Competitive, shipping reasonable, and selection much better than most dealers
Written: Jun 10 '07 (Updated Jun 10 '07)
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Why Pay List Price?
RideGear.Com provides an easy to use web site for competitively priced motorcycle gear.
Slip Past The Hype
Your first impression of this site is that it is covered with hyped up ads for exactly the gear you are not looking for (I often wonder who is expected to buy the large selections of garish helmets found on motorcycle web sites, but I guess that is just my taste showing through). But a couple of seconds later you can spot the very simple set of links on the left side. Simple? Yes. There is a plain box with links for the types of products available. Choices for: Street bikes, Harley-Davidson, ATV, Dirt Bikes, Snowmobiles, Casual, and “Blow out” products are in simple bold letters, without any confusion over subcategories. While “featured” items continue to be pushed on each subcategory page, that now familiar box of links continues to ease the pain of internet shopping. Here there are drop down (OK, actually drop over) menus for further subcategories to shop from. Following these paths is simple and painless.
At each level available products are displayed by manufacturer, with a thumbnail photo and price. Clicking on the thumbnail brings up a fairly good, detailed description and larger photo of the product. A drop down menu appears options like size and color, then clicking on an “Add To Cart” files your prospective purchase. A caution, you cannot remove items from your cart until you actually check out. While not a real bad thing, it can get on your nerves while shopping. Accounts are pretty simple to set up, as long as you are paying with a major credit card. Paying by check is fairly simple, but you do have to mail it there before they will ship. Shipping charges are tied to the total sale price, rather than weight, so you will either win or lose that lottery.
After You Hit Enter
Most shipments are sent by either Federal Express or UPS, so expect to find lower cost items left on your doorstep. Tracking numbers are sent to you in an email within a couple of days of shipment. The definition of lower cost has always been a mystery to me as I have found packages of containing high dollar leather jackets on the stoop, and I also have had to sign for less costly electronic gear. My guess is that it has more to do with how easily an item can fit in the pocket of the shipper (and be resold quickly).
Customer Support
There is a toll free telephone number for ordering prominently displayed on the top of each page. I have used it in the past to get information about a product before I actually ordered it. The number connects you to one of those automated switchboards, but if you call during normal business hours it is possible to connect with a real person. You have to remember that one of the reasons internet sale prices can be lower is because those businesses do not have to maintain hundreds of storefront locations. They only have to have a single processing center and possibly a warehouse. Advice and assistance has always been fine – not outstanding or bad, but adequate.
Returns
One of the pitfalls of internet purchases is the dreaded return. So far I have only had to do that once with RideGear. I had purchased a tank bag around the high volume Holiday times. After mounting it on my motorcycle I found it was not what I had hoped for. Calling that toll free number, I found a real person to discuss the issues with. Together, we went through a number of options for an exchange. Settling on a better fitting tank bag, and exchange was set up. The easiest way was for RideGear to make a second sale, issue a return authorization, and credit my charge card with the full price of the original purchase. I was given a return authorization number, which I included in the package containing my first bag. Yes, I did get a little concerned with it took almost two weeks for RideGear to acknowledge receipt of the return, and yet another week before issuing the credit, but in the end all worked out.
The issue of returns should be a notice that internet shopping is just a faster way of playing the old mail order game. It is always best to find a “brick and mortar” business that will let you examine exactly the product you are looking for. Sizes for apparel and helmets can be worlds apart by manufacturer, so be sure you know what you want before hitting enter.
Later
I have found RideGear.Com to be a viable alternative to tracking down motorcycle gear at the local dealers. Prices are competitive, shipping reasonable, and selection much better than most dealers could afford to stock.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Cortech Super Mini Tank Bag
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