alone costs around 15 Euros. Paint job around 300. Ok, I wanted a compromise and told him that I will not insist on the paint job, because the defect is minimal but 10 bucks won’t fly either. Paul said that he needs to discuss this with manager and gone he was! No mails, no response, nothing.
Grinding my teeth and cursing XMIplay I refaced the cup, restored the paint for my own money. But unfortunately that was not the end of the story.
Now, after couple months, and when I have done all the aesthetics and almost 'm done with my build, I have found another defect of the frame. There are 2 blisters next to the head tube. I cannot tell whether this is just paint blistering or a structural defect. Sound test gives a clear defect, but it cannot differentiate. And I don’t have an endoscope to sneak a pic from the inside. Of course it is hard to make photos but still, you can see the 2 bubbles (1 large and 1 small) where the paint is off the frame. When I pressed it with my finger, the large bubble cracked and got a hairline. But on the other hand I cannot press further and there is no creaking. I hope it’s just paint.
So, XMIplay have sent me a defected frame! And ignored my last emails! At that moment I went ballistic and initiated a case with PayPal. Naturally after this I got a message from Paul where he accuses me of “using” the frame for 2 months, meaning how dare I to have any expectations after 2 months!!!
and suggesting to give back like 70 bucks.
So, guys, what would you do in my place? I’m tending towards to escalate the case with PayPal and see what they decide.
In conclusion - looks like I should have gone with Dengfu and that is where my money ‘ll go next time.
