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Just a quick note to say that anyone attracted by Minisport's current website offers please phone them to check stock before parting with your hard earned cash.
I rarely use this company but ordered and paid for a front cage some weeks ago which didn't turn up. I phoned them only be told they don't have any in stock. So why have I been charged and when would anyone have contacted me to inform me of the problem ? "that's just the way the system works" I was told.
I'm not into bashing companies on the internet just based on the odd annecdotal tale of poor service but if this is the way any company's system works - to take money from your bank account for products that they know full well they haven't got any stock of then I think that's taking the proverbial.
When do you expect any in ? I asked them. "could be the end of the month", which means they would have had my money for seven weeks ! That's virtually an unauthorised interest free loan !

Anyway please be aware that's the way their 'system' works and do not expect goods bought from their website any time soon just because you've paid for them. Do any other companies work this way ?

Hmm, you have just reminded me of this 'unusual' practice. 12 months ago or so I ordered some Mk1 interior light door pillar switches as they were NLA. When I called Minisport they advised that they could get them but they are on back order. They asked for payment up front for a matter of pounds so I paid. I have never heard a dickie bird since. Can't be ar*ed going through statements for sake of a few quid but what a crafty way to make money. Won't be using them again using this method....

FOR SALE!

Anything you want!

Bargain prices (I'll beat any offered anywhere else)

All orders must be paid for when ordering,
delivery to be confirmed at a later date

I have had a similar experience with Minisport, thus I no longer use them.

There are plenty of other suppliers with much better ordering policies who sell equivalent or better quality parts.

PS, I thought it was illegal to take the money if the order can not by completed?

isn't it ironic that normally when it comes to poor service you can say that "you get what you pay for".

not in this case it seems , and it does seem to be a fairly common occurrance.

as above i to have experienced this problem with this company. seams only to be mk1 stuff that i have had problems with.

**Not good with such a history in motor sport.**

When I first started accepting payment by credit and debit cards back in the 1980's, I was instructed by Visa etc. not to charge for any goods until they are actually ready to be despatched. I have always stuck to this practice. I have heard before of Minisport charging for stuff they do not even have in stock and wondered how they get away with it.

Surf 1275 wrote:Just a quick note to say that anyone attracted by Minisport's current website offers please phone them to check stock before parting with your hard earned cash.
I rarely use this company but ordered and paid for a front cage some weeks ago which didn't turn up. I phoned them only be told they don't have any in stock. So why have I been charged and when would anyone have contacted me to inform me of the problem ? "that's just the way the system works" I was told.

That's not how the system works at all. As well as your usual rights under the Sale of Goods Act, when you purchase anything online you also have the right to a full refund within 30 days if the goods are not delivered by the delivery date you agreed - if you didn't agree a delivery date a refund must be provided if the item is not delivered within 30 days. If they don't play ball, take the matter up with your Credit Card company and threaten them with Trading Standards. This often has the desired affect.

i had the same thing ,i "baught" somthing from wood and pickett a while ago that ever turned up..

it is quite annoying how somone will take youre money full well knowing that they wont be stocking the item again.

Sorted out a refund with one of their members of staff today who I had to remind to take my card details ( ) and was informed I'd be refunded sometime next week . I got an explanation about 'usual supplier issues' and replied that I didn't care as I ordered the item with them, it's their problem and shouldn't be made mine.
It's not a disaster in that I've ordered another with another company, and actually to balance this out this has happened to me before with their main competitor but you live and you learn and I've learnt not to order online and yes RS6, to get an agreed delivery date !

I was talking to Rich about this about an oiur ago, was it 23 that they had in stock

I nearly let their 'sale' blind me into buying a load of stuff, then remembered how utterly useless they were last time I ordered a Manifold and they sent me a length of pipe!!! ''Easy mistake sir, some people call them that''...urrmmm no they don't goodbye..(oh and I sent Mr Harper junior a nice letter too... )

I took a set of pistons to them for balancing in the early 80's. When I went to collect them they were full of swarf so I asked one of the neanderthals how they could've possibly been balanced and the response was...'it'll be reyt'.

I've never used them since.

Mate of mine ordered a mk1 grill an tash about 2 years ago now... they didnt take the money off him in this case, however he got so bored he went to minispares.... it still hasnt turned up!

Ive never ordered online, Ive always gone over to the shop....

Ive ordered parts from lots of companys not just mini parts but ive never really had a problem with minisport to my memory. infact i used them only the other day, i rang them at 2oclock for two genuine from seam clips and i had them at 10 the next morning. The way i see it is if they dont have the parts they dont send them out, but they should say how long its going to be though! and what surf1275 says doesnt sound great or fair.

Other mini parts companys not just one actually, i've noticed if you put the order in and they dont have everything you asked for they send the stuff out they do have and then send the other stuff out later charging you twice for postage! nice hey! double postage cost! or is that just me???

jogged my memory before the days of home computers circa 1988 i ordered some parts from mini sport through a magazine advert, they did not stock them.

They cashed my chq and sent me a credit note lol.

Thing is i forgot all about the credit note came across it a couple of years ago, it was a hand written one as well

Doubt it would be any good now, if i could lay my hands on it again. lol

So it must have been company policy for a very long time

our policy at work is simple

if its in stock you will be charged for it and the postage.

if its in stock (and part of an order) at the main branch they will charge for it and send post free (unless your registered as a trader, in which case you will pay a half postage). any invoice that this happens to will be stamped with a green 'item to follow' stamp. if its out of stock its stamped red 'item no longer avalible/back ordered'.

nothing is ever charged for unless its physically in stock.


if something is sent back it is credited back to the card used for paying for it - no credit notes are given.

guru_1071 wrote:our policy at work is simple

if its in stock you will be charged for it and the postage.

if its in stock (and part of an order) at the main branch they will charge for it and send post free (unless your registered as a trader, in which case you will pay a half postage). any invoice that this happens to will be stamped with a green 'item to follow' stamp. if its out of stock its stamped red 'item no longer avalible/back ordered'.

nothing is ever charged for unless its physically in stock.

if something is sent back it is credited back to the card used for paying for it - no credit notes are given.

I can vouch for that. Outstanding service - my first choice every time.

RS6 wrote:

guru_1071 wrote:our policy at work is simple

if its in stock you will be charged for it and the postage.

if its in stock (and part of an order) at the main branch they will charge for it and send post free (unless your registered as a trader, in which case you will pay a half postage). any invoice that this happens to will be stamped with a green 'item to follow' stamp. if its out of stock its stamped red 'item no longer avalible/back ordered'.

nothing is ever charged for unless its physically in stock.

if something is sent back it is credited back to the card used for paying for it - no credit notes are given.

I can vouch for that. Outstanding service - my first choice every time.

I think it's the law of the land!

So has anyone actually got Safety Devices cages off the shelf in uk at present?