Leisure Lakes

Chucker_Dude

Are they any good?

As in delivery times, customer service etc?

ddoogie

Lakes in Cheltenham were always top notch.

mozzle

Only ever dealt with L.Lakes in Daventry. Impressed with their range of bikes and accessories but their customer service is shockingly bad! Because of this I will never spend my cash there again. Some of the lads I ride with share this opinion of them!

Chucker_Dude

I was thinking more along the lines of ordering online

jam1ec

Only been to the Cheltenham shop. Good product selection but terrible customer service. Unlikely I'll ever go back.

acombs

Try merlin, thy are my local shop but i also order from there web site, they are always happy to help and give a little advice. after sales are good to.give them a try at www.merlincycles.co.uk

stumpyjon

I bought my strumpy Elite from the Bury branch and to be honest I bought it on the level of service on the two occaisions I went in. First time I went in (Easter Monday) I must have spent a good 1.5 hours with one of the sales guys, he was helpful and in no way pressured me to buy.

They actually had the bike I wanted in stock so I went back on the Wednesday unannouced, they were busy but still managed to assemble and PDI the bike even though they don't normally do it there and then. Again spent ages with another of the sales guys.

The only niggle I had was that when I took the bike back for it's six week check, they lost my service booklet which had my receipt attached (I'd attached the booklet to the handle bars), though to be fair I didn't make a fuss and should have done. They do have all my details on their computer though. Also one of the sets of brake pads hadn't been put back in properly. Just left me wondering how good their servicing is. May be a bit unfair, I didn't bother taking it back for it's six month check, I'm fairly handy and check most things when I'm cleaning it.Will however be using my LBS (Ride On in Rawtenstall) for any servicing work I don't feel up to.

Rockhopper

The Long Eaton store is the best shop around here in my opinion. All the staff are very knowledgable and keen to help. I bought my Stumpjmper from them, they let me take a test ride on my own and without even leaving a deposit.

cunning-stunt

Chucker_Dude wrote:

Are they any good?

As in delivery times, customer service etc?

I've never had a problem ordering with them online,and I bought a fair bit from them between '98 and '05
Always delivered on time and well packed,and no mistakes on the order

I haven't actually bought anything from them since I got my new bike in June (after 2.5 bikeless years),but I'd order from them with confidence based on past experience 8)

MilitantGraham

I needed some new winter riding gear so I went through the clearance sale lists on Leisure Lakes, Chainreaction and Wiggle on a Saturday looking for bargain stuff in my size and ended up buying items from all three.
Leisure lakes phoned me up on Monday and the guy said he wears the same type of jersey that I had just ordered himself and finds the sizes a bit small. He recommended I change my order from XL to XXL.
Of course, it could have been a scam and they had run out of XL and he was trying to shift the last XXL, but it fits OK now I've got it.
All three parcels arrived on the same day, so there's nothing in it for delivery times.

My only complaint would be that they do a 10% web discount, or to put it another way, an 11% shop surcharge.
I wanted to buy some stuff on the Saturday and maybe have a look before I decided exactly what to buy, so I phoned them up.

Me "Is there any way I can claim the 10% web discount in the shop ?"
Shop guy "No, it's for web orders only"
Me "So if I'm thinking of buying a jacket it would be best to come in the shop, try a couple on, then go home and order one over the web"
Shop guy "Er, yes"

dave_hill

I've only ever bought one thing from their store in Bury, a pair of wheels which I must admit I've never had a probelm with...BUT...

I've been to the store on a number of occasions at varying times of the week (usually weekday afternoons), the last time about 18 months ago. I've found the staff distinctly unhelpful unless they're taking large amounts of money off you - for example if they're selling you a bike.

I've never been back since and I do 99% of my mail order with CRC. The rest I get from Wiggle or All Terrain Cycles.

chrisjsmith

I'll probably get sued for saying this (but it's factual and I'm outside my NDA/contractual period) but I wouldn't put your credit card anywhere near their online system. They seriously need to pick a better e-commerce provider!

dirtbiker100

chrisjsmith wrote:

I'll probably get sued for saying this (but it's factual and I'm outside my NDA/contractual period) but I wouldn't put your credit card anywhere near their online system. They seriously need to pick a better e-commerce provider!

"someone else" has said that somewhere on this forum... (created a name especially for the post)

chrisjsmith

Really? Wasn't me believe it or not. Must have been another ex employee with a grudge!

baccodaddy

whats there trade in service like?

the mvps

I can't fault the people at the Bury branch - always got time for you without any pressure at all.

Great selection of bikes & gear too.

I would go during the week though - too many kids working there on Saturdays, plus it's always rammed

Always use CRC or e-bay for on-line stuff so no advice there.

Chucker_Dude

Well i wish i hadnt ordered from then now.

I brought a Panaracer FR tyre, everything went through ok. Got a confirmation on the website and in a email saying that everything was fine and the product would be sent tommorow.

I got a email from them today saying that they dont have them in stock, so they are ordering some in and they will be with me in about a weeks time.

The thing that has hacked me off is that they have taken money from my card, yet they dont even have the product in stock.

Im tempted to cancel my order and go somewhere else.

chrisjsmith

They rarely carry stock of all their products. The commerce system doesn't have stock control capabilities so it's usually wing it on a backorder. Nice!

Chucker_Dude

Man that sucks.

Surely it cant be right that i have been charged for a product that isnt even in their hands?

chrisjsmith

It's up to the store to define the policy but you're entitled to a refund no questions asked with no restock fee within 2 weeks of receipt (in addition to between now and when you recieve the kit) under the OFT distance selling regulations.

With E-Commerce, only order from people who advertise their stock level or have warehouses (think big guys like Amazon, Aria, DABS etc!) It's a bit risky otherwise. I've been in the e-commerce software market on and off for about 10 years now (I'm a bit of a Dell-boy) and I've seen some right horror stories.

One thing to note is that if they go under after you've had your card charged then there's no way of getting it back as the bank will freeze their account with the cash in it.

Being a software guy (and recently a part time Luddite!), I'd go in a shop and come out with a tangible asset. Technology based around capitalism just tends to add evil to things these days.

johnnypipe85

i've been shopping for bike bits online recently and also used their website and had my card details stolen, don't know if it's a coincident...

Noodoo

I've used the Bury Branch and they're really helpful.

milesg_01

I have bought 3 bikes from them in the past, great when they take cash, not so good when things go wrong. Most of the guys there are very very helpful generally, most are pretty knowledgable but the management team are not so good. Trade in values stink, even with bikes bought from them. Have been to the other shops in town and will use them with new bike.

LL, you are a great store with top stock, good employees and mechanics, but please be more customer friendly at the top end.

dave_s

The one in Manchester (Bury) is good if you go into the shop, they generally know their stuff and the main mechanics are excellent.

Price-wise they're a bit more expensive than say CRC but service wise they're the best in my area. Not sure how they compare on mail order because CRC have that one nailed down in my opinion.

Leisure Lakes is the only place I'd take my bikes to be fixed though it if it's something I can't tackle myself.

Can only comment on buying bikes from them from distant history but they were good each time. Bought a couple of Kona frames from them when Kona were good in the early 90s, a GT Pantera (a bit of a bad buy on my part) and a superb but now stolen Spesh Stumpy hardtail

jontymo

Bought my avalanche 2.0 disc from them, the guy gave me £30 of this years model without even trying so thumbs up there.

The one worry i have is the opposite from above, i think they have to many kids working in the service department, they checked my bike over ok but took an absolute eon to fit some bar ends i puchased as i was waiting.

Jon

maximilian

I thought their service was good.

I got my Marin North Side Trail from the Derby store, then took it to the wolves store for my 6 weeks free check up.

My headset was screwed, making noises and flakes of metal all over the front end. I guess the standard head set wasn't burly enough for the riding I was doing, so they replaced it with a stronger 24seven one for no cost.

Very Happy :P

FatBurt

The Bury one is excellent and I've had great service from buying shoes and clipless pedals right up to getting a new bike that I didn't even get from them as it was an insurance replacement that had to go through Wiggle.


I have however never used their online service so I can't comment on that.

Mr bump

I use Leisure Lakes in Daventry. I find that the service is SPOT ON! The lads a really helpfull and have regularly fixed my bikes while i wait.
They are honest too and wont try and sell you something thats not right for you.

Arthur2107

To be honest there mechanics are top notch (daventry branch), their wheel builds are particularly impressive. I agree with some of the other posts however; they can be rather bad at offering advice however, as they seem to like money grabbing!!

As far as online sales go, CRC wins hands down in every way, speed, stock and price.

passout

They've consistenly failed to impress me. Wiggle are best for on line sales.

thewaddys

ddoogie wrote:

Lakes in Cheltenham were always top notch.

They are cheap and helpfull except the manager. Ryan is a top bloke and replaced the rear shock on my nitrous for a fox for free! I popped the rear shock also on my new prophet mx and they sorted that too. I wouldn't let any of the other mechs loose on my bike though, to undo my stem I had to apply 55Nm when it only needs 16Nm! What sort of riding do you do? I live near cleeve hill too.