Winstanleys Bikes

Flashy
Flashy Posts: 25
edited October 2012 in Road buying advice
Hello all,

I was wondering what peoples experiences of Winstanleys Bikes were?

My wife ordered me a pair of Oakley RadarLock glasses for my birthday on 28th August. She was initially given a delivery date of 05/09/12, but shortly after that was ammended to 14/09/12. Both dates have been and gone as has my birthday.

I rang Winstanleys today and the customer service guy told me they hadn't come in yet and he couldn't contact the supplier because they wouldn't know which shipment my order was on.

Why advertise that the product will be available in 3-7 days if you know you can't commit to that?
MTB; Genesis Core 20 2009
Road; Trek 2.3

Reformed BMX biker.

Comments

  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    I will have to refer you to Bustacrap as he has far more experience of poor customer service than me.

    I'm sure he'll be along shortly to add something in his own 'unique' style. :-)
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • tmg
    tmg Posts: 651
    Notorious for it, I avoid them after similar experience years ago
  • benjboy
    benjboy Posts: 258
    Same here ordered a chainset waited over 4 weeks . I then phoned to cancel and then lo and behold it arrived 2 days later. Would not use them and have not ..
    Keep the chain tight all the way.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I've never had a problem with them, but I've only ever ordered stuff that is indicated as in stock (and always has been since delivery has been pretty quick).
    More problems but still living....
  • I find this allot with bike stores ( online ) they say “delivery in 4-7 days” but most of the time they are
    Banking on the UK distributors being in-stock.

    I now always phone up & ask “do you have this in stock?” if not I usually try & distributors directly
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,231
    always had decent service from winstanleys

    my experience is that oakley resellers can have problems getting stock, feels like it got worse since oakley stopped supplying some resellers (to prevent discounting), maybe they now keep supply tight so they can quickly cut off anyone who discounts

    last year i was after a specific lens, i tried four different resellers, each one ended up cancelling my order because oakley couldn't give a supply date, since then i learned to *never* order oakley unless it's confirmed in stock

    doesn't excuse winstanleys not keeping you up to date on the situation, but i'd guess they are having supply problems
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • I bought a pram from there once. Not online though.

    To be honest they remind me of ribble.
  • ajb72
    ajb72 Posts: 1,178
    They are fine, I've found them pretty good to deal with but only bought stuff that was confirmed as in stock.
  • paulmon
    paulmon Posts: 315
    I bought my Son's Lil Ripper BMX from there. I went to the store and the staff instore could not have been more helpful. I would certainly use them again.

    Cheers
    Paul
  • I've found them good. Many bits are not in stock but their website is accurate as to what is and what is not. Staff on the phone are helpful. I just ordered a new fork from them and it was delivered quickly and was the cheapest price on 'tinternet.
  • Bustacapp wrote:
    I bought a pram from there once. Not online though.

    To be honest they remind me of ribble.

    is that the one you're always throwing your dummy out of? :D
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • is that the one you're always throwing your dummy out of? :D

    That was about as funny as red p!ss.
  • They sent me the wrong goods and then refused to refund the postage for their mistake.

    I won't use them again.
    It doesn't get any easier, but I don't appear to be getting any faster.
  • Interesting thread.

    I have had problems with bike places in the past. Always best to ring and get confirmation that they actually have things in stock.

    I've not used this shop, but currently have my eye on a new Basso frame they are advertising.
  • ajb72
    ajb72 Posts: 1,178
    further to previous post, I had to return a faulty Castelli vest to Winstanley's last week. It arrived there on the 11th and a refund was in my bank on the 14th. I enquired to double-check they had processed the return and had an email reply within the hour. Can't ask for more than that.

    On a previous occasion they sent out a chainring to me in error - I'd changed an online order over the phone but the warehouse sent the original item. I was sent a prepaid envelope to return it along with the correct item, in other words trusting me to return the wrong item to them, but not delaying the correct item in the mean time. Superb service, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
  • Further from my original post, I e-mailed Winstanleys and asked for them to re-contact Oakley. Got an e-mail in response with a revised delivery date of 8th November 2012.

    What's unbelievable is that they are still advertising 2-7 days for delivery for the same glasses on the website.

    I don't think I'll be using them again.
    MTB; Genesis Core 20 2009
    Road; Trek 2.3

    Reformed BMX biker.
  • I bought overshoes early last week. It said that they were in stock and would deliver in 2-3 days.

    I got a "courtesy email" to say that they would be delivered after 18th March 2013.

    I wrote back asking if it was a mistake. No response. I told them to cancel my order which they did. Still no refund.

    Why charge if they don't have them in stock?

    To give you all a laugh they told me that the overshoe was from the Spring collection and to order early next time :roll:
  • greentea
    greentea Posts: 180
    Bustacapp wrote:
    I bought a pram from there once. Not online though.

    To be honest they remind me of ribble.


    lol
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Bustacapp wrote:
    I bought a pram from there once. Not online though.

    To be honest they remind me of ribble.

    is that the one you're always throwing your dummy out of? :D

    :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    I'll give them a positive review. I purchased a £2 FSA washer on-line and it arrived 2 days later, I then ordered a set of bars last week and they arrived 2 days later too, so i can't fault them.

    Then again over the last few weeks i've ordered various items from Wiggle, CRC and Merlin, all turned up within 48hrs and the Merlin order turned up in less than 24hrs.
  • Sounds like a "geographical oddity". Virtually 2 days from everywhere.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    Kangarouge wrote:
    Sounds like a "geographical oddity". Virtually 2 days from everywhere.

    Or maybe there's just one huge universal distribution warehouse