Inpd

With Amazon prime I get stuff within 2 days for free (one off $80 annual fee which also gets you free video/books/audio etc).

But what sets them apart is their return policy and prices.

Prices are always 10-20% sometimes substantially more than other online retailers and 25% + less than bricks and mortar stores.

Their return policy is amazing. I bought some cheap shoe/pedal combinations for $75 and realized I could have a quality Shimano combination for $110 so I returned the original pair (within a week mind you) no questions asked instant refunded even before the shoes got back to Amazon!

The only criticism I have of them is that some Amazon resellers (not Amazon itself) game their prices to show up on people's searches. For example, you'll have the price of a shoe as $49 - $120. The retailer will have one rare shoe size (i.e. 34) at $49 and everything else is $120. Now the $120 is still a discount but it makes searching for products tough since the shoe will show up in any search under $100.

indyfabz

Rapha.

02Giant 

I use multiple etailers. Amazon is not always the best buy but if I need it quick it is usually the source.

bengreen79

I have found myself buying more cycling stuff off of Amazon lately. I try not to support the evil empire but I have a hard time finding what I'm looking for sometimes on other sites (Niagara Cycleworks or Performance) for a semi-reasonable price. Add in slow and/or expensive shipping and it's really hard to justify.

Our LBS here carries a very limited stock. They seem to mostly perform simple service and sell/rent cruiser type bikes. They don't keep a lot of road stuff around.

I just ordered from Chain Reaction Cycles - a UK company. Even with expensive expedited shipping ($14.99), it was still cheaper to purchase a cassette, chain, chain whip, and cassette tool from there than it was from Amazon. I really miss bonktown.com/chainlove.com...usually good deals on clothing and, once in a while, tires.

Larry77

I usually use Performance or Nashbar if I can't find what I want on Amazon. I like you, love the returns and shipping I get from Amazon. I took a quick look at Rapha because I've never heard of it but it doesn't look very cheap to me.

I would watch very closely for overseas companies and avoid them like the plague. I purchased some tires from Wiggle and when I figured out they were too wide for my frame it was more to return them ($120) then it was to buy them.

linsdog

I buy from multiple but Amazon is most of the time. Purchased from Wiggle and have not had any issues so far returns or otherwise.

Bunyanderman

For $4 more, shipping is 1 day. Can't beat that.

GuitarBob

Comp Cyclist / Backcountry now dumps all of their stuff here: Daily Deals - Discount Outdoor Clothing & Gear | Steep & Cheap

No bike stuff at the moment, but that is rare.

LesterOfPuppets

Seems like Amazon only occasionally has the absolute best price for an item.

I usually start by looking at retailers with shops local to me:

Universal Cycles
Western Bikeworks / Biketiresdirect
Planet X USA
Performance

Then Look at other favorite mail order places:

PricePoint
Jenson
CBO
Nashbar

etc.

Amazon only occasionally beats the best price from all of those, so I only order Amazon occasionally. I've never gone with one of the British mail order places even though they have good deals on some things.

Inpd

Thanks for documenting your strategy. But do these sites have the same quick shipping and no questions asked return policy of amazon.

I recall my bike ordered from Nashbar took over a week to come but my Amazon ordered bike came in 2 days with Prime.

krusty

Is the point of this thread to shill for Amazon?

LesterOfPuppets

Universal usually ships same day if ordered before noon-ish, IME. Typically next day delivery for me, since it's right across the river. I usually just ride over and pick stuff up. I returned one item to them and it was easy as pie, but that was also done in person. Nashbar is about a week for me, also, unless I pay extra.

I've never mail ordered a bike. Typically tubes, tires, bar tape, wheels, shifters, etc. A tube order is almost always placed at Pricepoint, although I see Planet X has crazy cheap 26er tubes, so I might get those there next time.

Seems like quick shipping would vary at Amazon. I know Niagara has a lot of things up on Amazon but they're usually slow to ship, never tried getting Niagara stuff through Amazon. But they have a great selection of bits that other places don't carry.

August West

I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon just because they have always been great to deal with, their return/exchange policy is outstanding and the 2 day (or 1 in some cases) is hard to beat. But, I do use other online vendors/ebay when Amazon doesn't have an item or more expensive. I also do some business with the local Performance Bike which is well run, really a good bunch of people working their, good selection, good sales, points back for members plus they sponsor several weekly rides which are quite popular.

rpenmanparker 

The odd item can be obtained from another source more advantageously, but if you had to have one source, the obvious choice would have to be Amazon.

rpenmanparker 

As a Prime member, when I return an item to Amazon, they credit my card as soon as the return shipment is checked into UPS. No waiting for days or weeks for them to receive and process the return and credit. Drop the shipment off at UPS, and the charge is credited back immediately.

rms13

Just remember that for every one purchase, Amazon emotionally abuses two of its employees to tears

Willbird

maybe that will help encourage them to find jobs they are happy with :-)

bt

well isn't that special

gregf83 

Survival of the fittest.

Drew Eckhardt 

US wholesale is less than UK on-line retail so for things you don't need for a week, places like Ribble Cycles, Shiny Bikes, and chain reaction can be much less expensive.

Universal Cycles has great prices on small parts with fast shipping.

For return policy you can't beat Performance - money back for any reason in the first year; store credit, exchange or repair after that; and you can return things they shipped you at a local store.

I bought a bunch of new custom program size sample and team left over jerseys off ebay for 60-80% off.

TCR Rider

I buy from mutiple vendors, Amazon included. One of my favs is Bike Tires Direct. You get credit for future purchases for every dollar spent and unlike Performance you don't have to pay to sign up. They also have instant price match. I was shopping for a Giro Synth helmet and thought I found the best price at BTD and placed the order not more than a day later they had it 50 bucks cheaper at Bike Bling. I called BTD they pulled up the Bike Bling page and refunded my credit card 50 bucks on the spot. Most purchases qualify for free shipping.

rms13

As others have said, UK retailers (shipping to U.S.) for most things that you would not need to return (groupsets, wheels, tires, saddles, bars, pedals, etc). As long as your hitting the free shipping threshold there is never going to be a better deal.


Nashbar when you can get free shipping/20%+ off. I get hit with sales tax from them but I just bought Ritchey WCS bars with 20% and even with tax price was better than anywhere else. Nashbar's return policy is also great. Maybe not as fast as Amazon but they have taken used/damaged stuff back from me no questions asked.

Performance also for return policy. They will take anything back no questions asked and even have 1 year on bikes (i've never bought a bike there)

Ebay for cheap expendables. I have a few sellers that I like that have great prices with free and fast shipping and good returns. For example, I like buildyourbike for tools, small parts etc. They have screwed up one order for me (out of dozens) and they immediately shipped the correct item and gave me a prepaid label to send the other back

scott967

I like Amazon, mainly for the shipping. In Hawaii, many places will rip you off for shipping, though it seems in the last couple of years more e-tailers have figured out USPS to Hawaii is about as fast as any one else for much less. What I really hate is sites where you have to work your way through checkout to find out what it really is going to cost to ship (they typically also have a big banner FREE SHIPPING* with the fine print except AK-HI-PR).

scott s.
.

indyfabz

I have bought from Amazon only once. Does that mean I am going to hell?

kbarch

Wiggle, Chain Reaction, Competitive Cyclist, Paragon (though personally I go there just to see what they may be carrying, and visit the store in person) direct from some manufacturers.... Any place is better than Amazon. Well, except Ali express. I avoid them like the plague; as websites and places to shop, they're ugly and cheap in the worst way.