Short version: 6 out of 5 stars!
I got interested in one of the AA advertisers, & some time ago, I dropped Depot 53 an email asking about “in stock†and estimated shipping cost… They have about the same selection you find overseas, and they’re very willing to find you anything they don’t have offered on their website.
www.depot53.com After a few emails back & forth, I concluded “these people know what they’re talking about, can get special order items, and have very competitive prices; I like these guys!†So, they sound good up front, but I didn’t know anyone that has placed an order from them. Seriously though, that’s a powerful thing when you’re going to get a major piece of gear that’ll be with you a while… Good or bad reviews from friends make a difference!
Actually dealing with them:
Ever get one of those “really great transactions†on Ebay? After a few emails, you know everything will arrive soon as advertised? It’s really nice getting a confirmation that “It’s in stock, the price is great, and we can ship it to you today!†I called them a little bit ahead of time to “verify age†which just takes a simple phone call to their 800 number. Something you’ll only have to do once, and is painless. (Beats the hell out of filling out those forms at JT!) So, I did the “Order online†thing. Website is very well set up, and no errors on any of the online order pages. (That always bothers me!) Placed my order, got the initial invoice email, then shortly after got confirmation of shipment. They indicated they’d have a tracking number shortly, and to contact them with any questions. The shipment arrived on time, and very well packed. Naturally, the first thing I did was to put in a battery & try it out… When I did, I was surprised to find the “trades†intact.
If you’ve been looking for a place to get exactly what you need, cheap, and quick, check these guys out.
Pros: Fast shipping, competitive prices, knowledgeable staff, easy ordering…
Cons: Only have a store in Texas!
