Why I'm never buying a bike from Evans again...

mclarent

You would think that they would be able to adjust the gears on a road bike, you know, so they are usable. Unfortunately not. Short version, indexer went on front derailleur sti, still under warrenty (5 months old) so they agreed to replace it for me, no labour charge. Very nice I think, turns out that was the highpoint. "We'll have to order the part, don't worry, take your bike home, we'll ring you when it comes in." I call after 2 weeks, "it can't be in cos we would have called you", after 3 weeks I think sod it and take my bike in - overhear the Mechanic "oh, didn't realise he'd taken that home". As in, it wouldn't be mended by now if you still had it? Didn't bother asking how long the part had been in. Annoying, but not the worst.

So, they "do the repair". I take it home, first time out the cable slips after 5 mins and I lose the front derailleur again. Also notice that they've buggered up the indexing on the rear mech during the process and not put it right. Take it back to the shop, they "fix" it, I take it home and stick it on the turbo. the indexing on the rear mech is actually noticably worse - it's now impossible to select several gears and chucks the chain off - and after 5 mins I can no longer change on to the big ring on the front. Tomorrow will be my fourth visit to the shop, and over a month to correct this. I mean, wtf? Changing the STI might be a big job (I have no idea), but indexing gears should be bread and butter to these guys, how many "services" do they do a day? Going back in tomorrow and depositing a piece of my mind, but I tell you, my next purchase is LBS (aka competent mechanic) all the way. Credit Crunch and all, they're not doing themselves any favours. :x

p.s. before anyone says it, I would reindex them myself, but I have the mechanical version of 2 left feet! And actually, it's their responsibility.

Mister W

Changing the shifter isn't exaclty rocket science and should be well within the capability of even a junior bike mechanic. I don't know the legalities but I think you're getting close to be able to take it to your LBS to get it fixed and charging Evans for the work. Maybe suggest that to them when you go back this time?

robrauy

I think it's a little unfair to dismiss a whole organisation after a single bad experience. Your problems may come down to a bad mechanic ?

The Evans near me has the most helpful and well trained staff - I've had better experiences there than at any of the other independents in my area...

giant_man

Well can't say I'm surprised. what I'm wondering why you went to them in the first place. Imo only a notch above Halfords for customer service. Just a chain.

beancounter

There are many Evans branches. They are not all the same.

The Milton Keynes branch recently serviced my Cannondale cyclos cross bike. I have never ridden such a well sorted bike - everything was set up absolutely perfectly and the drivetrain was the quietest I've ever heard (er - not heard!) It was absolutely silent and smooth as silk.

bc

daniel_b

There's good and bad as in all companies.

Bought my gf a bike from Evans in Blackfriars, they did the 'safety check' and managed to fit the front forks back to front :?

That's 3 people who worked in the shop missed it.

Dan

fraz167

Evans experience with bikes...bad...mainly due to my brother buying a £2500 Lemond which had a bent frame, even sent new wheels to prove it wasn't the wheels...LOL...3 months of pain to sort out

Evans experience with mail order - very good

gematkinson1

robrauy wrote:

I think it's a little unfair to dismiss a whole organisation after a single bad experience. Your problems may come down to a bad mechanic ?

The Evans near me has the most helpful and well trained staff - I've had better experiences there than at any of the other independents in my area...

im afraid id have to second this, i have two evans in my locale and both have been very good with me, and have done me odd things very cheapy (milling forks and fitting crown race for example) I have nothing but friendly and quick service from them.

It sucks you were privvy to a bad mechanic and staff, i feel for you, its not nice to part with cash and have the problem made worse. Take it back and nicely but firmly explain your issue with it. I had a service once and my cable wasnt even threaded through the cable guide! i went back and told them in a nice was that it wasnt on could they fix it and they did it there and then.

Hope you get it sorted.....

beancounter

fraz167 wrote:

Evans experience with bikes...bad...mainly due to my brother buying a £2500 Lemond which had a bent frame, even sent new wheels to prove it wasn't the wheels...LOL...3 months of pain to sort out

Evans experience with mail order - very good

Just out of curiosity, which Lemond was that?

bc

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

I went into Evans Bristol about 18 months ago to try and test ride a bike. They told me to come back later in the day whilst they performed a 'safety check'. Fair enough I thought.

Came back 5 hours later and test-road the bike through busy Bristol city centre traffic... only for the pedal to come off half way round my route, coming within an ace of throwing me under a bus...

Not impressed. Not impressed at all.

Eat My Dust

It could be worse (some people may have already read this, sorry).....but, I took a bike to a LBS for a full service. They called me to say they were having a few problems with it. This went on for over a week until the manager confessed they couldn't put it back together. So it ended up with me picking the bike up in a taxi. it was in 2 parts and there was also a carrier bag full of bits and bobs. To top it all off they wanted me to pay for the "work" they had already done!!!

mclarent

Eat My Dust wrote:

It could be worse (some people may have already read this, sorry).....but, I took a bike to a LBS for a full service. They called me to say they were having a few problems with it. This went on for over a week until the manager confessed they couldn't put it back together. So it ended up with me picking the bike up in a taxi. it was in 2 parts and there was also a carrier bag full of bits and bobs. To top it all off they wanted me to pay for the "work" they had already done!!!

Wow!

Just to be clear, I'm not dissing the sales staff in Evans, who have been very nice, just the frustration of their mechanic doing a half-assed job. I've also ordered stuff through them mail order, with no problems. However, as I said, I'm going LBS next time I buy a bike for sure.

pintoo

The two Evans I've dealt with (Fenchurch St and London Bridge) have been nothing but excellent. Better than my LBS in terms of staff knowledge and enthusiasm and most importantly, customer service. I have no qualms in buying from them again - even recommending them.

You certainly had a bad experience and it seems the store you used isn't reliable. Have you written to Evans?

bennyboyh

A couple of years back I bought an Specialized S-Works Tarmac from Evans. I took my stem and spacers in and asked them to cut down the steerer on the forks. In my presence they measured the steerer and agreed 4cm need to come off and then promptly sawed off 4 inches.

I know its only one experience but shops staffed by 16 years tend to provide a certain level of service.

Monty Dog

bennyboyh wrote:

A couple of years back I bought an Specialized S-Works Tarmac from Evans. I took my stem and spacers in and asked them to cut down the steerer on the forks. In my presence they measured the steerer and agreed 4cm need to come off and then promptly sawed off 4 inches.

I know its only one experience but shops staffed by 16 years tend to provide a certain level of service.

LOL - mind you, the tape measure did have a '4' on both sides, so it would be an easy mistake to make

Ricardo H

I used to work as a shop mechanic in my late teens and was proud of my job, and you go in to evans stores now and they just do'nt inspire any confidence at all. Not just there servicing (only heard storys second hand) but there knowledge of products is just rubbish.

Not that this helps you much, but as the saying goes, if you want something doing properly, do it yourself.

mike ives

As one of the guys in our club says, (though it is probably an old saying),
'There's bike shops and shops that sell bikes'.
Make of that what you will.

mclarent

nuff said. Anyway, took it in today and tested it on the way home. Still not completely satisfied - too much force required for the front derailleur IMO and the change on the rear derailleur is still a bit slow - but I'm going to leave it cos I can't deal with the hassle anymore, and I just want to ride my bike!!!

Couple of hours on the turbo tomorrow, then long ride on Sunday... Can't wait... (for Sunday )

6288

i have bought a few bikes from evans online and unless you have some basic maintenenace skills then i wouldn't say it was the best way to go ... unless of course you are saving a good few pennies ... at which point get ur lbs to sort it out and u'll still be ahead fo the game ...

giant_man

mike ives wrote:

As one of the guys in our club says, (though it is probably an old saying),
'There's bike shops and shops that sell bikes'.
Make of that what you will.

No I think that holds true today, you have the shops masquerading as decent bikes shops ie Evans and Halfords, who are only really interested in shifting vast quantities of bikes, then you have the true knowledgeable LBS. Unfortunately getting to be a dying breed by all accounts.

il_principe

Wouldn't touch Evans with a sh1tty st1ck.

90% useless IME.

Idi Merckx

giant mancp wrote:

... then you have the true knowledgeable LBS. Unfortunately getting to be a dying breed by all accounts.[/i]

Really? I live in London and all the independent LBSs seem to be flourishing. Perhaps they are a "dying breed" outside London.

I have been buying bike stuff all over London for about 7 years and the only bike shop I have known to close down was a branch of Evans on the Grays Inn Road (a few doors up from Condor).

Looks like:

LBSs: 1
chainstores: 0

to me.

giant_man

Idi Merckx wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

... then you have the true knowledgeable LBS. Unfortunately getting to be a dying breed by all accounts.[/i]

Really? I live in London and all the independent LBSs seem to be flourishing. Perhaps they are a "dying breed" outside London.

I have been buying bike stuff all over London for about 7 years and the only bike shop I have known to close down was a branch of Evans on the Grays Inn Road (a few doors up from Condor).

Looks like:

LBSs: 1
chainstores: 0

to me.

Perhaps they are Idi perhaps they are. I guess you're quite lucky living in a major city and having decent bike shops at your disposal mate.

redddraggon

If a bike was a bargain from Evans, I'd have no problems getting one from there, I'd do all my own work on it though.

Nuggs

mclarent wrote:

nuff said. Anyway, took it in today and tested it on the way home. Still not completely satisfied - too much force required for the front derailleur IMO and the change on the rear derailleur is still a bit slow - but I'm going to leave it cos I can't deal with the hassle anymore, and I just want to ride my bike!!!

Couple of hours on the turbo tomorrow, then long ride on Sunday... Can't wait... (for Sunday )

Sounds like just the motivation you need to get yourself a copy of Zinn and a set of allen keys. Fixing something yourself is very satisfying (particularly when 'professionals' have failed to do so) and stands you in good stead for whenever anything else goes wrong.

aracer

bennyboyh wrote:

A couple of years back I bought an Specialized S-Works Tarmac from Evans. I took my stem and spacers in and asked them to cut down the steerer on the forks. In my presence they measured the steerer and agreed 4cm need to come off and then promptly sawed off 4 inches.

Are they claiming to be NASA trained?

Justpush

I reserved a bike thought Evans, but never completed the sale.
I was spending more than £1100 with them, yet they wanted a further £30 to change the crank length on the crankset for shorter one, even though they had exactly the same model in stock.
Having argued fruitlessly for 5 minutes the manager wouldn't budge.
I left them to stew for a week and then reclaimed my deposit, I wasn't even asked the reason why I was cancelling my order.

I had already found smaller proper bike shop who were prepared to do the swop over free, they even price matched.

Evans are a disgrace and I wouldn't give them a farthing.
Just use them to get a price match.

Their 'customer service' stinks!

cavemud

I'd just like to put in a 'big up' for the Evans staff in the two Manchester stores.

I never pay others to work on my bike, and generally just buy parts and clothing etc. But the advice recieved over the last year or so from the staff in both Manchester shops has been excellent.

With any large chain employing a lot of staff I'd always expect the service to be variable. Staff come and go, some are good, some are not. Evans however seem to have bucked this trend continue to provide excellent.......

Idi Merckx

giant mancp wrote:

Perhaps they are Idi perhaps they are. I guess you're quite lucky living in a major city and having decent bike shops at your disposal mate.

Gosh! What a lot of bitterness and resentment!

Eeh, it's grim up North

Essex isn't that far from London the last time I looked.

giant_man

Idi Merckx wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

Perhaps they are Idi perhaps they are. I guess you're quite lucky living in a major city and having decent bike shops at your disposal mate.

Gosh! What a lot of bitterness and resentment!

Eeh, it's grim up North

Essex isn't that far from London the last time I looked.

No resentment and no bitterness mate, just commenting on the abundance of bike shops you have there in London. You are right; Essex isn't that far from London and there are some good LBSs in Essex.

Justpush

Cavemud wrote:

I'd just like to put in a 'big up' for the Evans staff in the two Manchester stores.

I never pay others to work on my bike, and generally just buy parts and clothing etc. But the advice recieved over the last year or so from the staff in both Manchester shops has been excellent.

With any large chain employing a lot of staff I'd always expect the service to be variable. Staff come and go, some are good, some are not. Evans however seem to have bucked this trend continue to provide excellent.......

Hardly a reasonble extrapulation, a couple of good staff hardly means the whole company his brilliant.
My appaling experience was with a MANAGER!

Which I think is a really telling example of what this company is about.
Money and Profit first customer service second.
Even cancelling my order they didn't give a flying fig.
Hope they go the same way as Wollies- they deserve to.