Originally Posted by
jargo432
Here's something unbelievable. I ordered some bike parts from chain reaction cycles in Belfast Northern Ireland. The order was Dispatched on Monday morning and I got a text saying it would be delivered on Wednesday. Even crazier is I got the parts at a 47% discount from what they cost here in America and the shipping was FREE. If I really do get it on Wednesday and the order is correct, I'll probably never buy from anyone else. WOW.
I have ordered many times from ChainReaction and from Merlin in the UK. I live in SoCal. They both deliver as fast as they say. OTOH it can take two weeks to get something from Niagara Cycle in NY, not that Niagara is not a good store, it is a great store.
I figure stuff from the UK flies directly to the West Coast and does not have to travel by ground across the US.
I got a front and rear set of Shimano Zee four piston hydraulic MTB disc brakes for half of what they cost in the US. Shipping was free, no sales tax, and they arrived in less than 5 business days.
Bike stuff is cheaper in the UK. It could be a currency exchange thing or that the pricing structure takes into account disposible income, the US having more than the UK.
I have never had to return bike components that I have purchased online. I do my research and know exactly what I want and if it's going to work. Clothing might be a different issue though.