When I first started buying/building bikes about 7 or 8 years ago CRC were the dogs do dahs, the had the stock, the had the best prices, they delivered next day and if there was a problem you could call a real person and sort it out - roll forward to today and there is a night & day difference.
I ordered some bars and matching stem last Thursday morning, both were in stock according to their system and waited with eager anticipation ---- and waited ----- and waited. You can't call them any more, the email response is typically 24 hours or more and when they did reply it was to say the bars are not in stock when the site still said they were in stock. No probs, just ship me the stem, I will get the bars else where, I replied. Yesterday CRC replied there is a problem with your order for a stem - not sure what the problem is but we will get back to you. I decided I had enough of this, cancelled my order by return email to be told sorry for the problems (fair enough)your credit card should be refunded in 3 - 5 days WTF !!!!!
CRC should only charge your card at the point of despatch, I'm ok with a pre authorisatrion ahead of despatch but not charging it for goods they say they have but in reality don't have. I will now only order from CRC if I'm desperate and cannot get the part some where else even if its costs a few quid more - lifes way too short to wasted waiting for CRC to return to their glory days.
