[SuperJETT]

I normally order from Jenson or get stuff locally but decided to do an order from Chain Reaction since it was around $40 cheaper for everything I needed. It took 1.5 weeks for the box to get her, there was no packing material inside so quite a few things were tossed around a lot, and my wife's Cane Creek headset is missing the crown race and compression ring. The headset was not in a box, it was pieces wrapped in plastic/clear tape with a generic label so probably had been returned before?

I'll probably just order those pieces from Cane Creek directly and chalk it up to a mistake of ordering from overseas.

To be fair, early this year I bought a Jagwire kit from Jenson that had been opened and missing parts as well and they never even responded to my e-mail about it.

 

[JonathanGennick]

CRC has a reputation for shipping things in plastic bags. I've only placed a couple of orders with them, but I don't think anything that I ordered came in the manufacturer packaging.

I did get all the parts though. Ordering the headset and not getting the crown race would be a bummer.

 

[erosive]

I buy parts, not packaging, so that seems like a small worry.
As long as they aren't counterfit and haven't been mounted, they're new to me.
I had assumed the limited packaging on most items was so they could afford their awesome free shipping.
I order equally between the two stores, and let the little things slide when the price is right.

The missing bits do suck though....so why not ask CRC for these headset parts?

 

[MrEconomics]

I buy parts, not packaging, so that seems like a small worry.
As long as they aren't counterfit and haven't been mounted, they're new to me.
I had assumed the limited packaging on most items was so they could afford their awesome free shipping.
I order equally between the two stores, and let the little things slide when the price is right.

The missing bits do suck though....so why not ask CRC for these headset parts?

Packaging does provide protection.

Hopefully it doesn't take CRC another two weeks to send you the parts. Ask them to fedex and if they refuse, ask for a refund on your shipping charges or store credit. If they do nothing, just tell them you'll start a facebook page and proceed trash their reputation. :thumbsup:

 

[perttime]

The missing bits do suck though....so why not ask CRC for these headset parts?

You should.

I've ordered from them about half a dozen times. Always got everything and the parts arrived undamaged. The packaging does not look great... but it seems adequate and they manage to put all the small stuff in the same box with the bigger items, like brake sets in the wheel box and seat clamp and chainring in the fork box etc...

 

[Yogii]

My understanding(though I have never order from Chain Reaction) is that they sell alot of OEM parts that are taken off of other bikes. thus no packaging...just think of how "green" it is to not have plastic peanuts or popcorn or old newspapers to throw away...

 

[norcom]

Bought from them on more than a few occasions; no complaints. They sell a lot of OEM stuff which has never seen an install. They always list if the parts have been taken off a bike or if they're a return; I've bought those from them as well.

No online retailer is perfect, everyone can mess up an order. If you want to make sure everything's perfect go to your local shop and pay more.

edit:
Forgot to mention. I've bought a CC 110 from a -=VERY=- reputable online retailer and it didn't come with the stem spacers. The description/picture listed them as included. I called them up and they shipped them out to me for free. The headset came in a box wrapped up in plastic tape. It's easy to tell if it was "used" as a headset that you press in will always have some scuffs if it's removed.

 

[SuperJETT]

I had already sent off an e-mail but this is a hard one to fix quickly and easily---they aren't going to have crown races/compression rings in stock for this particular headset. Another option would be to send me a whole new headset then I have to send this one back which they have to send back or whatever.

Probably the best option is I buy the race/ring from Cane Creek directly and CRC reimburses me that amount.

The pieces I do have are definitely new/never installed so the only thing I can figure is someone used the parts for a new fork then returned the rest of the parts maybe?

Regardless, it will take a few weeks to resolve and I don't see a true win-win so I'll probably just buy the parts and move on.

 

[criticalmass]

I ordered stuff on a Sunday, Shipped monday and delivered on Friday. All the same week. Great experience and price for me.

 

[ettore]

Probably the best option is I buy the race/ring from Cane Creek directly and CRC reimburses me that amount.

That seems unlikely as the price you will pay for that simple part is probably double what CRC pays for the entire headset.

I agree it sucks, and I would be pissed too, but tearing them apart for a piece missing from a headset that VERY VERY likely came in the baggie you speak of from Cane Creek (or, their distributor, whatever) seems a bit harsh. Maybe you should give them a chance to come up with a solution. I have a feeling you didn't tear apart JensonUSA for this same error (despite the same thing happening). Simply because you are linked by land to Jenson's store is why they are faster ... CRC is, at minimum, land->air->land ... you couldn't expect to get your item THAT fast .. if you order on a Friday, you are basically ensuring it's going to take a while.

 

[TORO1968]

Forgot to mention. I've bought a CC 110 from a -=VERY=- reputable online retailer and it didn't come with the stem spacers. The description/picture listed them as included. I called them up and they shipped them out to me for free. The headset came in a box wrapped up in plastic tape. It's easy to tell if it was "used" as a headset that you press in will always have some scuffs if it's removed.

I recently ran into the same issue with a CC 100 headset I ordered. I spoke with Cane Creek about it, and they told me that they are no longer including the larger two of the three spacers they used to ship with the headsets. They did, however, provide me with the missing spacers because the included documentation listed them.

 

[perttime]

Stem spacers?
I have bought three 1 1/8" headsets in the last 5 or 6 years, from LBS: Cane Creek, Pro (the Shimano brand) and Acros. None of them came with spacers.

 

[TORO1968]

This is my third CC 100 headset, and the first two each came with a set of three interlok spacers.

 

[Jim311]

I have used two or three Cane Creek S3s and they all came with spacers as well.

 

[hardtailkid]

Well Sh!t. Guess who just placed a $130 order on Saturday....

 

[Lickety Split]

Only one order placed last month.
Saved a sh1tpot of money and will greedily buy from them for any Shimano parts I need.
Packaging I could care less about as long as it gets here in one piece.
It's free shipping.WTF ya want?Help them put the parts on for ya..............
As far as trashing CRC??
Good luck.
Look at this thread.
LS

 

[SuperJETT]

It's free shipping.WTF ya want?Help them put the parts on for ya..............

LS

How about all the pieces in the part I bought so that it can be installed? Is that too much to ask?

In other news, no reply back from CRC as of yet. It was a Monday, probably busy.

 

[Lickety Split]

No it's not too much too ask.
Is it too much to ask for a little patience for a business located overseas to take care of a a mistake?
How much time have you given CRC to take care of the situation???
The Guppy guys brainstorm of skewering them on the internet may have it's moments but it does get old when the situation is still being worked out.
But then he's from a state that thinks ketchup is a vegetable.
Do post up the continuing saga as it unfolds.
LS

 

[womble]

How about all the pieces in the part I bought so that it can be installed? Is that too much to ask?

In other news, no reply back from CRC as of yet. It was a Monday, probably busy.

If you want a good shot at this being sorted out properly, you should try calling CRC instead of emailing- there are many reports about them being crap at responding to emails.

 

[BoiseBoy]

I placed yet another order from CRC last week and received all of my order in only a few days with free shipping and all items accounted for and in good condition.

I have never had a problem with CRC after many orders. I will continue to order from them as they are by far the cheapest for Shimano parts.