Evans Cycles

When I was working at a bike brand where this frequently came up as a customer gripe: I had a macro set up that explained a persons hypothetical commute mileage (even factoring in time off) and demonstrated how easily a casual rider can stack up 2000 miles a year. Given that's what a fair proportion of people probably put into their car insurance quote, all of a sudden a worn chain doesn't seem so bad

and they ship Haribo with the online orders, just as Wiggle has phased it out.

This combined with the choice of SS to use reputable couriers puts them a cut above the other discount merchants

Wiggle have stopped including Haribo?? ~deletes account~

I ordered from wiggle last week. Asked for no haribo, got given haribo anyway.

Do you think Decathlon have had a big effect on Evans? If non biking friends ask for advice on what to buy I tend to direct them there not Evans.

When Decathlon opened in Uxbridge and Ealing they immediately became the biggest bike/bike component shops.

Do you think Decathlon have had a big effect on Evans?

100% nope; Decathlon actually been scaling back their workshop for basic repair and bike build (they even got shop floor staff to do it, hence why build quality aren’t good)*.

Also, they don’t sell a lots of stuff.

It didn’t affect Evans and other shop when a decathlon opened nearby; it mean customer with new B’Twin bicycles are now coming to us for repair/services.

*according to a handful of current and ex Decathlon staffs.

It certainly is.

They've spent £25k doing up their flagship Decathlon store's workshop in Surrey Quays and know there are plans for other stores so expect them to absorb some of the Evans trade.

They did that in 2018 I recall, especially moving to the bigger premises, but ends up downsizing in late 2019.

Decathlon despite being a big shop don't do that well with bikes, worked for them for long though to learn they are not in the cycle trade, they just happen to have bikes.
Guy that heads up the uk cycle division of oxylane is in Manchester, Peter lazurus, totally useless. Had numerous times we had bikes sent that were faulty, me trying to make suggestions how to fix or give useful feedback to factory, his response was "why are you talking to me about it, go about your day".
Other times we would make suggestions about higher end bikes that would actually sell, i.e can we please fucking have some, his response "ill send you what I want, who are you, why are you messaging me".
Is only your new flagship store wanting to improve things! The guy is toxic, decathlons inability to gain any real traction in the uk bike market has a lot to do with him, despite the fact their mid to high range bikes are very good imo.

They also don't want bike mechanics and they don't want bike sales staff. What they want is drones who just point at the bikes when someone asks about bikes and then go back to your new job of fixing up the horse department, because as head of cycle dept in your store, your actual job is looking after everyone else's dept.

My fav was when we had a brand new flagship sized store built, and the market research done prior to spending however many millions it cost consisted of basically asking staff where they think the new store should be and then just making up some footfall numbers (i was there, it was amusing but also so very not amusing really). Once launched the marketing budget was slashed to effectively zero, we were asked in an official manor to please use our personal connections on social media to promote the new store, and if we had any ideas on how to get more promotion for free then the store mgr would be very appreciative, there might even be some gift vouchers in it for them.

They are also terrible to work for, constantly they are changing the goal posts so that you never achieve your set goals and get the monthly bonus you have been promised for 3 years continuously removed or diminished.

Its not just Evans that are bad news.

Lived through two "we are investing in the workshop dept", "why are you in the workshop, didn't no one tell you the workshop is shut now, we don't offer any services, go back to horse dept".
I don't think they realise it takes consumers a period of time to realise if they even offer a workshop, then a period of time to assess if its worth using, then if it is good, chances are they ain't gonna need to go that often, so maybe a test period of 4 weeks ain't worth Jack

Its not just Evans that are bad news.

Just with living wages attached.

Unless that have changed too.

Brilliant (I know it’s a fake account).

1 Attachment

Cracked up at this , took my bike in to balfes at very last minute notice recently for the first time and they helped me a ton then refused to give me a bill as they couldn't fix the issue completely - I really can't emphasise how good the experience was (much better than my LBS , fully worth the 30 minute train ride)

If Wesley is on here thanks again ! I went for the Hope brakes in the end your advice is sound , they're blissful to ride

Wesley is a top lads, I’ll pass on your thanks to him.

I appreciate it ! , you're still in walton ? if I remember right you were working there when I had my first ever job interview many years back now

Nope, at Balfe’s in Fulham actually, left Walton in 2015.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNZuNyThXSY/

Quite a few parody accounts popped up now. I'm guessing quite a lot of disgruntled ex-employees.

1 Attachment

I like how they're firing all the mechanics/bike builders and expecting the managers will do the job.

1 Attachment

This aged well.....😶

Shame, next slot for my local to office one is 7th Sep! (today is 25th Aug)
Clearly they don't have enough mechanics or didn't want to do my job.

I hate to says it but that sound about right for any bike shop in London.

I advise going to a different shop if possible, their TrustPilot reviews are somewhat getting more and more alarming.

You’re lucky. My local has closed it’s workshop for the foreseeable.

Not necessarily a bad thing.