Author Topic: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame  (Read 3442 times)

pearl

DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« on: January 12, 2021, 12:49:31 PM »
This is very tempting to me, has anyone built one? I've seen some threads on ridinggravel.com, but nothing here. Any experiences?

https://www.diycarbonbikes.com/collections/road-gravel-cx-frames/products/gra700
« Last Edit: April 12, 2021, 01:52:28 PM by pearl »



pearl

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame Experience?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2021, 01:47:25 PM »
Well, since I pulled the trigger on this in January, I figured I'd share my experience with Ty and DIYCarbonBikes.

January 14th - I placed my order, Large GRA700 Matte finish.

Tuesday, February 9th - Package arrived well packed and in the time frame quoted, but it was a gloss frame and not the matte one I ordered. I wasn't too concerned with it at the time and didn't mind it. When I opened the package and was getting parts together, I noticed I had duplicates of a bunch if items (headsets, seat post clamp, bottom bracket, etc) After laying everything out, I didn't have a front axle. I offered to send back the duplicates to Ty, but didn't say he needed them. Reach out to Ty and tell him my situation.

Friday, February 12th - Ty replies and apologizes and won't be able to check until Sunday about stock on the axle.

February 12, 15th - I send replies about the axle, no reply.

February 15th - Ty replies that he cannot find the axle. He sends me a link to aliexpress that this is the axle and nut that I need. I asked if he ordered today and when I would get it, but then tells me he sent me the link for me to order. He tells me he will reimburse me for the purchase of the axle with premium shipping.

February 17th - Submit paypal invoice that I paid to Ty.

February 18th - I ask when I would receive my refund.

February 19th - I get the bike back from my local shop and start dialing in my fit. I noticed the top tube is short. Based on the measurements, the frame I received was a medium, not the large that I asked for. I send a photo showing how the top tube was short. He claims that based on my height and what I normally ride, it "should work or me". I ask Ty i he wants to give me a refund for the bike as well as the front axle, or send me a new one in my size/finish that I asked for in January. No reply.

February 24th - I follow up asking about the refund of the axle, no reply.

February 26th - I recap our current situation and say that I will have my credit card company refund me my money if he will not work with me.

February 27th - Ty replies and asks me about how much the axle is, Asks me nicely to not do the chargeback on my card and tells me that when you do a chargeback, the customer loses their money as well as the company.

February 28th - I forward the invoice I paid for the axle.

March 1st - I still don't see the refund, Ty replies that he sent it. Hits my credit card.

March 8th - I receive the axle Ty told me to order and it is wrong, It is too long. He tells me it doesn't look wrong, and tells me to ride it and see if it shakes loose. No way this is safe and I tell him it's wrong, and I want the right axle.

March 9th - Ty says that the axle isn't right and has me place an order for a new axle on their website as a warranty claim with a warranty checkout code. Ty tells me that it should be 15-30 days with standard shipping. I ask him to expedite my shipping. He says he will try and get that upgraded.

March 17th - I follow up about tracking since I have not received anything. He tells me that they are catching up a bith with the factory holiday and his assistant was on her honey moon. Says it should ship in 3-7 days. He tells me that they created a new system. I tell him this whole transaction has been extremely disappointed and he replies that he is disappointed too.

March 22nd - I ask about axle shipping as the tracking still hasn't been sent to me. It's been 13 days since I placed the order. He explains to me that these axles are more particular. He is having to custom get the one I need so we make sure I get the right one this time. Apparently the fork is our 2019 order model, so its taking more time to get that axle. The one I got early fit the 2020 models, they are readily available.

March 23rd - I receive an automated email with tracking for the axle.

April 12th - Tracking shows that it's in my origin country, but I haven't received it yet.

----

So I have the wrong finish, wrong size frame, incomplete bike collecting dust in my garage after 62 days. The frame "looks good" but that is all I can say about it. I don't even know if it fits.

No offer of a complete refund, no discount for the delay, nothing to make the situation remotely right. I've received better customer service on AliExpress overseas then a stateside company. I wanted to work with DIYCarbonBikes because I figured I would have better customer service, faster access to spare parts and no language barrier. I cannot suggest using Ty and DIYCarbonBikes.
« Last Edit: April 12, 2021, 01:56:57 PM by pearl »

svanimpe

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2021, 01:16:03 PM »
Thanks for sharing this, so we can avoid this company all together.

Whoever claims "that based on my height and what I normally ride, it 'should work or me'." knows absolutely nothing about bike geometry. If I were to buy a bike solely based on my height (and not my actual fit), it would be unrideable for me.

Zdrenka89

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2021, 01:33:39 AM »
Wow that sounds awful.... I hope you find a new frame from a better company.

Thank you for sharing!

pongle_doogle

So I have the wrong finish, wrong size frame, incomplete bike collecting dust in my garage after 62 days. The frame "looks good" but that is all I can say about it. I don't even know if it fits.

No offer of a complete refund, no discount for the delay, nothing to make the situation remotely right. I've received better customer service on AliExpress overseas then a stateside company. I wanted to work with DIYCarbonBikes because I figured I would have better customer service, faster access to spare parts and no language barrier. I cannot suggest using Ty and DIYCarbonBikes.

I'm currently at 42 days waiting since ordered not the happiest with my experience either.

I actually have a lot more to say but I'm waiting to see how this pans out. The real test is if there are warranty issues
« Last Edit: May 30, 2021, 12:38:40 AM by pongle_doogle »

pearl

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2021, 02:03:05 PM »
I'm currently at 42 days waiting since ordered not the happiest with my experience either.

I actually have a lot more to say but I'm waiting to see how this pans out. The real test is if there are warranty issues

Sorry to hear that! He offered to send me what I ordered but after I sent back what I had without knowing when the item I actually asked for when we started this process would arrive.

I had to decide between riding what I had and sorta/kinda fit on it and deal with it due to horrible customer service, or pay even more money for the shop to strip my frame, find a box, ship it back, wait forever for what I ordered to arrive, put it back together and spend even more money.

I'm with you on the warranty issues. I won't hold my breath.

Nickk2000

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2021, 03:33:49 PM »
Imo the good chinese companies have high priase around here because of great customer service and especially for the price this guy charges and the lack of customer service... no thanks. Carbonda, velobuild, pay a little more for dengfu, ican, even tantan are all better choices because this guy doesnt seem to know what the hell hes doing.

It actually amazes me, the chinese frame guys and gals ove talked to all seem to have given better customer service than state side businesses would, i guess they know what it means to be a customer, im loyal to a few chinese brands because of this

pongle_doogle

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2021, 08:34:20 PM »
He told me 7 days ago "Within 7 days, factory just finishing paint" which was a follow up on the May 13'th statement that would be found out.

So its been 7 days of course. Would you update someone why its not 7 days if you told them 7 days and you are approaching 60 when you quoted 25? Nope. DCB wont do that. They will leave you to email them and saying "Its been 7 days where is the shipping notification"

I 100% believed when he told me that 7 days he was pulling it out of his Arse. Confirmed.

The thing is, If I had an honest estimate I might of cancelled and ordered an in stock color from manufacturer with the stupid logo on it.

15/06 is 60 days since order processing begun of the 25 quoted for a painted frame. (5 days shutdown they "didn't know about" despite it happening every year and them being the "USA customer service experts dealing with the factory")

Nickk2000

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2021, 09:51:08 PM »
He told me 7 days ago "Within 7 days, factory just finishing paint" which was a follow up on the May 13'th statement that would be found out.

So its been 7 days of course. Would you update someone why its not 7 days if you told them 7 days and you are approaching 60 when you quoted 25? Nope. DCB wont do that. They will leave you to email them and saying "Its been 7 days where is the shipping notification"

I 100% believed when he told me that 7 days he was pulling it out of his Arse. Confirmed.

The thing is, If I had an honest estimate I might of cancelled and ordered an in stock color from manufacturer with the stupid logo on it.

15/06 is 60 days since order processing begun of the 25 quoted for a painted frame. (5 days shutdown they "didn't know about" despite it happening every year and them being the "USA customer service experts dealing with the factory")

Did you pay with paypal/cc? File dispute or do a chargeback

pongle_doogle

Re: DIY Carbon Bikes GRA700 Exploro Style Gravel/Road Frame
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2021, 08:16:22 AM »
Did you pay with paypal/cc? File dispute or do a chargeback

I cancelled. Long story short refund is forthcoming. I made sure to grab loads of screenshots of things before I  did. IMHO Paypal buyer protection is useless compared to a bank chargeback.

The up side of all of this is I have a Norco Optic Carbon frame on the way to me $500 off RRP. I of course had to return headset fork and rear shock but all the replacements are on the way here. I will actually be riding a dual sus within 2 weeks, Guaranteed.

I paid in full for all the new frame and parts before I had an agreed refund. The plan was RTS if they sent after I cancelled and chargeback with bank.

Thus ends my experiment with chinese carbon. Now I rock Canadian owned chinese made carbon XD.