== Thrash or Be Thrashed == Get Your Freak On At Skateboard.com
Written: Dec 28 '03
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In a lot of ways I have a love / hate relationship with skateboarding. In Southern California skateboarding is just as popular as rollerblading, bike riding and surfing – in some places even more popular. Like anything in life, a few bad apples ruin the bunch. If you are over the age of 30 you’ll more than likely be familiar with the saying “Skateboarding isn’t a crime” – something that the skate rats proudly shout at you when you complain about them doing tricks in front of your house, in parking lots and on the boardwalk. I have no issue with skateboarding but I do have a problem with parents who drop their kids off at the local mall so they can skate in the parking lot – where it’s clearly posted that skateboarding is not permitted. With that being said, I do have a deep respect for those who have turned skateboarding into an art form – perfecting tricks at the expense of broken bones, skinned knuckles and the occasional concussion.
I really feel for the younger kids that think all it takes to make it into the world of professional skateboarding is a good video, some unique tricks and a little bit of luck. Sure, those are some of the essential elements but lets face the fact that not everyone is going to be the next Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva or Steve Caballero. For those aspiring to be the best that they can be in the realm of skateboarding there exists a veritable plethora of online stores to shop at but none of them offer you the true love of the sport like Skateboard.com. Not only is this a full scale skateboard storefront but it has an lot of information about the sport, basics, profiles, help with tricks, product advice and reviews, events and tons of photos.
Navigation
There are a lot of different ways to get around the site so if you are little perplexed when you first get there, take it slow and easy and you’ll do just fine. There’s a drop down search box that gives you some of the basic areas as well as a left side bar once you enter the ‘skate life’ section. If all else fails you can type in the word or phrase you are looking for into the search box and see what results you get. The section is broken up into a lot of smaller sections so if you are looking for products from one skater or company, you might get the best results using the search box rather than trying to track down items individually. The main pages lets you get to all the different sections of the site – shopping, member area, advice .. you get the point. The message boards are a great place to check out regardless of your knowledge of the sport and most of the time the people who are posting there are friendly, helpful and kind to newbies. If you get lost at any time, click on that big logo at the top of the page to go back to the main / front page of the site.
Selection
The site carries almost everything skate related – from decks, wheels, trucks, complete board set ups, safety gear, media [videos mostly with a CD from time to time], ramp plans and a very healthy clothing section. When you are in the shopping section of the site the right side bar is the easiest way to get around the various areas and be sure to look on the left hand side to see the sub categories for the main sections. When you are shopping for clothing like sweatshirts, t-shirts and shorts it’s really important to check the sizes that are available when you are browsing. I got pretty excited when I came across a few sweatshirts that caught my eye but when I checked the size box it was only available in the small size. On the plus side, you can not beat the prices they charge for the long sleeved shirts – where can you get one for $21.99? My favorite [of course skull related] has to be the Zero brand skull shirt [www.skateboard.com/products/5002_lg.gif]. I must have been a good girl this year because Santa left one for me under the tree.
For the old school lover, there is a section just for you. Chalked full of stuff like Vans shoes, baseball caps, DVD’s and clothing … this is one part of the site that will take you back in time. Don’t overlook the girls section either, even though it has a small selection, what they have to offer is pretty cool for the skater chicks. The youth section is one that I hit often, not for my boys but to check out the toys! The first time I saw the Toy Machine figures was at this site and I fell in love with them. At $7.99 a piece they are bit on the expensive side but well worth it for the shock value. To get the most from the site you’ll need to just sit down, dig in and create your own wish list. Becoming a member is free, painless and takes less than a minute and once you are registered you can start reaping the rewards. Looking for free stuff? If you have to first class stamps, can address an envelope and are allowed to cross the street to hit the mailbox – you can send off for free stickers. How cool is that??? Be sure to check out the contests for more free stuff.
Prices
For the most part the prices are average with some things being a few dollars less than other sites. Since I am a backpack junkie I constantly check the prices on the styles they carry and almost all of them are the same or less than other sites. This was one of the few places that I found the Zero Deluxe Backpack [www.skateboard.com/products/12827_lg.jpg] as well as the ultra cool Zero 3 Skull Backpack [www.skateboard.com/products/12826_lg.jpg]. Most of the clothing is comparably priced to retail and online stores but you never know what you are going to find on sale or tucked away in the gift section. As far as decks are concerned, the prices are better than most sites and when you take into consideration the low shipping fees that Skateboard.com charges, you are saving anywhere from 5% – 15% on them. Wheels range from $18.96 to $31.96 for a set of four and trucks from the high twenties to the mid forties.
Customer Service
Skateboard.com
2110 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104
[866] 752-3266.
[619] 243-1882
www.skateboard.com
customer_service@skateboardinc.com
Payment Options
The site accepts MasterCard, Visa and American Express for purchases. If you don’t have one of those cards you can call them to ask how you can pay by check but be forewarned, they don’t do C.O.D. [cash on delivery] or accept money orders. MasterCard was my weapon of choice when I shopped at the site and just as I expected, the purchases went off without a hitch. No over billing, no hidden fees, no trouble with authorization .. as simple as it gets when making an online purchase.
Return Policy
Like most sites, Skateboard.com offers you a 30 day return policy. There’s no need to call for and RMA [Return merchandise authorization] number, just use the form that was enclosed with your order. If you want to make an exchange, you might want to call them to see if the replacement item is in stock and if they can hold it for you until you ship the item back to them. If you order a custom set up board and return it, you could be charged a 15% restocking fee but this is the only item at the site that is charged any type of restocking fee. Any media items, books, ramp plans or things of the like must be returned sealed unless defective.
Shipping Fees
Shipping fees within the United States are calculated according to the dollar amount of our order with the lowest shipping fee being $5.00 for anything up to $34.99. The most you’ll pay for shipping is $22.00 – and that’s anything $600.00 or more within the United States. This is for UPS Ground delivery which takes a little longer than USPS or FedEx but in the end costs you a lot less to get your order. If you are in a hurry they do offer Next Day and Second Day deliveries – if you choose these alternate methods you will have to pay the difference but when you need your stuff, you need your stuff. For the most part the shipping fees are on the low end when you compare them to other sites that are selling the same things. One thing to note about the site, they do a lot of shipping to foreign countries. If you live outside the USA, your best be is to call them to get an exact amount before you order and check to see what [if any] import fees may apply to the order.
The Bottom Line
So far I’ve had a lot of luck with the site. It’s run by people who love the sport and aren’t afraid to show it – but if you don’t believe me, check out the photo sections to see them skating at work. Aside from some small technical difficulties I have when I hit a few of the pages, the site functions nicely and is easy to navigate. I’m not sure if the errors I get are the fault of my computer or just a wacky bug at the site but going back to the main page remedies them instantly. The customer service you get at the site is second to none regardless of whether you call them or send them an email. With all that the site offers – be it for shopping, learning about the pros or even the basics of the sport – Skateboard.com is at the top of my list when it comes time to order clothing, decks or gifts. If you have a skateboarder in your life and have been disappointed with other sites, I highly suggest checking out what they have to offer!
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2003 Freak369
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Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Deck, backpacks, clothing ...
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About the Author
Reviews written: 6798
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About Me: 7% Terminator, 4% silicone, 38% muscle, 51% freak
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