isitafox Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 I'll be honest, after the last load of aggro I had trying to get a custom frame off Marino I swore I wasn't going to bother again but with him being pretty much the only option I thought I'd try again. For those who don't know I had a nightmare dealing with him previously when a frame I ordered turned up missing some major features which were the main ones I'd needed to go down the custom route for, I was happy overall with the fact he sorted the sitiuation out pretty quickly and made me up a replacement which I received shortly after but the original problem was a result of extremely poor communication. Anyway, as I said after seeing how he was supposedly turning the business around with a new jig to make the frames better quality and improve the turnaround time I thought it was time to give him another go. I went down the proper route of sending for a quotation via the website and then I waited, and waited, and finally managed a reply after contacting one of his sponsored riders to chase him up. I got the usual reply asking to confirm the details (which I had to resend as when I put them on the original quote form they disappeared?) a few days later and I replied literally within 6 minutes, this was on 3rd October and despite chasing him up I have heard nothing since. I know, having been told by his riders and seeing the thread on here, that he has been busy finishing off the Archives he's sent over here but also from reading that thread it would appear they have now been shipped. I've checked the Marinobike FB page and it would appear I'm not alone as there is a message posted by another guy which roughly translates as "because they do not respond, I sent them mails, but no response". I said to him last time that I wouldn't mind the slow responses from him if he just had the courtesy to let you know that that would be the case, everybody gets busy but it doesn't take 2 minutes when you're already sending a message to just add that information on. What pisses me off the most is I have already got most of the bits I need for the bike and was really looking forward to riding it but now I think I'm just going to sell it all (no doubt at a loss) and not bother with the build. Rant over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disc.Jokie. Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 why is it that you need a custom frame? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Marino is a dick, who absolutely cannot run a business. It doesn't matter what the quality of his product is (or isn't), because the customer experience is so poor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 why is it that you need a custom frame? Because there is no frame available to buy off the shelf with the geometry or spec I want, pretty standard theory really.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskimo Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 why is it that you need a custom frame? What you getting, keen to hear what people like to have! Thought tbf, patience clearly isn't getting you anywhere. You can't run a business like that, look at all the others. Customs can often be a pain the arse, though Triton were always good with me, so they're an exception. I've numerous horror stories with bmx brands too. But when dealing direct with the builder, you'd think shit would go to plan, he obviously has a problem with people/ basic business skills. No offence to him of course, but the evidence supports it. It's a shame someone who appears keen to improve and build upon his brand hasn't really got the basics of communication down as yet, you're throwing him money ffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 What you getting, keen to hear what people like to have! Thought tbf, patience clearly isn't getting you anywhere. You can't run a business like that, look at all the others. Customs can often be a pain the arse, though Triton were always good with me, so they're an exception. I've numerous horror stories with bmx brands too. But when dealing direct with the builder, you'd think shit would go to plan, he obviously has a problem with people/ basic business skills. No offence to him of course, but the evidence supports it. It's a shame someone who appears keen to improve and build upon his brand hasn't really got the basics of communication down as yet, you're throwing him money ffs. Would rather not say yet but I can guarantee there will be some hatred towards it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskimo Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Would rather not say yet but I can guarantee there will be some hatred towards it! It already sounds shit Though if others don't like it, chances are i will. Just look at my bikes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onzatpro09 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Would rather not say yet but I can guarantee there will be some hatred towards it! I can't tell you what does and doesn't feel right for you, so cannot hate Go ahead and say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewEH1 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Learn to weld? Build you own jig? Obviously there is some skill to making a frame but at least you would not have to wait weeks for email response... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Problem has been solved now. Had an email apologising about the poor response and offering to make the frame this weekend at a discounted rate but I'm not going to bother with that. I have been offered to have my frame built by a friend who fancies a project so I've taken them up, he's pretty local and easy to get hold of and should anything go wrong when it's finished will be more than happy to repair it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Why not just go JAF? (A) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niconj Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 (edited) Seems to be a culture clash. In Peru things go a little slower and business customs aren't really up to European standards*. *I know because my wife is Peruvian. Edited October 26, 2014 by niconj 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filo Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 I wonder if any of him team riders on here showed him this post, that's the only reason he has replied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Aw right Columbo...^^^^ It's a shame it came to this Dave. I gave him a shout everytime you asked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Why not just go JAF? (A) Was thinking the same thought about JAF bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Was thinking the same thought about JAF bikes. Not quite sure if that one went right over your head or if you missed the fact that JAF doesn't really exist any more. Or at least has stopped making trials frames. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Wasn't aware of this. So when and why has Josh stopped by making frames and parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Quality decreased, he basically disappeared, customers left largely unhappy.* *All internet hearsay, I've never had a JAF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swill Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I bought one off him fully built, yeah it was second hand but still in very good nick and to be honest I cant fault it. yeah there's better frames out there and yeah theres frames that look nicer and have higher build quality but at the end of the day not with the price tag he was using so yeah maybe he couldn't compete with the main manufacturers but for what he charged if you were clear enough with your pds then you got what you asked for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clerictgm mk2 Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) Making a frame isn't so hard. You can do it by yourself if your hands grows not from your arse. If you find some good welder you can build some Inspired-like quality frame. For example: About Marino, this is pretty funny how isitafox whining. Custom frame is custom, you need to wait, even for reply sometimes. If you don't want to wait and have a better alternative - why are you whining? Just don't order anything from him. And why my friend not whining about half-a-year waiting for his Rolls-Royce? Edited October 30, 2014 by Clerictgm mk2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.KYDD Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 He's not whining about the lead-time on the actual frame. He's f**ked off by Marino's piss-poor communication I bet your 'friend' didn't have to wait days (or even weeks) at a time for a response out of Rolls did he? No Your arguments are f**king laughable 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I bet your 'friend' didn't have to wait days (or even weeks) at a time for a response out of Rolls did he? No When the friend receives his Rolls it also won't have +10 degree camber, 13" wheels off a mini or mismatched seats... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echohifi Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 because a rolls royce is a hand built car built to a very high standard, you cant even compare the two its rididulous, a handbuilt car will take 100,s of man hours to complete , how so is this the case with a custom frame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clerictgm mk2 Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) When the friend receives his Rolls it also won't have +10 degree camber, 13" wheels off a mini or mismatched seats... LuuuuL. Marino has geo mismatches or not? Why the KEKK one half of TF says that he has mismatches and another half says that he's frames has perfect geo? He's not whining about the lead-time on the actual frame. He's f**ked off by Marino's piss-poor communication I bet your 'friend' didn't have to wait days (or even weeks) at a time for a response out of Rolls did he? No Your arguments are f**king laughable You're right, but Rolls-Royce's not made in Peru from water pipes and costs truckload of money. By the way I have a time to wait for new frameset but I don't want to get Marino for some reason. At the same time I want some cool frameset but y current frameset is pretty cool, but I'm afraid to brake a frame, it's now the oldest part of my bike. Edited October 30, 2014 by Clerictgm mk2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clerictgm mk2 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) What I also want to say, that things isitagox whining about are pretty normal in "world of customs". For example there is legendary engineer/welder in Saints Petersburg - Pinigin, that made stuff from "AMG"(Al+Mg) and titanium and parts he's made are ultra strong and reliable. But you need to wait for a week to simple response sometimes! Edited October 31, 2014 by Clerictgm mk2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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