[billybek]

I do try to buy most of my bike stuff from the FLBS (friendly local bike shop(s)) but sometimes these Chain Reaction Cycles guys had things I wanted or needed at a fraction of the price of the local shops. I had, in the past, ordered semi regularly from them.
Until just the other day.

I have a burr under my saddle after trying to purchase a few things from Chain Reaction.

Never had any problems with the purchases I have made from them in the past but today there was an additional $25 shipping fee attached at the online checkout.
Now here is the thing, on the website it is advertised "Free Shipping" on orders over $75 CAD.
My order came in at $132 CAD. Why isn't the shipping free?

So, I sent an online query to CRC to find out what the deal is with the additional costs.

Here is the response.
"Hi Bill,
Thanks for your email.

I am sorry that our new shipping fees have caused some confusion.

Due to an increase in worldwide shipping costs, we have been forced to review our tariffs for the delivery of goods. As always, passing savings onto our customers is important to us and this is something we have kept in mind when conducting this review.

Postage costs are now worked out using both the value of the order along with the volumetric weight of the parcel. The best way to work out shipping fees is to put everything you wish to purchase into your basket and go to the checkout stage. At the checkout stage we will show all the options available to you and the costs related to these.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We would really appreciate your feedback by clicking on one of the options below. Overall, how easy was it to get the help you wanted today?"

Now, wouldn't you expect that pointing out that they advertised Free Shipping that the answer above wouldn't quite cut it?
It is like them saying "Sure, mate. We offer free shipping but it is going to cost you $25 to get it." Jeez....

Not being a guy to leave well enough alone, I had sent a polite response back to the person who responded to my query expressing my dissatisfaction with the reply.
Then I returned to the site on another browser and selected a single item worth $150 CAD and went to the checkout and the Free Shipping option via standard mail was plain to see.
Free shipping was not an option on the items I wanted to purchase.
WTH??

On further investigation, it seems as soon as you place more than one item in your shopping cart, the low cost shipping (standard mail) option disappears. It is replaced with two options. The least expensive is $25 CAD and is tagged "Bulky Tracked Delivery". What a load of crap. Was trying to buy two sets of knee sleeves and a pair of shorts...

Oh well. I guess I don't really need to continue being one of their customers but I did buy a number of things from them over the last few years that I would consider to be of good value.

Just wanted to give you guys a bit of a heads up particularly after they stopped responding to my emails.

I guess they are just as done with me for asking reasonable questions as I am with them for falsely advertising free shipping.