New Bike Delivered Damaged - How?

[Gav2000]

I've just had a new bike delivered. I spent about 30 minutes unwrapping it before discovering that the fork steerer tube was broken within the head tube if the frame.

This isn't a minor chip this is totally smashed. I have contacted the company to alert them to this and I'm sure the bike will be returned to them next week but I'm really keen to know if anyone has seen damage like this before? What could have happened to this bike to snap the fork steerer tube in this way?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Kingfisher101]

It doesnt matter does it? all that matters is arranging for the bike to be returned at no cost to yourself and a suitable replacement or refund given.
It must be very disappointing but the company will sort it out. They have to legally.

 

[fossyant]

Got to have been badly knocked at some point, pre or post packing.

 

[biggs682]

Oops

 

[Gav2000]

It doesnt matter does it? all that matters is arranging for the bike to be returned at no cost to yourself and a suitable replacement or refund given.
It must be very disappointing but the company will sort it out. They have to legally.

I'm interested to know if the company boxed the bike up in this condition or if it was damaged in transit?

I'm also wondering whether to get a replacement of the same bike or to look elsewhere? If it was sent out in this condition then I think I'll look elsewhere!

 

[Reynard]

I would suggest a defect in the lay-up during the manufacturing process, that has then been subjected to quite a hefty bending force at some point. To snap a tubular section of CFRP like that takes quite a bit of doing.

To me, it would point to someone in idiot mode that's done something they shouldn't have with it - assembly most likely given the additional pattern of damage below the failure - rather than it being crunched in transit. It's almost as if someone didn't put it in straight, and then had to force it to either a) straighten it or b) get it out and try again. If it was damaged in transit, I'd have expected the failure to have occurred above the level of the head tube, and not inside it.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If that had happened in transit the packaging would have been totally mangled. I have no doubt that @Reynard is correct that it's happened during manufacturing or assembly.

 

[Illaveago]

Looks like someone has driven over it !

 

[Cycleops]

As @Reynard says it would take some force to crush that tube.
I'd suggest it could be a deliberate act by a disgruntled employee. Anyone fitting it would know what they were doing and it would be discovered by the customer. It's definitely deliberate.

 

[newts]

I'd be wanting a full refund & buying elsewhere.You can also see a crimp mark above the bearing from a vice or clamp. I Wouldn't want anything from a company that had boxed & dispatched a severely damaged bike.

 

[slowmotion]

^^^^ This.
It may sound harsh, but I would take exactly the same attitude.

 

[TheDoctor]

I'm with @Reynard here - I cringe to imagine what force that has seen.
I'd be buying elsewhere too.

 

[albion]

Boxes do not usually get opened so likely the company is as unlucky as you.

 

[biggs682]

Boxes do not usually get opened so likely the company is as unlucky as you.

Very true did the box look like it had been tampered with?

 

[I like Skol]

What brand/model of bike is this?

I know we all believe carbon frames to be fragile creatures, but the steerer tube is usually tough beyond expectation.