So this is progress ?

[sevenfourate]

Whats been sold to you - as a promise of making like easier ? What was touted as; Faster, cheaper, simpler.....but completely failed to deliver ?

Todays rant from me is reference the ebay Global shipping program. I've been here before - so whilst no surprise: it is still slightly mind numbing.


***On the 11th and 12th Feb i bought 4 items from ebay in the USA.

Item 1: (A bike saddle) that was sold by a shop - but wasn't on the Global shipping program. Seller sent within America on a slow service. But it traversed the USA and got to an International Service Centre, left that and flew to the UK, made it through UK Customs, got into the Royal mail system.....and then to me. Where i left it a day or two before fitting. Decided i didn't like it. Listed it on ebay UK. Sold, wrapped and posted it. Purchaser has recieved it and left me feedback. Total time: 12 days !

Items 2,3 and 4: Travelled from various parts of the USA to ebay's Global Shipping (Taxation ! ?) Centre in Carol Stream; Illinois [*The Google search results for this place are universally shocking !]. Where its undergone various process's. And all parcels have seemingly (?) now got into DHL's grubby paws. But failed to go any further per-se. At this point they have been in this Global Shipping centre in Illinois alone for 10+ days each. So looks like they'll be 3 weeks absolute minimum getting to me.....Hopefully.

Frustratingly painful. And whilst maybe somehow better for ebay, better for Trump, better for the Taxman etc......i can assure you its not, isn't and hasnt ever been "better" for the end consumer in my experience 🤬

 

[Punkawallah]

Notice was issued that my local Post Office counter in the corner shop was going to close. When questioned as to why, the only answer given was ‘in the interests of efficiency’. Customer Services seemed unable to recognise that trailing miles to the town center rather than a furlong to the shop was in no way ‘efficient’ for me.

 

[Drago]

Well, folk weren't using LBS's when it mattered, and now theyre gone theyre complaining...

 

[gbb]

Well, folk weren't using LBS's when it mattered, and now theyre gone theyre complaining...

Sadly theres almost an inevitability about it. While I did buy my Ribble online, I brought my two previous bikes and often accessories from my LBS which sadly, shut down a couple.months ago.
But its in a quiet part of Pererborough, no remotely visible from its nearest main road so that doesn't help. A major chain opened a boutique style shop 1/4 mile away from it, main road, better visibility to passing traffic.

Then the.killer blow (imho). People like ourselves who habitually used LBSs are getting thinner on the ground. There's a whole swathe of younger.people now who do everything online, its so natural to them it probably doesn't even occur to them theres a better way...
Progress eh ?

 

[Windle]

Notice was issued that my local Post Office counter in the corner shop was going to close. When questioned as to why, the only answer given was ‘in the interests of efficiency’. Customer Services seemed unable to recognise that trailing miles to the town center rather than a furlong to the shop was in no way ‘efficient’ for me.

That wasn't done to make life easier for you though, but to save the Post Office money.

Self serve in supermarkets is another one, it's quicker and more efficient ~ when it works properly.
Pretty much any system designed to save the company money and sold as being 'better for the customer', bullsh#t.
Do this online, it's so much easier, except when you need to speak to someone.

The worst one from my point of view is the fantastic world of 'information sharing', work related. In ye olden days we used to receive tender packages to price with drawings & specification, nice and simple, concise. Now it's a link to the project file sharing system, which is inevitably a pain in the arse, log onto this, download that ~ and we usually end up with every bit of information for the project, the whole bloody lot, not just our trade. Whilst it may be interesting to learn what colour toilet fittings are specified and peruse a list of the botanicals which are to be planted around the car park I don't need to know any of that, or have to wade through it all to find what I need .

 

[Punkawallah]

Well, folk weren't using LBS's when it mattered, and now theyre gone theyre complaining...

While quite possibly true, you can only lead a horse to water.
My town seem to be seeing a resurgence of bike shops - now up to four (five if you include Halfords). Two independant and two chain.

 

[Webbo2]

Alpkit have just gone bust. Apparently the move to physical shops has been their undoing.

 

[sevenfourate]

Alpkit have just gone bust. Apparently the move to physical shops has been their undoing.

Real shops ? How quaint.

Seriously: that’s surprising. They appeared popular, essentially made fashionable Gravel bikes and had a lot of presence out there. Just shows how little weight: what I saw at face value - really carried…

 

[Webbo2]

Real shops ? How quaint.

Seriously: that’s surprising. They appeared popular, essentially made fashionable Gravel bikes and had a lot of presence out there. Just shows how little weight: what I saw at face value - really carried…

The talk on UKClimbing is that shops were often empty and due to cost of running a physical shop meant that was reasonably priced often made in the UK became a similar price to stuff like Rab, North Face or Patagonia. Plus they started selling stuff made in China which when it’s bike stuff you can get cheaper on aliexpress.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Very expensive shop for outdoor gear in general. Was put off by OTT prices.

 

[november4]

The ease of getting a 1970s Doctor's appointment, mind you he would be sat there smoking a pipe, bless him.