Cracks.... be gone in 2010 ;-)

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May 24, 2012, 03:27:34 AM

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[steveb]

Just thought I'd mention that the 2010 Meta 55's are now in the country and should be at your local dealer,  we have ours.

I had a very VERY long chat with Commencal the other day. About lots of things, 2009 Meta 55's were on the agenda!

I'm not going to go into the detail, suffice to say harsh lessons have been learnt and things put in place to make sure, 100%, that we've seen an end to the problems. Anyone with a broken 2009 frame WILL get a 2010 as a replacement once the frames are in the UK. Not all frames are effected though so don't panic, if yours has not yet cracked, it most likely won't.

The bottom line is 2009 was a bad 'un. It happens. Commencal are still a young small company and whilst some might say they took their eye off the ball and things went a bit tits up, they have been growing massively, and their demands simply were not met by the factories. But that has been sorted.

The new 2010 frames are made in a different factory and a different company is painting them. Commencal know the new factories well as they've used them for other models in smaller numbers over the years, including the Supremes, which have always been a super reliable frame in the last few years. The new factories have much greater capacity so can cope with the demands Commencal make of them. Also, the new factories have a good rep within the industry for high QC. Commencal also now have employees out there who speak the lingo and so can monitor things much better than in previous years.

To back all this up new procedures have been put in place to deal with warranties. Everyone knows the turnaround times have been poor in the recent times, so that's been addressed too. It should be said though that it's been down to a lack of stock and a desire to replace 09's with 10's, not an unwillingness to look after riders, but it does seem like this message has not been too well communicated.

Commencal, and really everyone involved with the brand knows we have to go some to regain the customers confidence, and that will start with the new 2010 range.

At heart I'm a rider first, business man second, so I know that some of you have tough decisions  coming up regards new bikes: Do you risk it and get another Meta 55 or say enough is enough and move on? I really do believe that Commencal have got to the bottom of the problem so will offer anyone getting a Commencal from me an in house warranty: If the frame cracks I'll replace it immediately from stock. I'm going to carry frames for just this reason. So if the worst happens you'll be off the bike for days not weeks.

Also, if you need finance, i can do any of the bikes over 36 months.

Over to you folks!

[tank_rider]

That's some excellent news and awesome shop based customer service!

[fly6154]

I like your finance plug at the end,the business man popped out there for a min

[sastusbulbas]

Hmmm is all I can say, wait and see... 

[iain1775]

can this thread be put in news or made a sticky or something so it os always on the front page?
Just to prevent another endless stream of my bikes cracked threads?

[Russalf]

I rode a 2010 meta5 at the london cycle show the other day, i had a long hard look at all the welding and it is so so much better than all there previous frames, ive had 3 cracked frames and looking at the quality of the new ones i think they have sorted there act out.

[Crag]

Said like a true salesman Steve.  I remember your comments 12 months ago saying the 09's were stronger and beefier than the 08's - comments which have indeed proved baseless.  I also remeber your comments suggesting that my frame broke as a result of being abused yet failing to substantiate what constituted being used outside it's intended purpose.

So whilst I hope that issues with quality are a thing of the past, and really I do cos I'm sick of my frames breaking, it's going to take more than the postings of self advertised commencal retailer of the year to convince me, because let's be honest, your living relies largely on the public confidence in the brand.

And Ian, sounds like you might be getting a bit tired of the broken bike threads.

  

[steveb]

The 09 frames were beefier than the 08's, substancially. And they were stronger. There was no way to know of a manufacturing issue that was going to render this useless though. And if you search the forums you'll find I quickly took back my comments about the seatpost cracks once we'd all realised it was a manufacturing issue. I even apologised to you personally on a thread somewhere. I'm human, no ones perfect.

My living relies on lots of things, in the scheme of things Commencal is a small part of it, in 09 I made next to no profit out of the brand anyway as it got discounted to hell and back, so most of my stock got sold at near trade price.

It's hard to believe I know in this day and age but I do what I do because I enjoy it and love the stuff I sell. I'm lucky in that I fund my business myself so I really do get to stock only the stuff I like, I don't have to stock something due to commercial pressures.

As I said I'm well aware that there are a lot of folk out there like you who have given up on the brand, it's why I said I'll cover any warranty in house, with no delay, so at least if someone wants to give it another try the worst case senario is covered.

[iain1775]

Said like a true salesman Steve.  I remember your comments 12 months ago saying the 09's were stronger and beefier than the 08's - comments which have indeed proved baseless.  I also remeber your comments suggesting that my frame broke as a result of being abused yet failing to substantiate what constituted being used outside it's intended purpose.

So whilst I hope that issues with quality are a thing of the past, and really I do cos I'm sick of my frames breaking, it's going to take more than the postings of self advertised commencal retailer of the year to convince me, because let's be honest, your living relies largely on the public confidence in the brand.

And Ian, sounds like you might be getting a bit tired of the broken bike threads.

 

Im with Steve on this one mate, I can see the point he is making - frame design may have been stronger and from every cracked bike on here it seems they were all down to poor welding - that unfortunately in the bike industry is a 3rd party problem, but yes it should be QA checked before it goes out the door so still Commies fault. Sounds like Commie have (apparently from what we hear) addressed both issues for 2010 though
The one thing in their direct control is warranty replacements and speed of turnaround - thats the bit I will watch with interest in 2010

Yep fed up of the cracking threads -but arnt we all, who likes reading about another rider being off the road (well off the off-road but you know what I mean;))

[Crag]

Not sure how the outsourcing of your manufacturing process stops being your problem simply
because you stop doing it in house.  I don't think mis-management of your chosen supplier is much of a defense purely because it's the bike industry.  Of course thats within their direct control, to suggest otherwise is ridiculous, hence the movement of their manufacturing plant.

My point is, I've broken 2 frames (08 & 09) and it's gonna takemore than a few forum posts to assure me that quality is what it should be.  As it stands I'm hoping rather than believing that my 2010 frame lasts as long as it should.

And for the record, I've no problem with the warranty process, and have said so more than once - even though it's likely to be 3 months to get my 2010 replacement ( I could have had an 09 within weeks)

[iain1775]

Not sure how the outsourcing of your manufacturing process stops being your problem simply
because you stop doing it in house.  I don't think mis-management of your chosen supplier is much of a defense purely because it's the bike industry.  Of course thats within their direct control, to suggest otherwise is ridiculous, hence the movement of their manufacturing plant.

Not quite what I suggested though was it?
Definately not what I meant
you originally shot Steve down for reporting that 09 frames would be stronger, I remember the article, indeed the frames were beefed up in the places that Steve's article said
The weak link this year been the welding
This was a problem with the manufacturer not the design but like I originally said, still Commies problem
Commie have apparently changed manufacturer and increased in teritory QA checks - hopefully problem solved but we wont know for sure for about 10 months I guess but at least they recognised there was a problem rather than denial - thats more than some other companies do (Renault Clio bonnet catches anyone?)

Been a few people on here asking why Commencal havent been on directly addressing the various concerns through the forum - because its not their forum, so when Steve tries to pass on the 'official' word - don't shoot the messenger
He might have an interest in selling bikes, but if it wasnt for him we wouldnt have this forum , and the cracking problem wouldnt be so well known and we would all be blissfully unaware that there was a problem, just thinking it was only our own bikes that were faulty

[willber]

Thanks for the info Steve - and a very calm response to Crags comments.  My 09 frame cracked, and im presently waiting for my 2010 frame.  I hope that the frames are better, and im sure they will be.

I think we should  remember that people generally only look on the internet when they discover a problem, or look for a solution to a problem.  In essence, we have a pool of information that has been compiled by people suffering a particular problem.  It is unheard of for someone without an issue with a product to go and look for a solution.  I'm gonna search for a random problem on google.............1 sec

OK, back now - Faulty Blaupunkt radios in Audi's  - OMG, there all rubbish!!!!!  All the posts in relation to this are generated from the relativley small percentage of people with problems - but without taking a balanced view; one could easily assume they were all faulty.

I think Commencal has a lot going for it - sure customers will come and go, thats life, and every manufacturer of any product has to accept this.  But if Commencal can please the vast majority of its customers it will be succesful - and i think they are achieving that, even with the problems of 2009.

[bong69uk]

Said like a true salesman Steve.  I remember your comments 12 months ago saying the 09's were stronger and beefier than the 08's - comments which have indeed proved baseless.  I also remeber your comments suggesting that my frame broke as a result of being abused yet failing to substantiate what constituted being used outside it's intended purpose.

So whilst I hope that issues with quality are a thing of the past, and really I do cos I'm sick of my frames breaking, it's going to take more than the postings of self advertised commencal retailer of the year to convince me, because let's be honest, your living relies largely on the public confidence in the brand.

And Ian, sounds like you might be getting a bit tired of the broken bike threads.

 

Some1 please shoot this guy      im thinking you are one of these negative types that just likes a moan at something!!!    . If u dont like what steve has to say on the topic,just dont read the article ! ...SIMPLES!!    But please dont bore us with ure ranting and raving,just cos u aint getting any at home    

Bring on the trumpets!!

[Thompy]

i hope to stop finding my frames cracked threads now....im slightly pissed off about it... 

Stop bitching and moaning Steve is only relaying info he has been given he DOESNT own commencal so dont take it out on him take it up with commencal directly im sure theres a complaints office... 

[iain1775]

im sure theres a complaints office... 

French, that department will be closed or on strike