Buying a frame via a reseller - how to know who is the manufacturer

[Molothi]

Hi all

I've just bought a FM-196 frame via a reseller (French) - simply to avoid boring problems with customs (in France we often have this for all goods coming from China)

I want to know who is really the manufacturer but the reseller remains mute on that ...
I found some guys who have bought some frames via this reseller, and comment are very good... and that decided me to buy
but I still would like to know who is the manufacturer
the only sign I could find is a sticker "FM-196" and 17.5"size sticker inside the headtube

so is there a way ( a kind of signature) to find who is the manufacturer?

thanks in advance

[Sitar_Ned]

Hey Molothi.. Welcome!

Yeah, I think the only way is to actually ask the manufacturer, or second hand info from someone that has already inquired about it.

This issue came up in the "List of Suppliers" thread and it's pretty much unanimous that this is info that needs to be known. Hopefully soon, we can have all of the info compiled into one spot that will make it more convenient for everyone.

Sorry, we couldn't provide you with a better answer.

[JohnnyNT]

FM is usually HongFu signature, 196 suggests IP-196SL though, from Iplay.

[Sitar_Ned]

FM is usually HongFu signature, 196 suggests IP-196SL though, from Iplay.

Thanks for chiming in..

Do you know if these are exclusive? I would think that any start up manufacturer could make a frame and sell it as an "FM" or "IP" frame, in order to sella frame that people already know and trust. Chinese manufacturers making replicas of other Chinese manufacturers. It's bound to happen. I could be totally wrong.

[Molothi]

thanks for the welcome 

FM 196 reference confused me too, but no way to get the info from the reseller
not sure the other buyers got it, need to check

I found another manufacturer with "FM 196" reference.. but did not keep the URL link, I've to check again

Chinese manufacturers making replicas of other Chinese manufacturers.

I hope no 

[JohnnyNT]

You could ask for a seatpost diameter, IP-196SL has 27.2 mm while most 650b frames have 31.6 mm. 17.5" size looks like IP-196SL, again, since other vendors produce straight 17"/18".

[Sitar_Ned]

So I emailed Peter of Iplay hoping to get some clarity on who manufacturers what, and this is the reply I received:

Actually, Iplay, Hongfu, Dengfu, Miracle sell almost same frames, but we have some private mould frames separately.

We all companies own the factory together. But some other factories copy our frames and sell at much cheaper price, some facttories make frames with glass fiber with carbon fiber together and they offer only 6 months warranty.

Best Regards,
Peter

[Molothi]

thank you for the information Sitar_Ned

Funny/strange that thay own/share the same company
I'm a little surprised that Peter shared such information

I hope they share the same way to build up the frames, even if they could use different mould

looking at the 2013 Super Light 650B Frame from HongFu, we can read

Item : HF-FM196

that can be an example of shared reference... HF and/or FM 196 ...
who knows