A word of warning using Bristol bicycle restorations

[louie]

I decided to get my bike resprayed and due to the reviews decided to use this business. I drop my bike off 28 sept 22 and was told it would be done in 8 weeks, sadly this turned into 4 months.

I went out to Majorca for a holiday on the bike and on return noticed that seat had dropped, I informed by my local bike shop that this was caused by it being painted in a area which should have been left carbon. I asked them to check out the paint work on the bike and they found many faults including overspray, runs, cracks and chips.

I spoke to Bristol bicycle restorations and also got them to speak to the local bike shop reference the paint work and Bristol bicycle restorations said they would rectify the problems, so I drop the bike back with them this time for 3 weeks.

When I picked up the bike and they wanted me to sign a waiver which I refused. I took the bike back to my local shop and was informed that all the faults had not been repaired and they found some more. I really wasn't happy with the work done so I wrote a review and was contracted by Bristol bicycle restorations to see how we could resolve this, they said they would respray the bike if I removed the review which I agreed to do but requested a different colour, as I wanted to be sure it was a new paint job done.

This time they had it Six months to the day and when I finally picked it up, they still hadn't done a part but said they would post it later in the week, it's has been 12 days, and I am still waiting.

I have had the bike a few weeks resting on the bed in the spare room waiting for the part to turn up but today I decided to take the frame and forks to the local bike shop for inspection. They found many faults from overspray to white and black marks in the paintwork, chips, and also area`s painted that shouldn't have been. There was red in the white trek lettering and also these had run slightly. It is such a shame. I contacted them and they said they will no longer assist me with the quality issues .They have had this bike for 11 months in the pass 13 and I still feel it was a rush job, I am so upset with the service and quality from this company they once said that I was being picky , I totally disagree with this as all I wanted was the professional job that they promised. As a result of this I could never recommend them to any other cyclists.

This experience has cost me £900 for the respray plus £500 for rebuilds and 400 miles in fuel, so it wasn't done on the cheap

 

[wynne]

That does look bad.
I'm guessing a respray also voids any original warranty on the frame too.

 

[BrushedAluminium]

Never herd of them, first choice in Bristol would have been Argos Cycles

 

[Nevilleblaze]

Man that’s looks like a poor quality job and sounds like the customer service is much better. What a bunch of

 

[ishaw]

That looks really poor. I've achieved better results with rattle cans. I feel for you, it's terrible when you pay good money for a job that doesn't meet 2xo3ctstions and then the company won't sort it as they should have done.

Had a similar experience with my car. Had a couple of stone chips above the windscreen. Found a well reviewed local paint shop who had the car for 2 days longer than they said, when it was returned the paint job was awful. Runs, voids, orange peel, blobs. They took it back, admitted it was rubbish and had another go. Yes it was better, but still not the best. I couldn't face them having a 3rd go so living with it. Wish I'd just let the Mazda dealer do it, would not have been as convenient, they'd have had the car longer but price was not much more.

And don't get me started on bike frame repair, but at least it gives me an opportunity to rekindle my hatred for colourtech and to warn others against using them.unless you want your frame treated like a piece of crap, shoddy repair work, it to be covered in new scratches and paint from other work they were doing (my frame was ti, so had no paint), shocking customer service and weeks of anguish not knowing I was ever going to see my frame again. Then the extra expense of someone else doing a proper job.

And what was the job? Fit a bottle boss.

What did they do? Leave the remains of the old boss rattling in the tube.

How did they remedy it when I sent it back?

Glue it in via down tube/BB junction.

Did it last? No.

What did they do to remedy this the next time?

Filled the down tube with expanding foam.

How did they react when I complained again, including raising the issues of the paint splatter, lacquer splatter and shiny new scratches and scrapes? Told me to do one and refused to take further calls from me.

Thankfully I'd gone through a cycle shop to get the work done, and after an age, they got my frame back.

A big shout to enigma cycles for resolving all the problems and I ended up with my frame back, good as new.

Ah, that's better.

 

[Nob]

Never herd of them, first choice in Bristol would have been Argos Cycles

Definitely use Argos

Seems they responded to your review on google reviews basically saying your story is make believe

 

[Tootyred]

Terrible paint job....im with @ishaw ..... done a far better job, in the open air, with a rattle can.....probably blindfolded....

Im really sorry for your troubles....that is shockingly bad.

 

[d8mok]

It’s the second (very similar) story I’ve heard about them.

I’ve sent the link to the person so maybe he will comment too.

 

[TSP]

I’m sorry to drag an old post up but I’ve been searching the forum looking for someone to paint some forks for me and came across this post.

I had a similar problem with them painting a stem for me. Thank goodness it was only a stem. I gave up complaining in the end, I’m quite an angry person and it was better for my blood pressure to drop the matter.

I would definitely steer clear.

 

[Twozaskars]

I had a cr@p experience with a van I had where it went in three times, the work was so shoddy. Paint shops like this just turn stuff around quick not caring at all. It was only when I pointed out that the van was actually my personal van so I cared about the quality of the job, and the small fact that I used to work in a paint shop that is highly regarded across the motorcycle industry and I have gone on to paint loads of stuff myself since, in far from ideal conditions. So if you’re in the midlands try Terry @ Racepaint UK.