Just had my SLC-SL warrantied for a crack in the top tube. In order to get an S3 I had to pay $400. Anyone else had to pay this? LBS said Cervelo told them they had an SLC-SL that they would replace my frame with or I could pay $400 to get a new S3. Never heard of Cervelo doing this in the past and wondering if the LBS is gouging me?
Don’t get me wrong, $400 for a new S3 is a hell of a deal but…!
You’re upgrading frames so yea that happens. Happened when I was warrantied an R 2.5 to SLC-SL. At this point, ask them to upgrade to an S5, not S3 cause the base S5 is cheaper than S3
+1 as technically the S3 is an upgrade, I got lucky with my situation, I had a crack in the seat tube on my Soloist Team and was supposed to get an RS, none in my size were available so I got an S2.
My experience is a Like - For - Like frameset = no cost. Upgrade (or change) to another style of frameset is a cost. The $400 may also include part of the labor to move components from one bike to another?? Cervelo doesn’t cover the LBS fee.
This seems reasonable.
Contrast to my friend’s experience with Orbea. He had a carbon/aluminum mix frame that cracked. Orbea agreed it was a defect and offered him an all aluminum frame for free or an all carbon frame for an upgrade cost because they no longer made an AL/Carbon mix frame. Orbea should have given him the all carbon frame for free seeing that his original frame was still under warranty and the AL frame was a significant downgrade. By not doing so they lost a loyal customer (my friend) and alienated lots of potential customers (all of his friends).
I dropped the frame off at the LBS with no components on it. They want $150 to reassemble.
SLC-SL = S3. Any other frame other than R5 would be a downgrade.
They adamantly said no on the S5 and actually I didn’t really want an S5 as I loved my SLC-SL and my assumption is that the S3 is at least as good. Not sure about S5 as it is radically different. An S3 is technically not an upgrade from the SLC-SL. Both retailed for $4500.
just looked on the Cervelo website, the 2011 S3 is $4500/frameset, the 2012 S5 is $3000 for the frame set…maybe you should ask to get one of those instead.
edit…never mind, you answered it before I could ask it.
They adamantly said no on the S5 and actually I didn’t really want an S5 as I loved my SLC-SL and my assumption is that the S3 is at least as good. Not sure about S5 as it is radically different. An S3 is technically not an upgrade from the SLC-SL. Both retailed for $4500.
Then go for the SLC-SL that they say they have for free.
i have had both the slc-sl and the latest S3. S3 is a huge upgrade.
This seems reasonable.
Contrast to my friend’s experience with Orbea. He had a carbon/aluminum mix frame that cracked. Orbea agreed it was a defect and offered him an all aluminum frame for free or an all carbon frame for an upgrade cost because they no longer made an AL/Carbon mix frame. Orbea should have given him the all carbon frame for free seeing that his original frame was still under warranty and the AL frame was a significant downgrade. By not doing so they lost a loyal customer (my friend) and alienated lots of potential customers (all of his friends).
Crowie? Is that you?
Haha, well played.
I’ve heard of this with lots of bike companies including Cervelo.
Seems quite open and honest, we can give you what you had, no cost. We can give you a new improved version of what you had for some cost.
i have had both the slc-sl and the latest S3. S3 is a huge upgrade.
x2
i have had both the slc-sl and the latest S3. S3 is a huge upgrade.
x2
Seriously? In what way? I have an SLC-SL, don’t give me a reason to spend more money!
i have had both the slc-sl and the latest S3. S3 is a huge upgrade.
x2
Seriously? In what way? I have an SLC-SL, don’t give me a reason to spend more money!
I have an SLC-SL and it is identical to the S2. The S3 has different chain and seat stays and has the cable entry into the top rather down the sides. Basically the S2 went down one notch and replaced SLC-SL and the S3 became the top dog (that is until the S5 came along).
SLC is still a great bike.
But $400 to upgrade seems fair to me since they were willing to replace your frameset with an identical one. If they didn’t have any SLC in stock then maybe you could quibble over the cost of having to replace the frame.
Do you have any photos of the crack? I have what I think is a crack but the shop I bought it from no longer deals with Cervelo and does not act like they want to help. Before I approach Cervelo I was hoping I might see some pics to see if they look like mine. My crack is in the headtube.
This seems reasonable.
Contrast to my friend’s experience with Orbea. He had a carbon/aluminum mix frame that cracked. Orbea agreed it was a defect and offered him an all aluminum frame for free or an all carbon frame for an upgrade cost because they no longer made an AL/Carbon mix frame. Orbea should have given him the all carbon frame for free seeing that his original frame was still under warranty and the AL frame was a significant downgrade. By not doing so they lost a loyal customer (my friend) and alienated lots of potential customers (all of his friends).
Crowie? Is that you?
Haha, that was awesome!
I ride an SLC -SL as my road bike.
I think it has the best ride quality of any of the S series bikes.
The super low weight is also a bonus.
Glossy black with white lettering is a cool look.
That color combo was IMO the best by Cervelo thus far(except maybe for the red/black on 07-08 P3C
.