Pants

[WildCards]

Just thought i'd share my current dissapointment with a few mail order bike companies and their preferred couriers.

Last month the freewheel gave up on my two month old Commencal Meta, long story short I sent the wheel complete back to Merlin. Yesterday it arrived back home with a nice new XT hub, yay I thought only to immediately realise it was minus the brake rotor, cassette and rim tape gunk that it went with. Marvellous, a 3 week wait only for it to be wrong when it does come.

On the back of this fault, a month ago I asked on here what manufacturers made wheels with white rims, the DT Swiss EX1750's were mentioned and I instantly wanted them. Despite deciding to wait until the summer, upon seeing Neil's nice new pair in the crimbo pressie thread I folded faster than superman on washing day and placed an order with CRC along with a few other winter riding bits. Everything was in stock and I ordered at 14:50, paying for next day before 12 delivery. CRC took until the next day to ship (yesterday) and now Parcel Force haven't delivered today, despite me paying the extra.

Of course I realise it's christmas, and deliveries may b delayed, but why offer the 'next day before 12' service if it isn't guaraneed? And why can't someone have sent an email at least to apologise. FWIW Leicester is crying out for a decent, well stocked, reasonably priced, honest LBS.

[atom111]

That is frustrating, I have started using my LBS whom will give me his best price generally gets stuff in quick and I can talk to him on Skype so it makes getting prices and stock details real easy.

I've only had to use an online bike store once in the last few months for stuff he could not get and I am helping a local store whose prices are the same or at least very close to CRC. Add to that I don't have to worry about delivery and have somewhere to take stuff back too if it's bust.

I once waited in for something to be delivered that was stated as out for delivery it never arrived and it was put down as me being not in which was rubbish as I had been in all day. Your only hope is a Saturday delivery or Monday but I'd be asking for a credit on the before 12o'clock as that has not happened.

[pdV6]

I think it's fairly pointless paying extra for speedy delivery at this time of year, as none of the couriers can genuinely guarantee it.

I do find that Wiggle, though, always default you to the faster service but if (when!) you de-select this, in-stock items turn up next day anyway, so I don't see how they could get there any faster...

[WildCards]

Promised Land, I don't know where your reply has gone, but thanks for the tip, i'll try and get over to Hinckley and give him a go in the future.

I received a package from Merlin this morning containing all the parts they missed earlier in the week, so at least I have a rideable bike again.

[WildCards]

Update:

I managed to track down the DT Swiss wheels at the courier's depot, which fortunately isn't far from me so picked them up this morning. Driving home I was like a pig in it's own excrement until I actually opened the box.
It would seem CRC have sent me two rear EX 1750 wheels complete with all the tosh. Brilliant.

I do now have a working bike though, so at least I can get out over the next few days as planned.

[v8 jago]

I ordered a tune chain ring on thursday from posh bikes and it turned up friday as told it should. They did say that it could be next thursday due to the christmas period, As it wasnt urgent i was willing to wait, But as it happened i got it streight away. I also won an item from antrim in ireland via e-bay, That also came next day in the post, So i dont think there is any problem with the post either...