Trying to find new bits for my Solaris max build, yet struggling to find any items in stock at a reasonable price…

Where are the best places for gear these days? Or is it a case of COVID and 20 / 21 season change over meaning no stocks about?

I’d been planning a few rebuilds and also struggled to find stuff from the usual suspects in stock and/or at decent prices. Not only that but Wiggle are using Hermes for shipping now – although give them their due as tonights delivery did actually arrive when they said it would (although that’s been the first).

Planet-X are good for prompt delivery but it’s a bit eclectic in terms of what they actually have.

Tweeks* 😂

* Seriously. Avoid at all costs.

Rose much cop?

Tweeks were ace for me last week when Tredz had let me down for weeks.

It’s all down to the luck of the draw at the moment and what they mean by: ‘in stock’ and ‘ready to dispatch’

Rose.ie looked good and I had a basket full of stuff but I live in jersey and they won’t deliver outside the EU I think.

I’d wait until more people are back at work and the backlogs are cleared at the distributors. Also parts from China etc are either delayed or they are still manufacturing orders made months ago & were then halted by Covid lock down.

Every bike shop open in the UK is pretty much overwhelmed with work and also struggling to get spare parts at the moment

Merlin deliver quickly and are always honest about whether it’s in stock.

Mantel if you want a forrin site – been very efficient the last couple of times I’ve used them.

+1 for mantel

Used for the 1st time last week. Great prices and quick delivery

Ordered stuff from CRC on Monday and picked them up today, Click and Collect.

Sigma Sports been reliable for me, Wiggle not so much.

Out of curiosity, what is the issue with Tweeks? I have only used them once for a cassette and delivery was on time etc. So would be good to know if I need to avoid going forward.

PS, how do people quote posts?

Mantel
R2 bikes
Bike components de
Bike 24

Most of the above deliver quicker tha Uk based company’s

Sigma is always very good. Also good in handling returns.

PS, how do people quote posts?

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Recently for me Sigma have been good, as have bikediscount.de

CRC have been shocking

Another shout for Mantel here. Last few orders have taken two days, which is much better than I’m seeing from some UK shops at the moment, especially if they are using Royal Mail.

Wiggle Plus is very useful. For £10/yr, free unlimited next day deliveries. Annoyingly, they’ve brought the next day cut-off forward from 10pm to 4pm (2pm at weekends) and I’m not sure if this is a permanent change, or just a Covid-19 thing. That said, I don’t use Wiggle as much as I used to as I’m finding that they just aren’t as competitive as the European sites now. The switch to Hermes was worrying, but my local Hermes chap is pretty reliable so it’s not been an issue, but your mileage will definitely vary here!

Otherwise, will echo what others have said. Bike Discount, Rose, BikeInn, Mantel are all excellent and I’ve had no problems with any of them. Most now offer flat-rate returns, so if you do need to send stuff back, you’re not going to get stuffed for an expensive European courier.

In the UK, Merlin are generally quick to ship, but I am more wary of the likes of Winstanley, Tredz, Tweaks etc – sometimes their prices are very good and it’s worth the wait, but I’d never use them if I need something quickly as they invariably take days or even weeks to turn up!

And of course there’s St John Street Cycles – SJS – who stock the weirdest selection of spare parts, especially for Shimano kit. You want that obscure part for an old rear mech? SJS will be the place to go!

For me, the most useful tool is still Google Shopping for instant price comparison. Just be aware that it doesn’t have everything, nor does it always get things right, so sometimes you need to go fishing by yourself. eBay and Amazon can also be useful sources for parts, but (especially with eBay) watch out for very cheap parts that ship direct from the far-east. They may be absolutely fine, but will certainly take a lot longer to turn up – possibly many weeks – and returns will definitely not be an option here!

As you’ve noticed already, stocks are low, prices are high at the moment so be prepared to broaden your outlook and shop from further away!

This:

I’d wait until more people are back at work and the backlogs are cleared at the distributors. Also parts from China etc are either delayed or they are still manufacturing orders made months ago & were then halted by Covid lock down.

Every bike shop open in the UK is pretty much overwhelmed with work and also struggling to get spare parts at the moment

Most manufacturers, shipping and transport companies shut down for over a month so there’s a big gap where stuff should have been arriving but didn’t. Everyone’s working to get back to normal but there are BIG backlogs. It’s likely costs will rise, we’ve seen price increases already from transport companies milking the situation even though diesel is dirt cheap.

Please don’t think we’re anyway near ‘normal’ because of positive news lies. There’s a long way to go yet and the upshot is increased costs for consumers in the short term☹️

Another vote for Merlin, stock status seems to be accurate and usually ship within hours of order. Plus loyalty points and discounts.

Merlin don’t have the biggest selection of stuff, but what they say they have, they have and they get it out pronto quick too.

Plant-x can be silly cheap. Eclectic mix of stuff though, not always in stock when it says it is and some have had issues around deliveries. Never been an issue for me though, other than one very cheap wheel I bought years ago that turned out to be a phantom and I got my money back.

CRC for sure not the same since they were bought by Wiggle.

I’ve used bike-discount.de a few times. Always been very efficient. But then its the Germans innit. Not as good price wise since pund devalued v Euro but still competitive and deals to be had.

Don’t discount your lbs though. Some of them have parts bins full of stuff that they’ll let you have for a song if you just ask .

Tweeks* 😂

* Seriously. Avoid at all costs.

Oh dear..I’ve just ordered something from them. How bad are they?

Tweeks are hit and miss, as are Tredz. I’m happy to order from them so long as I’m not in a rush to get the items.

Merlin are consistently reliable. Wiggle pretty good.

As above though, most local shops are open for business or are at least doing a click and collect type service.

Merlin continue to be excellent (had a warranty issue and a number of orders during Covid, all dealt with swiftly)

bikediscount.de a little slower but again have continued to be reliable

sigma sports – excellent, needed an exchange during Covid and dealt with efficiently.

Random one – superstar – ordered Sunday, email Monday saying that they are very busy, don’t email about orders (thought here we go) but arrived Tuesday with DPD.

CRC have also been fine for me recently but not needed any customer service interaction.

Tweeks just don’t give you any clue what’s going on – that’s the main issue. That and them saying they have stuff in stock when they don’t. I didn’t hear anything for 3 weeks so emailed and got no response. Called them (30 mins wait) and the lady was helpful but only 2 of the 3 things I ordered were there…the other was going to be another 3 weeks! So I cancelled that for a refund and had the 2 items sent out. Refund came through…not the amount I was expecting (still qualified for free postage) so called again. Different person who again was helpful but she had to query it with accounts. Got back to me with some (I sensed) BS and got the balance yesterday. If you don’t mind being kept in the dark with zero comms and are in no hurry (we could be talking up to 6 weeks) then go for it.

I’ve ordered from sprockets, R2 and tredz recently and had zero issues.

For me, the best online place is the one who has the thing I want at the cheapest price and in stock.

For me, the best online place is the one who has the thing I want at the cheapest price and in stock.

Is that ‘actually in stock’, or just saying ‘in stock’ on their website but this actually meaning ‘we are told this is in stock at the distributor’? Seemed to be a specialty at Tredz and a few others.

Well my last order from tredz, both items were showing in stock, ordered late on the 21st May, delivered on the 28th.

No complaints from me.

Maybe I got lucky?

In recent weeks I’ve had no issues with Tweeks (used them for years and always been great) Merlin, Planet X, Wiggle & CRC (I know, they’re the same but different) with absolutely no issues whatsoever. Delivery from all has been within 4 working days and everything has been as ordered.

I know a lot of folks seem to have problems with Hermes and Yodel, etc, but they’ve always been fine delivering around here. Perhaps I’m just lucky?

Merlin are great and use RM. Always my first choice. Sigma also good. Wiggles change away from RM to Hermes has reduced my custom. Courier shenanigans is ok at the moment as there is usually someone home.

Mantel have been really fast the last 2 times I’ve used the.

I’ve never had any bother with Tredz but loads of people on here slate them.

Bike-discount de have been shockingly slow the past 2 times I’ve used them though

I’ve had mixed experiences with most over the years inc eu and uk based. Merlin have always been great though as a uk supplier and 100% track record for me.

Having a really disappointing run with Biketart at the moment on a big order, whom, despite an audit trail of guaranteeing in-stock next day etc; 10 days later have failed to dispatch and finally admitted no stock following an ebay escalation.

It’s the dishonesty I don’t appreciate and by marking as dispatched on ebay to prevent cancellation & default.

I understand and appreciate covid / supply chain issues etc so there was no need to be anything other than transparent, which they weren’t.

Merlin are the UK one I’ll use before others. Always quick, never had an issues across dozens of orders and they’ve handled a couple of returns quickly as well.

Decathlon online seem pretty good, free to collect at ASDA and do 7% online cashback.

Merlin are always good, but recently haven’t had what I wan in stock.

CRC and Wiggle generally good but patchy.

Bike24, HiBike and Bike Discount all very good for stock and service.

Used Mantel for bits and bobs.

High On Bikes, Biketart and Merlin all been very good for me. I’m finding the smaller stores have better comms and what I need In stock; more than happy to pay a couple of quid extra if necessary.

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Thanks

I know a lot of folks seem to have problems with Hermes and Yodel, etc, but they’ve always been fine delivering around here. Perhaps I’m just lucky?

I think a lot is down to the “last mile” operator. Mine is typically a local chap who delivers out of the boot of his car, but he’s reliable, friendly and (most importantly) doesn’t nick stuff. I don’t think this is universal across their network…

Merlin are great and use RM. Always my first choice. Sigma also good. Wiggles change away from RM to Hermes has reduced my custom. Courier shenanigans is ok at the moment as there is usually someone home.

At the moment, I’m actively avoiding RM as stuff just takes an age to arrive. Clearly they are struggling with both volume and capacity in the current situation, but I don’t think I’ve had any small packet arrive in less than 7 days since this all started which if you’re waiting for frame bearings or a chainring to complete a rebuild, is a royal PITA :-/

Merlin and SJS are my favourites. Try and avoid Wiggle just for being Wiggle.