Wiggle - CRC

Anonymous

just saw this on home page. Big acquisition.

Wonder what happens with the Haribo?

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/w ... les-46354/

ugo.santalucia

wiggle is good for clothes, but CRC is good for Shimano bits and pieces... mmmhhh

MisterMuncher

Might mean Wiggle sportives on this side of the Irish sea.

Out of interest, do Wiggle have any brick and mortar shops, or are they purely online? CRC's big shop in Belfast was bloody handy.

markhewitt1978

CRC were /are particularly good for wheelsets and chainsets and the likes and often stock sizes you don't find elsewhere.

wishitwasallflat

Who is to blame for this?

Anonymous

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Who is to blame for this?

Well done

borisface

I can't believe that it'll be overly good for consumers. CRC quite often have better pricing than Wiggle and vice versa, but most often they are identical. One less competitor to Wiggle can't be a good thing can it? Less choice of brands, less choice of pricing, greater scope for stock outs and increased prices.

germcevoy

I'm 5 miles from Doagh and often get same day deliveries from CRC. Next day at the very least. I hope that doesn't change.

Always prefer Chain Reaction for components and Wiggle for gear.

ic.

No coincidence that Wiggle announced today they are selling Cube bikes.

I think less competition is a bad thing, but I can't remember the last time I used CRC. Wonder how the BC discount will be affected

Dodger747

The big continental European stores are still around - might help Wiggle to be more competitive against them, economies of scale etc...

iron-clover

I hope Wiggle will carry on the components that CRC used to stock- as already said CRC was always better for groupset bits and pieces (I bought an old R650 long drop calliper from them just yesterday), whereas Wiggle usually has better selection of clothes and accessories.

apreading

Blimey - the competition between these two was good for the consumer, I think. I wonder if they will keep both identities going because they have both build big brands. Really not sure what the end result of this would be...

magoo289

Well it's official, they are merging, possibly means each will specialise on specific markets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35551917

Matthewfalle

I must admit that years ago I used Wiggle a lot but changed completely to CRC and now mix CRC with Merlin: I can't exactly remember why, but I think it's because CRC have better deals on components - they seem to have masses of stuff a couple of years old that fits my budget perfectly.

Offhand I can't remember the last time I used Wiggle - maybe a set of DHB thermal 3/4 lengths a few years ago?

Hope that the Wiggle dudes don't try to turn it into Wiggle Mk2.....

stueys

I tend to try to use wiggle for whatever I can, customer service is great in my experience.

markhewitt1978

I'm imagining that the CRC name will just go away now?

Matthewfalle

markhewitt1978 wrote:

I'm imagining that the CRC name will just go away now?

Hope their stock of cool massively discounted parts and excellent postal and customer service doesn't though.

Hmmmmm - not sure if I'm going to like this new state of affairs. MF doesn't like change ......

gaffer_slow

about a year ago wiggle were rumored to be buying evans, in order to have brick and mortar stores.

markhewitt1978

gaffer_slow wrote:

about a year ago wiggle were rumored to be buying evans, in order to have brick and mortar stores.

I would be more concerned if that happened. As Wiggle and Evans are my two mainstays. Evans tends to have a lot of stuff Wiggle doesn't and vice versa.

wahla21

IC. wrote:

No coincidence that Wiggle announced today they are selling Cube bikes.

I think less competition is a bad thing, but I can't remember the last time I used CRC. Wonder how the BC discount will be affected

Sorry to hijack the thread but just looked on the Wiggle website and they have no Cube bikes in stock....?
Maybe due to the merger?

2Phat4Rapha

Wonder if they'll be called Chain Wiggle. Maybe Wiggle Reaction, there's a thought :roll:

thegreatdivide

wahla21 wrote:

IC. wrote:

No coincidence that Wiggle announced today they are selling Cube bikes.

I think less competition is a bad thing, but I can't remember the last time I used CRC. Wonder how the BC discount will be affected

Sorry to hijack the thread but just looked on the Wiggle website and they have no Cube bikes in stock....?
Maybe due to the merger?

I doubt it. This merger is still not set in stone until the CMA give it clearance and as far as I'm aware that's still not happened. I've got two pals who are both corporate lawyers and keen cyclists (neither owns a Pinarello) and they're watching this merger with interest.

gaffer_slow

thegreatdivide wrote:

I doubt it. This merger is still not set in stone until the CMA give it clearance and as far as I'm aware that's still not happened. I've got two pals who are both corporate lawyers and keen cyclists (neither owns a Pinarello) and they're watching this merger with interest.

wiggle have added the following to dispatch emails

The CMA is currently looking at the proposed merger of Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles – if you would like to comment on any issues regarding this merger to the CMA, please click on this link or email: [email protected]
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the government department responsible for merger control and enforcing competition law in the United Kingdom.

wishitwasallflat

2Phat4Rapha wrote:

Wonder if they'll be called Chain Wiggle. Maybe Wiggle Reaction, there's a thought :roll:

Love it!

Wee active riggles or Reactive Wiggles (for non Scots)would be my choice though

thegreatdivide

gaffer_slow wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

I doubt it. This merger is still not set in stone until the CMA give it clearance and as far as I'm aware that's still not happened. I've got two pals who are both corporate lawyers and keen cyclists (neither owns a Pinarello) and they're watching this merger with interest.

wiggle have added the following to dispatch emails

The CMA is currently looking at the proposed merger of Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles – if you would like to comment on any issues regarding this merger to the CMA, please click on this link or email: [email protected]
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the government department responsible for merger control and enforcing competition law in the United Kingdom.

Yip. It's nowhere near concluded. I wouldn't be surprised if this carries on into 2017...

markhewitt1978

Indeed they are still in the preliminary stages it's only a statement of intent. Surprising just how many thing it's already done and complete.

earth

2Phat4Rapha wrote:

Wonder if they'll be called Chain Wiggle. Maybe Wiggle Reaction, there's a thought :roll:

I was thinking Wigaction.

Parker International disappeared last year leaving Ribble as the big competition.

apreading

earth wrote:

2Phat4Rapha wrote:

Wonder if they'll be called Chain Wiggle. Maybe Wiggle Reaction, there's a thought :roll:

I was thinking Wigaction.

Parker International disappeared last year leaving Ribble as the big competition.

I didnt realise Parker had gone - they seemed to take a low profile for quite a few years now so obviously were struggling.

I use Merlin and Evans cycles more than Ribble. Dont find Ribble generally that good but they have the odd bargain. Evans have a great range and shops to return stuff to free. Merlin have some great prices. there is Tredz too, who get some business from me.

I think some others are holding their own in the second devision though - Edinburgh Cycles, JE James, Wheelies, Rutland and cyclestore although I dont generally use them that much - cyclestore have some great bargains on last year stock but range is a bit limited.

I think Halfords are gearing up to making a bigger play for the market though - they have already started in fact. The range you can order online is quite large now, much more than they stock in the shops and I think they plan to grow it further. I think they see this as a growth area that could outstrip the store based side and if two of the main players merge may see this as a chance to make a play for market share.

earth

apreading wrote:

earth wrote:

2Phat4Rapha wrote:

Wonder if they'll be called Chain Wiggle. Maybe Wiggle Reaction, there's a thought :roll:

I was thinking Wigaction.

Parker International disappeared last year leaving Ribble as the big competition.

I didnt realise Parker had gone - they seemed to take a low profile for quite a few years now so obviously were struggling.

I use Merlin and Evans cycles more than Ribble. Dont find Ribble generally that good but they have the odd bargain. Evans have a great range and shops to return stuff to free. Merlin have some great prices. there is Tredz too, who get some business from me.

I think some others are holding their own in the second devision though - Edinburgh Cycles, JE James, Wheelies, Rutland and cyclestore although I dont generally use them that much - cyclestore have some great bargains on last year stock but range is a bit limited.

I think Halfords are gearing up to making a bigger play for the market though - they have already started in fact. The range you can order online is quite large now, much more than they stock in the shops and I think they plan to grow it further. I think they see this as a growth area that could outstrip the store based side and if two of the main players merge may see this as a chance to make a play for market share.

Tredz is definitely on the up. Online components is probably best for Halfords. They can hardly mess up box shifting.

bendertherobot

Tredz is also Wheelies as I understand it, and that accounts for quite a lot of insurance replacement bikes as well.