Vexed by Happy Trails

[sportsguy]

I ordered my HT panniers last month. They had a 20% off sale on the units I liked and threw in free shipping.

Call 1 - established they had the units I wanted in the color I wanted, on sale.
Call 2 - confirmed my order, double checked my order and was told my panniers were built and heading out for powder coating, which could take a couple weeks, then they'd be back, packed and shipped to me. At the time of this call, they would ship my mounting brackets, which arrived 2 days later and were installed in mere minutes. It was suggested my panniers would arrive around the 2nd/3rd week of February, likely, BUT that wasn't certified and I should watch for an email from Heather with my ship date.

Email arrived, with a ship date of February 28th...hmmm...that's not 3 to 4 weeks as originally suggested. There's an extra week in there now. Oh well, no biggie.

Email from UPS two days ago that Happy Trails was shipping me a package! Could this be my panniers, earlier than expected maybe? What? Shipping weight is 2 pounds...wtf is that?! Not panniers, that's for sure.

But there are only two things left - the panniers and mounting pucks. Surely they would ship the mounting pucks at this random time? Surely they'd save themselves the cost of shipping the pucks to me and send them with the panniers? Surely you jest! ...and stop calling me Shirley!

Mounting pucks arrived today and no sight of the panniers. I expect they'll arrive in early March, because that's what Heather said, and its beginning to look like strange thinking is afoot at HT, so whatever Heather says is what happens...LOL Remind me to bring flower for Heather if I visit their offices.

So, let's see, what kind of deal am I getting here...?

20% discount on hard bags I wanted - check
free shipping on racks - check
free shipping on mounting pucks - check
free shipping on panniers - check
exhausted UPS staff - check
several trees processed into shipping stickers - check
enough cardboard to reforest Guatemala - check

If I may paraphrase one of SNL's funniest all-time skits, D*ick In A Box, they should have kept the mounting pucks and simply "put that junk in a box" when shipping the panniers. Would have saved them a few dollars in shipping. And you can't tell me there isn't enough room with the panniers - they are empty boxes!

 

[snakebitten]

It's worth the wait. A LOT of tough built kit for the $$'s.

I think mine arrived in the same order as yours. 2 ½ years ago.

 

[arjayes]

Beware of those big hard side cases:

Man rides motorcycle off pier in France

Poor bastard didn't see that coming did he?!

 

[snakebitten]

That's horrible.

 

[sportsguy]

That's exactly why I sold the FJR...!

And I have a Giant Loop Great Basin for riding around yacht clubs in the south of france...

Just to clarify, I'm not displeased with HT - simply confused by the logic at play is all.

 

[arjayes]

HT has been great when I've dealt with them. Just been looking for an excuse to post that video!

I do have reservations about ever mounting hard bags on my bike, though. I want the convenience and security, but I hate the added width and the danger of busting up a leg on the trail. I guess the ideal solution is what you have (or will have soon anyway) - hard bags for touring and soft luggage for camping/adventuring.

 

[snakebitten]

The cargo carrying capacity of this bike is outstanding when fully rigged. And it serves its purpose.

But once we get to our destination, and setup camp, it all gets stripped off. We then go adventure riding on a dirt bike.

 

[sportsguy]

The cargo carrying capacity of this bike is outstanding when fully rigged. And it serves its purpose.

But once we get to our destination, and setup camp, it all gets stripped off. We then go adventure riding on a dirt bike.

Holy f**k...my truck would struggle with that load. Man, you're a proper donkey wrangler SB!

 

[snakebitten]

This IS the F350 of ADVworld.

It's big, and heavy, and strong.
But also comfortable & dang near unstoppable.
But it's most endearing trait is it WILL get you back home.
(proper belly protection required)

 

[arjayes]

Seriously, snake - three helmets??? Impressive load - good thing this bike has some bad-ass brakes!

 

[sportsguy]

Its one helmet and two prepper bags, I think...

 

[arjayes]

You're right. Couldn't see it on my tablet. Coleman helmets - not!!

 

[snakebitten]

Lol, She'll go anywhere and camp with me too. Even cook a proper breakfast. Only requirement is air mattress in the tent, and a hot cup of coffee to sip on before climbing out from under the covers.

I'm happy to oblige. Nothing beats laying in that tent, laughing about the crazy stuff we tried that day, listening to mountain rain drops popping off the fly, and texting the kids letting them know they aren't having near as much fun as their old fogie mom n dad.

It really is quite a bike. Best one I know of at doing what we do with it.

 

[sportsguy]

I'm confused... do you sleep with your wife or the bike in the tent?

 

[snakebitten]

I definitely deserve that.

 

[sportsguy]

AN UPDATE!

Over the weekend, Heather responded to my question asking about the puck set being shipped early. She explained it would normally ship WITH the racks, but as they were out when I placed my initial order, my pucks were delayed, hence the two separate shippings.

...and so today I see my panniers have shipped, as well! HOT DAMN!

Fingers crossed they land by the end of this week so I can try them on the bike over the weekend...but we'll see...

My hats off to HT for their excellent customer service.

According tot he gent I spoke with on the phone, my panniers are bang on schedule. According to Heather, she-who-sets-things-in-stone, my panniers are shipping 10 days EARLY. So this could be a matter of timing and everything just worked for me, or it could be they are engineering a favorable outcome to look good delivering ahead of schedule...

Either way, I'm grateful for them getting my gear done.

 

[sportsguy]

Panniers have arrived. I'll open the box tomorrow, check everything and try a test mount.

 

[CDMartin884]

::018:: Its like Christmas all over again

 

[rem]

Panniers have arrived. I'll open the box tomorrow, check everything and try a test mount.

Oh, please … you'll open the box tonight … come on, you can't fool and old codger. Congrats .. R ::008:: .. and have fun.

 

[sportsguy]

Oh, please … you'll open the box tonight … come on, you can't fool and old codger. Congrats .. R ::008:: .. and have fun.

I beat your assessment, Rem!

Morning is upon us and I have yet to look inside the box...

Mostly due to crashing last night right after my post. You see, the previous evening we enjoyed a few hours with Sting and Paul Simon, and for a couple of old guys, they kept us up pretty late, so last night was payback for shirking my duties as pillow tester the night before. Concert was awesome.

Add in what we thought was a missing cat from our neighbors, setting up the humane trap, searching, etc., and the pannier got the chilly elbow. Found the cat this morning... in the house...

Today, however, I'm working from home. So once my last meeting wraps up around noon, the box shall be given lavish attention...