chain reaction (merged threads)

[El Rolo]

I usually support my LBS, but when they do not have what I need, like most of you, I turn to the internet. I saw an ad for Sidi Dominators for $179 at chain reaction in the UK, and they had my size. Most other companies had similar prices on the 07 dominators, but the sizes that were left were for kids or size 13 and up.

So I went for it. I added new rotors to get free shipping and completed the order. I received my confirmation, and I had made a mistake on my address. Sh!t. I tried everything short of calling the UK to change it. They were all geared up for the christmas season and dispatched my order almost immediately...or so they said. This was 4 days before xmas.

Bottom line, I thought I was screwed, and was beating myself up for ordering from the UK. To my surprise, Christmas morning at 9:30 US postal service delivers my shoes and rotors. Shoes were perfect, but the rotors were the wrong, my mistake again. I shipped them back, and they credited my Visa account five days later.

I wanted to give them a big thumbs up, and sharing my experience with the good folks at STR seems like the best way to do it.

Cheers!

[CalEpic]

I bought some cranks from them and was amazed how quickly I received them. Very good service for me too.

C

[thebush]

CRC is great online retailer to order from! I also bought some M770 cranks from them and they were great with shipping. Only hiccup I encountered was DHL screwed something up and they got held up by US Customs for about a week.

[atomrat]

Here is the website if anyone was interested in checking them out.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

[Ladd Jasper]

Thanks for the heads up, El Rolo. I've seen good deals there before, but the international shipping thing always put me off. I'll definitely consider them in the future now.

Mods, maybe add or x-post this to the Bike Shop Reviews sub-forum?

[guero]

i would if i could dale... paging craigger, gene, or gouge..

[downhiller23]

i was looking at there troy lee designs helmets here is the price from tld http://catalog.troyleedesigns.com/ca...oducts_id=2112 now here is the price from chain reaction cycles http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=40298 i still dont understand why the retail from tld is $375 and the chainreaction is $612 ????????

[DirtymikeTDB]

Its in europe....Your TLD link is the US pricing

[downhiller23]

i changed the price to
us

[Lovin]

They can't undercut US shops *cough*shimanohope*cough* on crap they have to import from the US in the first place.

CRC is NOT the be-all end-all lowest price.

[DirtymikeTDB]

Originally Posted by downhiller23

i changed the price to
us

No but your looking at what they charge in the UK vs what is charged in the States. You see that alot on CR

[NipomoGuy]

how can you guys order from them? shipping international is stupid expensive!!!

[davidB]

Originally Posted by NipomoGuy

how can you guys order from them? shipping international is stupid expensive!!!

Free Delivery Over $244 (*Excludes Bikes)

I used them quite a bit for Hope and Shimano stuff a while back. Could not even come close to those prices anywhere in the US. Wiggle.uk is another one that about this time last year had ridiculous prices on stuff for those 2 brands.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by NipomoGuy

how can you guys order from them? shipping international is stupid expensive!!!

Free delivery if your order is more than $244.

As DirtyMike said, items from companies in the US are more expensive in other parts of the world. Chain Reaction Cycles is in Europe. Regardless if you select US dollar and US market (where they won't sell some items, btw), you're still buying from Europe.

Just the same, I used to buy a lot of Shimano stuff when I went to Japan. Back when the dollar was strong, I could get Shimano stuff there for about the same price dealers pay for it here. Even better, a guy at a local shop near where I work, gave me a discount, so it was even less. Now that the dollar isn't worth much, it doesn't buy much - in any part of the world.

[busterb]

+1 on free shipping

[downhiller23]

so u still pay 459 bucks

[Rivet]

Originally Posted by downhiller23

so u still pay 459 bucks

I have a solution....don't buy it from Chain Reaction.

[downhiller23]

i know i was just wondering if it made a difference with the nuke proof reactor extreme headlight

[DirtymikeTDB]

It comes down to internet shopping.... every item has a place were it is cheaper, and were it is more.... You always have to look at the totals when you are done including shipping, weight in shipping cost, overseas cost, local cost, hassle of returning ETC.... look at all of it before you make a decision to buy something. Also take into account when ordering from europe, even with free shipping, that you may be waiting for quite some time befor eyou et your package. I have had absolute horror stories of six month plus delivery dates from Chain reaction, they are common enough that its def not a fluke. But I think its because of a simple fact, that like most online distributors, they like to sell product before they even have it, so they list what they can sell it for, take your money, then order it. That happens alot with Mail order. Hell look at the Jenson site, youll see alot of there pics are straight out of the QBP catalog, those are the items you know are going to take awhile.

One more thing to take into account for this type of shopping..... the guy making the website hasnt a clue about what he is listing< on the norm> and may or may not list it correctly. Even worse when people are translating languages at times.





Okay, Im odne rambling

[24v]

I just bought a custom set of wheels from Chain Reaction. They went from being hubs, rims and spokes, to built wheel in my hands in 8 business days. When they got here, they were exactly what I wanted, and in perfect shape. Very true, well built, etc. I got the wheels shipped to my door for the same price it would have cost me to buy just the hubs stateside.

However, the problem with CRC is the lack of communication. I bought my wheels almost 3 weeks ago. I tried to e-mail them from the day I ordered the wheels to get my access to my account on their site working. I still have not heard back from them. I probably sent them a dozen e-mails from 3 different addresses, and have never received one return e-mail.

So, the long and short of it is, if you want a smokin price, and expect no customer service, they may be the place to buy.