Merlin Cycles Ltd, beware!

[eurochien]

#36584

This is a c&p from my review of this UK-based online retailer: I need to spread the word about these scammers. I think their frames are grey market, mine was defective and they’re AWOL now that I’ve shipped it back to them (cost me $600+) and asked for a refund. You’ve been warned. What a miserable experience. The purchase went great, delivery went great and fast but when I realized that the frame (Argon 18 Gallium) had a defect (the bottom bracket cups would not press in straight, which ended up cracking the frame), I was completely on my own to ship the frame back to Merlin for warranty inspection at my expense after having the most inane email exchanges with their “customer service” (“can you fit the frame in a smaller box”?, “Can you use another carrier, like USPS or US Postal?” – USPS and US Postal are the same!!!). It cost me more than $600.00 to ship the frame back UPS from the US on top of the $1,200 price for the frame (+ $40.00 in initial shipping and $50.00) in customs fees for a total of almost $2,000 and I don’t have anything. They supposedly sent the frame over to the UK distributor, but that was weeks ago. No updates, nothing. Contacted them again for an update or a refund, got zero response. Got Argon 18 involved, nothing there either. Working with my bank to get my money back. Stay away from this merchant.

[Cosmic Kid]

#36585

That sucks….hopefully your bank helps you out.

[zootracer]

#36586

thanks for the info…I was contemplating purchasing a ti bike and eyed Merlins. Narrowed it down to a Lynskey, In the end decided not to go with ti…

[79pmooney]

#36587

euro, is there a chance that Merlin has been affected by COVID? That perhaps they are running on a skeleton staff and are overwhelmed?

I really have no idea. They may be incompetent or dishonest. But these are not usual times and England has been hit pretty hard.

[6ix]

#36588

Hold up, I must be confused. Did this mail-order site buy the Merlin brand from Competitive Cyclist? I don’t see them offering any titanium Merlin frames. Just basic carbon and aluminum frames, so have to wonder if we are actually talking about the legacy brand (same that brought out the amazing Extralight years ago) or something akin to Walmart’s Viathon?

[79pmooney]

#36589

6ix, aren’t there two separate Merlins, the bike, first a standalone company then a brand made by LIghtspeed (and maybe others) and an on-line retail outfit in England? I believe eurochien is talking about the on-line one.

And Merlin certainly has English roots around 1500 years ago (if indeed he existed).

[Cosmic Kid]

#36590

Yes, two different companies / brands entirely. The U.K. mail order company has no relation to the bike brand.

I’m not certain who currently owns the bike brand currently…..

[Orange Crush]

#36591

How is it possible to have to (near) identical brand names in more or less same line of business? Someone didn’t do their job shutting the online brand down. I could certainly see confusion here and potential for negative impact.

maybe the online store even chose that name intentionally to have pretence of quality?

[eurochien]

#36592

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[eurochien]

#36593

Posted By 79 pmooney on 04/29/2020 11:35 AM
euro, is there a chance that Merlin has been affected by COVID? That perhaps they are running on a skeleton staff and are overwhelmed?

I really have no idea. They may be incompetent or dishonest. But these are not usual times and England has been hit pretty hard.

Yeah that’s what they’re saying now. I also checked a few of their negative reviews (after all this went down – I should have done that before doing business with them) and, Covid or not, they don’t have the best track record when it comes to refunds or responsiveness when the $4it hits the fan. I think if you order from them and the product is not defective, you’ll be delighted at the price and quick delivery, but if anything goes wrong you’ll be SOL.

[Franck A]

#36582

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