What online retailer to use?

mat-d

Hi Guys,

Just been searching for bits and bobs online...and I'm just wondering who's any good on the online biking world...

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/cycling
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/
www.evanscycles.com/
http://www.tredz.co.uk/
www.ukbikestore.co.uk/
www.bonthronebikes.com/
www.ukcyclestore.com/
www.cyclexpress.co.uk/

Any other gems I'm missing?
Which are the best out of those above?

Cheers

Mat

dunker

four good ones you've missed here,

www.chainreactioncycles.com
www.wiggle.co.uk
www.merlincycles.co.uk
www.stif.co.uk

mat-d

Any of these generally cheaper than the others? or better customer services etc.?

bluefoam

www.chainreactioncycles.com

daniel_b

www.ribblecycles.co.uk
www.sjscycles.co.uk
www.dotbike.com
www.spacycles.co.uk
www.rutlandcycling.com/

I've never had bad customer service from any of those online retailers to be honest, only good experiences.

I have shopped at most of the above (My post and the OP's and dunkers!) :oops:

IMHO, wiggle and CRC are usually the cheapest, though not always, they used to be on a par, but recently I would say CRC on occasion do beat wiggle more reguarly than not.
CRC have an unusual pricing policy, where the headline price will only apply to certain sizes/colours within a given range, but if you get lucky, and the colour/size you want are reduced, jobs a goodun.

Dan

z000m

these are the best, in that order

dunker wrote:

four good ones you've missed here,

1) www.chainreactioncycles.com
2) www.wiggle.co.uk
3) www.merlincycles.co.uk
4) www.stif.co.uk

andy83

wiggle customer services are top notch, especially good when you return item

scottalej

Chain Reaction are fantastic, been using them for years and never had a problem. Wiggle have been fine as well.
Evans are a joke though.

z000m

im not a big fan of evans either

mat-d

Cheers guys - anyone tried Go Outdoors? I fancy buying a camelbak from them so might as well throw in some other stuff...

Also might try Chain Reaction for my new flats :-) Woohoo!

dav1

I have used
www.chainreactioncycles.com
www.wiggle.co.uk
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/
and http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk

all very good, http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk i orderd my forks from and they were with me the next day (and cheapest around at the time - 2008 RS tora 302 u-turn)

I usualy look through all of them and order from whoever has the lowest price, worked great for me so far.

GhallTN6

Try and support your local bike shop to see if they will match the price.. although as said, if it's Evans, go to Chainreaction!

Saying that, I've always been pleased with Chainreaction and Wiggle, but just make sure what you want is in stock as you could be waiting forever.

dav1

GhallTN6 wrote:

Try and support your local bike shop to see if they will match the price.. although as said, if it's Evans, go to Chainreaction!

Saying that, I've always been pleased with Chainreaction and Wiggle, but just make sure what you want is in stock as you could be waiting forever.

I would agree with this. Some bike shops also have bits laying about in a bargain box (where they were taken off new bikes being upgraded etc) Picked up a very cheap saddle and a set of XT skewers that way.

jammieeeee

Merlin have the best offers on. I always keep an eye out there.

I've seen forks on there 100 quid cheaper than CRC.

Merlin often have good offers on pairs of brakes and pairs of tyres.

bantamroberts

allterraincycles.co.uk

The Big Cheese

I use CRC for most of my purchases - free postage and prompt delivery - astoundingly fast in fact.

I use wiggle quite a bit too but am miffed why they send a allen key in a bike box?

Merlin for wheels - they can't be beat for quality and price!

In fact sometimes it just boils down to availability of a certain product or price.

mega9

Cheesey is spot on

word of warning never use BONETHRONE BIKES no customer
service what so ever i mean shocking

dunker

ooops just ordered some grease from bonthrone, "just" umm a week ago still not arrived :?

dunker

oh a couple of good'uns for tools,

http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/
http://www.toolshopdirect.co.uk/ (anything very heavy and they'll hit you with a £20 weight charge)

gthang

Anyone used;
http://www.tredz.co.uk/default.asp

they have some well priced stuff I want, just never heard to them or seen the company mentioned on here.

Would like to hear of any experiences good or bad?

GT Destroyer

I always check chainreaction first, they seem to beat the price on anything I'm after.

I use Stif sometimes as they are local to me.

I used Merlin for the XT groupset, for groupsets Merlin seem to have the best prices but the best options for buying stuff in a set.