Does anyone have any suggestions, recommendations or cautions about the various mail order companies out there? Although I'll need my orders to be shipped to Canada, from what I can see most places will do that, so suggestions regardless of location are welcome.

Specifically, I'm looking at getting some rock shoes and approach shoes that the Mountain Equipment Co-op no longer carries and haven't found them anywhere else locally.

I've looked at backcountry.com and it has what I'm looking for, but I thought I'd solicit opinions before whipping out the plastic.

I've so far had good luck with every placed I've ordered on-line from, including MountainGear.com, BentGate.com, Backcountry.com, SteepAndCheap.com, REI.com, EverestGear.com.

Ditto on SteepandCheap.com, Backcountry.com, MountainGear.com. Also mountaintools.com is great, they have a guaranteed fit policy on their shoes. They are up near Monterey CA and carry lots of really good climbing gear. Backcountry has a pretty sweet shipping policy though if you don't need it yesterday and no sales tax. The other thing about Backcountry is they have have a good return policy and the online help is top notch.

Mail order companies I've used and liked:

I'd check sierratradingpost.com-they often get closeout shoes and limited gear for stupid cheap prices.

Other than that, in no particular order:
Rei.com (check the outlet section for killer deals)
mountaingear.com (some really good sales)
Campmor.com
libertymountain.com
bent gate mountaineering-I've only used the store, but they have a good website as well

I've never personally used these, but heard multiple positive reports about:
steapandcheap.com
backcountry.com
pagangear.com

Come to think of it, I've never been stiffed by an outdoor, online company. One thing I like about the industry is that they have made a unified effort to maintain customer service and product quality. Knock on wood.

Evan

All our our sponsors do mail order so I'd recommend contacting them first...

Just to close this thread off: I ordered from Bent Gate in Golden. They were very responsive by email and phone, and I got what I wanted.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Wilderness Exchange was great. Gear Express (www.gearexpress.com) has been good to me. Once I ordered a mountainteering axe from them that ended up being out of stock. They upgraded my order to the next best one and didn't charge me for it. I've also had really good luck on Steep and Cheap. The pop up when a new item arrives gets me good! Come to think of it I haven't had any bad luck with anything I have ever ordered via mail order.