Has anyone ever dealt with Helmet City?

[Papa_Complex]

I'm asking because I ordered a couple of pairs of Simpson crew shoes from them, that I can't find up here. That was on Nov. 5th, IIRC, with the email notification of the order arriving on the 7th. After a week I emailed them, to see why there had been no movement on the order (they claim a free 2 day delivery, through FedEx) at which time I was told they weren't in stock, but would be shipped at the end of the month.

So when the order was still shown as unfulfilled, on Dec. 2nd, I emailed them again. Now they're saying my order will ship Wednesday, to arrive on Dec. 21st.

It's a small order but I'm starting to get antsy about dealing with a company that (a) doesn't say that the item isn't in stock, (b) says 2 day shipping, without stating any difference when shipping to Canada, though there apparently is one, and (c) seems to be putting me off continually. Just wondering if this is par for the course or unusual, for this dealer?

[azoomm]

Nope, haven't ever dealt with them. Sounds suspect though.

On another note, Simpson is located just South of my track. Need me to stop by and ship you something?

[Papa_Complex]

Nope, haven't ever dealt with them. Sounds suspect though.

On another note, Simpson is located just South of my track. Need me to stop by and ship you something?

Thanks for the offer. I need to see where this goes, first, but I may take you up on that :)

Reseller Ratings has them at 9.64, which is almost unheard of.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Helmet_City

When I used to visit friends in Charlotte, I came to really like the cheaper Simpson crew shoes. The soles ultimately crack on me, but they're damned comfortable while they last. They also pack down to nothing, for motorcycle trips.

http://simpsonraceproducts.com/products/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=721&sort=

[askmrjesus]

I worked with them when they were doing distribution, (not sure if they still are).

Like a lot of small companies, they had problems maintaining stock levels, (lack of capital). Also keep in mind, that a lot of suppliers/distributors, will promise delivery of a certain item to a dealer, and then fail to meet their own deadlines, which makes the dealer look bad, even though it's not his fault.

Parts Unlimited used to do that shit all time. Customer wants a tire, Part's says no can do till June. June comes, Part's says, "Um, maybe August". Grrrrrrrrrr.....

I doubt Helmet City is trying to rip you off, but they should have been up front about the stock status.

JC

[askmrjesus]

Nope, haven't ever dealt with them. Sounds suspect though.

On another note, Simpson is located just South of my track. Need me to stop by and ship you something?

I could be wrong, but Simpson is likely tied to a distributor(s) and won't be able to sell retail as a result of their contract.

EDIT: OK, I'm wrong. :lol: Simpson sells direct as well. PC, I would call Simpson, and ask why Helmet City is delaying your order.

JC

[Papa_Complex]

I was going to buy directly from the Simpson website, for the same price (but paid shipping), but they only ship via UPS. My experiences with UPS have been very bad, due to distributors not having a clue which service to use when shipping to Canada, and I have to drive to the other side of the city for pick-up. Anyone who has driven in Toronto, knows why I don't want to do that. You can frequently get from Huntsville, AL to Birmingham, AL faster than you can get from Brampton to Scarborough.

What pisses me off is the lack of information.

[azoomm]

I could be wrong, but Simpson is likely tied to a distributor(s) and won't be able to sell retail as a result of their contract.

EDIT: OK, I'm wrong. :lol: Simpson sells direct as well. PC, I would call Simpson, and ask why Helmet City is delaying your order.

JC

I've walked in to their facility and bought stuff. So, I know they do it. Nice ninja edit. Actually, their facility here will make stuff to order without extra charge - so, if they don't have it in stock they break out the elves and make it for you. Neeto, huh?

[askmrjesus]

Nice ninja edit.

:nee:

JC

[JARVIS518]

i have used them in the past for shields, they sent me the wrong one and i called them saying so. they overnighted me the right one with no questions asked and didnt ask for the other one back

[Papa_Complex]

A quick update:

On Monday, December 5 they emailed me, in response to my message, stating that my order would ship "Wednesday" and that I would have it by December 21. The order is still listed as "pending" on their website so I emailed them yesterday to ask which "Wednesday" they had meant, as two of them had already gone by.

I'm pissed. Good thing that I usually make a relatively small order before ever making a large one because, at this point, I'd never deal with them again.

[azoomm]

I will be down by Simpson early next week, just let me know...

Sucks tho,

[Papa_Complex]

Thanks. Will do.

[Lamnidae]

I got my Shoei ordered thru them, I didn't have any problems with them.

[JARVIS518]

stop emailing and call

[Papa_Complex]

You know I might consider doing that, if they weren't an internet based company. I'm using essentially the same method to request information, that I used to place the order. Taking days to respond is unacceptable. Not updating me on changes in delivery date is unacceptable. Repeatedly missing stated shipping dates is unacceptable. Stating "30 day price protection" and "two day shipping", when the order doesn't arrive in time for either, is unacceptable.

Right now they're claiming that the shoes are in stock. Why aren't they even stating that my order has been shipped yet?

http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/simpson-shoes/simpson-crew-shoe

I don't fault anyone for honesty. If you can't supply something just tell me up-front, and I'll go elsewhere. I'll likely even consider you first, when I'm looking for something else, because I do value honesty. If you screw up a small order this badly, then I'm not going to be considering you for anything. I'll also not be recommending you to anyone. Quite the opposite, in fact.

[Lamnidae]

Yeah I see a lot of those things with some of my other hobbies - cameras, trains, rc aircraft....... slashed prices and not always "truely" in stock.

[Papa_Complex]

I just cancelled my order. Today was the day they indicated was the latest it would arrive, but it's still shown as "pending" in their system. I've already waited long enough for my "free, 2 day delivery."

[Papa_Complex]

I just received this notice via email, from Helmet City. If it turns out to be true I'll gladly eat a portion of my words, but the online indications are that the order still hasn't been filled.

"Rob,
Hello and sorry for the trouble. We have credited back your card today. Your shoes shipped out on the 19th and that was later than they should have. We are going to have you keep the shoes at no charge for the trouble, and they should arrive to you via USPS the first part of January.


Sincerely
Kyle
Helmet City"

[Lamnidae]

I just received this notice via email, from Helmet City. If it turns out to be true I'll gladly eat a portion of my words, but the online indications are that the order still hasn't been filled.

"Rob,
Hello and sorry for the trouble. We have credited back your card today. Your shoes shipped out on the 19th and that was later than they should have. We are going to have you keep the shoes at no charge for the trouble, and they should arrive to you via USPS the first part of January.


Sincerely
Kyle
Helmet City"


Where the hell are they coming from if they're taking that long by USPS.

[Papa_Complex]

Where the hell are they coming from if they're taking that long by USPS.

Helmet City is located in Oakland, California. I've become fairly used to it taking up to two weeks for orders to ship from US locations, to the Toronto area, via parcel post. Their site states that "We now ship to Canada" but the only listed shipping method is FedEx, with no mention of USPS. USPS is the most cost effective method of shipping, to Canada, but it doesn't meet the "free 2 day shipping" criteria, that they list on their site.

Had I been told, up front, that the product was not in stock I might have cancelled the order. Given that their price/shipping was the best I'd seen though I'd have likely just sat on the order, as long as I knew where everything was in the process. As I said the online listing still shows that the order is 'in process', not shipped.

Time is less a factor than is lack of information.

[Lamnidae]

Time is less a factor than is lack of information.

Dig it.


Slipped my mind that you were up north.

[Papa_Complex]

Fair is fair. I just picked the shoes up, from my local post office. The product is correct, as ordered. I just finished sending an email to Kyle, saying that he should feel free to debit my VISA again for the refunded value.

[Lamnidae]

Glad they made it in, bad luck when it comes to the way communication went.