Altrec.com

Full review
I first discovered Altrec’s online store around a year ago after finding a great deal on an inexpensive Nike hydration pack. Since that time I have purchased three other outdoor packs from Altrec.com.

About this store:

Altrec.com isn't just about selling outdoor backpacks, this is a full feature outdoor-gear store. From items like The North Face tents to Arc'teryx outdoor clothing, just about anything you will need to battle the outdoor elements can be purchased here. One should note that all items sold at Altrec.com are in new condition; no refurbished items are sold here.

Navigation:

Shopping at this store couldn't be easier; Altrec organizes its merchandise in a way that allows the shopper to get in and out without any fuss. If you have any problems finding a product at Altrec, you can always use their excellent search engine. In addition to offering easy navigation, Altrec Online Store also features pictures, thousands of consumer reviews, and in-depth descriptions on almost every outdoor product that they have in stock. To finalize a purchase at Altrec.com, you don't need to register with this company, though you will need to fill out a short personal information form (takes about 1 minute). You will also need to have a major credit card or gift card, as these are the only payment methods available directly from the site.


Prices:

So far I have made only a few purchases from Altrec; a Nike hydration pack, an Oakley daypack, and two backpacks from The North Face. My most recent purchase from Altrec’s online store was a hydration pack from The North Face at an unbelievable low cost of 56 dollars. After just under nine dollars for ground shipping, my total cost came to only 65 dollars. This price was nearly 30 percent less than what I would have paid had I went to any competing online store featuring this pack. The price tags on my other backpacks were even better; I saved between 40% and 60% on each. In general, the prices at Altrec.com are only slightly better than average; you can usually count on an item being between 5% and 10% lower than retail. Altrec Online Store does features a closeout section, though, where you can easily save between 20 and 80 percent on many outdoor products. Needless to say, this is a section of the site where you will usually find me.

Shipping Charges:

Altrec Online Store bases it’s shipping rates on the price of the item versus its weight. I normally don’t encourage these types of shipping rates because it simple isn’t fair for those who buy expensive but lightweight items. Altrec, however, has made this one of the best shipping rates available (next to free shipping of course. At Altrec there are only 3 shipping rates; $5.95 for orders under 50 dollars, $8.95 for orders up to 95 dollars, and $9.95 thereafter for ground shipping. Note: Altrec is currently offering free ground shipping for orders over $95. If ground shipping isn’t you gig, than you can always go with the optional 3-day, 2-day, or overnight shipping, which also have reasonable rates. You should note that this store will ship most of their products to virtually any part of the world.

Returns:

The return policy at the store is very generous. Unlike many online stores that give you as little as 14 business days to return your merchandise, Altrec will provide you with a full refund (including shipping) if you are not happy with any of their merchandise for a full 90 days. Altrec Online Store also offers a price match guarantee for up to 14 days after your purchase; if you find a product for less money at a competing online store you can contact Altrec’s customer care and they will send you a check for the difference. As far as I know Alrec.com also doesn’t charge restocking fees. Restocking fees are absolutely ridiculous, so it’s refreshing to see a store not have these types of ludicrous return fees.


Selection:

While not offering as large of a selection as Backcountry Store or GearDirect, the selection at Altrec is still gigantic; blowing away many competing online stores' selection on outdoor equipment. Altrec.com features all kinds of outdoor-related products and name brands. If you plan on going on a swim trip to Lake Havasu or just chill out in the Cascade Mountains, this store has your gear. Though Altrec does have a slight outdoor clothing bias, this store offers a huge selection on all types of outdoor products, i.e. snowboards, dry bags, tents, climbing gear, etc. etc. If I have any minor gripes about this store's selection they would have to do with its somewhat scant selection of outdoor electronics. If you are looking for a good GPS unit, you will probably have to look elsewhere.

Customer Service:

Sometimes great prices combined with a great selection can mean horrible customer service, this isn't the case with Altrec Online Store. The people here are courteous, competent, and the company rarely makes you wait longer than two or three minutes to talk with a live representative via their 1-800 number.

Arrival:

I have never had to wait more than ten business days to receive a product from this store. It has usually taken Altrec.com just 5-6 business days (via standard UPS Ground) to get me my orders. When my backpacks did arrive, they were all thoughtfully packaged and were in perfect condition.


Final Thoughts:

As much as I like to gripe, there really is not much about Altrec Online Store to rant about. Altrec Online Store offers great formatting, an excellent selection of outdoor gear, and great prices to boot. I recommend this online store to anyone who is in the market for an outdoor accessory, whether it is a backpack or a pair of hiking boots. I will definitely be shopping here again.




Thanks for reading-