Simple and Professional, Site Navigation has some Limitations
Written: Nov 24 '06 (Updated Nov 25 '06)
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Since before I even owned a motorcycle, I was searching the internet for parts and apparel providers. The reason I bought a bike in the first place was to save money, so I decided to take the time to find sites that provide good prices on the gear I need. BikeBandit.com is where I turn for parts. Here's why:
Products and Prices
BikeBandit.com has a huge selection of OEM and Aftermarket Parts, Apparel and Accessories, Tires, Manuals, and Tools for Motorsports, including Motorcycles, ATVs, and Watercraft. The OEM prices seem to be the best I've found anywhere, and the other prices are very competitive (see shipping below). Apparel prices seem to be a little bit higher than a few others sites. I was really stunned with how large their selection was. I had no trouble finding what I needed to order once I had it picked out, as they seem to have nearly every major manufacturer with the respective product lines.
Layout
There are some strengths and weaknesses in this area.
Strengths - The links and bars are well done, and the site looks very professional. Also, shopping for OEM parts is fantastic. You start by telling it what bike you own. Then, you get a list of all the sub-assemblies on the bike (battery, cylinder, frame, etc). When you choose one of these links, you get a manufacturer's assembly drawing of all the components. At the bottom of the page, you can just find that part you're looking for and add it to your shopping list. This is really great if you can't find a part number for that screw that worked itself loose or don't know the name for that funny bracket, although it does require knowing what assembly it's considered to be a part of, which sometimes requires a couple tries.
Weaknesses - If you don't know what you're looking for, the site can be extremely cumbersome. For example, if you want a helmet, your only option is to navigate to the helmet section and choose a manufacturer. Then, you get a list of all the helmets by that manufacturer. If you don't find one that you like, back up and choose again. You can't browse their entire selection in any category. This is even worse in aftermarket parts. I wanted to find a sprocket that would work on my bike, but I didn't know exactly which one I wanted. I had to choose a manufacturer before I even knew if they made one that would fit my bike, much less if it would be one I'd want. Want a waterproof jacket? Follow Apparel & Accessories > Street > Apparel - Riding > Rain Gear and THEN choose a manufacturer before you can even see any products. And I have not been able to find a search feature for anything except OEM parts. Ugh!
Shipping, Services, and Guarantees
The FAQ section has a lot of good information in it. It reports that most orders ship in 3 days, and I found this to be true. If you need to cancel an order, just send an email to their cancel email address. If you cancel before your items ship, there's no charge unless you have OEM parts. OEM parts are subject to a 20% restocking fee if you cancel more than an hour later. To explain this, they provide the following: "We return all cancelled OEM parts to the manufacturer and in doing so face two charges: the cost to return the item to the manufacturer and a restocking fee charged to us by the manufacturer. BikeBandit.com will cover this return shipping expense but we pass on a portion of the restocking fee charged to us by the manufacturer." It's nice that they are upfront and honest about this.
Shipping is typically a flat $6 for FedEx Ground and $20 for Express. I believe this does not apply to really heavy items like tires. Items can not be added to orders once they've been placed. This effected me, because I placed an order and realized the next day that my air filter needed to be replaced, too. Instead of paying another $6, I just cancelled my existing order and placed a new order for the original gear and the air filter. It went through seamlessly, and I got an excellent deal (I saved about 30% over my local retailer). The parts arrived that week. The box looked like it had been run over twice, but everything was secure and undamaged inside.
They have a 15-day limited return policy for most of their merchandise, and this is outlined on their site. Basically, it has to be unused and with the original packaging in good condition. Restocking fees may apply.
Experience
Overall, I'm very pleased with this site. They were very accommodating, and the site is professional and upfront about services, fees, and expectations. Also, the prices were fantastic, and I received all my parts in the promised time. I won't be using their site to find my next purchases, though, because it's so hard to look through the merchandise. I'll probably end up finding something on another site and coming back to BikeBandit to see if they carry it too (which they probably will and for cheaper!).
If you found this useful, you might want to check out my other motorcycle store reviews:
PowerSportEquipment
CASportTouring
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? D.I.D. Motorcycle Chain, JT Rear and Front Sprockets, K&N Air Filter
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About the Author
Member: Josh
Location: Huntsville, AL, USA
Reviews written: 59
Trusted by: 10 members
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