Best online shop?

Bradders =)

This isn’t about ‘what’ but ‘where’...

I am looking for a good, reliable and preferably cheap online store to order bits like tubes, lube etc plus the bigger purchases when required. I’ve used a couple of sites such as wiggle, but I wanted to get a general consensus of where’s best to shop?

Cheers guys!

supersonic

Merlin, CRC, UK Bike Store, Woollyhat Shop and Parkers.

REMF

Wiggle

cat_with_no_tail

supersonic wrote:

Merlin, CRC, UK Bike Store, Woollyhat Shop and Parkers.

^ This

You can also pick up bargain bits in the price-drop section at Wiggle from time to time. And they send you haribo sweets which is reason enough for me to use them from time-to-time

Da Mighty Chicken

Without a doubt, Wiggle, they have been nothing short of excellent with all my purchases, returns & price matches etc....

Oh, and the free Haribo is most welcome too

turpinr

uk bike store

nfrang

+1 for Wiggle as my preferred choice.

They not always competitive on price though but great service and loyalty discounts etc

blister pus

Merlin is probably the best service I've had, bike related, orders are right and there the next day no questions asked. Then CRC and WoollyHatShop.

The day Wiggle are competitive on prices I might consider using them again. I've used them once so far I think but it was good service.

The Spiderman

Wiggle are excellent for service,but definitiely pricier than they used to be,unless thay have an offer on or you have a £5 voucher.I`m a fan of their DHB clothing too.

Merlin seems to offer the best prices at the moment,but doesn`t have such an extensive range as Wiggle.

CRC is somewhere between Wiggle,and Merlin.Cheaper than Wiggle,good service,big range,but not quite as cheap as Merlin.Buy most of my items via CRC these days.

Woolly Hat shop is great for Shimano and general service items,but range isn`t that extensive.

MacAndCheese

Wiggle used to be, but CRC have had more of what I wanted in stock recently, and some pretty good deals to boot, as with everything worth shopping around depending on what you need.

supersonic

If there was just one shop left to buy from - would be CRC. Just for the range.

scotto

yes crc for the range and merlin for the service, jury is still out on wiggle as far as I am concerned.

ccc

See for me it would be CRC for range of products, Wiggle for service and Merlin solely on price. Had a few issues with them, but nothing major. Keep going back just because they're so cheap.

Woolly Hat Shop's good too.

Every shop is going to screw up now and then with the volume of orders they take, just the luck of the draw really and it sucks when it's your order they screw up.

flamedude

I'd have to say CRC and Wiggle myself. I've always found what I'm after at those 2 stores. It's been a while since I bought a set of wheels but Merlin used to be my wheel builder of choice.

guilliano

Merlin have been fantastic for me recently..... especially price. Have spent over £600 with them in the last few weeks on stuff that would have cost me over £1000 elsewhere.

passout

Merlin, Wiggle (for MTB) and Spa Cycles (mainly touring/commuting stuff)

pastryboy

Wiggle and merlin - not used CRC

Be wary of evans - fine in terms of delivery but they did a disgraceful job of putting together the bike I bought recently. When I pointed this out in their customer service survey it would have been nice for them to acknowledge it.

Joe_Pineapples

CRC.
You know they're good when people in America use them because they are cheap and deliver stuff quicker than some domestic bike shops.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t ... ion+cycles

Airienteer

Wiggle. Always seem to get stuff to me quicker than CRC. Plus any order over £50 you can get £5 off by altering your newsletter preferences. If I'm ordering over £100 I then split my order into 2 and get £10 off and so on .

mikey0303

Wiggle is the first place I look, and then I go to CRC to see if its cheaper just in case (which it usually isnt)

paul.skibum

CRC and Merlin - not used wiggle for 4-5 years though I have checked their site from time to time - never seem to have what I want in stock

llamafarmer

scotto wrote:

yes crc for the range and merlin for the service, jury is still out on wiggle as far as I am concerned.

+1

CRC are consistently cheap, but Merlin do some stunning deals on parts at times.

Monkeypump

scotto wrote:

yes crc for the range and merlin for the service, jury is still out on wiggle as far as I am concerned.

I'd agree with this. Merlin prices are always competitive and often the cheapest, and I've never had something not turn up next day (except custom wheels).

CRC normally excellent, but I'm still waiting for something I ordered at the weekend...

Wiggle sometimes feels like the TK Maxx of the bike world - fine if you want an odd size or colour, but don't assume you'll always find what you want on there. As mentioned by others, service is pretty good though.

blister pus

The only reason I mark CRC down is delivery time isn't as prompt as Merlin (Merlin on that score are unbeatable atm) ...but then the stuff is travelling from further afield and they do have a greater range of stuff. Close call between the two but I probably use both 50/50 out of all of them.

guilliano

Can't fault Merlin recently. Ordered forks and brakes, turned up next day. Ordered full SLX gear kit (£88), turned up next day at 7am. Just waiting for new wheels now.

captainfly

I've used crc, wiggle and evans all are alright but I've had problems with whats been sent out by all of them but they sorted it quickly enough. Got a bike from http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/ which was well packed and set up, most recently used http://www.kustombikes.co.uk/ who had great price, comunication and fast service.

dunker

for online bikes or wheels, Merlin. for everything else then Wiggle unless Merlin have the same item then it's usually cheaper but then check on CRC prices just in case they're cheaper still.

agent_buchwald

Chain Reaction and Merlin, price and service absolutely spot on, CRC replaced a bent mech for me and even put £2 in my paypal to cover the return postage without asking, super quick delivery and I've been ordering quite a bit recently.
Wiggle, good service in the past but they don't really compete on price anymore which sounds a bit mercenary but CRC have been so much cheaper and can't fault them.

dave_hill

I order of preference -

1. CRC
2. Merlin
3. All Terrain Cycles
4. Wiggle