Best place for bike stuff online?

[Ads17]

What are the best shops for buying cycle/MTB accessories online?

[RobDickinson]

www.wiggle.co.uk seems popular.

[cjs]

I've just bought stuff from here...free delivery!!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

[Gingerbread Man]

The above two are the sites I'd visit if I needed something. Chain Reaction would be my 1st stop, then Wiggle.

[littleandy0410]

^^^^

Yep, what they say, but also,

merlincycles.co.uk 

are worth a look too. Loads of good deals on parts.

[pdV6]

Gingerbread Man said:

The above two are the sites I'd visit if I needed something. Chain Reaction would be my 1st stop, then Wiggle.

+1

I usually hit Wiggle first and then CR but only because I get 10% off at Wiggle; they usually stock much the same stuff at similar prices.

I've never had occasion to send anything back to CR but I know from experience that the Wiggle returns process is hassle-free.

[Moose.]

pdV6 said:

I've never had occasion to send anything back to CR but I know from experience that the Wiggle returns process is hassle-free.

CRC are also very good with returns. I had to return a paid of FiveTens and they refunded me without question Their free delivery is also pretty good with most of my orders coming next day.

[schmalex]

My LBS has a good online store, with 10% online discount, free UK delivery and a deal whereby you earn points on purchases to get free stuff - www.pedalon.co.uk Delivery has always been next working day

Edited by schmalex on Wednesday 30th April 18:25

[cjs]

cjs said:

I've just bought stuff from here...free delivery!!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

Well after recommending CRC I have a word of warning. I ordered some bits last Tuesday on a 48 hour delivery. All stuff was in stock at CRC however for some reason they did not dispatch until the Thursday, they still put the kit on a 48 hour delivery. So today I am still waiting for it, Parcelforce don't do Saturday delivery. CRC were near impossible to contact, their phone is always engaged, they did finally contact me by email on the Friday, by then it was too late to redirect the delivery.

Don't let this put you off, I have had previous exemplary service from CRC, I would however recommend paying extra for a guaranteed next day if you need your delivery on time before your weekend ride!!

[neil_bolton]

Bill, you do realise, of course, that this means getting off your arse and going for a ride

Or is this for Claire

[Moose.]

cjs - funny you should have a problem, as I did the week before last.

Ordered on Tuesday (before lunch time), all items in stock, and they didn't dispatch until Thursday, using the 48 hour Parcel Force. CRC didn't respond to my email I wrote on Friday evening asking why the delay, but was very surprised to find Parcel Force delivering my stuff on the Saturday!

It's the first time they've not dispatched same day though

[gbbird]

CRC gets my vote every time

g

[cjs]

Moose. said:

cjs - funny you should have a problem, as I did the week before last.

Ordered on Tuesday (before lunch time), all items in stock, and they didn't dispatch until Thursday, using the 48 hour Parcel Force. CRC didn't respond to my email I wrote on Friday evening asking why the delay, but was very surprised to find Parcel Force delivering my stuff on the Saturday!

It's the first time they've not dispatched same day though

Maybe they are very busy at the moment? I have order bits before and they have turned up next day, no problems. When they did email me they said Parcelforce did not do Saturday delivery, its a pity as my bike is in bits awaiting the parts, I had to use my 25 year old bone shaker over the weekend.

I just hope my bits turn up today, I'm off work and waiting!

[choc]

CRC all the way, ive had everything from brake pads to mudspikes delivered next day hassle free, fantastic!

[thepickle]

My last Chain Reaction order took 3 days to come, no problem, but when all my other orders with them have come next day, you can’t help thinking things are slipping a bit I’ve had one problem with an order before, and they couldn’t have dealt with it any better than they did. A part was missing from an order they sent out, I emailed them on a Friday afternoon and had the part in my hands on Saturday morning! I was seriously impressed with that. I used Wiggle for the first time a couple of weeks ago, ordered Monday night, delivered Thursday morning on the free delivery option. The thing that slightly irks me is the explanation of the free delivery option basically saying “it’ll come when it comes, tough” (my interpretation!) trying to put the pressure on to pay for delivery, just not necessary. But it worked out fine and would use them again (but only if CRC are out of stock, which is why I used them in the first place). Merlin are good guys to deal with, they have looked after me seriously well and gone well beyond any reasonable expectation I could have had when I had a problem (totally of my own making). They don’t have the range of stuff of the likes of CRC but they price very well for most things. They looked after me, so I’ve been back and bought loads of stuff, same as with CRC, some other companies may do well to try and grasp that concept...

Leisure Lakes...well, there’s a "no naming and shaming” policy on here, say no more!!

[cjs]

Okay just to update my issues with CRC. My bits did arrive on Tuesday, a week after ordering them. CRC did finally give me a call to check I had received them and they did reply to my email and apologised for the delay. They did not explain why may bits took two days to dispatch.

I have worked out that small orders sent by 1st class post will be dispatched to arrive next day, it appears stuff sent by Parcelforce may tend to take longer to get sent out, who knows why! In the future I will split any bigger orders into two or three separate orders so they go in the post, their web site shows the type of delivery and it changes as you add more parts.

[thehappyotter]

I've found exactly the same thing as cjs about Chain Reaction's deliveries.

I once made two orders on the same day, one low value so was sent Royal Mail and the second higher value so was sent Parcel Force.

Despite being ordered within ten mins of each other, well before dinner time, the Royal Mail parcel was dispatched the day before the other one.

I suspect they only have a Parcel Force pickup every other day which is why it's 48 hour. When it was actually dispatched it was delivered within 24 hours.

Edited by thehappyotter on Friday 9th May 01:38

[Moose.]

That would certainly explain a few things about CRC! I mostly order just the odd part as and when required (new mech, t-shirt, brake pads etc) which are just sent first class post and arrive next day. My last order was for a whole load of bits totalling just over £100 and went via Parcel Force (who to be fair did delivery in the 48 hours). I guess just ordering one thing at a time is the way to go from now on

[pdV6]

thepickle said:

I used Wiggle for the first time a couple of weeks ago, ordered Monday night, delivered Thursday morning on the free delivery option. The thing that slightly irks me is the explanation of the free delivery option basically saying “it’ll come when it comes, tough” (my interpretation!)

I think they're much the same in terms of delivery; I use Wiggle far more than CRC and never pay for delivery. 9 times out of 10 the stuff arrives next working day.

They've never got an order wrong that I can recall, but several times I've ordered the wrong stuff and returned it or swapped it very quickly with no hassle at all. Even for end-of-line sale items.

Edited by pdV6 on Friday 9th May 12:15

[GHW]

CRC have slightly irked me this week. I've had an item on back-order with them for about 6 weeks now. It's still not in stock, but last week they took the payment for it and marked the order as complete on their tracking system. No dispatch notification email sent, and it definitely hasn't been delivered yet.