Bought a disk mount adapter from Rutland Cycles. Heard nothing for a week then get an email saying they'll have it in a couple of days and despatch in another 2-3. Is this taking the piss?
If a shop says they have something I assume this means 'in the warehouse' rather than 'we go order it from somewhere else who may or may not have it'.
Never happened with CRC - who's customer service appears exemplary - but they didn't have the bit on this occasion.
Am I being a miserable old git or are they out of order?
Bike Forum
Is it acceptable for an on-line shop to advertise stuff they haven't got?
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Posted 3 months ago #
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Caveat Emptor
Posted 3 months ago # -
Think they are known for it and based how long they've been doing it I guess it must be legal.
Posted 3 months ago # -
no!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Of course it's acceptable.
Do you think CRC/Wiggle have all that stuff in stock all of the time?
Some sites will give an indication of "in stock" or "with us in a few days".
From the Rutland site
We aim to deliver your order to you in 2-3 working days. If there is a hold-up delivery may take a little longer, but most of these orders are dispatched within 10 days.
TBH, it woud be better if they gave an indication at time of purchase, or next day.Posted 3 months ago # -
Acceptable, well sure. Annoying? Also yes. Stock indicators on the website are a good move, or failing that a quick notification after ordering. But what you actually seem to get is no comment at all, til you chase them 2 weeks later then they say "Yeah, we'll have it by the end of the week", then 2 weeks later you chase them again...
TBH Tredz have been bad enough for this lately that I don't think I'll be shopping with them again. Still better than the accursed Mark Anthony Bikes/ Activesport though, a pox upon them.
Posted 3 months ago # -
LOL- yep, had the same problem with some on-line retailers recently. They list their stock as the importers/distributors stock. A royal pain when you need a part quickly.
I'm still a fan or CRC as they do hold stock and have been good to me.
TimPosted 3 months ago # -
Leisure Lakes do it a lot. Ordered twice and had to cancel both times as was OOS. PITA. No plans to try again!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Well OK, so it is legal, an they did say it - somewhere. But, the comms are poor. Why should I wait for a week to hear they are having trouble? They have my email address. Other shops (like CRC) are better. Or even better, say in the advert 'not in stock but can get in X days'. Just be open I guess.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Happened to me the last few times with CRC and it's trying my patience with them......definately tailed off in terms of what I order from them
Posted 3 months ago # -
better than the accursed Mark Anthony Bikes/ Activesport though, a pox upon them.
+1000
may they burn in the deepest pits of hell for all eternity
Posted 3 months ago # -
Oh dear. Shall give them a miss then.
Posted 3 months ago # -
WillC9999 - Member
It's on every product page.
Well OK, so it is legal, an they did say it - somewhere.Posted 3 months ago # -
shouldn't be allowed
Posted 3 months ago # -
Didn't Dave Hinde used to be the king of this amongst other bad habits.
Posted 3 months ago # -
i have a feeling doing this to excess is prohibited as bait selling. but i'm not up to speed with the qualifying criteria for it to be an offence.
Posted 3 months ago # -
There's the law, and then there is being nice.
What is a shop? A room full of stuff with price tags, or an empty room with a guy in the back internet shopping on your behalf?Posted 3 months ago # -
this is current position: (CPRs = Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations):
Thirty-one practices are deemed to be unfair in all circumstances. A trader carrying out any one of these will have breached the CPRs, whether or not it had any effect on the average consumer.
In addition to pyramid promotion schemes, bogus sales and "doorstepping" consumers at home, the blacklist includes:
"Bait advertising" - advertising products at a specified price without disclosing that the trader has reasonable grounds to believe he may not be able to supply them or their equivalent at that price for a reasonable period or in reasonable quantities.
etc.possible OFT case against any online retailer shown to be doing it.
Posted 3 months ago # -
UKbikestore, i don't think they have anything in stock! you attempt to buy off them the the send the boy out to try and buy one.
pants
Posted 3 months ago # -
Get real folks. Do you actually believe that all online retailers should only be allowed to advertise/take orders for stock they are actually holding?
That would be all sizes/colours of clothing, all sizes/models of bike of the manufacturers they sell?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Same thing happened to me with JeJamescycles.
Ordered a joplin lever from them, because they advertised it as in stock. I even phoned them to check this was true, and then paid extra for their priority delivery because I wanted it before I left (7 days later) for a holiday in Wales.
Recieved a text from them 10 days later saying they'd just despatched it, and I needed to be at home the next day in order to sign for it. I was now on holiday, so had to re-arrange for it to be delivered the following week and take more time off to recieve it.
I will not use them again.Posted 3 months ago # -
Yes/NO.
Rememeber the good old days of " Wait 28 days for delivery" ???Posted 3 months ago # -
I ordered and paid for a new fork recently expecting to receive it 2 days later, when i called to ask for the tracking number, i got told they wont have it in stock for at least 3 weeks. yet they were happy to take my money.
i promptly cancelled my order, got my money back and went elsewhere.
it cost me 10% more then the first place had offered me it at, but i got what i wanted and when i wanted.If they havnt got it in stock then they shouldnt take it your order without warning u first.
And my order was placed speaking to a person on the phone and not over the net,so no excuses for that really.
Posted 3 months ago # -
If they say it's in stock it should bloody well be IN STOCK. Otherwise its fraud and I dont use them again. And I'm a reasonable guy btw! Of course there will be the odd error / shoplifting discrepancy etc, but some online shops are just plain dishonest.
I appreciate some stuff is special order etc - and happy to order on that basis and wait. But in 2012 - "in stock" means "I can despatch as soon as I can get someone to get their asses down to aisle 3b and stuff it in an evelope".
I'd agree that UKbikestore and JEJames are crap. I'd go so far as to say they dont carry one single item in stock (IME) - everthing has to get shipped to them first and then wait around in some lockup before they find it and send it out snail mail.
Posted 3 months ago # -
The Rutland Cycles website doesn't say if it's in stock or not.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Mail order can be so frustrating sometimes!
I've not had a problem with UK Bike Store, have used them a few times.
Currently waiting on two packages including some replacement clothing, from over a week ago. Would have expected the clothing (cold weather garment) to be sent promptly as they do have it in stock.
Posted 3 months ago # -
On a more positive note, Merlin continue to be brilliant to order with.
Top customer service.Posted 3 months ago # -
If they say its instock it should be.
Posted 3 months ago # -
druidh - Member
The Rutland Cycles website doesn't say if it's in stock or not.Posted 3 months ago # -
I've made it my mission to always post on these threads about how sh!te rutland are in this department.
The difference with wiggle etc is you know before you pay whether it is in stock or not.
Crap service and just "sorry but thats how it is" when you complain. Must be a ball ache working there and having to deal with irate punters all the time.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Get real folks. Do you actually believe that all online retailers should only be allowed to advertise/take orders for stock they are actually holding?
No, but if the website gives no indication to the contrary then I think you're entitled to assume its in stock.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Online ordering is great but a bit odd.
I ordered a large shirt (in stock according to website-TJ! )from On One one evening.After rechecking the sizes elsewhere I e mailed them the next morning to ask if I could have a medium instead. E mail reply received saying sorry but order had already been completed and dispatched and that there were no mediums left anyway and I should return it on receipt for a refund.
E mail received next day, sorry but no large in stock would I like a medium instead?
Postman delivered the medium shirt 30 minutes later!Posted 3 months ago # -
nick - that is funny - frustrating maybe - but funny. At least OnOne try and reflect stock levels online. Some retailers do not. I think that's what the general whine here has become.
If Ruthlands /Uk Bike Store et al had a great big honest "We NEVER keep any stock" on their website it would do less harm to the rest of the online bike industry.
Posted 3 months ago # -
It's a pain as a consumer, and a pain as a competitor... So we now have....
Charlie’s Stock Promise...
If the website says we have it in stock, we actually have the product here in the shop to send out to you straight away.
I understand that you are ordering the cycle component because you need it, not because you sort of perhaps want it... you need it. Many other shops give the impression that they have stock, take your money, and then what?? Often the importer does not have the stock, so these shops can’t even get one in for you.
The only exception is our frames and complete bikes. We do keep stock here, but can’t possibly cover every option. Take the Surly Long Haul Trucker, a great touring bike... 10 frames sizes, 2 colours, disc or canti brakes, 26” or 700c wheels, frame or complete bike... that is well over 100 variations.
Frames and complete bikes are ordered in especially for you; this often only takes a day or two, and allows us to offer you the full range. If we expect delays we will let you know.
At Charlie The Bikemonger we are all (yeah all three of us) cyclists, we’re nice guys, and we’re not here to rip you off.
Honest chaps, good honest service.
Taken from my t&Cs at http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/terms--conditions-16-w.asp
Posted 3 months ago # -
I would never buy online unless the retailer is telling me it's in stock, or I know in advance that there will be a wait and I'm prepared to accept it.
If, as has happened, the shop tells me it's in stock, takes money from my card, then comes crawling back a couple of days later to say actually they didn't have it after all, and it will be a couple of weeks, then I cancel and don't use them again.
All I want is some indication of delivery times before I order. Not unreasonable really.
Posted 3 months ago #
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