Evans price match.

Supergoose

So, I am in the market for a pair of waterproof shorts. I do the google search thing to see the cheapest price, which happens to be Alpine Bikes (local to me) and duly ask Evans to price match, as you do.

My price match request, which, btw is £20 cheaper at the aforementioned shop, is declined. Not only that but there are now stipulations to the price-matching from now on.......

The reply:

Dear Bargain Hunter

Unfortunately we have been unable to match the price of £50.00 on the Altura Attack 3/4 Waterproof Shorts at http://www.alpinebikes.com/shop/altura/ ... um=organic.

The reason(s) for this are:

Unfortunately we are unable to price match this website as we have just changed our price match policy to only match certain websites Sorry for any inconvenience caused Here is a link to the site’s we can match http://www.evanscycles.com/help/price-match

If you would like us to price match a different colour or size (if applicable), or a different product please feel free to submit another Price Match request. If you have any further queries please don't hesitate to contact us or call us on +44 (0)1293 574900.


So not really price matching then? More price matching with provisos.

anto164

To be honest, their price match covers most of the main retailers, the ones with guaranteed stock etc.

If you read their smallprint, they only price match the stores quoted due to the fact that they know that they;'re able to carry the stock. A lot of the time, online websites will stock the items, but don't carry stock.

If you read their T&Cs of pricematch, it's fair.

Hell, if they didn't, i'd make a website and have everything on there at less than £10 and get Evans to pricematch!

mouth

Seems reasonably fair to me. Otherwise every man and his dog would have a website selling altura stuff and then going to evans for the price match.

All price match schemes have t's and c's. otherwise they'd just get abused.

aloadofpants

I won't be buying from Evans anymore then. Cycle Surgery price match, so will be going there from now on

redvee

I bet if you looked at all the shops listed their prices would be within £5 of each other. The pricematch thing was handy if I wanted something and Evans had it in stock and I wanted it now.

clunkychunky

i actually had a refusal from evans to match a wiggle price last week!

same email as in OP.

very disappointed in them.

their price match used to be fantastic, think those days are gone by looks of it.

DF33

Why not just buy from your LBS in the first place if it is near and the cheapest :roll:

Evans gets plenty of business.

Your LBS probably has to work hard for it.

What hope is there for these local shops if they are the cheapest, local and near, have the stock and people STILL won't go and buy things.

rolf_f

DF33 wrote:

Why not just buy from your LBS in the first place if it is near and the cheapest :roll:

Or, if you don't have that option, buy from the website that is giving the cheapest listing. Why should Evans benefit from somebody else offering a bigger bargain?!

They don't list HighonBikes so there is a good option for cheaper prices - not that I'd price match against HighonBikes anyway; far too nice a company to favour Evans over.

JustinLeeAtkinson

I have price matched a few things from Evans. Only one thing turned down because it was from an overseas website (albeit with a UK distribution centre). Wasn't aware they had a list of shops however. Certainly not so impressive now I know that.

pete54

I had a price match refused by Evans last week. It was for a Gore jacket on www.5339.co.uk

I rang Cycle Surgery and they were only too happy to price match.

JustinLeeAtkinson

DF33 wrote:

Why not just buy from your LBS in the first place if it is near and the cheapest :roll:

Evans gets plenty of business.

Your LBS probably has to work hard for it.

What hope is there for these local shops if they are the cheapest, local and near, have the stock and people STILL won't go and buy things.

That they dont have the stock is the problem for me. Downtube barrel adjusters? LBS, no (Planet X yes) Bontrager Inform Afinity RL saddle in white? LBS, no (Evans yes) Shimano 5700 105 chainset? LBS, no (Chainreaction yes) ...

JRooke

Yea its a bit of a joke, they wouldn't match a none sale Wiggle price for me a few weeks back with the same reply, won't even bother trying it again, can't say that wiggle isn't a main retailer.

Wirral_paul

clunkychunky wrote:

i actually had a refusal from evans to match a wiggle price last week!

same email as in OP.

very disappointed in them.

their price match used to be fantastic, think those days are gone by looks of it.

Buy it from Wiggle then??

I had to ring Evans this morning as I hadnt had a price match request replied to after 2 days. They did it over the phone though - matched JE James who wanted £4 postage on a £10 item (bar tape - bought mine and for my mate to make it more worthwhile doing the price match)

At least Evans still Price Match - unlike Chain Reaction Cycles who dropped the policy and now dont get much business from me.

rafletcher

clunkychunky wrote:

i actually had a refusal from evans to match a wiggle price last week!

same email as in OP.

very disappointed in them.

their price match used to be fantastic, think those days are gone by looks of it.

Then send them the T's & C's as Wiggle IS listed. - unless what you wanted wasn't available for immdeiate despatch from Wiggle and was from Evans.

rafletcher

JustinLeeAtkinson wrote:

DF33 wrote:

Why not just buy from your LBS in the first place if it is near and the cheapest :roll:

Evans gets plenty of business.

Your LBS probably has to work hard for it.

What hope is there for these local shops if they are the cheapest, local and near, have the stock and people STILL won't go and buy things.

That they dont have the stock is the problem for me. Downtube barrel adjusters? LBS, no (Planet X yes) Bontrager Inform Afinity RL saddle in white? LBS, no (Evans yes) Shimano 5700 105 chainset? LBS, no (Chainreaction yes) ...

So why not ask them to order in what you want? of cousre an LBS can't carry the same level of stock as Evens or Wiggle et al - although barrel adjusters I would have expected.

It's the "instant gratification" syndrome that's killling the LBS.

mouth

DF33 wrote:

Why not just buy from your LBS in the first place if it is near and the cheapest :roll:

Evans gets plenty of business.

Your LBS probably has to work hard for it.

What hope is there for these local shops if they are the cheapest, local and near, have the stock and people STILL won't go and buy things.

+1

Anonymous

I pricematched an amazon price (100 down to 59) and another 70 down to 45.

Neither were on their approved stockists, but I got the 1st one as I said my friend did, pushed a bit, and eventually he said sod it.

I got the 2nd item as I made friends with the salesman the 1st time I went in there for the above!

Supergoose

Mouth wrote:

DF33 wrote:

Why not just buy from your LBS in the first place if it is near and the cheapest :roll:

Evans gets plenty of business.

Your LBS probably has to work hard for it.

What hope is there for these local shops if they are the cheapest, local and near, have the stock and people STILL won't go and buy things.

+1

The issue is not whether I choose to 'support' my LBS which, is a national company btw. Rather the point of the post was to draw attention to the amendments which were made without notice to the original price match policy offered by Evans cycles.

Indeed, it would appear that a monopoly/cartel has been created by the big guns in that they agree that they will compete with each other and share the spoils whilst the likes of, for example Highonbikes, Cyclesportsuk, Ukbikestore, Cycle surgery to name but a few are not part of the agreement.

Furthermore, I consider it pertinent that I seek the best possible deal. That is to say the product sourced for the least amount of money preferably with free postage to save me going to get it. If it makes you feel better that you 'support' your local bike shop then good luck to you.

I will continue to seek the best possible deal I can to keep all of my bikes in order, just not with Evans any-more. Unless they are the cheapest.

Pip Pip.

lemoncurd

Supergoose wrote:

it would appear that a monopoly/cartel has been created by the big guns in that they agree that they will compete with each other and share the spoils whilst the likes of, for example Highonbikes, Cyclesportsuk, Ukbikestore, Cycle surgery to name but a few are not part of the agreement

It's hardly a monopoly/cartel - there are twenty suppliers on the list including many of the cheaper alternatives (Ribble, Merlin, Cycle Surgery etc) - they'll also price match unlisted local competitors in-store.

Besides, as previously mentioned, if you find it cheaper somewhere else, just buy it there.

Supergoose

lemoncurd wrote:

if you find it cheaper somewhere else, just buy it there.

Sound advice, hadn't thought of that.