Evans Cycles

super_davo

I don't know if they will go... having read lots of news stories it sounds like they have a strong turnover and are profitable (just) but obviously not to the level the private equity firm owners want. Stories say they want £10 million investment, but they suggest that's for necessary investment e.g. shop refits not running costs, so again looks like a buyer could be found.

The clicks and bricks model they have should work, I don't agree with the comments about online only having a big advantage. It gives them a significant advantage over Wiggle/CRC but obviously at a cost. I use my local as an internet click and collect as many others do. Having a store can make life so much easier e.g. you can buy clothes online at a competitive price, pick up when you can, try on in store, if the fit isn't right get a different size or say you don't like, no faffing with return postage. And that's just for clothes - for buying a bike the benefits are obviously much larger. The actual store is lightly stocked but has many things you'd want last minute, and they ship stuff across from Gatwick next day if they don't. I've also used the workshop in emergencies too - my local (Chelmsford) has been helpful and accommodating to me when I've needed.

To me the model flounders when they have too many shops or shops in the wrong locations; I think that's likely to be the case with many of the 60. I would certainly miss them a lot if they weren't there.

gbsahne001

super_davo wrote:

I don't know if they will go... having read lots of news stories it sounds like they have a strong turnover and are profitable (just) but obviously not to the level the private equity firm owners want. Stories say they want £10 million investment,

I'd read yesterday, they were £6m in the red...just spent my vouchers....just in case. I've always found them expensive compared to the normal suspects. e.g. SRAM 1071 chain £25 from CRC £34 from FWE

david7m

It wont just close overnight. Could be an opportunity for a new bike at discount
Dave

First.Aspect

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Surely there's space for another big online vendor other than wiggle/crc? I've always found that side of the business perfectly fine.

I agree that their actual shops make you want to chew your arm off in frustration. The one near me is for emergencies only, but at lunchtime during the week the 15 year olds in there (staff) can't seem to tell the difference between easy turnover (e.g. me, bloke in a suit grabs tubes and a patch kit or a tyre something like that and stands by till) and a waste of time (yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do). Combined with the likelihood that their in-store stock control means they have anything in 25c, clothing sized m or l, or an 11sp cassette with a ratio other than 13-23 or something equally useless, it means I absolutely have to be unable to get home in order to waste my lunch hour going there.

Yup online only would work for them I think.

If you are such a big man 23 should be more than enough

pen1s

pinno

Anti spam bump.

cld531c

First Aspect wrote:

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

can't seem to tell the difference between easy turnover (e.g. me, bloke in a suit grabs tubes and a patch kit or a tyre something like that and stands by till) and a waste of time (yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do). C

If you are such a big man 23 should be more than enough

pen1s

I agree, you are

First.Aspect

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

can't seem to tell the difference between easy turnover (e.g. me, bloke in a suit grabs tubes and a patch kit or a tyre something like that and stands by till) and a waste of time (yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do). C

If you are such a big man 23 should be more than enough

pen1s

I agree, you are

I honestly have no idea what your objection is, but how about participating in at least a semi articulate way?

cld531c

First Aspect wrote:

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

can't seem to tell the difference between easy turnover (e.g. me, bloke in a suit grabs tubes and a patch kit or a tyre something like that and stands by till) and a waste of time (yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do). C

If you are such a big man 23 should be more than enough

pen1s

I agree, you are

I honestly have no idea what your objection is, but how about participating in at least a semi articulate way?

Pot, kettle, black.
Objection 1 = 'Yummy mummy'
Objection 2 = bloke in a suit >'yummy mummy'

vegas76

Personally, I find the service at Evans really quite poor. I drove 30 mins to visit a store a few weeks ago to receive dreadful service, and then they didn't have the bits in stock so I went home, had a late dinner (thanks Evans) and ordered the bits off Wiggle.

slowbike

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

can't seem to tell the difference between easy turnover (e.g. me, bloke in a suit grabs tubes and a patch kit or a tyre something like that and stands by till) and a waste of time (yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do). C

If you are such a big man 23 should be more than enough

pen1s

I agree, you are

I honestly have no idea what your objection is, but how about participating in at least a semi articulate way?

Pot, kettle, black.
Objection 1 = 'Yummy mummy'
Objection 2 = bloke in a suit >'yummy mummy'

Don't disagree - but ultimately, (IMHO) a physical shop should have someone free to jump on the till at a moments notice or on the till all the time - for precisely the reason noted - you get the instant customer who knows what they want and don't have time for messing about.

You could argue that you'd make more money from assisting the longer sale customer - potentially you could - but how many sales are you losing in the meantime - and one lost sale one day may mean that customer doesn't come back - for want of what? Being able to buy what they want, there and then ...

Actually - just a thought - perhaps these sorts of retailers need a self checkout like the supermarkets - a cyclist needing a tube isn't high maintenance and just wants to buy a tube and get on their way - without waiting 40 minutes to be served. So provide that service for them.... and they'll come back time and time again - knowing they can get what they want, when they want it, with minimum fuss. Hmm perhaps I need to be a shop consultant!

cld531c

Slowbike wrote:

Actually - just a thought - perhaps these sorts of retailers need a self checkout like the supermarkets - a cyclist needing a tube isn't high maintenance and just wants to buy a tube and get on their way - without waiting 40 minutes to be served. So provide that service for them.... and they'll come back time and time again - knowing they can get what they want, when they want it, with minimum fuss. Hmm perhaps I need to be a shop consultant!

Totally agree. I think that was the point trying to be made but it could have been done without all the prejudices thrown in (as you have proved!) :-)

First.Aspect

cld531c wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Actually - just a thought - perhaps these sorts of retailers need a self checkout like the supermarkets - a cyclist needing a tube isn't high maintenance and just wants to buy a tube and get on their way - without waiting 40 minutes to be served. So provide that service for them.... and they'll come back time and time again - knowing they can get what they want, when they want it, with minimum fuss. Hmm perhaps I need to be a shop consultant!

Totally agree. I think that was the point trying to be made but it could have been done without all the prejudices thrown in (as you have proved!) :-)

Oh I understand now - you are from generation snowflake.

slowbike

cld531c wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Actually - just a thought - perhaps these sorts of retailers need a self checkout like the supermarkets - a cyclist needing a tube isn't high maintenance and just wants to buy a tube and get on their way - without waiting 40 minutes to be served. So provide that service for them.... and they'll come back time and time again - knowing they can get what they want, when they want it, with minimum fuss. Hmm perhaps I need to be a shop consultant!

Totally agree. I think that was the point trying to be made but it could have been done without all the prejudices thrown in (as you have proved!) :-)

But I don't have to feign offense when someone uses the term "Yummy Mummy" ... its a term used here in the office from time to time - 90% female ... so I don't think it's _that_ derogatory and it's up to the individual if they associate themselves or someone they know with the term or not.

if you're truely offended by the term (perhaps your GF/Wife or Sister would fit the description and you know they'd take offense) then perhaps call him out on it - otherwise I think you're being a bit over dramatic.

cld531c

Slowbike wrote:

cld531c wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Actually - just a thought - perhaps these sorts of retailers need a self checkout like the supermarkets - a cyclist needing a tube isn't high maintenance and just wants to buy a tube and get on their way - without waiting 40 minutes to be served. So provide that service for them.... and they'll come back time and time again - knowing they can get what they want, when they want it, with minimum fuss. Hmm perhaps I need to be a shop consultant!

Totally agree. I think that was the point trying to be made but it could have been done without all the prejudices thrown in (as you have proved!) :-)

But I don't have to feign offense when someone uses the term "Yummy Mummy" ... its a term used here in the office from time to time - 90% female ... so I don't think it's _that_ derogatory and it's up to the individual if they associate themselves or someone they know with the term or not.

if you're truely offended by the term (perhaps your GF/Wife or Sister would fit the description and you know they'd take offense) then perhaps call him out on it - otherwise I think you're being a bit over dramatic.

Context is key. 'yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do' shows an attitude I would not be proud of.

homers_double

I can't believe this has got to three pages and nobody has blamed Wiggle!

I know I would.

First.Aspect

cld531c wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

cld531c wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Actually - just a thought - perhaps these sorts of retailers need a self checkout like the supermarkets - a cyclist needing a tube isn't high maintenance and just wants to buy a tube and get on their way - without waiting 40 minutes to be served. So provide that service for them.... and they'll come back time and time again - knowing they can get what they want, when they want it, with minimum fuss. Hmm perhaps I need to be a shop consultant!

Totally agree. I think that was the point trying to be made but it could have been done without all the prejudices thrown in (as you have proved!) :-)

But I don't have to feign offense when someone uses the term "Yummy Mummy" ... its a term used here in the office from time to time - 90% female ... so I don't think it's _that_ derogatory and it's up to the individual if they associate themselves or someone they know with the term or not.

if you're truely offended by the term (perhaps your GF/Wife or Sister would fit the description and you know they'd take offense) then perhaps call him out on it - otherwise I think you're being a bit over dramatic.

Context is key. 'yummy mummy wanting a 45 min natter about this bicycling thing she's unlikely to actually ever do' shows an attitude I would not be proud of.

Oh God, how do you get through a day without being offended on someone else's behalf?

An individual of non-specified gender or age in attire that might lead one to believe was working locally and might have limited time wished to purchase and item and experienced a delay behind another individual of non-specified gender or age with behavioural indications consistent with not being in a rush and requiring detailed information regarding 2-wheeled self propelled transport.

I'd slit my wrists in desperation if I lived in your world. Jesus. (Whoops - God and Jesus are potentially offensive to persons of faith. How awful.)

cld531c

First Aspect wrote:

I'd slit my wrists in desperation if I lived in your world. Jesus. (Whoops - God and Jesus are potentially offensive to persons of faith. How awful.)

I'll pay for your flight (and leave a knife out).

First.Aspect

cld531c wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

I'd slit my wrists in desperation if I lived in your world. Jesus. (Whoops - God and Jesus are potentially offensive to persons of faith. How awful.)

I'll pay for your flight (and leave a knife out).

That's a bit aichmophobist of you isn't it?

imposter2.0

Clearly, if Evans' shops had been visited by a few more 'yummy mummies' and 'blokes in suits' on a more regular basis, none of us would be having this discussion...

cld531c

Not at all, just thinking it would save you looking for one in your desperate state.
Good word though -credit for that.

craigus89

Stop the d1ck swinging lads, no one else cares.

joenobody

Vouchers arrived and 520+ ordered, for the princely outlay of 99p

slowbike

JoeNobody wrote:

Vouchers arrived and 520+ ordered, for the princely outlay of 99p

So when Evan's announces liquidation tomorrow - it's all your fault!

joenobody

Slowbike wrote:

So when Evan's announces liquidation tomorrow - it's all your fault!

Sorry :oops:

imafatman

There's not much money left in the market for the likes of Evans anymore. They are trying to do it all. The low end is eaten up by the likes of Halfords, Decathalon, the high end is taken up by specialist shops like Sigma, or those local bike shops on Instagram. Online is stitched up by the likes of Wiggle etc... All they are left with is commuters wanting their punctures repaired and bike to work scheme types who pop in on their lunch break and probably do an average spend of £750 or less.

shiznit76

Turned my £20 tesco vouchers in to £60 evans, used the £15 off when spend over £100 code and got myself a pair of jawbreakers for total of £34 , winner winner

cookeeemonster

homers double wrote:

I can't believe this has got to three pages and nobody has blamed Wiggle!

I know I would.

Possibly the only time it literally can be justifiably blamed...and nothing.

I blame Wiggle.

figbat

MrB123 wrote:

According to the BBC news app it's all down to competition from Wiggles!

BBCs beat you to it.

ddraver

I was forced to buy a C2W bike off of them. It was one of them hipster fixies. The rear gear had been crss threaded when it was built and fell apart within a day or two. They refused to honour a clear warranty.

Fuck 'em, no big loss to anyone

shirley_basso

What about all the employees and their families? Seems like quite drastic measures to wish ill upon an entire business for the sake of a x threaded freewheel and sprocket.