mrborohachi
Well-known member
their site is back back up but the search function doesn't work
Cripe Distributing (new) Web site returns on Jan. 22nd
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u118224
Well-known member
You can't log into an account or wishlist either. I have never seen such a debacle of a website. They must be cheaping out on the web developer.
ihateminimumwage
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Yeah, it's kind of worse to just have a homepage up that leads nowhere than it was to just have the 'Coming Soon' page up.
neophyte
Well-known member
You must not search the web very often. There are plenty of major companies who have bad websites, let alone various Government websites that are just poorly designed Sh*t. Cripe is probably classed as a small business. Not having their website up when planned may not be perfect but I'd hardly call it a debacle.
u118224
Well-known member
Maybe debacle is too harsh a word, but it's been several months since it's been functional. It's frustating because I used the site quite a bit.
lol. It is pretty bad.
I wonder if they shouldn't just use Amazon as a front-end and pay the tithe. I imagine that their margins might be too slim to do that, but it would be a big simplifier I bet.
One nice thing about using Amazon is that people are more comfortable with buying things through them than just some random website.
I wonder if they shouldn't just use Amazon as a front-end and pay the tithe. I imagine that their margins might be too slim to do that, but it would be a big simplifier I bet.
One nice thing about using Amazon is that people are more comfortable with buying things through them than just some random website.
Not to dump on Cripes, because I'm a regular customer.....but
I suspect it all comes down to money and what they are willing to pay to have a website with a constantly changing inventory. You can outsource it, or you can hire a direct employee to do it. Either way you pay. Regardless......finding the right person is key. The right software can automate a lot of functions, but someone still has to take the pics, and get the basics into the system. A lot of work, but once it's done and off to a good start it's smooth sailing. Redundant backups of your website and inventory helps to prevent what they are going through.
Setting up a website is easy, but you get what you pay for. Unless your the federal govt. Lol
I suspect it all comes down to money and what they are willing to pay to have a website with a constantly changing inventory. You can outsource it, or you can hire a direct employee to do it. Either way you pay. Regardless......finding the right person is key. The right software can automate a lot of functions, but someone still has to take the pics, and get the basics into the system. A lot of work, but once it's done and off to a good start it's smooth sailing. Redundant backups of your website and inventory helps to prevent what they are going through.
Setting up a website is easy, but you get what you pay for. Unless your the federal govt. Lol
neophyte
Well-known member
Sorry. I just remember when Stanley Tools first put up their website, and it wasn't user friendly, or overly functional. I still don't like their current one either. Dewalt's website is even worse if you're trying to find specific information. If you order from the site constantly I can understand the problem, but the old site wasn't always user friendly so hopefully once they get the new site up it will be better.
I think that may be the point of the Ebay store. I've ordered from there and like the fact that you can easily look up buyer reviews on the sellers. I also find Ebay to have better search software than Amazon.
Do both then. Amazon has the advantage of a non-PayPal money flow and a review process for an individual product.
Another advantage to Amazon is that they have different levels of order fulfillment capabilities.
I figure that any company might as well sell via Amazon in addition to normal channels.
CripeDistributing
Active member
Please bare with us. Our web developer makes us new promises every day, but so far...no luck. At this point we are just looking forward to it coming up and functioning. We don't have real high hopes on it having any better features. Our developer has not only lost our data base, but has also lost our customer base. He is scrambling to recover the information still....and you can see the results so far.
Maybe I can answer some of your questions so you don't have to wonder or speculate.....
Cripe Distributing started in Lakeside, California in 2002.
In 2004 we relocated to Boise Idaho so we could expand the business.
We now operate out of 10 warehouses (about 90,000 square feet)
With Ebay, Amazon, and call in orders, we ship approximately 10,000 orders per month.
We aren't going anywhere and we have lots of inventory here to sell all of you.
Once the site does work..... we will offer a 10% discount code that you can enter at checkout.
For those of you who live here in Boise, We no longer have our store front. Since the product is spread out between the 10 warehouse it was tough to keep a little of everything in there....but if you call us with your order, we can get it ready for you to pick up to save on the shipping.
While we prefer your orders to come thru the website, it is actually Ebay who has more products listed and is better kept up to date. Once the site is working again...we hope to get it up to date with what is on Ebay....so if you ever notice that there is something on Ebay that is not on the website...just let us know...we can get it added for you.
We do have a site on Amazon under MHS Wholesale. This is all of our product listed by a second party but fulfilled by Cripe Distributing.
Many of you wonder why we just don't find someone new..... Unfortunately we don't have the man power for someone to start from scratch entering the 6,000 items that are lost.
We appreciate all of you who have stuck with us thru the years and look forward to your continued business. I hope this answers all of your questions or concerns....but if not, just let us know.
We enjoy getting to talk to those of you who have called in your orders.
Debbie Cripe
Maybe I can answer some of your questions so you don't have to wonder or speculate.....
Cripe Distributing started in Lakeside, California in 2002.
In 2004 we relocated to Boise Idaho so we could expand the business.
We now operate out of 10 warehouses (about 90,000 square feet)
With Ebay, Amazon, and call in orders, we ship approximately 10,000 orders per month.
We aren't going anywhere and we have lots of inventory here to sell all of you.
Once the site does work..... we will offer a 10% discount code that you can enter at checkout.
For those of you who live here in Boise, We no longer have our store front. Since the product is spread out between the 10 warehouse it was tough to keep a little of everything in there....but if you call us with your order, we can get it ready for you to pick up to save on the shipping.
While we prefer your orders to come thru the website, it is actually Ebay who has more products listed and is better kept up to date. Once the site is working again...we hope to get it up to date with what is on Ebay....so if you ever notice that there is something on Ebay that is not on the website...just let us know...we can get it added for you.
We do have a site on Amazon under MHS Wholesale. This is all of our product listed by a second party but fulfilled by Cripe Distributing.
Many of you wonder why we just don't find someone new..... Unfortunately we don't have the man power for someone to start from scratch entering the 6,000 items that are lost.
We appreciate all of you who have stuck with us thru the years and look forward to your continued business. I hope this answers all of your questions or concerns....but if not, just let us know.
We enjoy getting to talk to those of you who have called in your orders.
Debbie Cripe
u118224
Well-known member
Thanks for the update, much appreciated. I'm sorry about the problems with the web developer but I figured that had to be the case. I'm too looking forward to your website returning because I don't have access to Ebay during the day. Best regards.
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Indexmill
Well-known member
Hey, on the bright side, it is not as bad as the Obamacare website rollout 
I'll keep checking for it to be working.
John.
I'll keep checking for it to be working.
John.
ihateminimumwage
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Again, thanks for the update. It quiets down the speculators on here.
Looking forward to it being up and running again. Really ***** to hear the database was lost. Hope it's all resolved and nobody is going gray over it too soon.
Antique Engine
Well-known member
You and me both brother. I could care less what hurdles I have to jump through. Cripes recently did something on an eBay order of mine that made me a loyal customer for life. They're my new #1 go-to place. My eBay watch list is jam packed with more Cripes stuff that I'll be ordering after payday Wednesday.
zakmartin
Well-known member
I wish I saw this thread earlier. I shelled out over $150 in the past two weeks on Cripe stuff. Looking forward to the new site and the 10% off coupon.Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
still down
Seriously!!
Yeah, they need to get off of eBay and back onto their own site. I cannot imagine the profit margin is very good dealing with eBay/PayPal fees.
I really like Cripe, too. I've gotten some good deals from them in the past. They'd be a great resource (one I'd often use) if I didn't have to use eBay. I cannot stand giving that company any more business than I have to.
I really like Cripe, too. I've gotten some good deals from them in the past. They'd be a great resource (one I'd often use) if I didn't have to use eBay. I cannot stand giving that company any more business than I have to.
ihateminimumwage
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I did a search to see if there were any new threads on the return of Cripe's website, and this was still the only recent thread to pop up. For those that didn't know (like myself) the site is back, and very well set up (including a Made in the USA section).
I put in an order through the eBay store that was messed up by the site (added doubles of one socket I ordered), and after a headache through eBay to straighten it out, Cripe called and told my to go through the website (with a 10% discount on the site vs eBay store). As always, I'm a very happy Cripe customer.
http://www.cripedistributing.com
I put in an order through the eBay store that was messed up by the site (added doubles of one socket I ordered), and after a headache through eBay to straighten it out, Cripe called and told my to go through the website (with a 10% discount on the site vs eBay store). As always, I'm a very happy Cripe customer.
http://www.cripedistributing.com
How did you get a 10% discount on the site? I have a list of things to order but have been debating whether to use eBay or the new site, and the prices look the same both places. Back on their last working site, I had a 5% off code that made it a little more attractive than ordering off of eBay. How was your shipping charge? On eBay you can ask for shipping before you pay them, did they refund excess shipping charges? The shipping cost estimator on their site is very high.
Cripe is excellent, and I have had only good experiences with them. So good as I almost dont want anybody else to know about them....
Anyways, last time I ordered from them through Ebay they not only gave me a total/shipping cost but then also a 10% discount. The woman I spoke to said this is usually the case for bigger orders and repeats?
Check them out, good company and great prices.
Anyways, last time I ordered from them through Ebay they not only gave me a total/shipping cost but then also a 10% discount. The woman I spoke to said this is usually the case for bigger orders and repeats?
Check them out, good company and great prices.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
I am in that boat with them right now. They sold a discontinued model but advertised it as the new updated model. So far they have been hostile with me (telling me I am wrong and do not know how to count). Not a very good first experience!
Add the items to your ebay cart and commit to buy them. they then will send you an updated shipping cost before you actually pay. You're still committed to buy. Just stops the need for partial refunds. I was nervous the first time I tried it, but it ended up very reasonable.
I was curious about how his experience was buying through their new website, not eBay. As you said, although you've committed to buy on ebay, you don't pay until you get the real shipping cost. My concern is that on their website, it looks like I have to authorize the high shipping cost and hope that they refund the difference.
ihateminimumwage
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I spoke with Bree over the phone and she said she'd add the 10% discount. There is usually a card that comes with all of their orders that has the discount code on it. If this order includes one, I'll let you folks know. My experience so far with the new site is being sent a request for a Paypal payment with the actual shipping cost. Mine was a mixed bag of eBay screw up and Cripe fixing the problem, so I don't know exactly about the shipping request on the new site.
wild cowboy
Banned
the problem with this idea is, every time I go to buy something at their ebay page, it is set up so you have to pay right when you buy, so no chance to request an invoice - and I have received no refunds either, though I didn't request any.
on the plus side, everything I have received from Cripe has been flawless and 1st quality, so I am very impressed, other than combined shipping not being possible
ihateminimumwage
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You should have a small bar on the top of your cart (right side, just above the first item) before you pay that says "Request Total". Click that, it will give you a dialog box to type in "Request actual shipping" and they will modify the shipping amount to whatever flat rate box they can cram everything into, then you pay the modified amount.
Check if it's there next time, it's easy to miss if you aren't looking to modify the amount.
wild cowboy
Banned
I think you are missing what I am saying, many auctions on ebay are "require immediate payment when using Buy it Now" - so on those auctions, you do not have a cart, or a little bar at the type to "request total from seller" - you have to pay as you are buying it - the Cripe items I have bought lately have been this type.
You know the type that say, until you pay, another ebay user may buy the item.
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ihateminimumwage
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Ah, I get it. Haven't bought anything on auction from them, but have seen the listings.
IUEC Medic
Well-known member
Just spent some money there tonight. Good variety of what looks like brand new - discontinued and overstock type items. A bunch of gearwrench stuff and a decent supply of magnetic torpedo levels. They're cheap Johnson's but my levels have a tendency to Succumb to gravity while getting a conduit run or rail plumb in a hoistway. At $2.25 a pop I can won't feel bad if one falls and I don't trust it. Got a couple slightly nicer ones too for when I need more precision.
I used the online store with paypal and the shipping was calculated on the total in the cart.
I used the online store with paypal and the shipping was calculated on the total in the cart.
I love Cripe Distributing. Look up stuff on website or ebay and write down part numbers. I call Cripe ( on the tele-phone ) and talk to Bree who is very nice (and in my impression is a lady, which is rare now days). I get the correct total over the phone with shipping, get a discount, and a nice "Thank you" email from Bree.
I wish all transactions could be this pleasant. For those having problems with calling them, are you being a grumble bunny from the get go? Be polite that might help.
I wish all transactions could be this pleasant. For those having problems with calling them, are you being a grumble bunny from the get go? Be polite that might help.
OxJaw
Well-known member
Never had a problem with Cripe and I've order from them a few times. Some of the wrenches I got were scratched and dinged but I can't complain for the price which is pennies on the dollar for some of the larger full polish wrenches.
You just have to keep in mind a lot of what they sell has been sitting around for a while. Most of what they have is new old stock that I imagine was bought on larger scale closeout sales or what not.
I did order the wrong item on eBay from them once and they had no problem cancelling the order so I could order the right item. I had it all straightened out in a couple hours of sending them a message through eBay.
Glad to see their site is back up and functional.
You just have to keep in mind a lot of what they sell has been sitting around for a while. Most of what they have is new old stock that I imagine was bought on larger scale closeout sales or what not.
I did order the wrong item on eBay from them once and they had no problem cancelling the order so I could order the right item. I had it all straightened out in a couple hours of sending them a message through eBay.
Glad to see their site is back up and functional.
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ihateminimumwage
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Order just arrived, 10% coupon code is the same as it's always been.
Code: Welcome Back
IUEC Medic
Well-known member
So far I've had a good experience...
I placed my order last night with everything being shipped usps, got a phone call today saying that ups was cheaper and would take the same amount of time. Order shipped today and received a refund that was initiated by Cripe.
I'm impressed so far...
I placed my order last night with everything being shipped usps, got a phone call today saying that ups was cheaper and would take the same amount of time. Order shipped today and received a refund that was initiated by Cripe.
I'm impressed so far...