Planet X delivery issues

I'm grateful for this thread reminding me about an order that hasn't been delivered

I've checked my account which states the item has been despatched, but the tracking number field has been left blank.

Used PX on the odd occassion, usually when they have stock of something or at a better price than Wiggle, and often end up ordering some 'bits and bobs' that they have for a quid or two (cheap blinkys, or legwarmers or something).  Recently ordered a new light after my Fly 6 looked to be dead (thats another whinge altogether!) and a SS conversion kit for the CX bike because, well, why not eh?  

I was disappointed that it took them an entire week just to pick the order, but to be fair, they say on their site the order may not be processed for 3 to 5 days on busy periods, and it was dispatched right after picking, so I can't really complain about that.  Annoying that I fixed my Fly6 before the light arrived though!

This news about them as an employer is disturbing.  They might have to go on the banned list.

As for Yodel, well, the thing is they are all run by franchisees, so you might have someone good in your area, or you might have someone terrible!  I'm lucky where I live as the delivery person for our area lives a few streets away, and lets me pop round to her house to collect stuff!

EDIT: Not used Prendas Ciclismo before, I think I'll add them to the list of places to check out when I'm buying.  I really want to get a pair of these now, just to see what a leather chamois is like!

https://www.prendas.co.uk/collections/bib-shorts/products/agu-retro-wais...

Yeah I bought some stuff a few weeks back. No email letting me know the order had gone through successfully.
I have an account, but couldn't log on.
Now I appear to have about 4 accounts with separate orders in each account.
I couldn't even check whether my address was correct...
I eventually got access to "my account" thanks to customer service...after several prompting emails.
I still wasn't able to check on my order...as it was going through as an external sale and not associated with my account...
When I did eventually receive the apologetic email...sorry busy...blah blah... it merely told me my order was successful....still not registered on my account...
I did eventually receive the package...missing one item...despite it being on the invoice.
I sent them an email last Monday....I'm still waiting on an actual reply...got the auto emailed reply..mmmh
It is a low cost item that's missing...but so what.
It's a shambles....not holding out for a reply...well not this year anyway...
Bah Humbug

As to Planet X ....I have bought a couple of things from them & the service, though at the more dismal end of 'not outstanding',  wasn't painfully crap - But! I would put the fact of my having made a purchase from them in the box labled 'Dirty little secrets' .  They are Tête de la Course in le Etape du inférieur.

(My most sincere apologies to anyone of a French sensibity who might encounter that linquistic chute)

And a + 1 from me for the Prendas Ciclismo recomendation.

Planet X have some advantages.

They are cheap, for some things, some of the time.

That's about it really. I only buy small, low value items from them, and then just adopt a wait and see approach.

Wiggle and Chain Reaction have been getting slower for me, but are still acceptable.

By far the best cycling retailer I have used is Prendas Ciclismo. I've ordered at 3PM and received the stuff the next day by Royal Mail. They are also great guys and give a lot back to the sport, a rarity in these days of large inflexible internet businesses.

I live about 5 miles from Planet-X but have given up on them totally.I've ordered stuff online for instore collection and it's not been there when I've called to pick it up(despite receiving a text to say it has).The Barnsley shop(now closed) was always very poorly stocked.

I know people who work/have worked for the company and they're really as bad as Sports Direct so I no longer use them.

Ordered a few weeks ago and stuff turned up within three days or so. 

Mail order always gets busy and chaotic near Xmas for every supplier. 

Don't forget Yodel are proud sponsors of the Tour of Britain

(thing is, the first time I saw the bike logo on the side of their vans I thought it was a "Cyclists stay back!!!!!" notice

Yodel is part of their problem. 

HOwever, there are errors they make themselves that they need to correct. 

Earlier this week I bought a wheel truing stand but to my surprised they send me a Panier rack. 

Intially they didn't want to pick up the item but they changed their mind later on because I insinuated that I never recieved anything because they were pissing me off. 

They picked it up yesterday and hopefully they will ship me what I bought in the first place. 

So far not very good experience with them. 

With Yodel well they are just a nightmare in genearal. Took two holidays just to recieve my new Giant bike.  They managed to shipped a whole new bike to the wrong depot!!!! A massive box and they managed to get it wrong and then long story after that.  IN short I will probably do what Rapha Nadal do in the future and avoide anyone who uses Yodel. 

Probably I should also avoide Planet X all thogether as well. 

Wiggle, Chainreaction just great (they are the same company I know).  But actually most online bike shops are great.  I buy from a lot of them. 

Love my PickenFlick from Planet-X - took a couple of weeks (which was predicted)... not a "fast-food" already in stock ordering experience since the bikes are built to demand but I felt the process was well explained and went to plan.

Ive give up with Planet X. Not worth the head ache and the gamble if it is a big of shite..or ok.

Can't fault Wiggle or Endura or Galibier where customer service still makes you feel secure.

Yeah, if I know that a company uses Yodel then I'll shop elsewhere.

If it said on the website that delivery woud be with Yodel you should have shopped elsewhere. Shocking service in my experience. Don't give your money to any company that uses these cowboys, especially if it's fragile, or you don't want it left 16 doors down/ on the neighbours roof/ outside your front door.

Good luck and you have my sympathies, not that that is worth anything.  I had forgotten about the way PlanetX had decided to treat it's workers.  Customer service was always going to suffer.  This is the run up to Crimbo with the now privatised Royal Mail getting hit by strikes next week.  Internet commerce is over.  Long live the non virtual shop.

DPD take a photo of your front door if you are out when they call.  You get an email.  There was one instance when the bloke just took the picture of the flat from where he had stopped the van.  I could predict the spot where he had must of leant out of the window.  The other half was in all day.  I did get to ride to the weird industrial estates in the odder parts of Reading thet I would never have gone to otherwise.  I'm glad I didn't complain, those blokes are treated something terrible.  Those classic white van men do often drive in their sterotypical manner, but their shifts are too long and they are never given enough time to complete their routes at a sensible speed if they want to have a job tomorrow.

There is something wrong with this business model.  Cut throat competition has only lead to a race to the bottom.  I know that posties on bikes might not be able to handle the volume of parcels these days, but instead of a couple of small Royal Mail vans, we get a plethora of large white vans clogging up our streets, with less local knowledge leading to the concomitant decline in driving standards.   Not that I have never had run ins with postie drivers, familiarity breeding and all that.

good luck with the Yodel. I was waiting in for some batteries, my and my son were in the flat, right by the door, and they slipped in and out like the breath of ghosts, only leaving a "sorry you were not in" card as evidence ....

https://twitter.com/YODELhell/status/675370255364042752

http://viz.co.uk/waiting-in-for-a-fucking-parcel/

I ordered some bits a few weeks back and got an email from them saying my item had just been dispatched a day after they had actually delivered the items!

(It was still slower than I would have hoped though)

At busy times of year, PX can be like this.  Busy times of the year are Christmas (obvs) and any time they have a big sale (which seems to be most of the rest of the year).

You will eventually get your wheels, but you have to be a bit patient.  I guess that is the price you pay to offset PXs typically low prices.

If you're expecting things to work like this, it's actually not too bad.  If you need whatever you are buying urgently or on a precise day, best to buy somewhere else.