Dear Online Bike Shops....

[BikerBoer]

Please update your websites with the current models and correct pricing info.

 

I find it hard to believe that some well known online bike shops still have old stock listed...and I'm not talking about 2016 stock. Maybe just list that you're still sitting with old stock, because on the manufacturer website the new Giant Anthem doesn't have 26 inch wheels with a 3 x 9 groupset, komaan man!

 

I'm doing some bike shopping and it's so frustrating when I look at a specific bike model the specs differ almost from site to site (even from manufacturer website) and the prices are just crazy. I am looking at one bike of which my lbs gave me a very good price, not that I want to haggle, but online guys are advertising up to 25% more...I understand retail price and then discount and then more discount because they "like you and you are their number 1 customer even though they never met you" and another 5% off because you're not paying in cash etc etc, but come on man....if I'm shopping for a bike...I want to see what the thing is going to cost me. 

 

Some websites are a nightmare to use with no categories and you have to sift through all their stock to get to the price bracket your interested in...my visit to such a site doesn't last very long.

 

Please guys, put in some effort....I could've maybe bought my new bike from your site.

 

En asseblief manne....why do I need to email some shops twice and still not receive a response. I want to give you my money....

 

Dankie kêrels!

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Been sukkeling with the same issue, not lekka at all.

[milky4130]

And just add another thing that grates my ... is when you want to be in the online business but less than 10% (exaggerated) of your stock is listed on your website. A perfect example what it needs to look like is Evan Cycles or CRC

[popcorn_skollie]

Always confirm stock before ordering. Always. Burnt my hands more than once before.

I agree that websites should be updated regularly. Nobody is going to argue against it.

But I can also understand that it can be difficult to update a site daily to accurately reconcile with sales and purchases especially if you sell hundreds of products. So at the risk of sounding like I'm making any excuses for them. Its far easier for us as customers to shoot them a quick mail or just call them. 

[Jewbacca]

Always confirm stock before ordering. Always. Burnt my hands more than once before.

I agree that websites should be updated regularly. Nobody is going to argue against it.

But I can also understand that it can be difficult to update a site daily to accurately reconcile with sales and purchases especially if you sell hundreds of products. So at the risk of sounding like I'm making any excuses for them. Its far easier for us as customers to shoot them a quick mail or just call them. 

True.. But they should also have a virtual POS stock counter with reserve stock which gets reset and rolled at the close of play every day.

 

So 300 units available, 280 go on the roll for today, which means that 280 units can be sold in real time with 20 in reserve if for some reason 20 people all click 'buy' at exactly the same time.

 

This isn't the old days where stock is stored on a dusty shelf counted by people in starched white overcoats.

 

POS systems have real time stock counters which should automatically update the site.

 

If on line shops don't have this tech then they should probably look at getting it.

[BikerBoer]

True.. But they should also have a virtual POS stock counter with reserve stock which gets reset and rolled at the close of play every day.

 

So 300 units available, 280 go on the roll for today, which means that 280 units can be sold in real time with 20 in reserve if for some reason 20 people all click 'buy' at exactly the same time.

 

This isn't the old days where stock is stored on a dusty shelf counted by people in starched white overcoats.

 

POS systems have real time stock counters which should automatically update the site.

 

If on line shops don't have this tech then they should probably look at getting it.

This!

[popcorn_skollie]

True.. But they should also have a virtual POS stock counter with reserve stock which gets reset and rolled at the close of play every day.

 

So 300 units available, 280 go on the roll for today, which means that 280 units can be sold in real time with 20 in reserve if for some reason 20 people all click 'buy' at exactly the same time.

 

This isn't the old days where stock is stored on a dusty shelf counted by people in starched white overcoats.

 

POS systems have real time stock counters which should automatically update the site.

 

If on line shops don't have this tech then they should probably look at getting it.

 

I've had experience with a certain website. A fairly well known local brand which also lists the amount of items in stock for any particular product listed on their website. It showed 8 units left. I ordered one, went through the payment process and when the page refreshed it showed 7 units left. Then I got an email saying there was no stock. With rubbish alternative suggestions I did not want. I was pissed. But I gave them a few days to phone around trying to get the item from other re-sellers before I ask for a refund.

 

About 3 days later they found what I was looking for from a completely different company.

It was delivered a day or two later. 

 

Sure. A POS system shouldn't be too much to expect. But even that isn't full proof.

I'd be less giving if I was in that boat with CRC or any other online retail juggernaut of the same size. But locally? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. CWC, Buycycle, Evobikes, Rapide. These are all locals with whom I've had good experiences. Some of them might have outdated stock or web pages. But they make up for it with a prompt response when you contact them. Far more important in my book. 

 

The internet has turned us into anti-social, trigger finger shoppers as if we're afraid of speaking to other human beings. Just call them. Its quicker and easier than ranting online. 

[Rigardt@Scott]

I shall be launching a new online store on Monday. The above mentioned has always bothered the hell out of me - so I am aiming to address the issues you have raised! More info to follow on a seperate thread next week!

[BikerBoer]

There are some guys you just want to deal with personally like Evobikes,because of the experience. But sometimes you just want to sit and browse through product sites and sometimes you come across something that just makes your heart pump a bit of chocolates... You decide you want to get it and then surprise surprise, voertsek!

 

So I hope Grease_Monkey opens up his shop and I hope it's a blerrie great success. Gooi mielies chom!

[Rigardt@Scott]

There are some guys you just want to deal with personally like Evobikes,because of the experience. But sometimes you just want to sit and browse through product sites and sometimes you come across something that just makes your heart pump a bit of chocolates... You decide you want to get it and then surprise surprise, voertsek!

 

So I hope Grease_Monkey opens up his shop and I hope it's a blerrie great success. Gooi mielies chom!

Thanks BikerBoer! I hope so too! I may not start off with the same range as the big boys, but if it says in stock it will be in stock!

[Jewbacca]

I've had experience with a certain website. A fairly well known local brand which also lists the amount of items in stock for any particular product listed on their website. It showed 8 units left. I ordered one, went through the payment process and when the page refreshed it showed 7 units left. Then I got an email saying there was no stock. With rubbish alternative suggestions I did not want. I was pissed. But I gave them a few days to phone around trying to get the item from other re-sellers before I ask for a refund.

 

About 3 days later they found what I was looking for from a completely different company.

It was delivered a day or two later. 

 

Sure. A POS system shouldn't be too much to expect. But even that isn't full proof.

I'd be less giving if I was in that boat with CRC or any other online retail juggernaut of the same size. But locally? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. CWC, Buycycle, Evobikes, Rapide. These are all locals with whom I've had good experiences. Some of them might have outdated stock or web pages. But they make up for it with a prompt response when you contact them. Far more important in my book. 

 

The internet has turned us into anti-social, trigger finger shoppers as if we're afraid of speaking to other human beings. Just call them. Its quicker and easier than ranting online. 

I completely agree should something go wrong that a call and a solution is way better than a finger pointing/name calling rant on the interwebs..

 

However, with todays live site and real time scan stock counters it really is the fault of the shop. If you want to be a serious on-line dealer you should implement the correct tools for the job.

 

Over selling a product is due to bad software. I am certainly not ranting, but a serious player should fork out for the right systems.

 

For those that don't, one should have brilliant customer relations which you have mentioned as well, in all fairness it is their own fault.

 

I love dealing with Wayne at Rapide... he is super crazy efficient, on the ball and really honest. CRC I seldom deal with and the others also very seldom so I cannot comment.

[BikerBoer]

I don't think anyone is ranting here, I wanted to point out that if you are a dealer/supplier/shop owner that do offer online sales either as your main way of doing business or as an extension of your business, you need to either buy into that service you provide yourself or advertise on Gumtree/The Hub and just leave your phone number. There are some guys I absolutely despise speaking to but they have great prices and I support my wallet first. So if I'm buying online it does not mean that I'm anti social or a trigger finger shopper... It only means I saw something I want online that someone advertised on their site.

[Karman de Lange]

Always confirm stock before ordering. Always. Burnt my hands more than once before.

I agree that websites should be updated regularly. Nobody is going to argue against it.

But I can also understand that it can be difficult to update a site daily to accurately reconcile with sales and purchases especially if you sell hundreds of products. So at the risk of sounding like I'm making any excuses for them. Its far easier for us as customers to shoot them a quick mail or just call them.

 

I ran two online shops, one had more than 1500 different products, other about 700.. They were always up to date, with real time stock and same or next day delivery.. It just take little bit of effort, there no excuse.

[Karman de Lange]

I shall be launching a new online store on Monday. The above mentioned has always bothered the hell out of me - so I am aiming to address the issues you have raised! More info to follow on a seperate thread next week!

If you need advice, drop me pm, had online shops for 3 years, so know the drill.

[Rigardt@Scott]

If you need advice, drop me pm, had online shops for 3 years, so know the drill.

I definitely will do. Thank you!

[popcorn_skollie]

I ran two online shops, one had more than 1500 different products, other about 700.. They were always up to date, with real time stock and same or next day delivery.. It just take little bit of effort, there no excuse.

 

Which websites?