Well overall the shopping experience was good from STP but I was a bit disappointed by the shipping and processing time.  
 
Let me start by saying that several people I know have bought from STP and I have indeed noticed their good prices so I decided to go ahead and order.  
 
I ordered 3 woodlore cedar shoe trees for $8.99 each. They normall retail for nearly $20+ each! Great deal on the price, even if they were second quality and stated. They seem to be in good shape with just some minor knots on them. I only ordered 3 just to see how good they are but I may get more for other people.  
 
The ordering on the website is simple and they often have promotions which is a nice deal. I used a code that was a riddle on their flyer and got free shipping.  
 
The products where packaged fine, in a box with minor plastic bubbling and the 3 tree boxes (as expected with box products).  
 
The biggest problem I had was the time and I do not know how big of a fault this is of theirs or of the shipping provider but to me I believe both are at fault. I ordered on the 13th and it wasn't processed until the 18th. Then I didn't receive the product until the 30th of november! Let me say that this was 5-6 day shipping and even though I give them a couple days due to the Thanksgiving Holiday it is still too long. In fact as a comparison I ordered shoes from Zappos. With their free shipping I received the product in 2 days processing time included. I returned one because it was too small and I got a replacement in 2 days to my doorstep. 2 returns in 4 days and on the Thanksgiving week!! In the world of high volume shipping nowadays there is no excuse for such slow responses. STP is quick enough to litter my email with review us emails and send me brochures but they can't get the product here faster?  
 
I should probably order again just to see what the speed is next time in comparison before making a solid judgement but on this order it was too slow for me, in fact some of the slowest shipping on all the products I have ever ordered on the internet, and that is quite a few.

These are great people to do business with. They deal in closeouts so the selection isn't great if you wait a while to order. Best advice:if you see it,buy it. If you don't like it or if something is wrong,they will make it right. Also,study the pictures closely of the products you want to buy:there is a reason they didn't sell

I liked selection, prices and customer services, though I think they should work on the navigation through the ordering process: saving shipping address different from the billing one doesn't work though they offer to save it.

This review was modified by its author, juliak, on 7/4/05 2:31 AM.

I have made quite a few orders over the last three years. Prices are generally good. Many items are from top quality brands. I have never had any problems. Shipping is fast. Packaging is excellent. I will absolutedly order form them again.

Dunno what's with these few negatives lately. I've bought stuff from them for years and have been pleased. Sure sometimes returns are slow but they WILL take the goods back without a hassle.

This review was modified by its author, zxcvb, on 3/11/05 10:12 AM.

I was very impressed with their entire process. My order was immediately confirmed, I received shipping and tracking email the next business day, the item arrived on schedule (2 Days). The product was as described. A perfect transaction.

Let me start by saying I have been shopping from the STP catalog for more than 10 years. I now shop regularly from the website and find it easy to use. The shipping is fast once the item is sent to the carrier. However, I find that they take their sweet time in processing an item in house.  
 
Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend at Sierra. The company seems to have really gone down the tubes in customer service. If you have a return it takes weeks to get your credit/adjustment.  
 
For example I ordered a rather expensive leather breifcase recently. I sent it back because the quality seemed to be a bit low for the price. I ended up ordering the last one available but then returned it. About the time it got back to Sierra the item appeared again on the website for sale. A week later it is sold, but I still have not gotten my money back. When I called they said check back in another week. This is just poor business practice. They charge my credit card and someone elses for the same item. This seems to me to be borderline criminal.  
 
I like sierra's prices and selection but in the past two years (2003-2004) they have really taken advantage of buyers due to poorly mangaged order processing. I used to be able to speak to a well mannered customer service agent. Now I seem to only find terse and unhelpful people on the other end of the line.  
 
Sierra, what happened to you and your Christian Ethics? Oh how I long for the Sierra of old.

Do NOT buy from this company! I ordered an item on 12-9-04 and at that time my credit card was billed. The item supposively shipped on 12-13-04 but it is now 12-22-04 and no one knows where the package is. Sierra trading post claims that the delivery company lost the package, but the delivery company states that the package was never picked up for delivery. The item ordered is now unavailable so there is no way that I will be able to give as a Christmas gift as I should have been able to do. I was told that I would be issued a refund but as of yet I have not received the refund. Please stay away from this company.

Sierra has always been great for me. Big ticket items for way below what I had found elsewhere, with perhaps the exception of E Bay. Just purchased $1,100 Zeiss Victory II binoculars for $825 (refurbished), and this was after 6 different online camera stores tried to rip me off with false ads, and no products. Bought Koflach mountaineering boots from these guys as well for $80, when they were selling for over $200 retail.  
 
Always had good shipping, and customer service. Happy to do business with a reputable company.

Sierra Trading Post is a very average reseller. Their prices are nothing special, and their shipping methods leave something to be desired. I ordered a tie from them, and waited nearly 2 weeks before I received it, with no way of tracking the package.

I love this company. I consistently order from them and have never been disappointed. They have great brand name outdoor products and awesome prices. Why spend $80 for a pair of shoes when you can get them a 6 months later for half the price. Well, I've been running 13 years and my local Running store usually doesn't supply size 7 shoes so this store is perfect for me. Plus they have awesome jackets. Watch out for those extra great deals and load up.

Watch out that Sierra Trading Post sends you the advertised  
merchandise and don't expect any returns to be processed in a  
reasonable time-frame.  
 
I ordered two pairs of hiking boots advertised as including "Tecni  
Dry"-- Tecnica's equivalent of Gore-Tex. The boots they sent were the  
non-Tecni-Dry version (which in fact retail for less than I paid since  
I was supposedly buying discounted higher-end boots).  
 
Customer service said they would inquire and get back to me in 2-4  
days. After 3 weeks I contacted them again, at which point they said  
they had "no information" but permitted me to return the boots (as if  
the misadvertisment were somehow my fault).  
 
I sent back the boots and perhaps I will eventually even get  
refunded-- maybe even get the return shipping refunded-- but it's all  
requiring many annoying prods to customer service which often are not  
answered on the first 1-2 tries. Just processing the return once  
they've verified the merchandise has arrived apparently takes several  
weeks.  
 
I will think twice before ordering from Sierra Trading Post again.  

I have purchased tons of stuff from these guys since I first found them in college in 1991. They have always been awesome about returns and advice on the phone. Their products are always #1 quality and their prices can't be beat.  
 
Over the past 12 years, I've purchased:  
Goretex Pants (ugly but effective and cheap), Snow Clogs (lasted for years), Kelty Backpack (awesome all the way through college), Water Bladder, countless liner socks, treking poles, headlamp, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, etc, etc...  
 
For Christmas, I don't make a list, I just circle all the things I want in the Sierra catalog.

I placed two orders from SierraTradingPost over a month ago. I got free shipping thanks to their special summer offer. Throw in their already low prices + a 20% coupon and you've got some great deals. I had an inquiry and although I did not get a timely response to my e-mail, their live online customer service was very helpful. Soon afterwards, I got an e-mail apologizing about the e-mail I had sent earlier. Easily forgiven, but I should've taken this as a warning sign of things to come.  
 
Ground shipping was a little slow, but perfectly acceptable. On opening the packages, I DID NOT FIND EVERYTHING TO BE AS I HAD ORDERED. I received an incorrect color for one item and an incorrect size for another. But hey, I thought, no biggie. I would be returning some other stuff anyway, since you simply cannot buy clothes online and not expect to return at least one item.  
 
I sent STP not 1, not 2, but 3 e-mails about how to handle the return. They have a great return policy, but they're ignoring my e-mails and that is simply unacceptable and unprofessional customer service.

This review was modified by its author, SlipGun, on 9/10/03 5:19 PM.

I have been ordering from STP for over 6 years now and have never had a problem. Shipments always on time, returns-no problems, prices are really low. i can't say enough about them. STP is the authority on outdoor gear and accessaries.