good place to order a selle italia saddle?

[Grits]

I am on a quest for a saddle. I've tried a couple of Terry's with no luck and am now ready to try a Selle Italia diva gel flow.

I am spoiled by TE and Terry's return policies. Can anyone recommend a place to order a Selle Italia that has a decent return policy in case it doesn't work out?

I have looked at quite a few online sites and have either not been able to find a return policy, or have found one like this:
the product must be unused and/or uninstalled and complete, in its original packaging, and returned within 30 days from the date of purchase.

Really? Unused and uninstalled makes it hard to try out a saddle.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Zen]

Maybe if you order it through your LBS they can offer you their own return policy?

[kermit]

Try for an ebay deal, that way if you hate it, you can post as "used once" and make some money back. I have always just kept the little leather tag on when trying, and have returned a couple that way after wiping off with a cloth, no problems. Keep the box and just be careful with chamois butter or getting it wet. I think it is Colorado cyclist that has a trial package of 11 SI and SSM saddles. Do a search on here for saddle trials. I also remember someone getting to try a bunch of SI WS saddles.

[ehirsch83]

I say go to your LBS. Even if they don't carry them in stock, almost all can order them in! They are carried in QBP, which is a major supplier that 90% of shops out there use.

[tctrek]

You can try Performance Bike. http://www.performancebike.com/help/returns.cfm

I've always had good luck with them and they are one of the most reliable online sites for bicycle items.

[Zen]

I think a lot of people don't realize you can order stuff through the LBS and it ends up being the same price as online when you factor in shipping charges.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP!!!

[Grits]

Unfortunately, my LBS has not been very helpful in the past and does a very poor job of helping women riders in particular. I tried at first to take my business to them, but was disappointed. They got good money when I bought my bike, and I will certainly go to them for maintenance and parts, but for other items I try TE first and then look elsewhere when TE doesn't carry it.

[ehirsch83]

Lori,
I hate to say it, but an attitude like that can make an LBS not want to help you.
WHen you show up with a bike that you bought there but new parts on it that you got elsewhere, they usually feel hurt. And that hurt can turn into not wanting to help you.

Evil circle these actions are..

[Grits]

Lori,
I hate to say it, but an attitude like that can make an LBS not want to help you.
WHen you show up with a bike that you bought there but new parts on it that you got elsewhere, they usually feel hurt. And that hurt can turn into not wanting to help you.

Evil circle these actions are..

I don't understand why expecting decent customer service from a LBS means I have an attitude.

I have not been pleased enough with their customer service in the past to ask them to order something they do not usually stock.

[Miranda]

I ordered by SI Diva from Nahbar. They will take stuff back up to year I think the sales slip says.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_198647_-1___

OK, if you ride the saddle 50miles in the rain, you might have a questionable return. Common sense applies of course.

I had a big rant typed out about your lbs experience. I feel your pain. I retracted my seething bile. I think in short, if the shop can work out what you need for options, fine. If they can't, then get what you need in a manner that works for you.

[Zen]

I can't help but have the feeling something is missing in this story.
I hope you can find a shop where you can establish a good working relationship. Nothing can replace that.

[Tokie]

Hey you guys remember that company that sent me (at no additional charge and with free shipping both ways) demo SI saddles! I think it was Pro Net.Inc. They were very nice - I got to demo 5 saddles, and got a 10% discount when I decided to buy one. I tried them all, and passed them around among my friends to try out too before sending them back. I was very pleased. No LBS's here carry SI womens' saddles, and very few womens' saddles in general. It was great! Tokie

[Tokie]

I found it (googled) http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=pronet&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=696285426&Count2=613425850 The website doesn't say anything about a demo program, I don't recall if it did before, or the woman "Renee" just told me about it. I hope they still have it. Several months later, this past October or November my husband used the demo program for men's SI saddles too. Good luck! (If you buy a saddle, they send you a new one, the demo saddles are just for demos!)

[Grits]

Thanks, gals. It is good to have some places to check out.

[Miranda]

I found it (googled) http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=pronet&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=696285426&Count2=613425850 The website doesn't say anything about a demo program, I don't recall if it did before, or the woman "Renee" just told me about it. I hope they still have it. Several months later, this past October or November my husband used the demo program for men's SI saddles too. Good luck! (If you buy a saddle, they send you a new one, the demo saddles are just for demos!)

Thx Tokie for posting that link! I could remember you mentioning it before, but didn't recall the name. They also have great descriptions of the SIs on their web site under "which saddle is right for me?". Informative:cool:.

[lattae]

If you purchase the SI Diva saddle make sure and let us know if you like it. I've had the Lady gel flow and found that to be my favorite saddle. My only issue with it was that the saddle would wear out(covering would wear a hole to the side of the saddle) probably due to excessive sweating. I see now on that web site that they sell SI saddle covers..so that probably would save my saddle from wearing out.

[Grits]

Thought I would give you an update. First I picked up a Bontrager Inform at my LBS (customer service was excellent, btw! I was very pleasantly surprised). It was surprisingly good, better than the Terry Butterfly I tried, but still some soft tissue pain, so back it went.

I then ordered the SI Lady Diva from Performance (whose Customer Service Rep said they will take any item back at any time if the customer is not satisfied with it, but still, I will limit myself to a 30 day trial).

I have not decided if this is the one yet. I am still making minute adjustments to it hoping it will work, but there is still some soft tissue discomfort. I plan to make one more little change before this weekend and leave it there for several long rides. If there is no improvement, I guess it will go back as well.

The first saddle I tried was the Falcon X, and it has been the best so far with soft tissue comfort. I sent it back because my sitz bones felt bruised, but now I am beginning to think that I would eventually get over that, and even if I didnt' completely, I would rather have that than soreness in the front!

Anyway, the quest continues.

[papaver]

If you are sore in the front you have to tip the head of the saddle a littlebit downwards.

[Grits]

If you are sore in the front you have to tip the head of the saddle a littlebit downwards.


I tried that, but hasn't helped. I have read the exact opposite also, that you should tilt it UP a tiny bit to put more weight on the back. thought I would try that this weekend.