Complete Builds Only Policy?

[Will Neide]

Does anyone offer bikes as complete builds only? Or even have people send all their parts to you if they already have parts so you can assemble the bike yourself?

I'm starting to question whether it's effective to have the customer buy a frame only and take it to the LBS for the build. There a few local shops close to me I would trust, but when shipping out of my immediate area, I'm entrusting the build to someone I have no trust in. And it's not so much the financial aspect that bothers me, but the "shop mechanics screw something up and then blame the builder" scenario that bothers me. I don't want to put customers in that position nor my companies name in that position. This hasn't happened yet, just something kind of close and it has me wondering.

Thoughts.

[Eric Estlund]

You will find answers all over the spectrum on this one.

I prefer to sell completes and send the bike (as in, the assembled and tested product) to the customers trusted local shop on completion.

I will sell frame sets, but require any special spec or design specific parts in hand.

[e-RICHIE]

Does anyone offer bikes as complete builds only? Or even have people send all their parts to you if they already have parts so you can assemble the bike yourself?

I'm starting to question whether it's effective to have the customer buy a frame only and take it to the LBS for the build. There a few local shops close to me I would trust, but when shipping out of my immediate area, I'm entrusting the build to someone I have no trust in. And it's not so much the financial aspect that bothers me, but the "shop mechanics screw something up and then blame the builder" scenario that bothers me. I don't want to put customers in that position nor my companies name in that position. This hasn't happened yet, just something kind of close and it has me wondering.

Thoughts.

Warranties notwithstanding, if you hand over a frame and someone else labors over it, your responsibility ends at the door.

[crumpton]

ooops

[Zimmermanbicycle]

I prefer to do the build and generally want to have any special parts (racks,post mounted brakes,pumps etc) on hand and I find most want me to do the build anyway.
Have never sent out a frame without a headset.
-Eric

[blasdelf]

Have never sent out a frame without a headset.

seems like anyone making press fit bikes should be sending them out with cranks installed for the same reasons

at the very least to get a taste of their own medicine

[Amaro Bikes]

To me the "only complete builds" option it's not only about being blamed afterwards if some mechanic from anywhere did a wrong job on your bike and create a problem (as richard said, that's no longer your responsability once it's gone from your hands, and anyway even if you ship the complete bike, later one customer/mechanics can ruin the bike as well), but also (mainly) to two other questions:
1-You make sure the bike is fitted with cohrent build, not just speaking about colors or the like, but not building up a racing geometry bike with 28 city tyres, +16º stem, 5cm headset spacers and too much setback seatpost wich might modify intended rider position, etc. A bike it's not just the frame, a bike is a complete mechanism where all parts should work together and their all have their importance
2-Even if it might sound a bit too "rude", a complete build will help you out to make a living on framebuilding, as you'll be able to have some benefits on each part, not just the frame, and in the end of the day what matters is that you can keep building more frames without losing money on the process.

Cheers

[steve garro]

My bikes fit XT and Chris King.
- Garro.

[Britishbane]

My bikes fit XT and Chris King.
- Garro.

And dead sexy because of it (or inspite of it..?)

[Dallas Tex]

I do complete builds only because:

1) Its the best value for the customer. If the customer plans to slowly upgrade part-by-part, at full retail, he'll eventually pay twice my build price.
2) Customer satisfaction. Talk him into it, and on delivery day dude is waaaaay happier with a complete new bike ready to ride.
3) What's earned off the build kit helps keep the rent paid & the tanks full.......

[christian]

I can see the logic in this - ensures you build the bikes to the quality expected and the margin on the parts helps the business. That said, for me as a customer, it'd be a deal breaker. I run Record 10 on all my bikes, so the next ones would have to be outfitted from the current parts stash.

[e-RICHIE]

To the OP - control as much as you can. This will also help you sustain. The frames are worthless without
parts. Sell it all, and limit the options, too. You don't need the agita that comes with doing it any other way.

[blasdelf]

too much setback seatpost wich might modify intended rider position, etc.

that never ever happens

it's always the opposite

[sk_tle]

Like Christian, I can see why you could use that policy. As a customer I would pass too. I think it can make you lose a few potential customers but it wouldn't make a huge difference in the end of the year. Most people probably order full bikes and I reckon I may be in a minority to reuse a group when it works perfectly instead of selling my previous bike as a whole.

[bencooper]

I don't have a policy - some people like to have me do everything, they understand the benefits of having the person who builds the frame handle the complete build. Others are experienced bike people, already have parts they want to put on their new frame, and are perfectly capable of bunging in a headset and other parts.

So I'll help and advise in each case, but I won't dictate a policy to customers.

[Carmol]

As a customer, this would be a deal breaker.

[steve garro]

I don't force it, but I state that I can make it much cheaper and streamlined.
Most or all of my orders come with handbuilt wheels - even the frame only ones.
Then, if it's parts or vendors I'm not commonly ordering from, I must have the part in hand - I'll order it for you - IF it's a good call.

Knowing what parts work for your bikes is as important as knowing which frame tubes do.

But hey - if you want just a frame, sure - no worries.

I must know what fork, cranks and all that, and it'll fit XT and Chris King, guaranteed.

- Garro.

[jamesand]

Cool to read about a flexible arrangement on your behalf for those of us in the sub-Baller income brackets. :-)

I don't force it, but I state that I can make it much cheaper and streamlined.
Most or all of my orders come with handbuilt wheels - even the frame only ones.
Then, if it's parts or vendors I'm not commonly ordering from, I must have the part in hand - I'll order it for you - IF it's a good call.

Knowing what parts work for your bikes is as important as knowing which frame tubes do.

But hey - if you want just a frame, sure - no worries.

I must know what fork, cranks and all that, and it'll fit XT and Chris King, guaranteed.

- Garro.

[crumpton]

IMO the trap to avoid is having customers send in parts... new or used. too many things go sideways and the builder can be left with excess work, damaged rep and no pay.

[steve garro]

Cool to read about a flexible arrangement on your behalf for those of us in the sub-Baller income brackets. :-)

And take payments on frames as well.
Just keep your paper work straight & it's all good for everybody.
- Garro.