geneman

I placed orders with all three companies within 1 hour of each other through each of their respective web sites. Each company indicated that the item(s) I ordered are in stock. Here's my little comparison of the experience;

ease of ordering:
Performance - average (I used a coupon and there was some confusion as to whether the coupon was being applied)
Nashbar - excellent (easy to use and the coupon was applied immediately and in an obvious manner)
Colorado Cyclist - average (order interface is pretty basic, but it got the job done)

Order follow up:
Performance - horrific (I received a confirmation email, but was not told how it was to be shipped to me)
Nashbar - excellent (two emails, one confirming the order and one with a link to the FedEx tracking page)
Colorado Cyclist - excellent (two emails, one confirming the order and one with a link to the UPS tracking information)

Actual delivery
Performance - horrific (their tracking information has yet to indicate that the items have shipped ... 4 days later. Customer service is not open past 6 during the week or at all on weekends)
Nashbar - excellent (items arrived as expected 4 days after the order)
Colorado Cyclist - excellent (items will arrive in the next few days as confirmed by the tracking information).


Prices between Nashbar and Performance were comparable for all but two items, so I broke up the order. Otherwise I would have stuck with Nashbar. Colorado Cyclist was the only one to offer one specific part I needed. I have a right mind to avoid Performance like the plague in the future. Their service was unacceptable at best.

-mark

bkrownd

Since you specified the shipping method during the ordering process, I don't see what your gripe is here, since you already know what it is. If you're just waiting for the tracking number, the order status page on their website is pretty slow on the updates, and if it shipped Friday it won't update on the web page until Monday or Tuesday. They are not quite up to speed on The Age of Instant-Gratification.

geneman

I picked the slowest shipping route in all cases. IIRC, the Performance site does not tell you if they use FedEx, UPS, etc. The Nashbar ordered arrived at my house before Performance even indicated on their web site that my ordered had been fulfilled and shipped. I'm not looking for instant gratification (although I got it with Nashbar). I'm simply looking for some sign of life four days later over at Performance. I would suspect CC moves a fraction of the inventory Performance does annually and they're able to do it right.

-mark

bkrownd

When I place my Performance orders I have to specify shipping method, since it obviously changes the price. Performance web site is updated a day or two after the fact, and not on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. You probably aren't going to know what's up until Monday night when the website updates, assuming you chose UPS shipping.

Speaking of which, I learned a trick. If I give a Hawaii street address the only shipping options I'm allowed are next-day and 2nd-day air. If I give my Hawaii PO Box suddenly I am allowed to choose USPS.

Bop Bop

The reason for the USPS delivery to a P O Box has nothing to do with the fact you are having your order sent to Hawaii. It would be that way for any delivery to a P O Box in the US. By Federal Law the only people who can deliver to a P O Box is the USPS. The same is true when it comes to delivering to a person home. Only the USPS can legally deliver to a Mail Box or put mail through a slot in the door. That is why companies like Fedex or UPS leave things by the door.

bkrownd

You didn't understand what I wrote. The oddity is that Performance does NOT offer USPS delivery to my street address, but they DO offer USPS to my PO Box. It's apparently a bug in their website. (and a difference of about $10-$20 on my order)

cyclezealot

Have not used Colorado Cyclist..Performamce, Nashbar ,yes..
But, I weird as it may seem order using order form and check!
Technology crank, Denver once called me..
Use Performance stores locally often..Staff is good..Order thru catalog. They can not get an order right..Never hear from them..They just put order in drawer 13 until I wonder what they have done with my money.
Nashbar...Considerably better...
I am interested in givng REI more of a chance..They just opened a regional store.

Grasschopper

This comment makes me wonder a bit, If their prices were compareable why not just order everything from one (with the exception of the CO Cyclist stuff)? You would save on shipping this way and both will price match so...

IMO Performance and Nashbar are on about the same level if you are not a TP member (if you order more than once a year from them you really should join) but I do agree that Nashbar's order confirmation is a bit better.

Bop Bop

Bkrownd, Sorry you are correct, I did not. I thought you where questioning why only the USPS was listed for a P O Box.

Daily Commute

I've done most of my online orders through Performance because their prices are generally (note, I did not say "always") the best. Joining Team Performance makes a big difference in delivery speed. Their web site is clunky when it comes to order status and delivery, but everything I've ordered has shown up, generally right on time. I figure the clunkiness is the trade off for lower prices.

shokhead

If i'm in that big of a hurry for something,either i'll pay and go to the lbs or i just waited to long to order because you never know how shipping time will go,just like mail deliverey.

geneman

My total order between the three was for;

Ultegra levers
Ultegra ders.
ultegra brakes
bars
bar tape
pedals
and a chain
bottle cages

I bought the ultegra parts (minus the front der), bars, tape and chain through Nashbar. The prices for the Ultegra items were comparable between Nashbar and Performance. The bars and the chain were better buys at Nashbar.
I bought the pedals and bottle cages through Performance. The pedals were a sale special that Nashbar did not offer and the cages were ordered to bring the total to just over $100 to qualify for a coupon.
I bought the front der. from Colorado because they were the only one's that offered a 1 1/4" clamp on.

satisfied?

-mark

Grasschopper

Yea but Performance would have price matched the bars and chain and you could have saved on shipping...that is my point.

Rev.Chuck

I am surprised at the no USPS to your door for Hawaii. USPS offers rates that are the same for continental shipping with any thing up to a 108" combined demension. WAY cheaper than UPS or FED EX and faster, probably 3-4 days to Hawaii

turtlendog

Performance sucks. I ordered 3 sets of Speedplay X-3s and never heard from them for like 2 weeks. I finally call and they say, they're back-ordered. Well thanks for letting me know right away so I could cancel the order and get them somewhere else in a reasonable amount of time.

I finally convinced my LBS to pick up Speedplay, and I got three sets of X-2s from the LBS for about the same price as I would have got the X-3s at Performance.

my58vw

I just ordered some conti town and country tires from performance and they arrived as expected, 2 days... online order tracing was fine also

cyclezealot

I find their local stores service ok...On Line/Catalog service is awful...

bkrownd

I think it's just a website bug, and possibly by design. I suspect it may have something to do with the website program assuming I'd automatically want the "free" Team Performance 2nd-day shipping upgrade, and not giving me the option to refuse it. However, if you read the fine print there is an unspecified (!!!) surcharge for 2nd-day delivery to Hawaii, and you don't find out how much that is until they bill it to your credit card. It's in the range of $10-$20. Fortunately I discovered the PO Box trick. USPS orders arrive at my PO Box within a week, which is plenty fast for most of my needs. The Performance website is like shooting in the dark until you get the hang of it. I would not order from it except for those 20% coupons.

Rev.Chuck

That is a bunch of crap on Performance part. I started doing Ebay and looked hard into USPS. They offer a great deal for the money. With thier priority mail I could ship you a 4x6x8 block of lead(about 70 pounds) for less than $10. The ship box will fit most parts, I might even be able to cram a whole group into one(no built wheels )
The problem with P.O. box can be ship size.

Portis

I never order from Performance anymore. Nashbar is by far better on every aspect from site design, to shipping right on down the line.

blendingnoise

nashbar over performance anyday.

roadrider

Doesn't Performance own Nashbar and Supergo?

bkrownd

Soooooo....any sign of your package yet???

geneman

The shipping status on the web site was updated today to reflect that delivery is scheduled for tomorrow. This is 4 days after Nashbar and a day before CC.

I wish I could boil it down to me just being picky, but Nashbar just did it so much better. I'll let CC slide because they're not a big house like Perf. and Nash. and I would only order from them for high-end and specialty items. I guess I should explain that my last purchase from Performance was also pretty bad. I ordered on line, got a confirmation that it went through, called customer service to confirm that my coupon was applied to the order and was promptly told that they didn't even have a record of my order.

Do it right or don't do it. This isn't brain surgery.

mark

bkrownd

Yep, they got problems. They better make it up to us with more OUTRAGEOUSLY LOW PRICES!!!