This past July I shipped my bike through UPS from Chicago to Seattle(on my way to Whistler) and my 1998 Super 8 frame was damaged in shipping. I contacted Darren at Downhillzone because a friend my mine told me it was a good shop and independently owned. I met with Darren who seemed at the time to be a great guy. But one of his main concerns was he would do an estimate from me and I would take the money and run and not use any of his services. I assured him I was a big fan of indepent bike shops and would support him for his help. He did up an estimate for a replacement frame, which in this case would have been a Bullit. The estimate included the cost of the replacement frame, taxes, and a fee for the Downhillzone to reassemble the new bike (I had taken all the parts off the frame with the exception of the headset and cranks).
I contacted UPS and they sent a claims person out to Downhillzone and Darren showed the individual the frame and obviously helped in convincing the claims person that the frame had to be replaced.
Eight weeks later I recieved a check in the mail from UPS for the amount that was on estimate. I was stoked!!!!! During the wait to see if UPS would pay my claim my plans had changed and I didn't want to purchase a new frame at the end of the season. I contacted Darren and told him my plans had changed and I would not be purchasing a frame through his shop, but I would like to compensate him for his help. He and I agreed on an amount and I asked if he would package up my frame and remaining parts(that my buddy was holding onto)and I would set up a time for UPS to pick up the stuff from the Downhillzone.
A 2 weeks after Darren and I spoke my buddy goes into Downhillzone and gives Darren a check for $218 and a box of the remaining parts. A couple days later I send UPS out to pick up the box and a week later the box shows up at my house. The front hube was sticking out of the side of the box. The hub was obviously dragged along every inch of UPS shipping facility. I was pissed! So here is the email conversation I am haveing with Darren as I type this....
-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:37 AM
To: info@downhillzone.com
Subject: Darren---Nice pack job!!!!!!!!!
So I received my bike parts today. And I have to say I dont know what I bothered paying you for? I gave you $218 to speak with a UPS claims person and pack my bike parts in a box and I receive the box and the front hub is sticking out the side of the box. This is kind of odd since the entire reason I was in this predicament was because of a shipping problem.
I am truly disappointed. Darren, I would think if you paid some $218 to do next to nothing, you would expect the job to be done well.
-----Original Message-----
From: darren brown [mailto:darren@downhillzone.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 3:44 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Darren---Nice pack job!!!!!!!!!
You know what?
It wasnt sticking out when it left, all the parts are there, and I got you more $ than you ever would have got for the damaged frame
Was I supposed to pack it like a new bike?
Just be glad you got the $ and sorry it wasnt up to your standard.
I know you got all the parts and call it a storage/ packing/handling/whatever fee
L8tr
Darren
So what do you guys think? Would you be pissed? In my opinion the guy is acting like a stroke. I could have just walked away but I figured the guy had helped me out and I wanted to show I was grateful and the guy turns around and treats my stuff like ****.
I know he has no control over UPS and how they treat packages. But he could have put a little more effort into packing the parts into the box.
I contacted UPS and they sent a claims person out to Downhillzone and Darren showed the individual the frame and obviously helped in convincing the claims person that the frame had to be replaced.
Eight weeks later I recieved a check in the mail from UPS for the amount that was on estimate. I was stoked!!!!! During the wait to see if UPS would pay my claim my plans had changed and I didn't want to purchase a new frame at the end of the season. I contacted Darren and told him my plans had changed and I would not be purchasing a frame through his shop, but I would like to compensate him for his help. He and I agreed on an amount and I asked if he would package up my frame and remaining parts(that my buddy was holding onto)and I would set up a time for UPS to pick up the stuff from the Downhillzone.
A 2 weeks after Darren and I spoke my buddy goes into Downhillzone and gives Darren a check for $218 and a box of the remaining parts. A couple days later I send UPS out to pick up the box and a week later the box shows up at my house. The front hube was sticking out of the side of the box. The hub was obviously dragged along every inch of UPS shipping facility. I was pissed! So here is the email conversation I am haveing with Darren as I type this....
-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:37 AM
To: info@downhillzone.com
Subject: Darren---Nice pack job!!!!!!!!!
So I received my bike parts today. And I have to say I dont know what I bothered paying you for? I gave you $218 to speak with a UPS claims person and pack my bike parts in a box and I receive the box and the front hub is sticking out the side of the box. This is kind of odd since the entire reason I was in this predicament was because of a shipping problem.
I am truly disappointed. Darren, I would think if you paid some $218 to do next to nothing, you would expect the job to be done well.
-----Original Message-----
From: darren brown [mailto:darren@downhillzone.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 3:44 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Darren---Nice pack job!!!!!!!!!
You know what?
It wasnt sticking out when it left, all the parts are there, and I got you more $ than you ever would have got for the damaged frame
Was I supposed to pack it like a new bike?
Just be glad you got the $ and sorry it wasnt up to your standard.
I know you got all the parts and call it a storage/ packing/handling/whatever fee
L8tr
Darren
So what do you guys think? Would you be pissed? In my opinion the guy is acting like a stroke. I could have just walked away but I figured the guy had helped me out and I wanted to show I was grateful and the guy turns around and treats my stuff like ****.
I know he has no control over UPS and how they treat packages. But he could have put a little more effort into packing the parts into the box.