While I appreciate the conversations on tariffs and the insight a lot of people have from in the industry, it might be nice to have a “Tariff Super-Thread” to keep other threads from getting so many tangents
I don’t think there are any bike you can’t get for ~20% now. at least frames, it’s been a while s ince I got a complete build but my last 4 bike frames where from 20 to 25% off as well as on all the parts
I had a minor - tiny - chip on my rear Giant wheel. Got in touch with them saying that I understand is regular wear and tear, wasn’t asking for replacement, but maybe a discounted rim. I’d willing to pay freight, assembly, etc.
Their response was: we don’t offer these discounts, but our rims are considerably cheap.
Bottom line: don’t expect me to buy giant wheels again. I’m stuck with a pair of good wheels due to a insignificant chip. Wheel is rideable, but I’d like to replace it anyway and use them as my second wheels. On top of that, I need a XD hub now as I’m riding sram, the body is CAD200. Wheels are buried on my closed.
Are you saying that you chipped the rim and expected Giant to do something, or that it was chipped brand new?
I wouldn’t expect anything from Giant if you chipped it. As you said, that’s just normal wear and tear. I don’t see how you can blame Giant for that. Do you get a discounted next car if you chip the one you have?
On the other hand, if it was chipped brand new, I would have returned it.
Do you think any other manufacturer would offer a discount for another set of wheels if you chipped them them during normal wear and tear?
It also sounds like you don’t want to send the original set back as a repair/exchange, but rather keep them as a second set. Doesn’t seem like very realistic expectations.
Hey, @Pbase @Kuttermax look where I replied! Enve, Zipp (maybe hunt as well) replace, or offer a discounted rim in cases of “accidents”. Nails, chips, etc.
I asked Giant for the same, they denied. My next purchase will have this in consideration.
I don’t think a nail through the rim was Enve’s fault, and yet they replace. I hit something sideways, I guess because I didn’t know, just saw it one day.
I’m not blaming Giant. I’m saying that some brands will offer you alternative ways to have those wheels back running, while Giant doesn’t. That is a massive point for a product like wheels.
Quoting Sram/Zipp Warranty:
When you buy new Zipp wheels and components you are backed by a global lifetime warranty. This includes manufacturing defects, but also any system failure occurring while riding your bike within the intended use of your Zipp product. If your Zipp product fails while riding, we will replace or repair it free of charge.
Examples of coverage while riding:
- You are riding in a group, hit a pothole that nobody announced, and your wheel is damaged. You are covered.
So yes, I’d expected something from Giant as they’re a huge player.
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Warranties or low-cost “no-fault” replacements are often included in premium (high-end) offerings like Enve, Zipp, etc. Giant may be one of the biggest players, but unless it’s a super-high-end component, it’s probably less likely to be covered by something like that. Specialized (also one of the biggest players) has their Roval brand to distinguish between high-end and midrange offerings…
Any Giant composite frame, fork, wheel, or other composite component that is structurally damaged while riding, within the first two years of ownership, will be replaced or repaired free of charge by Giant Bicycles, Inc. with a valid product registration and proof of purchase.
Coverage exists only for product structurally damaged while in use as the product was intended.
-The support plan does not cover product damaged while not in use (e.g., product damaged in transportation, storage, or due to theft).
-The support plan does not cover cosmetic damage.
These two sentences seem to contradict each other.
As others have noted, there is a pretty significant difference between the pricing of Giant wheels and Enve / Zipp. In addition, it seems you are dealing with an OEM rim vs. an aftermarket rim…at least that was how I read your post.
If so, it is a bit of an Apples / Oranges situation.
I’ve never needed to use it, but Giant’s 2 year damage coverage on composite components is pretty good given the price point. I just bought a whole new Giant Trance with carbon wheels for not a ton more money than a set of Enve’s wheels.
@wake Precise
@slipdog I asked, they denied.
@Power13 Indeed, it’s half-price. That’s why my “contradiction”. I was/am willing to pay freight, assembly, etc. Just asked for a discount. That’s the part I was “waiting for more” from Giant.
It’s an aftermarket set bought at a Giant Official Retailer.
But hey, don’t want to confuse the topic. Just made the point, all good!
Yeah, I guess you’re right. I scratched an enve rim changing a tire, so I guess I could get a new one. I have just never even considered using the warranty for that purpose, but maybe I should if everyone else is.
Since we’re talking warranties, I’ll share about my experience with Specialized. Bought a 2023 Crux Expert when it was on sale at a Specialized store. About a year later there was a creaking headset issue I could not resolve, and I brought my bike in and they discovered a hairline crack in the fork steer tube I believe, a day later they said that I would be getting an entirely new bike - which I did. Unbelievable - the new bike has more clearance, UDH rear derailleur hole if I ever go that route.
A few months later I’m out bombing, and I crunch my rear rim bunny hopping a curb. I didn’t realize it and rode it that way for another month or so and it held up. I contacted the store again and they said they would ship a new rim and rebuid the wheel, and I’d just have to pay for labor, spokes, and nipples. Three days later I show up and there’s a brand new Roval Terra CLX wheel ready instead. Apparently, they aren’t making the same rims anymore and because I was so grateful for the new bike they gifted me a completely new wheel. Long story short, buying that bike was some of the best money I’ve spent, and I can’t say enough good things about the Specialized warranty process in my specific case.
I can imagine Enve have inventory of unbuilt rims, so cheap(er) and easier to supply a replacement rim. Giant maybe don’t bring in rims, and maybe few wheels not attached to bikes. So their only option is a complete wheel set, which it sounds like they have no problem giving out in the first two years, but beyond that they don’t have a way to sell a discounted wheel/rim.
It is probably worth putting a table together when considering new carbon wheels that maps out the usual weight, price etc, it also includes warranty and part availability for replacements. I’ve always been careful around very proprietary hubs for that reason. Roval and Reserve seem to have addressed it well with common DT350 hubs and common spokes. I’m surprised Reserve wheels don’t get more love with their warranty.
Similar story with specialized warranty. I got a flat tire on a trail and it was still 8 miles down to the trail head. We couldn’t fix the flat so I just rode on it for 8 miles and 5k ft of decent on a rocky way down. The rim was completely busted at 100% my own fault. Brought it to the shop and they called specialized. They overnighted a new wheel that was an upgrade since mine wasnt made anymore.
And you know what’s funny? After @Power13 argued that I was comparing apples to oranges, I was under the impression that, yes, giant wheels are a bit cheaper, and that’s fine.
But:
- Giant SLR 2 - 36 CAD 1,398
- HUNT 44 Aerodynamicist CAD 1,422 + 56 freight. It has lifetime crash replacement
So, in fact it is apples to apples. very close pricepoint.
I can’t blame Giant, that fault is on me. I didn’t do my due diligence and checked crash replacement before. But I can say that I’m disappointed.
That’s why I’m not blaming Giant. They don’t offer crash replacement, and the 2 years warranty isn’t really like Hunt, Zipp, Enve. I should’ve been more diligent when buying them.
That’s also the why my next wheelset won’t be Giant.
Gentle nudge to bring this thread back to sales and deals.
This thread’s purpose in life is to help all the subscribers save money by spending more money 
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I’m confused. Are we talking about crash replacement or a company offering a discount on a second wheelset due to a small chip that developed during regular riding?? Seems like two very different things.
I’ve got a lot of chips on my Supercaliber frame. Should I be asking Trek for a discount on a new Top Fuel due to the chips on the Supercaliber? I would have never thought to ask for that but maybe I’m missing something… 