Author Topic: Beware of Winspace  (Read 2154 times)

Blueberry

Beware of Winspace
« on: April 07, 2025, 09:15:27 AM »
I STRONGLY recommend against paying the premium for their frames. The company's warranty is a sham and their internal policies directly violate the terms set in place by the creditors they work with. People should definitely be informed of this before buying from them. The following is a summary of my personal experience with Winspace. I can't speak for everyone but I am certain more people will lose out if Winspace is not held accountable.

I ordered a frame from Winspace which arrived with visible damage — specifically, a large piece of carbon chipped out from inside the bottom bracket shell. I raised the concern but Winspace repeatedly ignored the actual issue I described, instead responding to a different, less severe cosmetic mark I had not mentioned. Even after I clarified the concern multiple times, they never directly acknowledged it.

Eventually, they agreed to an exchange — but only if I paid an additional $200, despite the product being new and under their stated 3-year warranty. I paid the fee in hopes of a timely resolution. They gave an estimated turnaround of 20–30 days.

When I returned the original frame, the situation worsened due to Winspace's shipping errors. They misclassified the package on the international invoice as a “sample” instead of a “return” and under-declared the value by over $1,000. As a result, the package was flagged and held in customs in Shenzhen, for two weeks. I noticed the tracking had stalled and asked Winspace to resolve it, but received no response. When I contacted UPS directly, I learned Winspace had not followed up. After 11 days in limbo, the tracking was updated to say the package was "undeliverable" and would be "disposed of, in accordance with local guidelines." Only then — when I sent them a screenshot of the tracking— did Winspace act to resolve the issue. Ultimately, the package sat in a Shenzhen warehouse for a full two weeks and took three weeks total just to make it back to them (10 days later than UPS's original ETA).

Five weeks after the initial purchase, I let Winspace know — in writing — that if they had not shipped the replacement frame by the end of the following week, I would file a dispute. They did not respond to this message or make any effort to meet that deadline. I filed the dispute around the 50-day mark to protect myself from losing the ability to do so (my credit card gives me 60 days from the charge date to file a dispute).

Once the dispute was open, Winspace told me — multiple times — that they would not ship the frame unless I canceled the claim. Even when they claimed to have shipped it, it turned out they had only created a label and were still withholding the package until I canceled the dispute. This was blatantly coercive and dishonest, not to mention, a violation of their merchant terms of service with Visa.

As of right now, I still do not have the frame and they are still refusing to ship it unless I cancel the dispute. This is all despite my pointing out to them that this will result in higher penalties for them because it changes the dispute from being classified as “late order” to “merchant misconduct.”

TLDR: I was sold a damaged product, charged extra for a warranty-covered exchange, misled about shipping timelines, ignored when I tried to set clear expectations, and ultimately had my purchase held hostage in an attempt to force me to give up my consumer protections. This has been the worst online purchasing experience I’ve ever had.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2025, 10:38:33 AM by Blueberry »



Rebel_Yell

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2025, 09:37:54 AM »
I would suggest you share your story on all social media you can. That will get their attention. 

Blueberry

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2025, 09:51:00 AM »
I would suggest you share your story on all social media you can. That will get their attention.

If I can successfully convince others to share my story, that would be wonderful. Unfortunately, I do not have facebook/instagram/twitter accounts so there is not much I can do there  :(

Sander2177

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2025, 10:08:47 AM »
If I can successfully convince others to share my story, that would be wonderful. Unfortunately, I do not have facebook/instagram/twitter accounts so there is not much I can do there  :(

Not to state obvious set up an Instagram account and Facebook it not difficult.
It will get there attention if you post on there pages
SL8 Custom Green Over Naked Carbon 54CM 6.11kgs RhinosWorkShop Build
2nd Bike in planning not sure what yet!

jonathanf2

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2025, 11:14:10 AM »
Sorry to hear what happened. Shipping anything back to China seems like a hassle. Though I remember you building this frame for someone else. Damn, probably would have been better off buying from a no-name seller on AliExpress, considering AliEx arbitrates automatically for claims. I've been able to get refunds on all the defective items I've received.

Rebel_Yell

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2025, 12:14:23 PM »
If you set up a Facebook account. Search and ask to join the Chinese Bike group and post your story there.  That group had helped others get some restitution in similar situations. 

lidation

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2025, 01:58:07 PM »
Thanks for sharing! with their high price mark ($1500 - $2000 per frame), I would think you get a much better customer service for communication and return. If no then what are the premium they are charging?

J.J.

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2025, 02:17:14 PM »
Really sorry to hear your story, it sounds like an awful experience. In these situations, it's not just the money, it's also the stress and aggravation it causes, and all the time you have to spend trying to sort it out.

Thanks for sharing this on the forum, it's really helpful for others to know what Winspace are actually like to deal with.

Blueberry

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2025, 03:38:48 PM »
The whole thing is pretty frustrating :( especially with all the new tariff uncertainty.

I have noticed, there is nothing on Winspace's website about any sort of commitment to product quality or customer satisfaction. All they say is that nothing makes them happier than seeing people race on their bikes. Maybe they do not care at all about their international market share and that is why they are being so shady. Either that or they are bluffing way too hard. 

Nkearb

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2025, 04:35:09 PM »
Them asking for more money for an exchange is insane scammy behavior. You accepting that proposal was honestly pretty bad on your part and anyone on this forum wouldve advised you not to.

Few things I am puzzled about, you claim the frame is defective, winspace says otherwise. What qualifications do you have? If winspace claims this is a known defect with the frame that doesnt compromise structure you dont have any argument against that. In your position, Id tell them I need more evidence of the safety of the frame otherwise I am returning it since they advertise free returns.

Then you seem to hold them to an arbitrary timeline, logistics delays when shipping things to china happen. They need to make sure they weren't sent a box of rocks.

This is all a lesson for others on the forum in my opinion.

Blueberry

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2025, 08:42:31 PM »
Them asking for more money for an exchange is insane scammy behavior. You accepting that proposal was honestly pretty bad on your part and anyone on this forum wouldve advised you not to.

Few things I am puzzled about, you claim the frame is defective, winspace says otherwise. What qualifications do you have? If winspace claims this is a known defect with the frame that doesnt compromise structure you dont have any argument against that. In your position, Id tell them I need more evidence of the safety of the frame otherwise I am returning it since they advertise free returns.

Then you seem to hold them to an arbitrary timeline, logistics delays when shipping things to china happen. They need to make sure they weren't sent a box of rocks.

This is all a lesson for others on the forum in my opinion.

I respect your skepticism here and I don't think that is the wrong attitude to take. The longer these issues I am having with Winspace go on though, the more I start to believe they are just a plain old scummy company. The fact that Winspace said the same thing to the person with the frayed carbon strands in the headtube of their T1550 ("just a normal part of the manufacturing process!") has made me believe, more strongly, that they will say this to almost any complaint short of the frame being cracked in half. Maybe Joe was the one pushing them to market frames to the west and we he left they stopped caring about that market.

For me, the issue was not entirely about the safety of the frame, it was that they never acknowledged there was anything different about my frame compared to a standard frame. They did not respond when I told them they seemed to be willfully ignoring the issue. They sent me multiple images  of other bottom brackets saying "see this is normal." but the images they sent looked nothing like my frame and did not have the defect mine had. They were not even sending photos of the same model. The fact that my frame's bottom bracket looked different from the all the bottom brackets in photos they sent made me extremely suspicious that there really was something wrong with my frame. If I'm paying Winspace prices, I'm going to hold them to a higher standard than I would a company selling frames that costs $400, y'know?

As far as the logistics and delays, it was all in their control to make it happen well within their estimated timeline. It was because of their inaction and misinformation on the commercial invoice that caused it to be delayed. I do not believe they will honor their warranty or that they will really do free returns, regardless of what their website says. After I paid the $200 "exchange fee" they told me I could return the frame for a refund if I wanted but they would not refund the $200 because that was for return shipping. They were the ones who told me to write "exchange for order #XXXXX" in the notes when I paid the extra fee. They originally told me the fee was for the exchange and they would cover the shipping.

All the other stuff aside, the number one takeaway I want to get across about Winspace is the fact that they admitted to me, in writing to me, that they do not abide by their own creditor's terms of service. This alone is possibly the biggest red flag about Winspace as a whole.

dolph

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2025, 03:31:00 PM »
There is a facebook public group called "winspace owners, you could publish the pictures In that group.

Nkearb

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #12 on: April 08, 2025, 04:48:56 PM »
I respect your skepticism here and I don't think that is the wrong attitude to take. The longer these issues I am having with Winspace go on though, the more I start to believe they are just a plain old scummy company. The fact that Winspace said the same thing to the person with the frayed carbon strands in the headtube of their T1550 ("just a normal part of the manufacturing process!") has made me believe, more strongly, that they will say this to almost any complaint short of the frame being cracked in half. Maybe Joe was the one pushing them to market frames to the west and we he left they stopped caring about that market.

For me, the issue was not entirely about the safety of the frame, it was that they never acknowledged there was anything different about my frame compared to a standard frame. They did not respond when I told them they seemed to be willfully ignoring the issue. They sent me multiple images  of other bottom brackets saying "see this is normal." but the images they sent looked nothing like my frame and did not have the defect mine had. They were not even sending photos of the same model. The fact that my frame's bottom bracket looked different from the all the bottom brackets in photos they sent made me extremely suspicious that there really was something wrong with my frame. If I'm paying Winspace prices, I'm going to hold them to a higher standard than I would a company selling frames that costs $400, y'know?

As far as the logistics and delays, it was all in their control to make it happen well within their estimated timeline. It was because of their inaction and misinformation on the commercial invoice that caused it to be delayed. I do not believe they will honor their warranty or that they will really do free returns, regardless of what their website says. After I paid the $200 "exchange fee" they told me I could return the frame for a refund if I wanted but they would not refund the $200 because that was for return shipping. They were the ones who told me to write "exchange for order #XXXXX" in the notes when I paid the extra fee. They originally told me the fee was for the exchange and they would cover the shipping.

All the other stuff aside, the number one takeaway I want to get across about Winspace is the fact that they admitted to me, in writing to me, that they do not abide by their own creditor's terms of service. This alone is possibly the biggest red flag about Winspace as a whole.

Just reviewed the winspace website they dont even advertise free returns...

99% of the time when you contact a large companies customer service your case will be handled by someone with no power to offer you any sort of solution. They offered you an exchange that they would've offered anyone and you accepted. You needed to get your case escalated before you even began to talk to someone who has any authority to get your issue taken care of.

They sent you stock photos of other BB areas. They probably just followed some generic script provided to them. You case likely has never been reviewed by anyone except 1 case manager. After you started a chargeback you will actually have there attention.

You complain are that misrepresented the shipment to customs... That is an industry standard.

Almost no western bike companies selling $3000 could be held to your standards. Only difference theyd probably exchange it free and faster since they have warehouses locally so it not as big of a deal for them.

Froglover825

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #13 on: April 09, 2025, 12:45:15 AM »
winspace has gone to shit since joe left.

Serge_K

Re: Beware of Winspace
« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2025, 06:24:23 AM »
Just reviewed the winspace website they dont even advertise free returns...

99% of the time when you contact a large companies customer service your case will be handled by someone with no power to offer you any sort of solution. They offered you an exchange that they would've offered anyone and you accepted. You needed to get your case escalated before you even began to talk to someone who has any authority to get your issue taken care of.

They sent you stock photos of other BB areas. They probably just followed some generic script provided to them. You case likely has never been reviewed by anyone except 1 case manager. After you started a chargeback you will actually have there attention.

You complain are that misrepresented the shipment to customs... That is an industry standard.

Almost no western bike companies selling $3000 could be held to your standards. Only difference theyd probably exchange it free and faster since they have warehouses locally so it not as big of a deal for them.

I love made up statistics & facts, as well as arbitrary numbers. 60% of the time, they work every time.
I also enjoyed the concept of creating a customer service department once the company is large enough with the explicit mandate to have "no power to offer you any sort of solution". Because maybe if you're a small company, you create customer support and they're useful. But once it gets big, you make it useless.
That is definitely sound reasoning, because we know that 99% large companies get large by being 100% retarded, and counter productive. For example, when you decide to open a supermarket, what you do, to become successful, is that at the check out, you give people AIDS. Because it makes sense to structure your business like that. I mean 99% of the time at least.





Fast on the flat. And nowhere else.