Replica Factor Ostro VAM

[BeR]

I can only recommend the one i dealt with which is F-C who has shown to deliver reproducible quality, they also seem to only focus on two frames (the blurred out Pinarello TT frame and the Factor) soon to be the v2 Factor. Whereas Taiwan Eisen is selling every single high end frame copy, I'd trust the store/reseller who focuses on one specific thing over the one saying they can perfectly produce you a Colnago fake, Madone fake, SL8's etc.

After seeing the interior of the other frame in here there is definitely not just 1 factory pumping all these Ostro V1's out, they are very different quality interiors.

But you said " I would not buy an Ostro V2 from First Class Carbon".

F-C is First class carbon, right ? I miss something .

[acino]

But you said " I would not buy an Ostro V2 from First Class Carbon".

F-C is First class carbon, right ? I miss something .

I don't see anything wrong with this, especially since the second part of his statement was "...unless I saw pics of the interior first". Just because F-C sells (so far) decent v1, it does not mean v2 will be the same. It could be from a different suppliers, there could be early manufacturing flaws/waeknesses etc. So I would not order v2 before I saw photos either. It's a Schrödinger frame at this point.

[ttgolf]

After about a month, my V1 frame still shows "Arrived in linehaul office." F-C is not providing any additional information. One day, I was told it was on a ship, and the next day, I was informed it was in a US warehouse and would be shipped to me as soon as possible. I keep receiving basically the same message without any real update. 

I filed a return/refund request with Aliexpress, but it was denied because F-C states it is still in transit. I finally called my credit card company and received a refund. I don't mind them charging me again if I finally get my frame. But for now, I am protected. 

F-C is responsive to my communications, but the shipping method is unsatisfactory considering they charge us $130. I’m glad some of you received your frames. However, I won't recommend F-C unless you can find a way to use a reputable shipping company like FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Lastly, F-C is no longer listed on Aliexpress. They have been on vacation since the end of January. I don't feel confident buying another frame from them, even if they come back online. 

As a comparison, I ordered my wheelset from Peter@Xiamen Carbon.  They charged me about $100 for shipping and I received the package in less than 5 days. 

I will wait another month or two to see if anyone has more information about the V2 frame. Who knows, maybe one day the V1 frame I ordered will show up. 

[BeR]

After about a month, my V1 frame still shows "Arrived in linehaul office." F-C is not providing any additional information. One day, I was told it was on a ship, and the next day, I was informed it was in a US warehouse and would be shipped to me as soon as possible. I keep receiving basically the same message without any real update. 

I filed a return/refund request with Aliexpress, but it was denied because F-C states it is still in transit. I finally called my credit card company and received a refund. I don't mind them charging me again if I finally get my frame. But for now, I am protected. 

F-C is responsive to my communications, but the shipping method is unsatisfactory considering they charge us $130. I’m glad some of you received your frames. However, I won't recommend F-C unless you can find a way to use a reputable shipping company like FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Lastly, F-C is no longer listed on Aliexpress. They have been on vacation since the end of January. I don't feel confident buying another frame from them, even if they come back online. 

I will wait another month or two to see if anyone has more information about the V2 frame. Who knows, maybe one day the V1 frame I ordered will show up.

I think that they will come back on 20th february.

[rasch]

After about a month, my V1 frame still shows "Arrived in linehaul office." F-C is not providing any additional information. One day, I was told it was on a ship, and the next day, I was informed it was in a US warehouse and would be shipped to me as soon as possible. I keep receiving basically the same message without any real update. 

I filed a return/refund request with Aliexpress, but it was denied because F-C states it is still in transit. I finally called my credit card company and received a refund. I don't mind them charging me again if I finally get my frame. But for now, I am protected. 

F-C is responsive to my communications, but the shipping method is unsatisfactory considering they charge us $130. I’m glad some of you received your frames. However, I won't recommend F-C unless you can find a way to use a reputable shipping company like FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Lastly, F-C is no longer listed on Aliexpress. They have been on vacation since the end of January. I don't feel confident buying another frame from them, even if they come back online. 

As a comparison, I ordered my wheelset from Peter@Xiamen Carbon.  They charged me about $100 for shipping and I received the package in less than 5 days. 

I will wait another month or two to see if anyone has more information about the V2 frame. Who knows, maybe one day the V1 frame I ordered will show up.

It was Chinese new year.
Shipping method varies and depends on the delivery company, not on thr seller most of the times.
Tarifs are impacting customs transit. Especially in the US.
It's part of a China project. Get used to it eheh

[A.V.G]

After about a month, my V1 frame still shows "Arrived in linehaul office." F-C is not providing any additional information. One day, I was told it was on a ship, and the next day, I was informed it was in a US warehouse and would be shipped to me as soon as possible. I keep receiving basically the same message without any real update. 

I filed a return/refund request with Aliexpress, but it was denied because F-C states it is still in transit. I finally called my credit card company and received a refund. I don't mind them charging me again if I finally get my frame. But for now, I am protected. 

F-C is responsive to my communications, but the shipping method is unsatisfactory considering they charge us $130. I’m glad some of you received your frames. However, I won't recommend F-C unless you can find a way to use a reputable shipping company like FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Lastly, F-C is no longer listed on Aliexpress. They have been on vacation since the end of January. I don't feel confident buying another frame from them, even if they come back online. 

As a comparison, I ordered my wheelset from Peter@Xiamen Carbon.  They charged me about $100 for shipping and I received the package in less than 5 days. 

I will wait another month or two to see if anyone has more information about the V2 frame. Who knows, maybe one day the V1 frame I ordered will show up.

^^^ THIS!!!  I got the same treatment from F-C, but mine has been 'in-transit' since Dec 7.  I also bought a wheelset from Peter, which actually was a FIRST CLASS experience.  I also bought a 105 Di2 groupset from a random store on Aliexpress and they shipped via UPS Expedited.  That too, was a positive experience. I don't like the suggestion that Aliexpress sellers are just at the mercy of the platform's shady shipping methods - good Alexpress stores know WTF they're doing.  F-C is not one of those sellers, IMHO.  If you were lucky enough to have received your V1 Ostro from First Class Carbon (aka "F-C") or RK Ultra, you are golden!!!

I won't fault others here for rolling the dice with F-C for a V1 but you had better have a plan B in mind if/when your frame never shows up.  And Serge_K warned all of us back in November that F-C was shady.  I realized buying from F-C involved risk - risk that turned into reality.  Now I'll likely have to waste money on tariffs.  Even if I get my money back from F-C, I'm still out money and I'm pissed about F-C's incompetence. 

At this point I'm reevaluating my options, and I'm leaning toward buying a V2 from Taiwan Eisen.  I don't expect the quality will be as good as the F-C V1, but what difference does that make if I can't actually buy a V1 from F-C???

-----------------------------
Final edit Feb-22-2025:  My Ostro frame was eventually delivered after ~75 days in transit and 90 days after order. See page 19 for more info.

[ttgolf]

It was Chinese new year.
Shipping method varies and depends on the delivery company, not on thr seller most of the times.
Tarifs are impacting customs transit. Especially in the US.
It's part of a China project. Get used to it eheh

Yes, I understand there was a Chinese New Year holiday. However, according to the Aliexpress tracking information, it arrived in the U.S., cleared U.S. customs, and was handed over to a local delivery company on Jan. 23, which was almost a week before the Chinese New Year. The lack of movement for nearly a month now is unacceptable for a shipping charge of $132. 

[acino]

Yes, I understand there was a Chinese New Year holiday. However, according to the Aliexpress tracking information, it arrived in the U.S., cleared U.S. customs, and was handed over to a local delivery company on Jan. 23, which was almost a week before the Chinese New Year. The lack of movement for nearly a month now is unacceptable for a shipping charge of $132.

Did you consider calling the local delivery company?

Is it just my impression or everyone who has not received their frame is in US? Is there anyone from US who successfully got a frame from FC or RK?

[A.V.G]

Did you consider calling the local delivery company?

Is it just my impression or everyone who has not received their frame is in US? Is there anyone from US who successfully got a frame from FC or RK?

Yes - rhenders bought from F-C.  Hopefully he'll chine in here.  I don't want to speak for him.

[A.V.G]

ttgolf - Did you try your tracking number on USPS.com?

[ttgolf]

I don’t know what local shipping company AliExpress uses. USPS has no record of the tracking number.  And yes I’m in the US.

[A.V.G]

I don’t know what local shipping company AliExpress uses. USPS has no record of the tracking number.  And yes I’m in the US.

Yeah, I figured you would have tried USPS.  Sorry.  A common thread here is Aliexpress tracking info that just trails off into the ether.

[Chriasp]

So I just spoke to F-C.

60 days delivery time on 2.0, price will be 7000RMB and promised to be same quality as 1.0.

He said AliExpress delivery and logistics when asked about DPD delivery..

Also added som pictures he sent me

[ttgolf]

Thanks for sharing the pictures of the v2 frame. The BB definitely looks like the V1 I ordered. One small difference I see from the picture is the Black handlebar bolts. I believe the V1 handlebar has one black and one titanium bolts. The picture you share has two titanium bolts. Maybe the real V2 uses 2 titanium bolts.

[acino]

I don’t know what local shipping company AliExpress uses. USPS has no record of the tracking number.  And yes I’m in the US.

That's indeed quite odd. The global trackers showed the name of my local delivery service quite early on. Also the package got a different tracking number once it was taken over by the local service.