Chain Reaction Cycles - History / Appreciation

I've had both good and bad, once they let be borrow the tools to change a snapped chain after the purchased - and Ive also had someone from there tell me that the lockring was built in to the cog... after about 5 min of being polite I had to point out what I was talking about on another bike

I've always found CRC to be pretty decent.

That's it.

D.

Examples?

I got a new road bike from them, listed as having full 105 specifically listing the brakes, double chainset (specifying teeth on the chainrings too) & with higher-end 3T stem/bars/seatpost all of which made the bike look like a pretty good deal.

Bike arrived after nearly 2 weeks even though it was in stock, when chasing they just said it was "On it's way" - opened the box & it had unbranded brakes (def not 105, further research shows them to be tektro), a triple chainset that wasn't even 105 (FSA) & possibly the worst part; an integrated seat post (ie part of the frame you have to cut to size) not the specified 3T one.

When I rang to complain they were completely non-apologetic & insisted on me taking pictures even though I would assume they know what they posted - after some rather slow responses to my issues they agreed they weren't the correct parts so offered me a tiny monetary compensation or a refund - not once saying sorry & completely refusing to give me what I wanted which was just the correct brakes & chainset (I offered to fit them myself & post back the incorrect ones).

The photoshop comment was because the frame (and so integrated seat post) are white but the 3T one listed was black & in the picture on the site the bike was shown with a black seatpost.

I will not be using CRC again but obviously each to their own. I'm also not trying to get involved in the CRC vs Wiggle debate either as I'm sure people could complain about them too, there are also other shops available.

I've no real issue with them apart from the way they handled the card thing, if you as an organisation have logged my details and then lose them, for gods sake tell me, and then offer up some sort of explanation of how it happened so that I have some sort of reassurance that you know what you are doing.

As it stands, I just don't trust them, and will keep paying with PayPal, when I use them at all.

All of that said, I will use them if they are much cheaper than other people- which is why they prospered Jeez, and quite possibly why those other bike shops you talk of are no more.

Sick of receiving massive boxes for small orders, I sent them a complaint.

They said they've moved to recycled boxes from jiffy bags which is good, but I still think they can do better than sending out 4 tiny oilers in an A4 box.

They sent this also, which is fairly interesting, or not.
http://vimeo.com/23284279

Said a wheel I ordered is gona be a bit late, so gave me £10 off my next purchase with them...win!

I queried why I'm not getting VAT off my order when changing location to NZ from UK.
When I did this the price reduce by 7 quid on a 110 pound order.

The response

At CRC our cost to serve differs from market to market. When setting the price of items we must take in all the factors that govern the
cost.

These are examples of a few factors that are taken into consideration
when determining the price of an item:

• Current cost of the items that are sold in that market by both
domestic and foreign retailers • Shipping costs • Discounts and
promotions • Seasonal demand

Due to the extensive list of these factors, this can sometimes lead to
certain categories or indeed individual products having different
prices in different markets at the same time.

We always strive to provide the items at the best possible price to
the customer, in which ever market they purchase.

Please Note: Our pricing strategies adhere to EU pricing Law. VAT is
not added to the price of the item if the country is classified as VAT
free. VAT is not added to the item, if the item is not applicable for
VAT.

Farkin BS getting charged more because bike parts cost more in that country. Wankers, CRC won't be getting any more business from me.

They are the last place I look.

Definitely finding delivery slower recently and think they've lost the edge on pricing too.

When I was working in a shop (3years ago) we would use them over Madison, fisher etc as prices were almost as good, stock was better and delivery quicker and free.

Have ordered a few bits in the last few weeks, split between Chain Reaction and Wiggle.
As a comparison, CR take 2 days longer to receive, and their packaging is nuts.
I received some flat bars in a box 2'x 2' square, full of packing, not a very efficient way of transporting them.
No issues with either quality or communications though. For what I've needed, Wiggle generally has the edge, both on price and speed of delivery.

Oh, and my daughter wanted to know why wiggle parcels come with haribos, and theirs didn't.

Don't share the haribos

Why would anyone purposefully shop there? Unjustified sky-high RRP's then halved or more in most cases to look like a mega discount. I've only found one thing worth buying from them in who knows how many years, but their site's clunky, sales misleading and general pricing is NOT competitive at all.

Found some items in a cupboard after a house move 14 months after sale - sent them back full refund. Kerching.

Also, the 'ridiculous' packaging is due to an automated packing machine/warehouse. From memory the reasoning is printed on the box...

Anyone in the uk experinced over a week shipping times?

This seems to be a norm these days for customers in Finland at least..

I've ordered quite a lot of things from them recently and they've all come in 3 days from when I get the dispatched email.

I've not used them for years due to Wiggle being so bloody good, but I ordered a few bits from them yesterday so I'll see how long it takes.

I ordered Monday and arrived this morning free postage.
Was the cheapest for what I was after this time around.

I ordered a chain at 12.30pm yesterday paid the extra £2.99 shipping and it got to work before me. I'm impressed!

How lenient is CRC's returns policy? I've a unfitted chainring to return, but the plastic bag is ripped.