then after you pay for shipping take it to a shop that has a jig to make sure it is attached correctly or send it to one and pay more shipping. then when you find a shop that has a jig and can attach it correctly pay for that service and budda bing you have officially paid more for a kit, shipping, more fab and welding at a different shop and possibly more shipping then if you would have sent the originator off your frame project the frame to have it done right on a jig in the first place. ooooooh yes marketing at its best. shops charge what they need to keep going. i have never cared what the others charge but can tell you that i charge 500 to build a hardtail to your specs on your frame on my jig and dont require you to cut anything off of it first. some are cheaper and some charge more, and i dont care. it is what i have to have to keep the bills paid at my shop. dom steel isnt cheap. and i can tell you that no matter where you go it will end up being cheaper to have a shop do a weld on rigid right to your frame then the inconvenience and expense of shipping, the kit, and then finding someone that can attach it right for you and possible more shipping back. kits are great selling products. they can give the customer a sense of getting something of worth for cheap. now take that same kit and have a shop weld attach it....... not cheap anymore. usually ends up being a greater cost. i have had guys come to my shop and tell me this same story wishing that they had come and had me build thier rigid to thier frame in-house or if not ,... then to have sent in thier frame and had the kit maker attach it there. either way it would end up cheaper. im not saying you cannot attach a kit without a jig.......... it can be done correctly however to do that you would either be in a position to have built your own anyway. now with all that being said here is my finally........
i have dealt with richard at g&l in colorado and with elswick cycles and they are both great shops i might add. elswick does fabulous welds too. i dont have any exp with tcbros, but they do a big business in kits too. so if you are looking to have one if these shops build your kit why not send them your frame and have it done up complete... i would almost bet you will be happier with the end product and price if you have a shop do it all for you on your frame at one time. good luck.