Does Wiggle have a place in cycling?

simon_masterson

:?:

elcani

Interesting question. Following a full and frank confession, an apology and a sincere commitment to change their ways from this point forward, I'd say... "maybe".

TurboCraig

Anyone care to 'fill me in' on the issue here?
I used to work in the trade, they did kinda appear from nowhere, overnight.

Joeblack

Yes I'm kinda lost as well

alihisgreat

I blame wiggle

RDW

I can't say too much here, but it's alleged that Wiggle is at the heart of a vast distribution network for performance-enhancing dietary supplements designed to, amongst other things, 'strengthen connective tissue' (http://bit.ly/VmXC15 ). Typically, a cyclist or other athlete would place an 'order' for an apparently innocuous sporting product. A plainly wrapped package would promptly be dispatched in return, containing both the supposed subject of the order and, concealed within the packing material, one or more small sealed bags containing the 'supplement' (not, of course, acknowledged anywhere in the order documentation or receipt). These packets were reportedly small enough to secrete in, say, a jersey pocket for use during a ride when an extra 'boost' was required.

JJBlade

Ffs is this going to affect the sempre 105 price?

adam0bmx0

Does the Tour de France have a place in cycling..........




:?:

mitchgixer6

Oh sh*t! I've had those packages before. They were cunningly disguised as Haribo sweeties! I'm going to have to turn myself in now.

RDW

mitchgixer6 wrote:

Oh sh*t! I've had those packages before. They were cunningly disguised as Haribo sweeties!

Yeah, I've heard them called that. To us they were 'Harry', or 'HBO', or just 'Bo'. We used to joke about the 'HBO subscription' on the team bus. One time a guy who'd just joined us and didn't know about the Wiggle money thought we really had a satellite subscription and wanted to watch 'Game of Thrones'! We had to explain to him that only Team Sky could do that.

99thmonkey

Added to which Wiggle and CRC are killing the Local Bike Shop, its all well and good grabbing stuff from them cheap but when theres no shop left to repair or fit the stuff then we are all done

DavidJB

99thmonkey wrote:

Added to which Wiggle and CRC are killing the Local Bike Shop, its all well and good grabbing stuff from them cheap but when theres no shop left to repair or fit the stuff then we are all done

You could learn to repair or fit stuff yourself? Just saying.

negativelycra

99thmonkey wrote:

Added to which Wiggle and CRC are killing the Local Bike Shop, its all well and good grabbing stuff from them cheap but when theres no shop left to repair or fit the stuff then we are all done

My local bike shops are both appaling, and I get better service from Wiggle. IMO it is more accurate that they are killing themselvs...

BillyMansell

99thmonkey wrote:

Added to which Wiggle and CRC are killing the Local Bike Shop, its all well and good grabbing stuff from them cheap but when theres no shop left to repair or fit the stuff then we are all done

For the likes of you there'll always be a Halfords. Then, when they've fugged up your bike you can come on here and start a thread entitled "Does Halfords have a place in cycling?".

Joeblack

RDW wrote:

I can't say too much here, but it's alleged that Wiggle is at the heart of a vast distribution network for performance-enhancing dietary supplements designed to, amongst other things, 'strengthen connective tissue' (http://bit.ly/VmXC15 ). Typically, a cyclist or other athlete would place an 'order' for an apparently innocuous sporting product. A plainly wrapped package would promptly be dispatched in return, containing both the supposed subject of the order and, concealed within the packing material, one or more small sealed bags containing the 'supplement' (not, of course, acknowledged anywhere in the order documentation or receipt). These packets were reportedly small enough to secrete in, say, a jersey pocket for use during a ride when an extra 'boost' was required.

Because (stupidly) I didn't click the link I got all the way to Mitch's post before I twigged!!!

I'll get my coat

BobbyTrigger

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/wiggle ... car/013822

akastana

TurboCraig wrote:

Anyone care to 'fill me in' on the issue here?
I used to work in the trade, they did kinda appear from nowhere, overnight.

Not really - traded as Butlers Cycles for over 100 years & started retailing online as Wiggle in '99 willing to bet that's older than most LBS...

bikedibley.com

Every industry has mail order giants within. Unlike many mail order giants, Wiggle (and CRC) were born within the trade out of a single bike shop, just like all the other indipendents out there.

Wiggle has grown to the size they are, by working hard and investing in the things that matter. Sure, there have been two buy-outs which have helped recruit the best people to help the substantial boom, but they still have passionate cyclists working for them at every level. The CEO is a cyclist and every rung down the ladder. It's Wiggle's ability to recruit great staff and offer great product that has got them to where they are today.

There are many smaller indipendents who complain about Wiggle and them musceling in, but Wiggle were small once too. The market IS big enough for everybody, so my advice is, smaller retailers to stop worrying about the little things and focus on the customer. Wiggle can't compete on workshop service and although they can deliver quickly, nothing is as quick as driving down to your local shop. But, if they don't have what you want...then YES, there is a place for Wiggle AS WELL AS your LBS.

Shop at Wiggle --> http://tidd.ly/7d369199

Macdory

I thought they were just Haribo jellies?

I've been feeding them to me kids ... no wonder my 4 year old girl has started growing chest hair !!!

apreading

In my opinion (that may not be worth much!) LBS need to look at what they can do that online retailers cannot.

LBS will always have a place to fix/service/replace components for people who dont want/cant do it themselves - which is alot of people, not necessarily the people who come on here so much though.

LBS will always have a place to do bike fits and customise components and setup.

LBS can do better on customer service and convenience.

So my vision of a sustainable LBS model for the future is not that of a retailer that also provides some services, but completely the other way around - a workshop that focusses on the mechanics and customer service such as bike setup but which also sells the parts used in providing the above service and some extras for people who want something that they cant always wait for delivery on.

lef

I'm sure they can co-exist, there's many bike shops doing well. I would love to buy all my kit from the local bike shop but when you can save £10 or £100s via online traders for bigger purchases it's hard to stay loyal all of the time. If they all did price match maybe wiggle and CRC would lose a lot of business to local shops - lower profit per item possibly but more items sold, greater profit overall...I don't run a bike shop so this may be a flawed thought.

ddraver

I think we ve diverted away from the light hearted jape that this thread was supposed to be....

diy

The lbs just has to price match. I increasingly buy stuff fom Evans and cycle surgery because the will match on price and they will not grump about it. My lbs can't get to twice the price on most things so why would I support them. They need to look at other niches.

Anonymous

ddraver wrote:

I think we ve diverted away from the light hearted jape that this thread was supposed to be....

Perhaps something like 'does carbon have a place' with some rant about it melting, or 'steel' and rusting or 'shaving' and wiggos sideburns or electronic gears and a change from tradition