Jules Posted March 31, 2008 Share We often hear good things about Chain Reaction Cycles (CRC) on this forum, and I'm sure they are valid. However, I'd like to share my bad experience with this crowd. More than a month ago I ordered some stuff on CRC - enough value to get the free shipping. One of the items, a Mavic wheelset, was out of stock, but I was informed it'd be there in 3-5 days. Several days later, I emailed CRC. They took a few days to reply to my mail, but informed me that the item would be in stock on March 19, which came and went and still no word from CRC. I mailed them again to let them know that I would like to cancel the order and re-order stuff that is in stock. Few days later they mailed back to say the item was expected in stock on March 28, which came and went. I mailed them to tell them to cancel the order. Now I see they only cancelled the wheels, but put through the rest of the order on my credit card! Which means they are sending me the other stuff and I will have to pay exorbitant postage (the sale price is now less than the free postage amount). Add to that the rand has depreciated substantially since I placed the order (which I understand is not CRC's fault, but very annoying nevertheless, and would not have happened if they'd been straightforward about their stock situation). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnega Posted March 31, 2008 Share A fairly common problem I'm afraid. I have had no issue with the way CRC handle these issues. The problem is usually on the supply side and the suppliers are delayed in releasing their product to the online retailers. You do need to be clear that you want to cancel the entire order, otherwise they will assume you still want what you ordered, although you and I know that you just filled the basket with odds and sodds because the shipping from CRC is so cheap/free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted March 31, 2008 Share I guess the moral of the story is to only order stuff that is in stock. Their expected dates for out-of-stock items are completely unrealiable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted March 31, 2008 Share A bit of over promise under deliver? Highly irritating, I always tell my guys don't give a definite date unless you can stake you life on it. Extreme but it makes them think twice before comitting to a date .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreZA Posted March 31, 2008 Share it makes them think twice before comitting to a date .......... How did you convince your wife to go out with you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted March 31, 2008 Share BIGben remember - obviously over delivered ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreZA Posted March 31, 2008 Share BIGben remember - obviously over delivered ........... So just like Zuma you lied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted March 31, 2008 Share Hey Parra - what intimate knowledge do you have to be able to make such an observation .................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudsimus Posted March 31, 2008 Share Burning you're fingers while shopping online?! No way?!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreZA Posted March 31, 2008 Share Hey Parra - what intimate knowledge do you have to be able to make such an observation .................. All I can say is "your mom's quite nice" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zues-zues Posted March 31, 2008 Share Burning you're fingers while shopping online?! No way?!! That's the reason I support the local guys/agents, shopping online from international sources is a no-no for me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianj Posted March 31, 2008 Share Have ordered a few times, the only problems i have had was with out of stock items.... vey bad communication from them in this regard. Best stick to in stock items. No problems with thise and they clear customs quickly - all papers in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinnekop Posted March 31, 2008 Share Burning you're fingers while shopping online?! No way?!! That's the reason I support the local guys/agents' date=' shopping online from international sources is a no-no for me too.[/quote'] Well.....burning them LESS than with the LBS......One wheel balance.......3 weeks and counting..........Local agent.....MAVIC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widget Posted March 31, 2008 Share Yes, Jules, as Linnega mentions 99% of the time its a supplier issue, retailers have no reason to keep stock on their shelves when they have orders for it, so its obvious as soon as they recieve it, they send it on. As someone who imports plenty (for business and personal) this is a common issue, sometimes its not even a suppliers issue but a freight problem, (ie) lack of space, product is trans shipped instead of directly shipped, gets tossed out by the airlines or shippers due to overweight issues - there are lots of problems. So, be gentle, they (like everybody) would just give you the information they recieve, then when it gos pear shaped UP the stream, they will generally end up taking the brunt of the customers wrath when in reality it wasnt their fault. Personally I dont buy from Chain Reaction but all the suppliers I use, first send a PRO-FORMA invoice of IN-STOCK lines - From there you can decide what you want to do - wait or ship whats available. If they dont do that, ask for it, its very common and they will know very well what you need. ................But I understand your irritation, believe me, I have an urgent shipment of spares for a major job, sitting in Brussels because the airlines from the USA didnt have capacity to fit it in a direct flight, now its going to lie there for 4 days before a freighter can bring it to SA. **SIGH** try and tell that to a customer who needs the spares to carry on with a dredging job worth about $4 million dollars in Windhoek - and when they stand, its big losses and I get lots of phone calls believe me.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widget Posted March 31, 2008 Share Burning you're fingers while shopping online?! No way?!! That's the reason I support the local guys/agents' date=' shopping online from international sources is a no-no for me too.[/quote'] Thats a bit one sided guys - you can burn your fingers wherever you shop, just because you support a shop down the road is no reason to think they cant have supplier / transport issues and you could wait as long or longer. .............and dont think just because they are SA based you cant loose money, I know of a few people who paid for something at a shop today and when they went back a week later to fetch it the shop was gone. Let me assure you international retailers have a very strict code of conduct, (much higher than is required in SA) which is heavily enforced by the C/CARD companies, legal international trade is heavily controlled by the banks, non compliance or non delivery or double invoicing etc will be heavily penalised and they could loose their card ability to trade internationally - in many instances (like in the USA) THE C/CARD COMPANY will refund you if there is non-delivery, or the goods are incorrect etc. "Let the buyer beware" it applies to all purchases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewep Posted March 31, 2008 Share "Let the buyer beware" it applies to all purchases. I think you hit the nail squarely on the head here Widget, whether buying locally or online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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