Am I wasting my time ordering this?

SNAKEBITE

I was looking at an item and saw it on the Andertons website for £45.

It was out of stock but due in mid March.

The same item on Ebay is around 50% higher, depending on the seller.

If I order on the Andertons website are they going to get it in, or am I just going to be refunded a month or so down the line?

Just curious really as I have read of some right sneaky goings on with retailers within this forum. I don't mind waiting, but don't want to waste my time.

Fortheloveofguitar

From previous experience I wouldn’t trust Andertons. They’re pretty bad with their ‘Arriving on’ timescales 

Also they have blowout deals on discontinued items but they big it up and promote it but never have in stock with lead times quoted as much as 4-8 weeks 

Don’t trust them. Look elsewhere 

longjaw

Phone them and ask.

SNAKEBITE

Fortheloveofguitar said:

From previous experience I wouldn’t trust Andertons. They’re pretty bad with their ‘Arriving on’ timescales 

Also they have blowout deals on discontinued items but they big it up and promote it but never have in stock with lead times quoted as much as 4-8 weeks 

Don’t trust them. Look elsewhere 

This is what I heard previously, hence my post.

longjaw said:

Phone them and ask.

Will I get the truth, or just what I want to hear?

I'm a bit cynical I'm afraid.

axisus

They are a business, there's no reason for them to lie to you, it's more hassle for them if they have to refund. I think that if you ring them they will give a genuine answer of what they think the timescale will be, which may well be based on supplier info, but also may be wrong - through no fault of theirs.

duotone

Based on a past experience with ordering some things from them (strings/guitar leads, all in all it was less than £50 spent) I would look elsewhere tbh.  Would rather pay a bit more and get them much sooner personally.

dindude

I doubt they purposely lie, but they are reliant on the entire supply chain working and it will always be an estimate. I've never had anything but professional dealing with Andertons, but always better to order from someone who has immediate stock availability I'd say.

m_c

I've ordered an item from Anderton's that was showing as out of stock before Christmas, and was happy with their updates.

Once I placed the order, I got an email the next day with an update of the estimated delivery date, which was actually a few weeks before the estimate showing on their site. They missed that date, but I got another email explaining the supplier date had slipped along with a new estimated date. Included with the emails was also the email address to contact should I have any queries or wanted to cancel.
In the end I got the item a week or so before the original estimated date shown when I ordered.

SNAKEBITE

m_c said:

I've ordered an item from Anderton's that was showing as out of stock before Christmas, and was happy with their updates.

Once I placed the order, I got an email the next day with an update of the estimated delivery date, which was actually a few weeks before the estimate showing on their site. They missed that date, but I got another email explaining the supplier date had slipped along with a new estimated date. Included with the emails was also the email address to contact should I have any queries or wanted to cancel.
In the end I got the item a week or so before the original estimated date shown when I ordered.

Seems reasonable.

SNAKEBITE

Thanks for the advice guys.

I am afraid I am just overly cynical, whilst having had no issue with Andertons previously when going into the shop I reach a whole new level of distrust when it comes to ordering things that are a lot cheaper than they should be but out of stock!

m_c

That's why I ordered from Andertons despite them showing as out of stock. The item was about 20% cheaper than anywhere else at the time who had it in stock, and I assumed it was because they just hadn't put their price up, and would be once the new stock arrived, so decided to take the chance. I was in no rush to get it, and figured worst case scenario I'd end up with a refund, and have to pay the higher price somewhere else.
 However they never put their price up, and having just checked the other usual online suppliers, they have now dropped prices to match.

LuttiS

I ordered an out of stick item form Andertons last year, had a much better price (much much!)
Had a lead time of 2 - 3 months on original estimate, given the option for full refund all along. Got the item within 3 weeks of order, so was pretty pleased

Owain

SNAKEBITE said:

I was looking at an item and saw it on the Andertons website for £45.

It was out of stock but due in mid March.

The same item on Ebay is around 50% higher, depending on the seller.

If I order on the Andertons website are they going to get it in, or am I just going to be refunded a month or so down the line?

Just curious really as I have read of some right sneaky goings on with retailers within this forum. I don't mind waiting, but don't want to waste my time.

I'd wait until it gets back in stock before ordering if I were you. Just in case some better offer pops up in the meantime. 

SNAKEBITE

Just an update., the pedal that was due in on March 20th is still out of stock and now due in on April 6th.

Is this just a stalling tactic, or am I being paranoid?

GoldenEraGuitars

Paranoid. 

You could have had it by now for an extra £25 elsewhere.

SNAKEBITE

lonestar said:

Paranoid. 

You could have had it by now for an extra £25 elsewhere.

I know, I know.

I just got it in my mind I'd wait until they came in and make do with what I've got until then.

To be honest I've not actually needed it, it was just something I really liked the look of and wanted.

GoldenEraGuitars

SNAKEBITE said:

lonestar said:

Paranoid. 

You could have had it by now for an extra £25 elsewhere.

I know, I know.

I just got it in my mind I'd wait until they came in and make do with what I've got until then.

To be honest I've not actually needed it, it was just something I really liked the look of and wanted.

Whatever the pedal is, surely a used one would have popped up on eBay in between times? For the sake of £25.... if it was a specialist £2500 guitar then yes, I see your point in waiting.

SNAKEBITE

No used ones on the 'bay or on here.

Oh, and just to confuse matters further TC have released a new pedal which might be a better choice, but is on a 3 week lead time.

Maybe it was a sign..................

Funkfingers

axisus said:

They are a business, there's no reason for them to lie to you, it's more hassle for them if they have to refund. I think that if you ring them they will give a genuine answer of what they think the timescale will be, which may well be based on supplier info, but also may be wrong - through no fault of theirs.

This pretty much describes my experience with the PRS S2 Reclaimed series Vela. 

I was in e-mail communication with Anderton's and, simultaneously, keeping an eye on the delivery timescale updates on the PRS web site. It was amusing to compare the stories.