Lynskey Performance Bike Review (Not good...)

I ordered a Lynskey Atlas Complete on Mar 31, 2025 and shortly thereafter received an email with an intended ship date of May 23, 2025.  At this point, all seemed to be going well...

Unfortunately, the ship date came and went without a single communication or update as to what was going on.  I did receive an email on April 15th requesting additional funds for the SRAM Eagle 90 kit which I promptly paid.  On May, 27th I sent an email asking for an update on my order and anticipated new ship date since the previous was missed.  No reply...  Sent a follow up email on May 31st again asking for an update.  No reply...  Sent yet another email on June 5th and this time attempted to CC one of the company owners.  Unfortunately, the email made it to support, but bounced trying to reach Mark Lynskey.  Finally, Deacon replied with the following on June 5th:

Apologies on the communication as I have been in the office by myself for most of the past few weeks making it tough to get back to all communication as quickly as I would prefer. I do have help coming which will be a huge benefit in communication for us. 

Based on what I am seeing from my shop foreman we are working to finish your frame through production over the next couple of weeks due to some delays in production from launching 8 new 2025 models across all disciplines that we offer. 

I am currently looking at a worse case scenario of July 3-8th for your order, due to the production delays, but also delays with SRAM on fulfillment and shipping schedules that they originally provided. We are working with them to get the parts here asap so we do not have any other hold-ups in production and getting this bike out to you. 

We want to thank you for your patience with us through these delays and we can’t wait to get this awesome new bike out to you.

I sent a reply on June 27th asking for an update, no reply...  I received an auto-response from Deacon indicating:

I will out of the office and away from email access from June 27th until July 7th

Fine, I will give Deacon the benefit of the doubt but he did indicate he had help coming on his June 5th email:

I do have help coming in the office within about 2 weeks that will hopefully allow us to spread the communication load and be able to get updates out more steadily on the goings on here within the shop.

So, is that help not "helping".  This is no excuse for not providing a response especially when I laid down nearly $4K for a bike I still do not have.  Communication and customer service should be paramount for a small bike manufacturer.  A simple email indicating the original ship date was missed, this is why and this is the new ship date would have gone a long way here.  In addition, they should have an order status page showing where things are through the process along with notes from the various departments (welding, parts, assembly, shipping, etc).  In other words, I should not have to keep asking!

My email this morning indicated several things:

• Provide an update with hard ship date by close of business on Monday July 7th or I would like to start the refund process.
• If I do not have an update, I am going to file a fraud case with the Tennessee Attorney General.  Lynskey took the funds the day of the order, not when they ship the bike so something to be aware of if you decide to roll the dice.
• If they can provide a ship date by close of business tomorrow, they should pay the $249.52 shipping cost for my troubles and to make this situation right.

At this point, I am very frustrated with Lynskey and will not do business with them again.  I do hope for peaceful resolution and I really do want to give them a chance here, but its a struggle.  Stay tuned...

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/lynskeyperformance.com

I am also exploring violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/consumer/militaryguide/appendixb.pdf

C.A. § 47-18-104(b)(9): "Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised."

• If the company took your money with no genuine intention of shipping the bike within the promised timeframe, or at all, this could apply.

T.C.A. § 47-18-104(b)(10): "Advertising goods or services with intent not to supply reasonably expectable public demand, unless the advertisement discloses a limitation of quantity.

• If the company continued to take orders (including yours) knowing they were overwhelmed or understaffed and couldn't meet the promised delivery times, this section might be relevant.

T.C.A. § 47-18-104(b)(22): "Using any advertisement containing an offer to sell goods or services when the offer is not a bona fide effort to sell the advertised goods or services. An offer is not bona fide, even though the true facts are subsequently made known to the buyer, if the first contact or interview is secured by deception.

• This is a strong candidate if the initial transaction was secured under false pretenses regarding the company's ability or intent to deliver the product as promised.

T.C.A. § 47-18-104(b)(27): "Engaging in any other act or practice which is deceptive to the consumer or to any other person; provided, however, that enforcement of this subdivision (b)(27) is vested exclusively in the office of the attorney general and reporter."

• This is a broad "catch-all" clause that allows the Attorney General's office to address deceptive practices not specifically listed, which could include a pattern of taking money and failing to deliver or communicate. While individuals can sue under other parts of the TCPA, direct enforcement of this specific subsection is reserved for the AG.