Evans Cycles

I've no doubt it's massively complex but seems like the big brands could help with pricing models that support LBS and or government should have tax breaks for single site operations.

Either way, always had good service from Evans St Pauls but mostly use them for click and collect.

I’m old enough to have known the original FW Evans in The Cut,

My old manager knew Old Man Evans in Camberwell - said he was a miserable old crook.

They’re in the shit and to try and get out of it, one of the deals was to buy in a load of 2019 Cannondales and are now selling them for less than cost. That’s hundreds of quids less than any LBS can even buy them on trade plus. Trade forums are up in arms about them, esp as LBS’s are closing up and down the country.

Mmm. I've noticed some pretty aggressive marketing of late. They aren't alone in this kind of thing are they? Isn't it pretty much CRC's business model? Buy a load of stuff dirt cheap at volume and undercut everyone because they know consumers are buying on price. Not that it makes it any better. But they aren't the only ones. I wonder why have CSG let them do it - assume because they are too big a customer to piss off.

That said I can't help but feel that Evans has helped get a lot of people riding bikes, and some of those customers will shop elsewhere when they realise Evans can't provide some of things they want. Expertise etc.

The folks running the ride-it stuff always seemed like good eggs too.

My favourite LBSs have closed reasonably recently. Soho bikes and Cycle PS. It is sad times at the moment, seemingly for everyone.

Capitalism

Yup.

You've basically highlighted everything I failed to articulate. Really well said.

At the end of the day, I'd still rather have more bike shops than less, irrespective of whether corporate or local.

Sorry if that sounds harsh but it’s fact.

No it isn't

They aren't alone in this kind of thing are they?

Yeah, even resort to telling staffs to go and spy on competitor to see how they're doing, which set the alarm bell ringing.

CSG have cleared stock en-mass to Evans as bulk job-lots for years. Nothing new here. Your anger might be better vented @ CSG in this case - a quick, lazy, one-shot way of clearing excess inventory.

I had to do this the other week, sent me to a tiny shop.

I'm not lecturing you, but when you make unsubstantiated statements expect to be challenged. Your claim that most Evans staff are just general retail staff is rubbish - many of us on here know and are friends with people who've worked at Evans, like @hillbilly, @edscoble and @Chak.

But, more importantly, you seem to relish the fact that many people could be out of a job through no fault of their own. Which is just despicable.

It is sad that Evans have found themselves in this position. I've always used them for the pricematch and then collect in the store close to my work. Saves having to collect from the post office. Doesn't seem to be a hugely sustainable business model though competing with Internet only bohemiths but still having the High Street overheads.
I don't have a lot of money to spend on bikes at the moment and most of my mates don't either, economy seems a bit fucked, sorry to those working there if this goes tits up.

The discounting of CSG stuff at Rutland and Pauls always seemed more extreme than Evans - are they doing something different or is it a similar deal?

The profit margin are smaller at Rutland/Pauls in comparison.

Let me know when you’ve run your own LBS for over 20 years and you can lecture me.

Did you just confessed that you never worked at Evans before?

Even thought I have worked at Evans for a total of nearly 6 years, it still doesn't put me in the position to make such unwarranted statement.

Lastly, I would says quite a few people had started at Evans in the past and it have got them where they are nowadays (such as @hillbilly whom now at Brixton Cycles).

Depending on their respective overheads I guess. Both have physical shops though.

A good deal of them are, and that’s a fact. I get CV’s from ex Evans staff all the time. One guy I know of went from Evans to Richer Sounds, for example. One Evans “mechanic” told someone I know that if he sprayed GT 85 on his tyre it would explode.

As for me relishing people losing their jobs, don’t talk shite.

Of course there are some good ones, I never said there wasn’t. Those examples of guys on here prove that.

So do you work, manage, own an lbs now?

One guy I know of went from Evans to Richer Sounds

The horror.

Also 'general retail staff' what sort of bullshit snobbery is that.

It's the UKs largest sector employer, and whilst the wages and conditions are generally shit, that doesn't mean the people are.

I had to do this the other week, sent me to a tiny shop.

I didn't bothered, wasn't in my contract.

One guy I know of went from Evans to Richer Sounds

The horror.

Pffft - it's impossible to know useful things about more than one subject.

I know how to be a cunt in many different areas of discourse.

Pffft - it's impossible to know useful things about more than one subject.

So which two or more subjects do you know to be able to tell? :)

Their Brompton selection was better than ours, even had the electric one in, quite nice.

No, just making a point about general salesmanship being transferable. Most of them that I’ve met aren’t keen cyclists, but it means they won’t be screwed if Evans goes under