Shiny Bikes Buyers Beware of Possible Shipping Issues

[kissTheApex]

I recently (June 29th) bought a cassette, chain to replace mine with ~2500 miles, and while at it, added a compact Ultegra crankset and BB to my order to replace my FSA Mega Exo standard crankset. The order shipped on July 4th, and today (July 9th) it was delivered to me by trusty USPS. However, the condition of the box was such a mess that I wasn't sure if I should accept the delivery or not. A quick phone call to Shiny Bikes did not help anything as the phone rang and rang with a long beep at the end. No voice mail greeting or anything else. It was 11:30 am here at the East Coast so I assumed they may be open for business but I guess I was wrong.

Anyway, I left them a voice mail assuming that the long beep I heard is of an answering machine beep and told them I would follow up with an e-mail that includes photos of the box and its contents.

I've received better packaged shipments from other merchants/e-bay sellers for items of much much lower value and am quite disappointed at the attention the international shipping received from them. I don't think crank set is damaged other than a small scratch on the outer ring, but I cannot be sure.

So here is your warning to think twice before ordering from them. Even though they had the best price along with Ribble and fastest shipping, I think I'll just wait for an out of stock item to be restocked and order from Ribble from now on. . IMG_4652.jpgIMG_4653.jpgIMG_4657.jpgIMG_4661.jpgIMG_4666.jpg

[moneypit]

Thanks for the heads up. Adding these guys to my do not buy list. Hope everything works out for you.

[Juan Torres]

That looks like a post office damaged box . i have had a few like that The PO says its due to the workers putting heavy boxes on top to make room on the truck.

[vespoli]

Have you considered that they may have been damaged by the shipping company?

[kissTheApex]

I know it is damaged while in transit, that's why I wrote

I've received better packaged shipments from other merchants/e-bay sellers for items of much much lower value and am quite disappointed at the attention the international shipping received from them.

Packing a crankset in such a flimsy box with no protection other than a bubbled document envelope is asking for trouble if you ask me. Absolutely not worth the $25 they're charging for S+H.

[John_V]

Were the items individually bubble-wrapped? I've had a few orders show up in boxes looking almost as bad as those, but the items were all wrapped in bubble-wrap and none of the items were damaged. Had the seller just thrown them in the box without any cushioning, I would have been pretty upset.

[kissTheApex]

Were the items individually bubble-wrapped? I've had a few orders show up in boxes looking almost as bad as those, but the items were all wrapped in bubble-wrap and none of the items were damaged. Had the seller just thrown them in the box without any cushioning, I would have been pretty upset.

Only the crank set was in the white bubble-envelope you see in the photo. All the rest (bottom bracket, cassette, chain) were loose in the box.

[guadzilla]

That usually works. I've had lots of packages shipped to me that way. The external packaging looks like crap, but the contents are fine.

[kissTheApex]

That usually works. I've had lots of packages shipped to me that way. The external packaging looks like crap, but the contents are fine.

That's interesting. I've always bought from PBK (before they increased their pricing recently) and I've always received the boxes in great condition. Now I'm fearing how my shifters and derailleurs from Ribble will fare

[fordmanvt]

Any shipping company will deny fault on that due to poor packaging. Unless they lose your package completely, or ram it with a forklift, they aren't going to offer you anything but a story.

[fastev]

I bought a Chorus 11 group from Shiny and would have liked a confirmation email, but aside from that, everything arrived in great shape. Quickly too. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again. I suspect the shipping company is to blame as said above, not Shiny Bikes.

[kissTheApex]

Ok. As this is all resolved now, it is time for an update. I've talked to Michele at Shiny Bikes on Monday (late afternoon their time). They saw the pictures I sent them (pretty much the same pictures attached) and they apologized for the poor packaging which couldn't take the abuse the shipping company(ies) did to it. They offered me three options; 1. Ship the crankset back on their dime (reasonable cost, no overnight stuff) and they will ship a new one, 2. get an RMA # for this one, send it (on their dime), buy a new one so that I get the replacement faster, 3. A hefty refund for me to keep the one I already have. I didn't have any time constraints, but I chose to keep the one I already have and accepted the refund.

fastev, funny you should mention that, I really wanted to get a Chorus 11 from them, but couldn't justify getting a new wheelset while I had Ultegra hubs/rims and spokes waiting to be built. Also, I didn't find their shipping awfully fast (not that they were slow compared to PBK). As I wrote in my original post, I ordered them on June 29 and did not get a shipped confirmation until the July 4th, and the package was delivered to me on July 9th.

I also bought shifters, derailleurs and brakes from Ribble on Thursday July 7th, I got a shipping notification on Friday, July 8th and the package was at my door on the Monday, July 11th. And the difference between the packaging is night and day. The stuff from Ribble was wrapped in multiple layers of bubble wrap and they were also protected by pieces of card board placed diagonally in the box. While I would buy from Shiny Bikes again, if Ribble has the same items in stock and is close the pricing of Shiny Bikes, they would be my first choice.

[AndyK]

A stronger outer box would have made more sense, bad choice by the shipper this time.

I got a full Record 11 groupset from Shiny, and my Cinelli frame. All arrived fine. Best prices on the net too. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

[2_i]

I ordered a TA bottom bracket from them. After 12 days, the bracket has not been yet shipped, in spite of apparently being in stock. A week ago, they told me that the BB would be shipped on the very same day. If I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, I would have presumably passed this possibility.

UPDATE: After getting Michele involved, my bottom bracket arrived to the US within 3 days. Thus, Shiny Bikes has recovered nicely.