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June 16, 2006
Bicycle Shorts
The other day I ordered a couple pair of biking shorts from an on-line retailer.
I'm not really one of your lycra-wearing types and opted to get a pair of Liquigell Baggie Shorts. They're supposed to look more like the regular gym shorts I wear. (I also ordered a pair of the standard lycra jobs you see the bicycle geeks wearing -- I thought I'd do a comfort comparison.)
Why get shorts at all? It's not like I'm Lance Armstrong. As I approach two hours on my bike my butt aches like nothing else and it really detracts from the thrill of riding. Also, at the end of my last ride I had some chaffing.
I went to the retailer's web site and placed my order. I received the prompt asking if I were a new or returning customer. I was a new customer.
I filled out all the new-customer stuff and clicked next. My order was placed.
As soon as I saw the order placed prompt I knew I'd misordered. I was certain the baggy shorts were the incorrect size. They were. I needed a large and I'd ordered a small; I suspect that will affect the bagginess somewhat.
I immediately called the retailer (and noticed they were an Ohio company ... I should have probably checked their location before I chose to have the product delivered next-day air ... ah well, it was just a few dollars more). The customer service rep said the order hadn't made it into the system yet and that she wasn't able to do anything about it until it did. She suggested I call back in an hour.
After we were done talking I reread my confirmation e-mail. There was a line in there about sending an e-mail to customer service should I have a problem with the order. As I had a problem, I sent an e-mail.
An hour later I also made a call. The order had made it into the system ... and had been processed.
Kudos, I guess, for the quick processing speed.
It looks like I'll have to return a pair shorts. And start my bicycle-short-experience as a lycra-clad weenie.
Posted by delmer at June 16, 2006 7:01 AM