Evans at Victoria...

Nifkin

....don't go near it, the service stinks! Has the whole branch decided to do a staff swap with the nearest Halfords? I had to go outside and look at the sign above the store to make sure I was in the right place! :twisted: :evil: :twisted:

Nif 8)

DonDaddyD

What exactly did they do wrong? Did they not say hello as you walked in? Were they incredibly busy and couldn't help you instantly? Did they give you bad advice?

il_principe

Nifkin wrote:

....don't go near it, the service stinks! Has the whole branch decided to do a staff swap with the nearest Halfords? I had to go outside and look at the sign above the store to make sure I was in the right place! :twisted: :evil: :twisted:

Nif 8)

This is the closest BS to me, I used 'em a couple of times but have to agree with you - staff in there are pretty clueless.

LDN-Flyer

so what exactly did they do wrong ?

Nifkin

Not quite, Don Daddio... simply the second occasion I have tried to get them to help me with a bike servicing issue, and the second time I've received a shockingly "computer says NO" attitude from them, when clearly they could've helped out. This one was with regards to a Specialized part that they should've been able to source, seeing as they are Specialized dealers after all; but today's humidity had clearly got to the sales person, who clearly decided to take my query as some sort of personal insult. Think I'll only frequent Cycle Surgery and Condor from now on...

:roll:

LDN-Flyer

So they don't stock your part....?

Heard of the internetz?

Nifkin

LDN-Flyer wrote:

So they don't stock your part....?

Heard of the internetz?

Yes Flyz Down, I have heard of the internet; and besides using it to check out the variety of facetious comments posted by other forum users :P I also do a lot of shopping on it. However, I thought it would be a good thing to support my LBS, especially after reading in the financial pages a few months back that Evans were having a bit of a struggle.

It wasn't so much that they couldn't source the part (which of course they could've), it was more the breathtakingly slack and unhelpful attitude I received from the staff; it never ceases to amaze me when front-of-shop staff behave like that; things must've been slow in the job centre the day they applied for that role.

Seems I may have offended the Evans stalwarts on the forum, eh?

stuarthop

I won't let the one in nottingham anywhere near my bike anymore after they put a spoke in wrong, and didn't tighten up the nuts on my hubs on my specialized stumpjumper... They were supposed to be truing the rear wheel, replacing the spoke i snapped and servicing both wheel hubs... I'm pretty sure the rear one is worn out (they said it was fine despite there being loads of play in it.)

Anyone know of a decent LBS in Nottingham or Derby? (anyone got any thoughts on samways in Derby) as i need my forks servicing and the rear hub replacing.

AndyManc

Bike shops !!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2009/jun/16/1


.

Nifkin

To quote the Guardian article:

"a culture change brought about in no small part by the rise of chains like Evans and Cycle Surgery, who, while condemned by some as soulless and ubiquitous, understand newcomers make up a big part of their customer base and train staff accordingly"

This approach to training clearly explains the experience I had earlier; now you can guarantee that, if you ask the shop staff anything more than an elementary question, they will stare back at you open-mouthed like a complete novice...

Gussio

Action Bikes next to New Scotland Yard is a handy alternative to that branch of Evans.

Nifkin

Gussio wrote:

Action Bikes next to New Scotland Yard is a handy alternative to that branch of Evans.

Actually Gussio, I just found that branch this afternoon, tucked away there as they are!

Gussio

Nifkin wrote:

Gussio wrote:

Action Bikes next to New Scotland Yard is a handy alternative to that branch of Evans.

Actually Gussio, I just found that branch this afternoon, tucked away there as they are!

You do have to hunt them down

If you are into running at all, Run and Become nearby is an excellent shop. As is the fish and chip shop at the bottom of Strutton Ground 8)

Nifkin

Gussio wrote:

As is the fish and chip shop at the bottom of Strutton Ground 8)

Oh yes, many a time have I used that chippy! Their chips are out of this world! ;-)

LDN-Flyer

Nifkin wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

So they don't stock your part....?

Heard of the internetz?

Yes Flyz Down, I have heard of the internet; and besides using it to check out the variety of facetious comments posted by other forum users :P I also do a lot of shopping on it. However, I thought it would be a good thing to support my LBS, especially after reading in the financial pages a few months back that Evans were having a bit of a struggle.
:

By slagging them off on the internet. Great support!

I couldn't care less where you shop. I was trying to find out what the issue was as you did a very bad job of explaining your gripe. Mind you if you came into my shop with that pretentious attitude, i'd probably send you on your bike too. (Without the required part of course)

Chewy Cheeks

Gussio wrote:

Nifkin wrote:

Gussio wrote:

Action Bikes next to New Scotland Yard is a handy alternative to that branch of Evans.

Actually Gussio, I just found that branch this afternoon, tucked away there as they are!

You do have to hunt them down

If you are into running at all, Run and Become nearby is an excellent shop. As is the fish and chip shop at the bottom of Strutton Ground 8)

Used this place myself a good few times, a little gem, a fine Haddock nand Chips with Mushy peas.

I love Fish and Chips me

londonlivvy

I'll leap to the defence of Evans Victoria here.

I went a couple of weeks ago on a busy Saturday afternoon to find some new bike shorts with a pretty specific/awkward request (only certain brands, no silicone grippers etc etc) and the staff could not have been more helpful, bringing me things to the changing room and so on. They were polite, helpful and speedy, despite lots of customers.

Cartesian Centaur

I had a bad enough experience there to prompt me to actually register and post about it instead of continuing to lurk. About 18 months ago I went in to purchase a lock for my precious, shiny, brand new road bike...obviously I wasn't going to leave it outside unlocked, so I took it in with me. I knew exactly what I wanted to buy (and it's an expensive lock), was expecting to be in and out in 5 minutes.
Just about the first thing I got when I walked in the door (to be fair, the guy may have asked me first if I was booked in for a service) was "You can't bring your bike in here". I think my jaw dropped with shock, and needless to say both me and my bike headed straight back out the door, never to return.

So yeah, the reason why they are so terrible is because they profess to be a bike shop, but don't actually allow bikes in the shop.

To give Evans their due, I was able to purchase a lock the next day from the Waterloo Cut shop - they were very happy to have me, my bike, and my money in there for the 5 minutes needed to complete the purchase.

Nifkin

LDN-Flyer wrote:

Nifkin wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

So they don't stock your part....?

Heard of the internetz?

Yes Flyz Down, I have heard of the internet; and besides using it to check out the variety of facetious comments posted by other forum users :P I also do a lot of shopping on it. However, I thought it would be a good thing to support my LBS, especially after reading in the financial pages a few months back that Evans were having a bit of a struggle.
:

By slagging them off on the internet. Great support!

I couldn't care less where you shop. I was trying to find out what the issue was as you did a very bad job of explaining your gripe. Mind you if you came into my shop with that pretentious attitude, i'd probably send you on your bike too. (Without the required part of course)

HahahahahahahaHAAAAAA! Flyz Down you are cracking me UP!!! So you work in a bike shop eh? Not Evans by any chance? Nonetheless, I am always willing to give a LBS support if they actually provide a good service; I was completely sound with the guy in Evans Victoria, only to receive a load of snotty attitude in return, and surely this is the sort of forum where that sort of experience can be discussed so as to prevent other consumers suffering the same, no?

Blimey, you do seem a bit worked up, eh? Lol. Believe me, I've spoken to some amazing staff in other bike shops, and have been very grateful for their advice. However, you are so clearly the sort of bike shop bod that the Guardian article linked to on this page is talking about (not least because of your daftly condescending remark as to whether I'd heard of the internet). Surely a forum is a place for many views to be aired (as in this thread) without someone getting all silly and aggressive towards any one particular member?

:P

rolf_f

LDN-Flyer wrote:

I was trying to find out what the issue was as you did a very bad job of explaining your gripe.

LDN-Flyer wrote:

So they don't stock your part....?
Heard of the internetz?

Not exactly Paxman yourself when it comes to interogation technique!

Seriously though, surely, particularly in times of recession, the old adage that the customer is always right would be a sensible attitude. The customer has little to lose by taking his custom elsewhere - the shopkeeper has his livelihood to lose. BTW No opinion myself on Evans as all I've ever done is pop into the one in Brighton a couple of times and gaze at the rather cute Bianchis and fail to find a frame bag I wanted. Certainly an interesting and varied stock.

The Chingford Skinhead

LDN-Flyer wrote:

Nifkin wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

So they don't stock your part....?

Heard of the internetz?

Yes Flyz Down, I have heard of the internet; and besides using it to check out the variety of facetious comments posted by other forum users :P I also do a lot of shopping on it. However, I thought it would be a good thing to support my LBS, especially after reading in the financial pages a few months back that Evans were having a bit of a struggle.
:

By slagging them off on the internet. Great support!

I couldn't care less where you shop. I was trying to find out what the issue was as you did a very bad job of explaining your gripe. Mind you if you came into my shop with that pretentious attitude, i'd probably send you on your bike too. (Without the required part of course)

That's a bit harsh LDN-f. He wanted to support a local shop, got awful service and lets other potential customers know. That's a good thing surely. The shop is in a service industry, it it wants to provide a bad service it should expect bad reviews.

My favourite shop in town is London Fields Cycles in Hackney. They know their stuff.

s_works87

what part were you trying to order ?

spen666

stuarthop wrote:

Anyone know of a decent LBS in Nottingham or Derby? (anyone got any thoughts on samways in Derby) as i need my forks servicing and the rear hub replacing.

Freewheel in Goose Green area of Nottingham city centre?

_Brun_

londonlivvy wrote:

I'll leap to the defence of Evans Victoria here.

I went a couple of weeks ago on a busy Saturday afternoon to find some new bike shorts with a pretty specific/awkward request (only certain brands, no silicone grippers etc etc) and the staff could not have been more helpful, bringing me things to the changing room and so on. They were polite, helpful and speedy, despite lots of customers.

Were the staff male, by any chance?

Rich158

I've always found the service in Evans to be somewhat lacking, and at times downright rude and condascending. I only ever use them when there is absolutely no other option.

My experience is phoning the London Bridge branch to check if they had a particular computer in stock, which I was informed they did, only to turn up at lunchtime to be told it wasn't, or they couldn't find it and didn't really know where to look. Only by demanding to speak to the manager and find out who I had spoken to earlier in the day was I able to galvanise them into action, and eventually was sold the computer. It wasn't cheap at nearly £200 and it beggars belief that the guy was willing to risk loosing the sale rather than look properly for it.

This doesn't just affect Evans though, a Cycles UK has opened up just down the road from me in Greenwich and again the service is pertty damn awful. Most of the sales staff don't seem to know an awful lot about the bikes they are selling.

Perhaps poor service is just a malaise that affects bike shops when they become a chain. All of a sudden indifference creeps in amongst the sales staff because they are just a cog in a big machine rather than an integral part of a small business that only exists because the owner truly loves bikes and cycling.

Stuey01

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

SimonLyons

----to stuarthop

You could try Bunneys near the train station in Nottingham.
I do most of my own basic maintenance myself but whenever I have a query they have always been helpful.

In Derby, a friend of mine used Mercian in an emergency (snapped cable) and got good service.

You could try them once and if you don't like them not bother again.


I always found Freewheel a bit intimidating. My feeling whenever I go in the shop is 'Your bike is old, get a new one -we can sell you one'. I like old bikes.

il_principe

LDN-Flyer wrote:

Mind you if you came into my shop with that pretentious attitude, i'd probably send you on your bike too. (Without the required part of course)

Where's your shop LDN, and do you service Campag?

stuarthop

Biggest thing stopping me doing mine is not so much lack of tools or will to do it more the fact that i dont want to screw up any parts on my 2007 stumpy especially the suspension forks which really need a service...may just send the forks to MOJO though

Gazzaputt

Stuey01 wrote:

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

+1

Nifkin

Il Principe wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

Mind you if you came into my shop with that pretentious attitude, i'd probably send you on your bike too. (Without the required part of course)

Where's your shop LDN, and do you service Campag?

Yeah, where is it Flyz? I'd love to pop by! ;-)