Suspension/Wheels/Tires/Brakes

Wheel Repair

Old Mar 1, 2008 | 11:54 AM
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Wheel Repair

Could someone enlighten me on why wheel companies like FIKSE won't just send me an outer wheel half so I can put the wheel together myself. It's not like they warranty used or repaired wheels anyway. From the outside in, it appears that they are just looking to make additional money by mandating that the entire bent rim be shipped to them so they can disassemble the wheel, bolt on the new piece and charge me for the labor. On top of that, I now have to pay shipping twice. This policy they have increases the cost of the wheel repair by about 50%.

If they just sent me the wheel half, it would cost about $245 plus shipping ($40). I could have the entire wheel repaired for about $285. Instead they hit you with $110 labor and an additional $40 to ship everything back to me. This costs me an additional $150, for a grand total of $435. Is there something I'm missing?

If you have multiple wheels to repair, these additional costs can really add up.
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Old Mar 1, 2008 | 05:59 PM
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Yes, what you are missing is the capitalistic society that we live in where everyone wants to make a buck. They figure that you have to go through them in order to repair the rims--they are essentially a monopoly and can charge and do what they want.

How much does a new rim cost?
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 05:18 AM
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Around $800
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 10:56 PM
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Rock and a hard place. =/
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Old Mar 3, 2008 | 06:57 PM
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Jeez thats a way drag that is.
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Old Mar 4, 2008 | 06:34 PM
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Quality control.

High end companies tend to be fearful of a bad rep. You may know that you could repair the wheel just as good. but they don't know that. To ensure a quality repair, they require themselves to do the work.

There is also the liability aspect of the repair. Sucks but it's the state of the world we live in.

I'm not saying it's right, but you asked "why?".
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Old Mar 5, 2008 | 06:17 AM
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Yea, I hear what you are saying and I understand where they are coming from. I'm just ranting and hoping someone will step forward and say "Hey, I'm a Fikse dealer and I can get you the parts you need without sending the rims to Fikse!" Wishful thinking I guess.
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Old Mar 5, 2008 | 11:35 AM
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As you said, wishful thinking. Good luck with your quagmire!
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 10:09 AM
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I would suggest that you might not WANT to assemble your own wheels, even if they would send you a half. That's not exactly a part you want failing for some reason.

But I agree, on Fikse's part, it's probably a QC policy.
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 07:49 PM
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I'm really not concerned with them failing. If anything I would be concerned with them possibly leaking air.
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Old Mar 7, 2008 | 08:58 PM
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That seems like an odd policy....on the Race side of fikse each part of the wheel is available, must be something specific to the street/public sales end. perhaps you could try to set-up a motorsports account with them.
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Old Mar 8, 2008 | 08:04 AM
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I'm not sure how I'd go about doing this. I'd be more interested in finding a local shop/race team that could just order me what I need. I'm not really in a hurry repairing these rims since they are just spares right now. I may even consider selling them down the road.
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Old Mar 8, 2008 | 08:29 AM
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Could you send yours to them or a dealer and have it rebuilt ?
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:16 PM
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I could, but the whole point is I would rather not ship them and don't want to pay to have them put together.

I was just on CCWs site and they have an instructional video available for download so customers can perform their own repairs. Now that's customer support!
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:25 PM
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theres a site where u tell them what wheel u jhave and they have what u need in stock.
cant find it now but when i do ill post here
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:29 PM
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http://www.tunershop.com/Wheel_Accessoires/Outer_Lips/

call them i dnt see fikse there but try anyway...
this is one of the site but theres another if i find ill post
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:14 PM
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Thanks
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