Backpacking-united.com

Curious if there are any recent purchase success stories with this site. Historical posts across the internet show mixed results. Some prices are seemingly too good to be true, but I have been able to snag some ridiculous deals in the past from international sites due to exchange rates, odd colors, etc, so it's not unheard of.  And there's always pp/cc protection. Thanks

they're based in Germany. I ordered some hiking shoes from them no problems with delivery.
Take a look at this i found it on the internet
https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/backpacking-united-com.52130/
https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/anybody_used_backpacking_united-693094

I bought a black diamond rope from them a couple months ago.  It was a 7.9 mm diameter 70 m priced like a 40 m at just over $80 shipped.  It took about a month to get a tracking number, and about 6 weeks to get the box.  It is indeed a 70 m rope.  

I wouldn't order anything mission critical for any upcoming trips from them.  

What items have you found to be priced too good to believe?  Most of their stuff seems to be about market value, and shipping isn't all that cheap.  

Ordered a microtrax from them for $60 (!), plus intergalactic shipping. Two weeks later I got an email that it was backordered, and due in next week. Two weeks after that got a notice that it was shipped. Two weeks after that it arrived.

As others have said, don't get anything you need for that trip next week. 

A+... successful purchase of some randomly discounted petzl Pur ice picks. Never got a notice of shipping or tracking number but got the goods in 16 days after ordering delivered to Canada.

Just got the 7 GriGri 3s I ordered a bit over a month ago. Wasn't perfect but their CS was responsive and did a good job. Prices are nuts for some things ($49 for grigris? + no tax + $14 for shipping for the whole order)

Originally they said they didn't have teal in stock, so I had them change the order but then they hadn't shipped and teal came back in so I asked if I could actually just get the colors I had originally ordered at the now-lower price. They said sure and gave me an additional discount. The first time they sent I guess DHL returned them to sender and then they eventually sent out my package. I would be mad (originally it said something like 5 business days) but I got 7 Grigris for like $350 including shipping so how can I be mad about that?

Bd Creek 50 for $100 off and $80 less than anywhere else I can find. Ended up getting something different but good to know the site appears pretty legit. Thanks.

I got two current generation Petzl Quarks for $350 shipped, which is ridiculously cheap, considering MSRP of $259 per tool. Like others I placed my order online, and about 4 days passed till I heard anything from them, and then the updates from DHL were really slow, and then one day several updates posted the package cleared customs and was out for delivery. They arrived at my door, about 2 weeks later. 

I had a great experience with them a few weeks back.

Ordered a GriGri in gray on my phone- price listed was $48.80 before shipping/tax.  Learned from another member on here that their mobile site doesn't list all options available, since there were blue ones in stock as well even though they didn't show on the mobile site.

I emailed them the next day asking if they could possibly swap the grey for the blue one- Got a response later that day that it was no problem.  The order shipped a couple days later, and got to me in a little over a week.  Total cost to my door was $71 USD for a brand new 2019 Grigri, so $40 off normal US retail.  $49, plus $13 for shipping.  The invoice said $61 and change, but my bank statement actually showed $71.  One of the emails from BU had the total of 61 in euros, so upon further reflection, I may need to contact PayPal to see what happened there.

Edit- Yup, the total in the BU email said $61 dollars, but in reality it was actually euros, so the $71 was correct at the time.

I also confirmed with Petzl that backpacking-united is an authorized retailer, so shouldn't need to worry about counterfeit items.

Michael Anthony wrote:Total cost to my door was $71 USD for a brand new 2019 Grigri, so $40 off normal US retail.  $49, plus $13 for shipping.  The invoice said $61 and change, but my bank statement actually showed $71.  One of the emails from BU had the total of 61 in euros, so upon further reflection, I may need to contact PayPal to see what happened there.

I also confirmed with Petzl that backpacking-united is an authorized retailer, so shouldn't need to worry about counterfeit items.

Yeah, I was as skeptical as everyone else but I looked on Petzl's distributor map and there they were. Odd business model but if we get the stuff for cheap I guess I don't care. I have a static rope arriving today. :)

Aidan Raviv wrote: As far as the euro/dollar thing, I would shoot their CS an email and see if they will fix it. I think others have had success with that.

Hey Aidan!

BU's CS, or PayPal's?

Michael Anthony wrote:

Hey Aidan!

BU's CS, or PayPal's?

BU's I think? They are super helpful. PayPal will pretty much never give you money back without permission from a retailer IME.

Backpacking United has been a super good purchasing experience.  Customer service is great!! 

I ordered a sleeping bag from them once, super good price on. MH phantom something. Then they contacted me and said it wasn’t in stock and sent my money back. Definitely not a scam site, but perhaps slow and unorganized