Evans Cycles

Fair enough, apologies for the misunderstanding.

They are an LBS, always have been. They decided to invest in an online presence and worked hard to make it a success. That involves making it competitive.

There's nothing preventing any other LBS from attempting the same, that's how competition works.

Selling products at a loss while taking on private investment. It’s only a matter of time.

I run my own shop, and this last year we've prob had to source about a fifth of all consumable parts from retail, as they just weren't available. Managed to get quite a bit from other European based distributors, but now we are an island adrift it doesn't make sense to buy from "overseas" now. So I reckon this year will be buying even more from retail.

Feel bad for any remaining Evans staff that have likely been under a lot of extra heat the last few years since the ownership change, and now this as a reward for giving the company likely its most profitable 4 quarters its ever given? Poor show, although it wasn't unexpected that Astley would do this.

To anyone thinking of starting your own lbs, now is a good but difficult time, you could do really well and take a good set for the next few years, or you could immediately go under when you find you cannot get basic parts, like a 9s cassette or tubes or tyres for 6 months +at a time and your landlord is at the door wanting his end of it.

Every time you (not just you pedalsloth) buy the cheapest thing online (merlin, PX, wiggle, sigma...) you kill an LBS, just remember that.

In my experience I normally have the choice between (1) buying it online or (2) not buying it at all because the LBS don't have it in stock, don't stock it, and have no interest in sourcing it. LBSs can't rely on misty-eyed sentimentalism to stay in business.

Evans was fucked already though?

Kind of, it was profitable, however HO kept moving the goalposts and spend a lots of money trying to get people to sell stuff without, you know, actually paying them living wages.

At one point in 2017, they spend £40,000 on motivation calling it “spiral of positivity” where I have to attend on my day off (luckily paid).

Evans Cycles had potiental, it had so many chances and options yet choose to go against it on the premise of trying to make as much money for wage the.. shareholders.

Find a better LBS?

Kind of a different discussion.

Find a better LBS?

That would involve moving house. No thanks.

When it comes to undermining pricing and making life hard for the LBS...

Their choices, I still don’t have issues selling GP5000s at retail price, customers aren’t always on LFGSS.

My LBS couldn't even order a Campagnolo 12 speed chain the other day. All of their distros were out of stock. But online retailers aren't. So I genuinely cannot shop at my LBS sometimes for the stuff I need.

PS Sigma is fantastic.

Evans Cycles had potiental, it had so many chances and options yet choose to go against it on the premise of trying to make as much money for wage the.. shareholders.

All this before Ashley, and isn't that the point - that hating on Ashley for damaging the business seems a bit weird given it was put in to administration in 2018. It was fucked then, and the responsibility is in the hands of the then management.

You think campag 12 speed is exclusive, try Acera 8 speed.

All this before Ashley...

Exactly, I worked at Evans in 2010-12, and again in 16-18, the biggest thing I see is the staff actually do know what they’re doing and able to make changes, but they get ignored by HO.

I'll ping ya and give you a couple of leads.

You still on your old number yeah?

25 quid off 250 spend. I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've spent 250 on one transaction in a LBS or online. Probably more often in an LBS on wheel build etc too

I don’t think it’s really constructive to blame Ashley. He has been ‘successful’, working within the law.

I really do think there needs to be debate about the effect that zero hour contracts have on workers financial security and wider society.

It’s got to the point where if you don’t utilise these contracts you’re at a major competitive disadvantage. A government with a spine could change this.

Sigma is fantastic.

I agree. With only a little guilt.

Every time you...buy the cheapest thing online...you kill an LBS, just remember that.

I really fucking hate this sentiment.

No one should feel like it’s their responsibility to keep another person’s business afloat.

The last lbs I worked at had two owners. One of them was painfully stupid and the other was a racist, sexist, homophobic cunt.

Why should anyone feel like they have a duty to put money in the pockets of people like that?

It was a tongue in cheek over dramatic comment to be fair, but going to shops and taking time and advice then googling it in store and asking for price match or discount or simply walking out to buy it online is scummy as fuck.

£25 off a wahoo roam is a pretty good incentive to buy one from them eh

My experiences of LBS in the Lewisham area in the late 90’s are the reason the only reason a bike of mine has been in a shop since was for a warranty f+f and another separate fork replacement that both turned into fucking nightmares. Wiggle/Sigma/Condor and Youtube DIY videos fo lyfe.

but going to shops and taking time and advice then googling it in store and asking for price match or discount or simply walking out to buy it online is scummy as fuck.

This happened a lot where I worked. It was because we sold Altura jackets and Conti tyres and Cateye lights and all the boring shit that’s absolutely everywhere.

Like, no wonder people just go and buy it online, you can google it while you’re standing in the shop and you can almost guarantee that the first hit is going to be at least 20% cheaper than we were charging in the shop.

It was like bangin your head against a wall. Like, “Fuck me, you don’t think that every rep this company has is pushing the same shit lines to every single shop they deal with?”

And the owners would be like, “Yeah but if we take 20 sets of these cateye lights we get 2% more margin on them”.

“But fucking crc bought 20,000 sets and are selling them for less than the margin you make on them!!!”

My LBS couldn't even order a Campagnolo 12 speed chain the other day

Try Birmingham, where Campag brake and gear inners are exotic items. I just order online now.

The guys I worked for seemed to think, and it's something I've felt from other LBS, that everyone is thick as shit and would buy something just because they'd put it on the shelf.

I've been reading reviews of fucking kettles for a couple of months trying to figure out what one I want, how you think someone's gonna go and spend money on a hobby/sport without doing the same!