Backordering

[pjphilli]

How reliable is Bintel with back orders?

[Outcast]

Can't say I've ever had a problem.. can take time, obviously not always economical to order just one of something in.

Usually if they are out, it is likely to come in with the next bulk order of gear they put in if it is something they would routinely carry.

Only potential problem is if it is a special one off order or, the supplier has no stock..

Did they give you a time estimate? Not that I've back ordered heaps of gear from them but, when I have backordered their time estimate was pretty reliable...

[Wavytone]

Reliable, though it may take longer than expected - they are at least 3 steps in the chain from the original manufacturer, possibly 4-5 hops.

[LewisM]

Saw something on Bintel I needed was out of stock. Found same thing on eBay available ex-China and $22 cheaper including delivery. Had it 5 days later.

Depends on personal preference really.

[pgc hunter]

I ordered an eyepiece last year from Bintel which was on backorder. At the 2 week mark I sent them an email enquiring how long it would take, but no response. Gave them a call the next day and the guy gave me a solid estimate of the next shipment. Overall it took about 3 weeks for the item to arrive from when I hit "checkout".

[pjphilli]

Thanks for these replies. The item I ordered is to improve my astro rig but not critical. I could not find the item on ebay so I went with Bintel's "backorder'. No delivery date was given. I have noticed that sellers that would normally be considered retailers (ie have a stock of items for sale) are increasingly showing "out of stock". Presumably slow sales are forcing them to restrict the stock of slow moving items. Unfortunately, this has the effect of driving buyers further to online sellers such as ebay. This is probably an unstoppable trend.