Online outdoor gear retailer review forum

[wildwanderer]

Be great to have a sub forum on side track where we could detail our shopping experiences at various on-line outdoor gear retailers. Particularly overseas retailers.

Sometimes I see a price from a overseas retailer, it looks good however I dont know their customer service history and delivery/returns service levels. Yes can search google however it usually brings up US/European based reviews. Its much easier to deliver/return with minimum issues to a customer in the retailers home country than across the world to Australia.

[andrewa]

Re Cabelas in US.....an observation re their postage costs - they offer the option of "express" postage @ 50% of item purchase price, or "standard" (estimated 8-12 wk delivery) @ 20% of purchase price. Recently purchased some waders and chose the "standard" rate. Surprised to find that, having purchased them on Aug 28, they arrived on September 5th!

Andrew A

[Dreamer]

I highly recommend:https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
Everything is listed by weight and the site employees give their thoughts or tested verdict on the products.
I have had several deliveries over the last few years, all perfect. In fact, my last small delivery seemed to have a free upgrade to express mail when this was not requested or paid for. Prices can be selected to list in aussie dollar and the current exchange rate works in our favour as well. Quite often cheaper than buying from the USA where our exchange rate hasn't been as good (but seems to rapidly be getting better).

Of course I check prices and availability in Australia first. My go to sites local sites: https://www.snowys.com.au/ and https://www.wildfiresports.com.au/

Last edited by Dreamer on Mon 11 Sep, 2017 8:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[wayno]

i've had no issues with backcountry.com and campsaver.com bought a couple of dozen items from them.
although i have to use a mail forwarding company to get various brands that are embargoed from being exported down under to avoid cutting into local sales, although i'm usually buying a specific item that isnt stocked down under anyway or I wouldnt be able to afford to buy the same item down under because the wholesalers markups are horrendous and the shops are in areas where they have to over high rents
I"ve never had to return anything... I only select brands I recognise for their construction quality. if i dont know the brand, I don't buy it

[Neo]

Good purchase from Outdoorfair.de

Prices similar to Aussie retailers but items in-stock or can get easily if you can't get your hands on something locally.

Postage quite reasonable.

[Neo]

Very happy with Tasgear gaiters.

Pleasure to deal with, cheaper than big brand names and built tough!

[Neo]

Quick delivery to the big island from Tiergear in Tassie

[Neo]

Wildearth orders always arrive within a week from QLD to NSW coast.

[Neo]

Good delivery service from Backpackinglight in Melbourne.

They now have a payment option on their website instead of having to call after ordering.

[Neo]

Ordered once from Icebreaker.

Was wrong size so used their return system. Came from NZ, exchanged at Aus warehouse, no worries.

[Neo]

Snowys is great too.

Pretty quick delivery.

[Neo]

Tarptent of course!

Standard delivery option only took 2wks to Australia.

(hi Franco)

[Neo]

Not your usual outdoor retailer, bought one of these, they responded to an email after purchase, the watch is good:

http://nurseoclock.com.au/nurses-fob-ca ... p-263.html

[Neo]

Another recent good purchase online:

https://www.thewalkingcompany.com.au

If you're game to order footwear sight unseen!

[taipan821]

Great experience from Tiergear, orders arrive quite quickly and gear is of excellent quality

[Gadgetgeek]

Tradeinn, and its subsidiary stores, decent products, and prices, but very slow. very, very slow. But that's the cost I guess.

[wildwanderer]

Some online retailers I have used.

Webtogs / Internet fusion - Absolutely awful. Was a problem with delivery (la sportiva shoes) and they essentially ignored the problem and me. Ignored my emails (except to say they asked the logistics company to speed up delivery.. this did nothing to help and webtogs subsequently ignored the rest of my emails). No tracking apart from parcel had arrived in country. I was forced try and get their logistics company (that initially refused to deal direct with customers) to attempt to find out where my parcel had gone. . Turns out was at their warehouse. Three weeks and still don't have my item. (it arrived in Australia within 4 days). Webtogs has good prices but useless if there is a problem. They also don't honor the delivery method selected. I chose their Australia post delivery method (as my deliveries go to a Auspost parcel locker and previous webtogs delivery had delivered there without issue) but webtogs sent via a different courier which is where all the issues began.

Wild Earth - Great and fast delivery. Wait for their sales before purchasing

Snowys - Good prices. A little slow sometimes but thats mainly because Auspost is slow delivering from Adelaide to Sydney.

Tarptent - Great, excellent customer service.

Backcountry.com - Fairly good. They sent me a different size jacket to what i had ordered but after some negotiating they paid for my return shipping so I could get the correct size and gave me a discount. Dont expect this deal as I think their first customer service rep agreed to pay for return shipping/discount when she shouldnt have, 2nd rep tried to back out of deal, 3rd rep honored it. The correct size arrived with hair/dandruff on it. Problem caused me a bit extra as needed to pay reshipper twice. (but jacket was still 40% less (delivered) than Australian retail prices so wasn't to concerned.)

[slparker]

Another vote for trekinn and runnerinn, slow delivery but prices are often very good.

[threshold]

Snowys - My fave Aussie camping store, Australian owned too, quick postage, always contactable and great service.
Moosejaw - Got a good price on a big agnes tent with them, took them one week to process the order before they sent it, thumbs down.
Freeze pro shop - Always had quick delivery (from the uk) from them, as well as very competitive prices.

[Franco]

Another recent good purchase online:

https://www.thewalkingcompany.com.au

If you're game to order footwear sight unseen!

I have ordered just two pairs on line (that I can remember) using the Mondopoint size.
That seems to be harder to get wrong than the rest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_size#Mondopoint