buying gear on the net

just us

Well I am a little disappointed to say the least. On the 10th (9 days ago) I
emailed a company asking them if they had a front and back pannier in stock
as well as a front rack. (they advertised them on the net) Yep! they said
and told me that if I was to deposit the required amount on the 10th they
would post me the goods and I would recieve them on the Monday at the very
latest which was the 17th. ( they told me at the very latest they would post
on the 12th) It is now the 19th and no sign of the goods. The thing that is
really really peeing me off is that when I originally emailed them to tell
them that I was wanting to buy only if they could deliver well before Easter
they emailed straight back. Several emails that were answered straight away
and I did the transaction. Today no email was answered. No sign of my goods!
Thanks to them our Easter trip is now in doubt as although I have the gear
my husband doesnt - if only people were more honest instead of just taking
your money. I still believe the goods will arrive, but I doubt if we are
going to get them on time. Sheesh I am peed off!
Kathy

Donga

On Mar 19, 7:39 pm, "just us" <kilpatsnoj...@tpg.com.au> wrote:
> Well I am a little disappointed to say the least. On the 10th (9 days ago) I
> emailed a company asking them if they had a front and back pannier in stock
> as well as a front rack. (they advertised them on the net) Yep! they said
> and told me that if I was to deposit the required amount on the 10th they
> would post me the goods and I would recieve them on the Monday at the very
> latest which was the 17th. ( they told me at the very latest they would post
> on the 12th) It is now the 19th and no sign of the goods. The thing that is
> really really peeing me off is that when I originally emailed them to tell
> them that I was wanting to buy only if they could deliver well before Easter
> they emailed straight back. Several emails that were answered straight away
> and I did the transaction. Today no email was answered. No sign of my goods!
> Thanks to them our Easter trip is now in doubt as although I have the gear
> my husband doesnt - if only people were more honest instead of just taking
> your money. I still believe the goods will arrive, but I doubt if we are
> going to get them on time. Sheesh I am peed off!
> Kathy

They aren't all like that. Name them, so the rest aren't blemished.

Donga

Hypertension

"just us" <kilpatsnojunk@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:47e0df29@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> Well I am a little disappointed to say the least. On the 10th (9 days ago)
> I emailed a company asking them if they had a front and back pannier in
> stock as well as a front rack. (they advertised them on the net) Yep! they
> said and told me that if I was to deposit the required amount on the 10th
> they would post me the goods and I would recieve them on the Monday at the
> very latest which was the 17th. ( they told me at the very latest they
> would post on the 12th) It is now the 19th and no sign of the goods. The
> thing that is really really peeing me off is that when I originally
> emailed them to tell them that I was wanting to buy only if they could
> deliver well before Easter they emailed straight back. Several emails that
> were answered straight away and I did the transaction. Today no email was
> answered. No sign of my goods! Thanks to them our Easter trip is now in
> doubt as although I have the gear my husband doesnt - if only people were
> more honest instead of just taking your money. I still believe the goods
> will arrive, but I doubt if we are going to get them on time. Sheesh I am
> peed off!
> Kathy
>
I sympathise with you. Is this company in Australia? If so, I'm not
surprised by your problems as, with a few noble exceptions, I have found
Australian bicycle equipment retailers to be overpriced, inefficient and
lacking in range and depth.
Like many others in Australia I go to overseas online suppliers, mostly in
the USA. You can say what you like about American culture and foreign policy
but enterprising Americans do know how to devise business models dedicated
to speedy and efficient service.

My most recent transaction was buying front and rear Surly Nice Racks from
www.smartbikeparts.com in Chicago. They were half the price quoted by
Australian firms (who were out of stock, had no backorder date and did not
care), arrived in six days and smartbikeparts somehow manage to charge only
$25 to Fedex just about anything. Only thing wrong with them is that their
online catalogue is not particularly intuitive to use until you get used to
it.

I truly recommend them. If you have any questions email Eric at
smartbikeparts and while you're at it ask him how his Surly Steamroller is
going.

Hyper

Terryc

Hypertension wrote:
> I have found
> Australian bicycle equipment retailers to be overpriced, inefficient and
> lacking in range and depth.

Matches the customers well; cheap, whiney and rude.{:-).
Seriously, if your market is based on 300 million, then you can afford
to hold lots of stock. Does either Sydney or Melbourne have a real
touring shop now?

As far as rack go, you can not even get the materials to make them. I
suspect it is now the same with materials for panniers.

> charge only $25 to Fedex just about anything. Only thing wrong with them
> is that their online catalogue is not particularly intuitive to use
> until you get used to it.

How much was your order(s)? and did they attract any customs?

Duncan

I've had good results with o/s (UK mostly) online suppliers.. but have
had a similar experience with non-bike parts that took about 2 months
to finally get shipped.. with little communication in between. You
take your chances.

It sounds like you did all the right things, so I'd ring the CC
company and explain the situation; get them to reverse the charges and
tell the supplier what you've done.

They won't learn unless they feel some pain for your inconvenience.

Rob.

Hypertension wrote:
>
> "just us" <kilpatsnojunk@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
> news:47e0df29@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>
>> Well I am a little disappointed to say the least. On the 10th (9 days
>> ago) I emailed a company asking them if they had a front and back
>> pannier in stock as well as a front rack. (they advertised them on the
>> net) Yep! they said and told me that if I was to deposit the required
>> amount on the 10th they would post me the goods and I would recieve
>> them on the Monday at the very latest which was the 17th. ( they told
>> me at the very latest they would post on the 12th) It is now the 19th
>> and no sign of the goods. The thing that is really really peeing me
>> off is that when I originally emailed them to tell them that I was
>> wanting to buy only if they could deliver well before Easter they
>> emailed straight back. Several emails that were answered straight away
>> and I did the transaction. Today no email was answered. No sign of my
>> goods! Thanks to them our Easter trip is now in doubt as although I
>> have the gear my husband doesnt - if only people were more honest
>> instead of just taking your money. I still believe the goods will
>> arrive, but I doubt if we are going to get them on time. Sheesh I am
>> peed off!
>> Kathy
>>
> I sympathise with you. Is this company in Australia? If so, I'm not
> surprised by your problems as, with a few noble exceptions, I have found
> Australian bicycle equipment retailers to be overpriced, inefficient and
> lacking in range and depth.
> Like many others in Australia I go to overseas online suppliers, mostly
> in the USA. You can say what you like about American culture and foreign
> policy but enterprising Americans do know how to devise business models
> dedicated to speedy and efficient service.
>
> My most recent transaction was buying front and rear Surly Nice Racks
> from www.smartbikeparts.com in Chicago. They were half the price quoted
> by Australian firms (who were out of stock, had no backorder date and
> did not care), arrived in six days and smartbikeparts somehow manage to
> charge only $25 to Fedex just about anything. Only thing wrong with them
> is that their online catalogue is not particularly intuitive to use
> until you get used to it.
>
> I truly recommend them. If you have any questions email Eric at
> smartbikeparts and while you're at it ask him how his Surly Steamroller
> is going.
>
> Hyper


I use Chainreaction in the UK, 4 day delivery, freight is free if you
order over a certain amount, but freight is covered by the amount you
save on VAT. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com

I bought some forks Marzocchi (which were about $350 from the UK - $800
locally) and have had wheels handbuilt to order (Mavic rims, Hope hubs)
it comes out at about half the Australian price. Very reliable and the
web site shows whats in stock and the delivery time if out of stock.
Excellent service.

Usually under $1000 does not attract customs duty. Plus the dollar has
better value now against the pound.

r

Hypertension

"Terryc" <newsthreespam-spam@woa.com.au> wrote in message
news:47e18bf9$0$60527$c30e37c6@pit-reader.telstra.net...
> Hypertension wrote:
>> I have found Australian bicycle equipment retailers to be overpriced,
>> inefficient and lacking in range and depth.
>
> Matches the customers well; cheap, whiney and rude.{:-).
> Seriously, if your market is based on 300 million, then you can afford to
> hold lots of stock. Does either Sydney or Melbourne have a real touring
> shop now?

I'm still puzzled why a Shimano derailleur made right in our region in
Malaysia can go all the way to the USA and then be landed back in Australia
for half the local price. Or why a Velocity rim made in *Brisbane* fer
heavens sake costs $60 in a US online store and $115 when ordered through
my LBS. I take more account of exchange rates when the US peso is strong but
not when the Australian shekel buys 95 US centavos.

>
> As far as rack go, you can not even get the materials to make them. I
> suspect it is now the same with materials for panniers.
>
>> charge only $25 to Fedex just about anything. Only thing wrong with them
>> is that their online catalogue is not particularly intuitive to use until
>> you get used to it.
>
> How much was your order(s)? and did they attract any customs?

My Surly Nice Racks were $270 the pair. No bicycle parts I've ever ordered
from overseas have attracted any import duty and individual orders are
generally in the hundreds of dollars.

Hyper

Terryc

Hypertension wrote:

> I'm still puzzled why a Shimano derailleur made right in our region in
> Malaysia can go all the way to the USA and then be landed back in
> Australia for half the local price. Or why a Velocity rim made in
> *Brisbane* fer heavens sake costs $60 in a US online store and $115 when
> ordered through my LBS. I take more account of exchange rates when the
> US peso is strong but not when the Australian shekel buys 95 US centavos.

I agree. At one stage it was explained that "Aus" could make upa big
enough order to buy off the manufacturer, so we had to buy further down
the chain. Doesn't seem to apply now.


>> How much was your order(s)? and did they attract any customs?
>
>
> My Surly Nice Racks were $270 the pair. No bicycle parts I've ever
> ordered from overseas have attracted any import duty and individual
> orders are generally in the hundreds of dollars.

Thanks.