rpenmanparker 

NO, it means you are already there. Your only hope for salvation is to spend a lot more money with Amazon.

indyfabz

That wouldn't be hard to do. My one purchase (a fuel bottle for a new camp stove for touring) was less than $20. I would have bought one locally but I couldn't find one.

I guess I am one of those people who finds it more convenient (and pleasurable) to shop from brick & mortar stores. The other day I needed new cleats. I went to a LBS during my lunch break and bought some along with some Hammer products. I got in a nice walk and got instant delivery. Much more pleasurable than sitting in front of a computer screen and scouring the Interwebs for the best deal possible. When pro race time rolls around next June that LBS will invite me to their tent for food and beer. Don't think Jeff Bezos will ever invite me to a party.

rpenmanparker 

What if they hadn't had what you wanted? Or the next place? Or the next place? Whoops, weren't you supposed to be back at lunch about two hours ago?

At Amazon you place the order when you find the goods. Sure brick and mortar has its pluses. It's just that more and more I find that it isn't worth the aggravation. I order the stuff when I have had my fill of BF and need a break. Shows up at my door day after next. No driving in traffic. No getting out in the stupid heat. No running around from store to store. It just works.

kbarch

As if finding "the best deal" and what you really want on the interwebs doesn't take time or is never frustrating....
Call me a snob, but I find shopping on Amazon to be a degrading experience.

DaveWC

I guess I am one of those people who finds it more convenient (and pleasurable) to shop from brick & mortar stores.
You didn't when you needed the fuel bottle for the camp stove... how many places did you go to in order to determine there was none?

The other day I needed new cleats. I went to a LBS during my lunch break and bought some along with some Hammer products. I got in a nice walk and got instant delivery.

I'm betting the norm is that you have to drive. In the case of the camping fuel, multiple locations. I'm able to take walks during my lunch without concern about shopping as it's been done already online. Don't think that walking & shopping must be done as a single task... people do go for walks on their own.

Much more pleasurable than sitting in front of a computer screen and scouring the Interwebs for the best deal possible.

Indeed, much easier to shop without considering price. If you're willing to buy at whatever price you find first, shopping on the internet is even easier. But here's a challenge... pick a bike product, don't scour the internet for prices, just choose the product from Amazon, and compare that price with the nearest location that you can walk to in your town. I'll bet it's cheaper on the net, and in stock, sans scouring.

RollCNY

You folks must shop at a different Amazon than I have:

1. Prime isn't free. You are paying annually for faster gratification.

2. Any bike part that I have seen on Amazon I have been able to find cheaper somewhere else. I can't recall Amazon ever being the best choice for a part that I have been seeking. When I first started putting my own bikes together, I used them for a few pieces, and was not impressed by the process.

3. The descriptions attached to many products are horrible, and if you are shopping for something specific, you often have one heck of time figuring out if it is actually what you are seeking. I have seen pictures be from something different than is described. I would rather know that what I am ordering is what I want rather than count on easy returns when it isn't.

4. If I want hassle free returns, Competitive Cyclist is the best I have used.

indyfabz

There are two shops within a five minute walk of my office. There is a third I can ride to in 15 min., which is no biggie since I usually ride to work. There is a fourth shop on my route home and a fifth that's a five minute walk from my house. A sixth I can walk to from my office in 15 min. or less. There is also a running shop close to my office that always has a large stock of the energy gels I prefer. The shop that built my new road bike is a pleasant 40 min. ride. I need some new tubeless tires. I will probably ride up there Wednesday and have them install a new set while I wait. (Good opportunity to pick up that spare RD hanger the owner promised me.) On route to that shop there is yet a another well-stocked shop. Five minutes away from that one there is still another. In times of desperation, there is a Performance about a 20 min. ride from my office. Good excuse to stop by my favorite butcher for some wild boar or rabbit sausage or maybe some fresh pasta around the corner from his place. Any "specialty item" I need (e.g., the touring-specific tires I prefer) I know I will need ahead of time and can have ordered for me. This (and checking stock if I am sincerely concerned about the availability of something) can be accomplished with a quick telephone call.

I don't own a car although the GF and I share one. We almost never drive during the week because we don't have parking. If I absolutely need to drive I have a very flexible work schedule and can take time out of the day to run an errand. It just works for me.

DaveWC

Of course Amazon isn't always the cheapest. But if you're comparing walking into the nearest b&m LBS, it's usually a bargain...

I just did a search of the last 3 items I purchased, or considered purchasing:
Speedplay Stainless pedals - Amazon $172.59, Competitive Cyclist $199
Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II Road Clincher - Amazon $43.99, Competitive Cyclist $55.96
Selle Italia SLR Superflow Saddle - Amazon $232.38, Competitive Cyclist $329.99

btw, I love shopping at C.C. Very good return policy. And if you happen to choose something that's on sale, a very good price.

indyfabz

Uh....Not to many camping supply options in the 5th largest city in the U.S., much less ones that carries Optimus products. But I do source my fuel locally. About 10 min. from the office there is an Army-Navy store that stocks fuel.

And see my comment above. I don't own a car almost never drive. And to expand upon shopping during lunch, it's after I have relaxed, eaten my lunch and done the NYT crossword. And as noted I can shop after work via foot or bicycle. I have even ridden to the closest REI, which is maybe 25 miles from my house. Just remembered there is an EMS maybe a 12 min. ride from my office.

There are things other than price that matter to me. Sorry, but ordering things on the Internet is in now way easier than walking into a store on my way home and saying "Hey, Sam. I need a pair of blue SPD-SL cleats," picking the package off the hook on the wall, opening up my wallet and paying for them. Unless I hang to chat, I am in and out of the store in 5 min. with product in hand. And if I wanted to compare prices I would have to go to the store anyway.

yiffzer

What's wrong with Ali Express? You just need to know which seller to buy from.

rpenmanparker 

As in all transitional situations, where best to shop will evolve over time. And there won't be only one right solution for all situations. But one thing for sure is that Amazon and its kind will be an important part of the mix. Maybe not for everyone, but for many.

The one thing that is certain for me is that online shopping has for a very long time enabled me to cycle with a much higher level of equipment than brick and mortar shopping would have. I simply get a lot more for my buck.

tarwheel 

I rarely shop at Amazon any more. Here's why. First, they raised the cost for Prime memberships to $100 or more a year, which is way more than it used to be and makes their products much less cost-effective.

Second, a simple search on Google shopping will almost always find less expensive sources, often with free shipping and better selection.

I shop the most at biketiresdirect.com, which doesn't always have the lowest prices but has other advantages. They offer free shipping for purchases more than $100, so I order enough products to clear that hurdle. Their "membership" is free and gives you a 10% rebate on all purchases. If you shop there often enough -- which isn't that much -- you qualify as a "gold" member and get additional discounts. Finally, they often put really nice products on sale for great prices. It's not unusual to be able to buy high quality tires from them for $25-35 each, if you are patient.

RollCNY

@DaveWC, I didn't say CC was the cheapest. I said if I want hassle free returns, I use them. I bought a complete bike from them, rode it for 35 days, and returned it. If I am unsure of shoe size, I order from their selection of things on sale, knowing I can return them easily. If I am shopping solely on price, on an item that I will not return, they are not my first choice source. In five years of cycling, I think I have had to return 3 items purchased on line.

Willbird

I just shopped PD520 shimano SPD pedals, Amazon and Performance basically same price at 33, but that is due to sale at Performance, and I will get another 10% in points but I need to spend 49 to get free shipping.

I use Prime Video probably on average 365 hours a year, hour a day maybe, so it is probably cheaper than Netflix and better for my wants, I do not watch broadcast TV. Will shop bike tires direct tho, and REI before ordering

SpikedLemon

Amazon, for me, is the easy choice.

The $25 free shipping threshold (no prime) is quite a boon that almost none can compare against. I'll wait 'til I have a few small things and make an order on Amazon.

All my LBS are quite a distance from my house and awkward to get to and would typically be driven to (and none are paired closely that I could easily hit two or three of them). I will, when I know I'll be in the area of one, plan some of my future purchases to be considered there as I want them to stick around.

Athens80

With the time and money you save buying tires, chains etc. online you can afford your own food and drink.

rmfnla

Believe it or not, I've had good luck with eBay.

Tons of stuff available and they have a buyer protection policy that covers everything.

I also use it to sell stuff I no longer use, which really helps defray costs and helps keep my place less cluttered...

kbarch

Yeah, but who wants to drink alone?

rpenmanparker 

Me too, but the instant charge account credit and expedited free shipping give Amazon the edge.

Inpd

Amazon usually gives the cheapest price but it is a weird beast. It does this funky dynamic pricing based on demand (which can be items bought or even page views) and also there is sold by Amazon and fulfilled by Amazon.

Consider this bike which is *sold* by Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Bi...+podium+junior

I bought one for $281 about 8 months ago. But directly after Christmas it spiked to to nearly full price $500 and now has dropped down to $385 and sometimes dips down to $250 and upto $400. Unfortunately there is no way to put price watches on Amazon products as far as I know.

Now consider these shoes I just bought which is *fulfilled* by Amazon (another company is the seller).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o01_s01

The price varies by shoe size.

but at CC its all the same price regardless of size.

Shimano SH-R065 Cycling Shoes - Men's | Competitive Cyclist

LesterOfPuppets

CamelCamelCamel is a cruicial tool for serious Amazoners.

Amazon price tracker, Amazon price history charts, price watches, and price drop alerts. | camelcamelcamel.com

LesterOfPuppets

A little cheaper at BikeTiresDirect $55.99. free shipping if you add to order to make $100. 10% of subtotal goes towards future purchase.

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...r065-road-shoe

Marcus_Ti

Most cycling stuff on Amazon is not Prime.

The little stuff that is cyling that is Prime ceases being listed as Prime once someone orders it. I've seen that happen tons with tires and tools. Retailers are happy to advert Prime and good prices, until one person orders it, then they revoke Prime.

Sy Reene

What about these.. are these OK?
https://www.amazon.com/s?marketplaceI...&redirect=true
https://www.amazon.com/s?marketplaceI...&redirect=true

LesterOfPuppets

I'm Prime, went to CC @ Amazon, got charged $8.95 shipping for some A530 pedals. Added the suggested pedalwrench, which took order over $50, still had to pay shipping. Shipping would be free over $50 ordering from CC's site.