A minor rant because I'm feeling cranky this morning: I bought some new mirrors from Cycle Mirrors the other day. I paid extra for them to be shipped faster. They charged me and emailed me the receipt.

A little later in the day, I got this email:"Thank you for your recent order ...Unfortunately, the part you have ordered is currently on backorder.

At this time the expect availability date is the end of August, 2024. Currently you are 2nd in line for this item when it becomes available again."

They did give me the chance to cancel and get a refund, but in my opinion, they should tell the customer it's not in stock BEFORE he buys it. I think it's seedy and greedy to accept your money when they know they don't have it in stock.

I let them know how I felt about it. Didn't seem to matter much.

 

Forgiveness vs permission….Salesman

 

Reminds me of a certain motorcycle jack company.

 

The Harley parts network is certainly not any better. They take your money (since you need to pay up front), the system doesn't show the parts location and then it's a crap-shoot as to when or even IF you'll receive it. Is the part in the network? Who knows?

Amazon, however, seems to have nailed that way of doing business. No matter what company you are using though, the item should appear as "in-stock" when searched or placed in an online shopping cart. If it has to be manufactured, then no. I am not even sure how that could be estimated. But I am thinking that should still be a category. Is it discontinued? It is "back-ordered"? Yes, in today's world, ordering should be that slick.

But again, if the part is somewhere in the network, and available, it should show as "in-stock". Does it come from California or Arizona, who knows? It could take 3 days or 20 days. Who knows? The situation should not be "let's take your money and hope for the best"

We expect better

 

So cancel the order, get your card refunded and move on. SMH what’s the big deal. Going to cry over a mirror not in stock now?

 

I have never purchased from "Cycle Mirrors" but I did just visit the site and placed something in my cart and notice no place does it say in stock or out if stock. I have seen a few websites like this over the years on other items, not bike parts but I tend to avoid any online store that does not show up front stock level.
May I suggest a large retailer such as J&P or even Amazon as when you find a item it will say "In Stock" before you get to the payment screen.

 

Many online sales are drop shipped from the distributor or manufacturer. Many place do not stock items like in the past. Businesses not longer want to pay for the storage of $100,000 in parts in their retail space. The business doesn't know if something is available to ship now until they place the order for the part.

 

This right here.

 

Sorry this happen to you. I have seem this happen many times in the past with some aftermarket companies. This is why I only use companies like Dennis Kirk, JP Cycles, etc.

 

First world problems...