TrashZen Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 (edited) One of my mates in Paris recently got an inpulse, fitted with a VIZ fork... which snapped after 8-month... Although he is not doing hooks neither taps... He wrote several emails to Viz but according to Vizbike, this particular or maybe all of their forks have only a 3 months warranty.. still tried to complain about it, but hey, those guys are not into Charity! Check it out: His initial email: Hello there, Sure, I was not to sure if a French team was behind that email... I was actually detailing below what happened to my Vizbikes fork lately. Last October (8months ago), I bought a Viz fork (Alu Viz pivot) which was set up on a new Inpulse bike (which I bought in Oct). I have many vizbikes components on my bike since Cedric Fontenoy (managing Inpulse bike) made this choice for my bike range. To the point : Although I am very satisfied with my bike and the whole package, I've just noticed a nice crack on one of the fork leg (please see attached pictures). I am pretty surprised as I am a young trial biker, I don’t do violent tricks or anything dangerous. I've inquired Cedric Fontenoy about my warranty. He said Vizbikes forks are covered for 3 months. Arghh, that's a bit harsh, but let's say so. Still, my fork didn't last for long in comparison of the longevity one could expect. I clearly point out to a manufacturing defect or weakness. Again, I am not a big rider, my friends are as surprised as I am. In short, I would like to inquire if you could offer a fork in replacement of the crackled one. Indeed, I can post the fork to your attention if you require it. Thanks for your answer. -----Original Message----- VIZbikes' answer Hi. Thanks for your email in English! VIZ super light fork have 3 months warranty, we had mention to Inpulse bike and they knew it, and they had done for testing by themself , before they bought from us! Just like a TRYALL NO WAR!! Therefore Inpulse bike is acceptable VIZ super light fork have 3 months warranty! Regards VIZ -----Original message----- Hello again, I am not trying to dispute the 3 months warranty agreed by Inpulse bike. Of course, this is my issue and I guess it’s no big deal for Inpulse bike. But I am asking from the end customer point of view : considering the circumstances , would you make any offer? Thanks again, -----Original message----- Answer from VIZbikes (in copy to Nicolas, but directly to Inpulse, throwing the ball at him) Hi Cedric Would you follow your cilents in France! Regards VIZ -----NOT A HAPPY ENDING----- Edited August 11, 2011 by TrashZen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 VIZ FORKS, YEEEEEEEAH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Reynolds Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 VIZ FORKS, YEEEEEEEAH! Most epic photo.... EVER 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Has to be the luckiest shot i've ever got, I wish it'd been continuous though - Sam went half way up that on his face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 so the forks broke after 8 month? the forks have a 3 month warranty? He is unhappy they are not getting replaced? People seem to forget what the warranty actually means. The warranty is against defects in the material or manufacturing. They were obviously made right to last 8 months. Forks will always eventually break and if you get lighter forks like the Viz ones, they will break faster. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Leech Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 so the forks broke after 8 month? the forks have a 3 month warranty? He is unhappy they are not getting replaced? People seem to forget what the warranty actually means. The warranty is against defects in the material or manufacturing. They were obviously made right to last 8 months. Forks will always eventually break and if you get lighter forks like the Viz ones, they will break faster. Going a bit off topic here, but i thought you had to give a 6 month warranty by law? Do they class these products as something different? Cheers, Josh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrashZen Posted August 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 so the forks broke after 8 month? the forks have a 3 month warranty? He is unhappy they are not getting replaced? People seem to forget what the warranty actually means. The warranty is against defects in the material or manufacturing. They were obviously made right to last 8 months. Forks will always eventually break and if you get lighter forks like the Viz ones, they will break faster. I know what warranty is, but there can be a commercial gesture, like a small discount on the replacement... Also, being nice in the way you handle things is not a luxury (considering brand reputation)... if you read through the emails, they just take the piss (or maybe their coarse English doesn't convey their good manners ) Lost in translation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Going a bit off topic here, but i thought you had to give a 6 month warranty by law? Do they class these products as something different? Cheers, Josh. that's just a UK law Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Leech Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 that's just a UK law Ahhh, ritey o, cheers Mr C. Josh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filo Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Such fail in this thread. I'd be super stoked if I got 8 months out of a set of forks. I think my current set are less then 3 months old and neec replacing. I got 1 month out of my tryall forks. This person needs to just deal with it,it's apart of riding trials Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 maybe their coarse English doesn't convey their good manners ) Pretty sure that is the case, it's the same for us when dealing with them. Either way, at 8 months old the forks have done well. In the past when we have offered goodwill reduced price replacements like this, it always comes back to bite you, with the customer trying to claim another warranty on the second set, and it just turns messy. This could be their reason for a 'tight' warranty procedure. If your car had a 3 year warranty, but was 8 years old, you wouldn't go to the dealer asking for replacement parts or even a goodwill gesture... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Doesn't sound like it's 'ended badly' to me at all... Sounds like they've just passed it onto Cedric and you should wait for his answer now that he knows he has the final call on it. I think it's super cheeky to be asking for a goodwill gesture on a set of forks which are at 266% of their warrantied life. Nearly 3x as old as they were warrantied for. Clearly you don't run a business, because then you'd know how tough it would be to let this one go through - especially now you've made it public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrashZen Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Doesn't sound like it's 'ended badly' to me at all... Sounds like they've just passed it onto Cedric and you should wait for his answer now that he knows he has the final call on it. I think it's super cheeky to be asking for a goodwill gesture on a set of forks which are at 266% of their warrantied life. Nearly 3x as old as they were warrantied for. Clearly you don't run a business, because then you'd know how tough it would be to let this one go through - especially now you've made it public. Interesting view... I must be super lucky then, have had the same fork for years... Though, I understand the point made by Adam, I guess it is never enough... and not a winning game for manufacturers/resellers but I thought the form in the way it was handled was a bit harsh that's all. Do any of you guys change your gear by the "recommended use time"? Or what's your bet on safety? for forks? for handlebars? for cranks? There is a lot of subjectivity in this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Do any of you guys change your gear by the "recommended use time"? Or what's your bet on safety? Personally I don't, since nearly every product will always give you some warning it's about to fail. If you want stuff to last longer, you just have to buy heavier parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Things last as long as they last. That very same set of forks might have lasted me 4 years. Doesn't matter whether he 'goes big' or not, it only takes some dodgy crashes to make the difference. I've had the same set of forks for 6 years (although just swapped them last night) so I can't comment on average life, but if I cried to the manufacturer every time I broke something I'd probably end up never buying anything and living in a cave. A warranty isn't the 'recommended use time', it's merely the length of time a manufacturer thinks is fair to give for the materials used to be proven to work. After that it's down to wear and tear or neglect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 (edited) for forks? for handlebars? for cranks? Forks depends on weather you go light or not, go heavy and you can have em last your life time, but on average, light forks 0-9 months, resonable forks 10 - 18 months Bars last forever unless you go light or azonic old school bars, run them forever until you start hearing creaks about 2-3 years Cranks forever unless you buy Monty Ti or Try All's. I think some trials companies get round warantee law by calling them mountain bike forks, so as soon as you've used them for trials you have void the warantee. Edited August 12, 2011 by Simpson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Such fail in this thread. I'd be super stoked if I got 8 months out of a set of forks. I think my current set are less then 3 months old and neec replacing. I got 1 month out of my tryall forks. This person needs to just deal with it,it's apart of riding trials Were you seriously happy with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrashZen Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 A warranty isn't the 'recommended use time', it's merely the length of time a manufacturer thinks is fair to give for the materials used to be proven to work. After that it's down to wear and tear or neglect. I was being a bit ironical, but all your comments are pretty true. Personally I tend to wait for parts either to snap or to whinge badly with visual cues... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filo Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Were you seriously happy with this? It sucked but then again they were shitty tryall forks,good reason not to get any of the parts ever again. I've just learnt to deal with it.it's what happens when you do big up to fronts and your fat like me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_ruskin Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 My set lasted 2 months of soft use! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 If you want stuff to last longer, you just have to buy heavier parts. That's often overlooked by riders. There's a choice between light and strong parts, you cannot have both with maybe a few exceptions. It's time riders started to see the corelation between light and weak. This isn't aimed at the topic starter because I don't know which Viz forks you're talking about. Never heard about Viz Lite forks, thought they only made 1 model which the Trialtech was based on and which proved to be fairly bombproof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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