Chiltern ArcheryAvis 

This is the second time I have placed an online order with Chiltern Archery and the second time burnt with extended lead times that are unacceptable in today’s online world.

Everything online appears to be in stock and readily available. This is not the case. Stock is ordered in from European suppliers only after you order and pay in full from Chiltern Archery.

Once you pay the company, they take your money, they send you an invoice minus any information of an arrival date.

Days pass between the confirmation email minus any date of ETA, and so you chase via email and they ignore you. You chase again via email and deadly silence at the other end.

After day 3 you call the store direct to confirm what’s going on, only to be told they’ve ordered goods from Europe and they’ll send them the following week, if they receive the goods in from Europe! Again no guarantee on any date of ETA.

Please let me explain how the modern world works. If your website states goods are available - and it absolutely should be up to date at all times!

I’d expect those items I stock to be dispatched in your standard business hours from the UK, with either a 24/48/courier/next day/Saturday delivery depending on how I wish to pay.

I DO NOT EXPECT TO PURCHASE ITEMS IN STOCK TO BE TOLD THEY ARE NOT AND THE HAVE TO BE SHIPPED IN FROM EUROPE WITH NO DEFINED TIMEFRAME.

Your business model is to charge £7.75 for delivery “no details given” with good cause it appears.

I can order from local archery companies and clubs quicker than your provided online methods. In future even for the few extra pounds I will solely be using these measures. At least I will be given a detailed information on when I can expect the goods if not already on the shop floor - and more importantly, they'll only charge me once the goods are onsite and physically available to me!

You really need to look at your online systems and ordering processes, and if you can’t afford to update those, or adjust to the modern world, at least answer emails from your customers asking for updates… this is the bare minimum in today’s world!

Customer services is key, and I am afraid of the 2 times using you now you have epically failed in both counts in the same way, out of stock, no answer to customer emails, and extended lead times on delivery making you in ineffective point of purchase.

Excellent communications, great product at a good price and problem-free delivery.

As a complete novice to Archery, I found them extremely helpful and generally pleasant.

Most probably the cheapest place overall to get your archery gear and the customer service is excellent.
George kept me updated on my deliveries and was happy to add parts to my already existing orders without question.
I really could not be happier with the service I have recieved and I highly recommend Chiltern Archery to all.
Thanks George keep up the good work and look forward to throwing much more business your way, cheers.

Ordered goods yesterday lunchtime and they arrived 10:00 following morning, in Cornwall...Excellent! Quiver, armbrace and bow-stringer all good quality and barely bothered the piggy bank, i.e. VFM.
Spoke with staff member yesterday as I forgot to order bow-stringer on original order, and they combined it with original order so that I only paid carriage once.

I have bought several times from Chiltern Archery and never had a problem until my last order.
I ordered several items 2 of which were single colour strings. When they arrived they were 2 colour strings so I rang and told to send them back and they would send 2 replacements. I sent back, no offer of return postage, was made so had to pay this myself.
When receiving the replacement package I opened it to find 2 tubes but only 1 string in one tube and the other being empty. Neither tube had a cap on.
I rang on 3rd December to inform them and was told that there was definitely 2 strings and 2 caps on the tubes. There didn't appear to be any damage to the envelope so I don't know what happened from leaving there to reaching me.
Anyway I was promised a new string would go in the post but I have not received it and I've allowed plenty of time for the Christmas post so very disappointed with this service.

These guys are great. loads of advice to suit your budget.

This is a family owned 3rd generation family business a specialist Archery Pro Shop, indoor archery range and lovely outdoor target field. This is one of a handful of such companies in the UK serving UK Archers with both budget to high-end equipment backed by knowledge of equipment in a sport that can be hugely technical. Like Amazon you can shop with them online and for consumables which is fine and even bigger purchases for experienced archers but for a first time buyer there is nothing better than the face to face experience and leaving with equipment tailored to you and your budget. I have shopped with Chiltern both via the website and in person and received advice by phone and email. I would encourage potential online shoppers to check stock holding before putting through a time critical order. I have received excellent service on top quality products at highly competitive prices, most recently some Easton arrows I bought were the cheapest anywhere in the UK. As an experienced competitive archer and AGB/WA Coach I can fully recommend this company whom I have personally always found to be 10/10 !

Misunderstanding with my order and requested a refund - George could not have been more helpful.
Fully recommend Chiltern Archery!

A great customer experience! Once in a while you encounter a company who really does put the customer first. From a user-friendly web site, a comprehensive reasonably-priced stock list, expert advice, superb communications and delivery on time, Chiltern Archery ticks all the boxes. Highly recommended.

Fabulous fast delivery and fair prices and don’t overcharge on delivery like some others! Impressed and will order again. Thank you

Chiltern archery made my day when i called and they told me they had the Shibuya sight i wanted in limited edition purple at the best price ive seen. The person i spoke with (David i think) was friendly and helpful. The sight arrived the next day with efficient tracking. So happy with the service and product, very impressed thank you 😊.

I rarely write such long reviews, but have never had such an experience as this with Chiltern Archery.

They are fine as long as nothing goes wrong.

I had an issue with a riser that arrived with a fault. Believe it or not, when I reported it with evidence I still had to chase them up for a response and when I did they said they’d come to a decision - presumably not bothered to share that unless I chased it up - which was to have me get in touch with their supplier and take it up with them!!

I did, just to humour this extraordinary suggestion and of course was advised by their supplier to take it up with Chiltern.

I did, and they agreed to send a replacement, but decided to send me a display unit with clear evidence of use, such as wear and tear on the insert threads with the anodised paint worn off. When I reported this they flat out denied and refused to deal with it! I had to resort to actioning a credit card charge back, raising a ticket with Trading Standards, and asking their supplier for evidence that the replacement unit they sent me was in fact sourced from them as they claimed. The supplier couldn’t provide this information but assured me they would resolve it with Chiltern and to hang fire.

I did and the next day Chiltern agreed to refund the clearly used riser they sent to me as a new and unused item.

You should rate a business by how they act when something goes wrong, not when they are taking your money, so in this case the refusal to take responsibility, the adversarial attitude and the outright dishonesty amounts to a scam operation as far as I’m concerned.

Would advise all to bear this in mind when dealing with them. Friendly and helpful when taking your money, but will stoop to any level to keep it if something goes wrong.

In response to Chiltern’s reply of 27th June:

They are not telling the whole truth, so are lying. They sent me a genuinely unopened, brand new riser. That riser had a genuine factory fault. It was returned after much effort despite Chiltern trying their best to avoid their legal obligations and make me foot that bill. They then tried to palm off a used display item as a replacement. I had to go to extra effort to both have their supplier step in and threaten use of the Consumer Rights Act before they had no choice but to offer a full refund. Bear this in mind if you consider purchasing from them. Lying, law-evading chancers.

Big Thank you to Harry and the team. Superb service’ very happy with these Guys’ will use again for Sure.👍

Ordered a dozen Easton ACC arrows online and very impressed with finished arrows that were received by post within a week - excellent communication through both specific requirements on online order and follow up contact by email and telephone. Highly recommended archery supplier. Will definitely order further items from them in future.

Great bag, arrived quick, good quality.

Great facilities good knowledge of Archery and equipment

Helpful information provided. Easy process to order and pay for a beginners course as a gift. With prompt responses to questions asked.

Brilliant fun for all the family.
Martin and Mark are lovely people who will teach you everything you need to know. Highly recommend the archery.