eBags.com

Full review


When I took my short but exciting trip to Danvers [leaving one asylum to visit another] I knew that I would need two strong and sturdy bags, one for personal belongings and one that I could take with my when we went to explore the abandoned buildings of the former mental facility. I’d tried to make this trip several times but things always popped up at the last minute so I was more than ready when the big day arrived. Knowing that I would need two bags that were 100% dependable, I turned to the one site that sold almost every style bag known to man – eBags. Everything from practical to work-related, everyday backpacks to handbags and purses … and then some … can be found at the site. What still amazes me about this cyber store is that they have such a huge stock but the prices are still extremely reasonable; most of the time being a few dollars less that what I could find locally. The section that I visit most often is the urban gear part of the site; a great place for messenger bags, over-the-shoulder slings and waist packs.

Navigation

You’ll have no trouble getting around the site and things are presented nicely with tons of links to different sections and listings. Almost every single bag that’s listed at the site is shown with a full color photo, description, size and all the basic information you might need to come to a purchasing decision. Some of them do have reader feedback on them but I found most of them are either too basic or sound like sale pitches. I’ve never come across a dead link or a single pop up – unless you click on something within the site to prompt a pop up – like reading about the “Bill Me later” option. One of the nicest things is that the larger sections – like backpacks – are broken up several ways, according to price, manufacturer, material and similar styled bags. This gives you a lot more choice when shopping online and you don’t feel limited to the results that may be a little skimpy in some areas.

If you would rather have a paper catalog to look through, you can request one online and it should arrive in about seven to ten days, a little longer around the holidays. This is a great way to check out the different styles and manufacturers or to leave one laying around as a subtle hint for that someone special. If you are a subscriber to the catalog and wish to be removed from the mailing list, you can also take care of that at the site. The paper catalog is nice but doesn’t have the selection and variety that you can get online, nor does it reflect some items that are on sale.

Name Brands

Some of the more popular names you will find at the site include Chrome [one of my favorites], Clive, Nike, Eagle Creek, Buxton, Zoon, Drop, JanSport and EastPak – but that’s just a few of the big names you will find at the site. Let’s put it this way, when I start looking for a bag and type the name of it into the Google search engine, nine out of ten times, the eBags site comes up as one of the first three results. The site offers you a thirty day return policy but most of the bags have their own warranty against defects so you may want to read up on the individual manufacturers before you make a purchase. The variety at eBags can’t be beat – for backpacking, school, work or fun, the site has a bag regardless of your needs, specs or hearts desire.

Outside of bags, the site also sells CD carriers, travel kits, camcorder bags, camera cases, umbrellas, neck roll pillows and a pretty hefty selection of wallets. Looking for luggage? This site has a lot to choose from – everything from the basics to sets on wheels. One of the ultra cool footlockers that I wanted is listed at the site and while I had hoped to get it for Christmas or my birthday … I am sort of hoping that it will mysteriously show up at my doorstep for Valentine’s Day [hint hint hint]. I guess that eBags wanted to cover all the bases because there’s even a section for pet travel. I’m sure Paris Hilton got her dog Tinkerbell’s stuff custom made but for the rest of us … this cute pooch kit will have to do.

Purchases

My first purchase was a small one – a waist pack that I had for a few years and loved to death but had seen better days. When you have to start using safety pins to make repairs to a bag, it’s time to get a new one. The waist pack that I picked out was a great pick and served me well, but just like its predecessor, it started to fall apart. This had nothing to do with how the bag was made or the quality, just that I am pretty rough on bags. Since the first purchase I’ve become a regular at the site and check it at least once a week to see what they have added or what’s on sale. Right now they have the “winter sale” going on and have some great steals available. By far my favorite bag I ordered from the site has to be the ecko unlimited military style flat backpack. If you are tough on bags then this is the one for you.

Gift Certificates

Want to get someone a gift but not sure what they really really want? EBags offers gift certificates in several denominations [$25.00, $50.00, $100.00 and $500.00] or you can pick your own amount. These are good for one year from the date they are purchased, not the date they are redeemed. They can’t be cashed in for other gift certificate but can be used throughout the site. There are some other limitations regarding shipping and taxes so read over the terms before you send one to someone.

Payment Options

The site accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover Card but they show Diners Club being listed in some areas. They also offer the “Bill Me Later” option if you choose not to pay with a credit card. I had to laugh for a moment when I looked to see if they accepted JCB cards and saw the message “We do NOT currently accept direct wire transfers, Smart Cards, or Flooz”. I hate to break it to them but Flooz went out of business back in 2001. This along with the Diners Club thing [it’s not listed as a valid form of payment but the logo and mini-card image are all over the site] leads me to think that the backbone of the site isn’t updated nearly as often as it should be. In any event, credit card orders are processed quickly and I’ve had no troubles with authorization or being charged a different amount that what was shown when I confirmed the order. I had no interested in using the “Bill Me Later” option but it is nice to know that it’s there for those who don’t have a credit card or wish to pay with a check.

Customer Service

I’ve only had to contact them a few times to ask about a specific bag and used the automated help form at the site. My inquiries were answered in less than twelve hours and contained a real response, not some canned information. You can also call the toll free number to place an order or to ask some questions before making a purchase. I never used the toll free number so I can’t comment on how quickly calls are answered but people I’ve spoken with have had mixed feeling about the operators.

eBags
6060 Greenwood Plaza Blvd.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
1-800-820-6126

orders@eBags.com
www.ebags.com

Shipping

One of the biggest perks of the site is their free shipping offer, but this does have a few strings attached to it. If you live in Canada, Alaska or Hawaii, you won’t qualify for this. The site says that the offer for free shipping can be cancelled at any time so make sure you see the banner at the top of the page when you place an order. The shipping fee schedule is posted at the site under the customer service section in case you are placing an order that will be shipped outside the free zones. Even if you do have to pay the shipping fees [calculated according to the total dollar amount of the order], they aren’t obscene.

Returns

Without a doubt, this site is one of the easiest to make a return to. I have only had to make one return but it was so simple that even a monkey could do it. Returns are accepted within a thirty day period from when you receive the order – for any reason. You have to follow the rules at the site to make sure you get the total amount refunded so read the site policy before you place an order if you think you may need to return or exchange it. Everything that needs to be done to make a return can be done online, just fill out the form and click the submit button. After that you’ll be sent a link to your prepaid shipping sticker that you can tape to your box. After that, all you have to do is drop it off at a UPS shipping counter and eBags will let you know when they receive it and when you can expect the refund to be processed. If you received it as a gift they will place the amount paid into a gift certificate account that you can then use as you wish.

The Bottom Line

Tremendous selection, great prices, free shipping, excellent return policy and quality products. What more could you want from an internet site? What? That’s not enough? How about a site that’s easy to navigate, has a quick reply time for emailed questions, provides you with a prepaid mailing label for returns and even offers gift certificates for those picky people in your life. To me this is what all internet site should be like – offering the customer a solid product at a decent price without all the hassle, attitude and run around that you get at other sites and in retail stores. If you’ve never checked out the site, you don’t know what you are missing!


As always, thanks for the read!

~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~

© 2004 Freak369


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