TGW is a joke - be wary of them

[BigBoy]

I have heard some good things about TGW in the past, and I was looking for a shag bag, just browsing on Amazon, and saw that TGW had one available thru the Amazon marketplace.

Long story short, I ordered the bag at the start of May, with an estimated delivery of May 12th.

I still don't have it. I wrote to them, and they claimed they had a stock out. Thats fine, it happens, but there was NO indication that they didn't have the product available. They happily took my money and then told me to pound sand when I asked when it would be arriving.

The ironic thing is that TGW has this posted as part of their company profile on Amazon -

The Golf Warehouse is also dedicated to providing the largest and broadest selection of golf products in the world. Unlike other "online" golf shops who leave you in the dark as to whether you have just purchased a product that is in stock or whether it has to be ordered.

Obviously, they aren't as different as they claim to be, as they did hide the fact that they didn't have the product in stock from me. I was truly in the dark and have missed 1/3 of the summer using the product I bought a month ago.

I would SERIOUSLY think twice about ever shopping again with them, and would NEVER buy a set of clubs or some other major purchase. Maybe others have had other experiences, but I'd chalk that up to the luck of the draw and not anything they do especially well. I suspect like so many other companies that hit a certain size, they have lost the attention to detail and good customer service that got them to where they are now.

Be wary of them, and don't let their past reputation make your decision for you.

[jeffrey r]

E-mail or call Amazon customer service, explain the situation, and tell them that you want to cancel the order and get your money back. Amazon will often assist with issues with their marketplace vendors--worth a shot.

[Doctorfro]

I think it's an aberration. I've had nothing but great dealings with them. But it's kinda like me with Callaway customer service. Everyone raves about them but I've had terrible experience with them. Go figure.

[slide13]

That sucks. I purchased a couple clubs from them at great prices and they were shipped right away and had them in no time. I purchased direct from their site though and the items were in stock when I ordered.

[Spackler-esque]

Sounds like bad luck to me. I've never had anything but good experiences ordering wedges, balls, and other accessories from TGW.

[Hokie2k5]

I've had very good experiences with them on stuff that they have in stock.

However, my dad bought a putter 4 months ago and when it arrived he took it out of the box (it never left his office) he realized it was too long and called got a return authorization and they never credited his account. So he called and they said they wouldn't take it back because the putter had been used. The headcover had literally never been taken off the head of the putter and the guy in charge the of returns had the audacity to get in an argument and tell my dad how he played golf in D-1 college and knows when a putter had been used. After the argument he said that he would take the putter back not because he thought my dad was telling the truth but because he was complaining. That was 2 months ago, still no credit....

I'll never order anything from them again.

[CG031]

I've had very good experiences with them on stuff that they have in stock.

Ha, wow, that's pretty unbelievable.

To the original poster, I feel as though it's just be an unlucky situation you got caught in. I agree that that customer service was bad, but I feel you can get into those situations with just about any company, especially over the internet.

[Snake]

I think it's an aberration. I've had nothing but great dealings with them.

Ditto. But I've never ordered thru their amazon storefront, only directly from their wesite. I would call TGW and speak to someone instead of emailing them. That seems to make a difference in situations like this.

[alf174]

Never a problem but went direct, not through Amazon, and used a American Express Card.

[goblue107501]

I have purchased a few things from them with no issues. I have not purchased anything through the Amazon marketplace so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

I bought a pair of shoes from them last year on a Sunday through their website. I got the e-mail confirmation and noticed I made a mistake on the shipping address. I called them on Monday morning to change it. At some point in that day, the price of shoes got lower so the guy cancelled my original order and submitted a new order with the lower price. I had them in hand on Tuesday.

[Elvisliveson]

Ditto. But I've never ordered thru their amazon storefront, only directly from their wesite. I would call TGW and speak to someone instead of emailing them. That seems to make a difference in situations like this.

Use the phone and talk to someone live, what a novel idea! Of course, you are exactly right. A simply phone call to a business like TGW with a pretty impeccable reputation probably would have cleared things up pretty quickly.

[Alohaed]

I've been buying from TGW for 9+ years and never had any problems, until recently. I should call it an inconvenience, not a problem. The last two purchases, one item was marked in stock. Then when I paid, it was not in stock and took 2 weeks later to recieve. After that I placed an order and one of the items was a belt. Again, in stock, until I finalized the purchase. Then it was not in stock and took over a month to receive. Yet each day I went into the site and selected the belt, it was available. And no updates as to when I would recieve it until it was shipped. As for clubs, I would never anyway, from anywhere online. I need to try them, and be fitted. I only use TGW for balls, accessories, certain clothing, etc. Hey, no tax and only a small shipping fee. I remember when there was free shipping at one time. I'm sorry to hear about your experience though.

[slide13]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that a few days after I ordered my two clubs from TGW (the Nickent 3 utility and 3 ironwood in my sig) the already low prices dropped a little due to their Memorial Day sale. I emailed them asking if they could give me a credit for the difference and got a nice email back saying no problem and a few days later I had a $17.xx credit on my card (I know it isn't much but both clubs were only $140 so I figured it was worth asking....made them even a better deal).

The story of the putter sucks though. I'm huge on customer service and that would turn me off a company real quick, but so far my experience has been great. I'll do most of my shopping locally though because my local shop is awesome.

[apex53]

Shocking... Never have had anything but positive dealings with TGW... Great prices and quick shipments... That's a shame you had a bad experience... I always go directly through their website though

[flap]

Saturday I ordered a new set of irons{cally fussions} for a great price 3-p 650 and 7 for shipping.They are on the way and I am tracking them so once again TGW has been good to me.

[Chief Broom]

Most online retailers don't debit your charge account for the sale until it ships?

[nutsnbolts]

I don't get it, I have ordered countless items directly from TGW. From Clicgear carts, accessories, clothing, etc. My one stop shopping place for golf items.

Of course, I can understand where you are coming from especially when an item is on backorder! Trust me, I understand and this is something not just TGW, but happens to almost every ONLINE storefronts. When it comes to backorder, this crap that you are experiencing is something that happens. Of course, if the item is in stock, all is well.

What to do?

Well, for one thing, when I online shop, I always check Amazon.com. Usually the price is the same and I would usually order the item through Amazon versus the direct site. Why? Because Amazon is held liable if something never arrives or if in the event that something is on backorder, guess what, I'm calling Amazon and demand a refund to cancel the order. Amazon then happily obliges. I have never had an issue where Amazon didn't want to make me a happy customer.

Of course, there is also things to be said about going direct to the source but there is always a risk with that.

Check out resellerratings.com first before buying anything online. Good Luck.

[BigBoy]

Sounds like they are generally a decent company, but others have had the same issues with incorrect stocking status being displayed next to products. Thats my main beef, that they claim that they are different because you aren't left in the dark about whether or not they have the item in stock like "other" golf sites, but in fact, they are exactly like other e-tailers that realize that showing an item as out of stock could mean people would look elsewhere. So they are basically full of crap (claiming to do something "special" that they don't really do) , but I guess if their prices are good, people are willing to put up with it -

Thanks for the feedback from everyone -