alignments

[Jason Musgrave]

what are you guys charging for full frame alignments (not one of your own)?

[e-RICHIE]

what are you guys charging for full frame alignments (not one of your own)?

i wouldn't do it or touch it.
what happens if you fold it up under load, wrinkle a tube, or similar atmo?
ymmv...

[progetto]

I have a very bad habit of not being able to say no. Quite often though it comes back and bites me on the arse. We all like to help out another human being but there comes a point in time where we have to say "what's in it for me", you need to weigh up what you will get out of the transaction against what could go wrong and how much it might cost you. Some things are best left to someone else, I'm starting to learn that it's ok to say no sometimes.

[Dave Kirk]

The ONLY time I work on a brand other than my own it's a Serotta as I know very well how they are built, what materials are used, and what the little tricks are. But even with a Serotta I will tell the customer that I will try to align it but there is always a slight chance the thing will assplode....... and if it does that I can do nothing for them and I will not be held liable. I will do everything in my power to be sure nothing goes wrong but shit happens sometimes. I tell them this long before they even box the bike to send it to me so that they can weigh the risks. Frankly it scares most away and that is fine. I've never had an issue but there will be a first time.

I think if you talk about the worst case scenario, what the risks are and what you will or won't do should the shit hit the fan and let the owner decide that would protect everyone involeved.

dave

[Jason Musgrave]

This stems from my recent TSA experience. Just trying to get a baseline so I have a better idea what to invoice the TSA.

What are you charging for your own frames coming back in after time on the road?

[bellman]

I would start with what you normally charge for a full build to put it back together again.
Maybe half of that to strip it so you can align it.
Your customary hourly shop rate for how ever long it takes with at least a 2 hour minimum to start.

[e-RICHIE]

What are you charging for your own frames coming back in after time on the road?

i would do it for free as a courtesy atmo.
ps what does TSA mean?

[anon.]

Transportation Security Administration. The airport folks.

[e-RICHIE]

Transportation Security Administration. The airport folks.

oh - i missed that this is akin to an insurance claim and really just a paper exercise.
jason, why not use your hourly rate and figure the time involved atmo?

[Jason Musgrave]

yes it's a a paper exercise.

TSA pretty much destroyed my bike on the way back from Spain. Cranks/R. Der/both wheels/ and rear-end was squashed after they took the dummy axle out and didn't put it back in. Bike was brand new, but sans paint. Anyway, thanks for the advice - I hadn't figured time to strip down and rebuild the bike in addition to doing frame repairs.

[e-RICHIE]

yes it's a a paper exercise.

TSA pretty much destroyed my bike on the way back from Spain. Cranks/R. Der/both wheels/ and rear-end was squashed after they took the dummy axle out and didn't put it back in. Bike was brand new, but sans paint. Anyway, thanks for the advice - I hadn't figured time to strip down and rebuild the bike in addition to doing frame repairs.

if they destroyed the bicycle, invoice them for a destroyed bicycle and let them keep whatever
want after you are made whole atmo. if you do any less you are just selling yourself and your
time short.

[timto]

sh!t news jason! hope it works out for you. Glad to hear it wasn't the gaulzetti

[steve garro]

Whole New Bike - totalled, just like a car. Repair would eclipse the full cost. PS - two more frames & you are up!
A tiny spec of "sweet" to offset your crap situation there. - Garro.