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The old, yes it's in stock, yes that little green tick means we've got what you want, so you'll place an order, then get an email saying actually we've not got it and we don't know when it will be available.
Two times this week, two different shops, same disingenuous 'get his order, then we'll tell him' bullshit...
Had this with a brake from one of the german online bike shops. Turns out they take your money then place an order with their supplied who may or may not have updated their stock info recently...
I dont think it's right, but I can understand why the industry does it as it must help cash flow massively getting paid up front for something rather than in arrears.
Tredz. Never. Again.
Most of the German bike shops, green is in stock, yellow available at the supplier, red unavailable. Of course its possible they can get it wrong but I have found them pretty reliable. Never had a problem with anything shown as in stock, had a couple of unacceptable delays with stuff having to come from supplier.
Yeah but Wiggle! Beware!!!
Tredz. Never. Again.
This. Bigly.
Wiggle can get in the sea.
Not just bike shops - AutoDoc car parts did this to me 2 weeks back.
Seems to be more of this around this year "available with supplier".
The Bike Factory (Whaley Bridge) too (no response to emails or calls either). Hmph.
As people are naming and shaming I'll do the opposite: bike-components.de have always sent the stuff off in the times on their site.
And when naming and shaming wouldn't it be better to name and shame than smear every bike shop in a country with thousands of them, Crikey, Airvent?
Am I being too nice giving places I order from some leeway with delivery times at the moment? Many bike shops will be struggling for cash and with many suppliers offering next day delivery they are making use of that facility
Naming and shaming is an attractive idea but I'm trying to be calm and measured about the whole thing rather than going postal.
Opposite to the naming and shaming, I’ll got with naming and praising. Evo cycles (LBS on the south coast but with good online presence) have been great - sorted out XT drive chain with a realistic timing of getting rear mech from Maddison. Then ordered my Hope brakes (at a very good price) which knew would be a delay on (as per their website) and they called me the next day to confirm timescales and they turned up within the advertised 4 weeks. Very good service where stock is tricky to come by.
"Many bike shops struggling for cash"??? They have had the biggest year for sales ever (provided they could get some stock). My little local one man band has shifted over 800 bikes in 6 months but had to get very inventive to keep finding / building bikes to sell (so he is completely shattered but has been able to plough the cash back into shop improvements he has been unable to do for years).
I'm more than happy to give places leeway for slow delivery provided they are honest about stock in the first place.
They have had the biggest year for sales ever
That may be true as a whole industry, but there are some shops who simply didn't have stock due to storage limitations and then couldn't get it when the world went cycle crazy so have had a massive struggle for the last 6-8 months
this is common practice even if infuriating. Even the big players do it some of the time
Yeah it's super annoying. I'm surprised it's not illegal, it should be. Years ago I had problems with Triton over this. In retrospect it was fairly obvious, no way do they have some of the things in stock they claim on the website. They're currently showing over 20 different variations of downhill frames as "In Stock". Occasionally I check the distributors website to see if they show stock before ordering from a shop.
In fairness to Tredz the only time it has taken more than a few days extra to arrive a guy rang me every week with an update.
I think it probably is illegal as they are taking the money before they know they can fulfill the contract but if its only a few days delay as it is usually or the refund disappointed people quickly they probably get away with it
You used to be able to tell on CRC as some items were "dispatched next day" ie in stock and some " Dispatched in 3-5 days" ie need to come from the distributor first
Not bikes but Wickes guaranteed delivery within 2 weeks direct from supplier turned into "We have placed the order with the supplier. It is your problem with them now. You want a refund? That will be 28 days before we can refund as we need to agree it with the supplier, also because of COVID there is a 14 day period before the 28 day refund starts"
2 minutes to take the order and money.
42 Days to process the refund when they cannot deliver what they sold.
Guess which process they have invested in
Naming and Praising - Tweeks cycles have been great for getting drivetrain bits when almost everyone is sold out of anything between Deore and XT! Sigma sports great with roadie clothing bits.
I'm sure Winstanleys will get my Hope Hoops on 26er mk1 Flows in Any Day Now.
I think before covid this model just about worked (most of the time) as stock from the supplier was reliable and they could get it in 24 hours and then pass it on.
Now, things are less reliable and predictable.
Tweeks will at least let you ring and ask.
I had this from Winstanleys.
I ordered 2 hubs and 2 rims. I received them in 4 separate packages over a period of 7 weeks.
I ended up having the wheels built the day before a Morzine trip instead of over a month in advance.
Decathlon just told me:
"Our website displays our products as in stock as long as we have quantities in our warehouse, even if it's the international one."
Ordered 7 days ago and it is "processing".
Decathalon cancelled an order of mine that was "In stock" after 24 hours. Still haven't had a refund over a week later. No customer service number to call. Massive pain! Won't be using them again.
Decathlon just told me:
“Our website displays our products as in stock as long as we have quantities in our warehouse, even if it’s the international one.”
That's fair enough though isn't it? The stock is within their organisation so they can be sure they can fulfil the contract. This is not the case that OP describes.
This wouldn't be an issue if the ordering/stock systems worked 100% of the time as intended, but I bet most people have experienced this system fail (I.e. occasions where they've ordered something 'in stock' only to be told several days later that it isn't coming).
Still, I once ordered a mech hanger that was 'in stock' with a small shop (no availability anywhere else). A few days later I received a parcel with a note ("Derailleur hanger out of stock with supplier. Custom made-to-order replacement supplied at no extra charge.") and a mech hanger that had clearly been cut out of 6mm aluminium sheet with a hacksaw. It was laughably terrible.
I don't think it is fair enough. When something says "in stock", I expect it to be in the same country and not to have to wait 14 days to get it.
Am I expecting too much?
I'm sure I had this the last time I ordered from them.
I recently asked my lbs to order me a new tyre, the distributor web site said it was in stock and available for next day delivery.
I called a few days later to see if the tyre had arrived only to be told it’ll be delivered in 2 weeks as the distributor is awaiting a back order. The distributor website still states available for next day delivery...
The issue for me is that it is at best disingenuous and at worst dishonest.
In a competitive market during difficult times I'll choose my shop with an eye on this sharp practice...
I call up and check that they can physically touch it, instock means they physically have it....
Not bikes but Wickes guaranteed delivery within 2 weeks direct from supplier turned into “We have placed the order with the supplier. It is your problem with them now. You want a refund? That will be 28 days before we can refund as we need to agree it with the supplier, also because of COVID there is a 14 day period before the 28 day refund starts”
Currys tried the same nonsense with me, next day delivery turned into 10 days, which then turned into they had no idea. Abusing them on Twitter seemed to do the trick, nothing in their T&C's, just a way to tie money up in their business for a bit longer.
Not had a problem with Tredz this year, their stock system shows either a green in stock label or orange with supplier label for items.
Totally agree withr the OP. I ordered a widget 8 days ago with a forecasted delivery of a couple of days.
Phoned up today to chase and shop advised "we had to order it in and the delivery hasn't came yet. Should be with you within the week".
I had two options to buy; amazon with <24hr service or the independent retailer who claims to have the widget in stock but actually a 2 week delivery slot.
It's simply terrible customer service
Just to give credit to Tredz, ordered a saddle that was showing as in stock. Got an email stating delivery date and it has showed up bang on time. Was a decent price too. With the added bonus of Blue Light card discount as well.
The Bike Factory (Whaley Bridge) too (no response to emails or calls either). Hmph.
Update: after I posted yesterday I called again and was told (by a friendly fella) that the helmet I wanted was back in stock that day. Miffed given that I ordered in September, but hopefully it is on its way now. Everyone screws up, but...