I blame Wiggle, say owners

me-109

Loss of confidence in WCRC business to make money (at least not to keep losing money) following last year's losses, could be a sign of a further shake up in the UK (if not international) cycle retail sector.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/wiggle-chain-reaction-cycles-parent-suffers-major-financial-blow-as-euro150m-financing-axed

daniel_b

That is concerning, I wonder if they will also get hoovered up by ashley to add to evans and pbk.

If he does, that will be good news for my wallet.

I just sent something back to Wiggle for a refund too

roscoe

They certainly can't keep the same business and sustain losses like that.

Perhaps undercutting every LBS has come back to bite them.

First.Aspect

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

daniel_b

First.Aspect said:

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

Pretty sure they utilise the same warehouse, and they have on occasion stocked slightly different items - but yes does seem a bit odd, but I don't think it costs them anymore to run as it were, the behind the scenes staff will all be the same, I doubt there are duplications of role.

photonic69

Probably the inclusion of free Haribo's (or not) pushed the profits over the edge.

rick_chasey

There's a haribo salesman who will be very nervous.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

There's a haribo salesman who will be very nervous.

Think they'll survive.

https://www.snackandbakery.com/candy-industry/2021/global-top-100-candy-companies

Those numbers though. That's a fcuk ton of sugar.

navrig2

First.Aspect said:

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

You may find that one brand is stronger in some countries/areas so they keep both going and, as daniel, says they will use the same staff and infrastructure.

First.Aspect

navrig2 said:

First.Aspect said:

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

You may find that one brand is stronger in some countries/areas so they keep both going and, as daniel, says they will use the same staff and infrastructure.

Of it's comparative, how do they know how the other would do if there was 9noy one of them?

The reality is that these are early inenet shopping era portals. These days, people search for something and buy it at the lowest price. Which is sometimes CRC/Wiggle, sometimes not. Alternatively, people go to Amazon or eBay, which is never CRC/Wiggle.

photonic69

First.Aspect said:

navrig2 said:

First.Aspect said:

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

You may find that one brand is stronger in some countries/areas so they keep both going and, as daniel, says they will use the same staff and infrastructure.

Of it's comparative, how do they know how the other would do if there was 9noy one of them?

The reality is that these are early inenet shopping era portals. These days, people search for something and buy it at the lowest price. Which is sometimes CRC/Wiggle, sometimes not. Alternatively, people go to Amazon or eBay, which is never CRC/Wiggle.

I think he's drunk.

First.Aspect

No, trying the gboard, which autocorrects just as badly as the Samsung one, but differently.

That's supposed to just point out that CRC/Wiggle are out of date and doomed.

seanoconn

First.Aspect said:

navrig2 said:

First.Aspect said:

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

You may find that one brand is stronger in some countries/areas so they keep both going and, as daniel, says they will use the same staff and infrastructure.

Of it's comparative, how do they know how the other would do if there was 9noy one of them?

The reality is that these are early inenet shopping era portals. These days, people search for something and buy it at the lowest price. Which is sometimes CRC/Wiggle, sometimes not. Alternatively, people go to Amazon or eBay, which is never CRC/Wiggle.

I thought we were all still shopping at our local small cycle shop?

pblakeney

I'd say Youtube maintenance videos has killed the LBS as much as online shopping has.

First.Aspect

pblakeney said:

I'd say Youtube maintenance videos has killed the LBS as much as online shopping has.

seanoconn said:

First.Aspect said:

navrig2 said:

First.Aspect said:

I don't understand why both brands still coexist.

You may find that one brand is stronger in some countries/areas so they keep both going and, as daniel, says they will use the same staff and infrastructure.

Of it's comparative, how do they know how the other would do if there was 9noy one of them?

The reality is that these are early inenet shopping era portals. These days, people search for something and buy it at the lowest price. Which is sometimes CRC/Wiggle, sometimes not. Alternatively, people go to Amazon or eBay, which is never CRC/Wiggle.

I thought we were all still shopping at our local small cycle shop?

Sadly not.

Direct to consumer has really hurt retailers as well. Once you get into cycling you start to find out what you want, rather than wonder into a bike shop and get whatever brand they happen to carry.

daniel_b

I don't tend to buy parts/clothing from local bike shops, as in my experience they are highly unlikely to have the stock in the specification that you want - they just don't have the space.

I try and offset this by buying complete bikes and groupsets from them, as well as paying them for jobs I either cannot do, or don't have the time to do.

Full bike servicing, removing a groupset and fitting a new one etc etc.

rick_chasey

Retailer's main problem is they treat every customer with their own personalised brand of contempt.

Contempt you are in their shop, contempt that you may want your bike fixed, contempt that you want to agree beforehand what work they're going to do on your bike, contempt that you are not asking them what needs doing to the bike, contempt that you are willing to provide the kit they are unable to sell to you so you can pay them to fit it, contempt that you don't want to wait two months for them to do any work on your bike, contempt that after promising they'd do it within a week they hadn't touched it 3 weeks later and you asked for it back etc etc.

Best shop I ever knew was the Evans around the corner from my office. Great mechanics, eastern European, took no sh!t, did it done super fast, always did what was asked, nothing more, nothing less, never charged a lot. Man I miss that shop.

First.Aspect

Yeah we've all been experienced cyclists going into a shop and being told by someone what we really should be buying. I was even told I was purchasing a MTB lube, and should instead be purchasing this dry road lube. I pointed out it was winter and left with my inappropriate lube, no doubt with the know-it-alls sadly shaking their heads.

A lot of mechanics also don't seem to want to give estimates in advance. Sorry, but I'm not a blank cheque.

That's not why Wiggle is going to fold though. That's because they aren't cheap any more, and because they keep pïssing around with stock, so it's hard to buy some things twice.

Also doesn't help that whenever you do click on a "bargain" after a Google search, it's eithe not in stock, or available at a much higher price if you want anything other than a 21c tyre or a size XS or XXXL.

I rarely bother now because I value my time too much.

pblakeney

My comment was more about LBS than Wiggle.
Maintenance will play a big part in their profitability/existence.

First.Aspect

pblakeney said:

My comment was more about LBS than Wiggle.
Maintenance will play a big part in their profitability/existence.

Indeed, and some are great. Most though have long backlogs and too many use this to justify a beggars can't be choosers approach to customer relations.

Well, actually some of us can, because if you decide to just buy the tool it's just not that hard.

pblakeney

First.Aspect said:

pblakeney said:

My comment was more about LBS than Wiggle.
Maintenance will play a big part in their profitability/existence.

Indeed, and some are great. Most though have long backlogs and too many use this to justify a beggars can't be choosers approach to customer relations.

Well, actually some of us can, because if you decide to just buy the tool it's just not that hard.

Exactly. I found out the cost for me to buy all the additional tools equated to one full service.
I’d like to think how much money I’ve saved since 2010.

photonic69

I think the Sh!tshow of a website up(down)grade drove customers away in their thousands. It was really useless compared to the old one. Couldn't apply filters for out of stock items. Sizing of clothing all over the shop. Useless returns policy (they changed that though). I used to buy stuff from them regularly. Not bought from them in over 9 months all due to the above.

super_davo

The new website is dreadful, but I still use them because I like DHB, Lifeline & Prime.

I would miss them very much if they went. It would leave the UK e-commerce bike market looking rather bleak if they did.

daniel_b

They have issued my refund today

davebradswmb

Back in the day most cyclists would work on their own bikes, LBSs made a lot of their business supplying the parts unless you were going really high end or specialised and would go the mail order route, anybody remember the pocket Holdsworths catalogue?

Today it's almost completely switched around, I reckon I'm in a minority of about 20% in my cycling club who work on their own bikes, everyone else takes it to the LBS or to a one-man mechanic business working out of his garage. The LBS has been known to advise customers to source components themselves as they can't match the online prices going through their wholesalers, though this may be changing with the current upheaval in the marketplace.

rick_chasey

davebradswmb said:

Back in the day most cyclists would work on their own bikes, LBSs made a lot of their business supplying the parts unless you were going really high end or specialised and would go the mail order route, anybody remember the pocket Holdsworths catalogue?

Today it's almost completely switched around, I reckon I'm in a minority of about 20% in my cycling club who work on their own bikes, everyone else takes it to the LBS or to a one-man mechanic business working out of his garage. The LBS has been known to advise customers to source components themselves as they can't match the online prices going through their wholesalers, though this may be changing with the current upheaval in the marketplace.

Partly a space thing. I don’t have the space to store the tools needed etc.

super_davo

rick_chasey said:

davebradswmb said:

Back in the day most cyclists would work on their own bikes, LBSs made a lot of their business supplying the parts unless you were going really high end or specialised and would go the mail order route, anybody remember the pocket Holdsworths catalogue?

Today it's almost completely switched around, I reckon I'm in a minority of about 20% in my cycling club who work on their own bikes, everyone else takes it to the LBS or to a one-man mechanic business working out of his garage. The LBS has been known to advise customers to source components themselves as they can't match the online prices going through their wholesalers, though this may be changing with the current upheaval in the marketplace.

Partly a space thing. I don’t have the space to store the tools needed etc.

A key change in the home mechanic Vs shop is that modern disc brake electronic shifting bikes do not need regular fettling to keep working well. They tend to be more "one service a year". A lot of people are scared of bleeding disc brakes or integrated cabling, even if they've worked on bikes for years.

photonic69

super_davo said:

rick_chasey said:

davebradswmb said:

Back in the day most cyclists would work on their own bikes, LBSs made a lot of their business supplying the parts unless you were going really high end or specialised and would go the mail order route, anybody remember the pocket Holdsworths catalogue?

Today it's almost completely switched around, I reckon I'm in a minority of about 20% in my cycling club who work on their own bikes, everyone else takes it to the LBS or to a one-man mechanic business working out of his garage. The LBS has been known to advise customers to source components themselves as they can't match the online prices going through their wholesalers, though this may be changing with the current upheaval in the marketplace.

Partly a space thing. I don’t have the space to store the tools needed etc.

A key change in the home mechanic Vs shop is that modern disc brake electronic shifting bikes do not need regular fettling to keep working well. They tend to be more "one service a year". A lot of people are scared of bleeding disc brakes or integrated cabling, even if they've worked on bikes for years.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaaaaa...!

You're 'avin a giraffe! Almost spat me tea..

verylonglegs

First.Aspect said:

Yeah we've all been experienced cyclists going into a shop and being told by someone what we really should be buying. I was even told I was purchasing a MTB lube, and should instead be purchasing this dry road lube. I pointed out it was winter and left with my inappropriate lube, no doubt with the know-it-alls sadly shaking their heads.

A lot of mechanics also don't seem to want to give estimates in advance. Sorry, but I'm not a blank cheque.

That's not why Wiggle is going to fold though. That's because they aren't cheap any more, and because they keep pïssing around with stock, so it's hard to buy some things twice.

Also doesn't help that whenever you do click on a "bargain" after a Google search, it's eithe not in stock, or available at a much higher price if you want anything other than a 21c tyre or a size XS or XXXL.

I rarely bother now because I value my time too much.

A mate has spent a not inconsiderable sum on a mountain ebike and was told by the shop the extra torque meant looking after the chain was essential..fair enough..but they then told him a dry wax lube was best. And he gets it proper filthy when he goes out.

And yes Wiggle, although they aren't the only culprits, having different prices for each size, it feels like a lucky dip sometimes.

rwoofer

Apparently gone into self-administration now, which means business as usual for customers, but suppliers can't seek legal action. Personally I would still buy from them, but just use a CC rather than a debit card.

https://www.cyclingelectric.com/news/wiggle-crc-administration-signa-sports-united?fbclid=IwAR0Ef3KnYiCEyB56brAPdCP-MM_ZD5vCwISnNkt9QtGNsV-myw9KhbeUCQs

ugo.santalucia

super_davo said:

rick_chasey said:

davebradswmb said:

Back in the day most cyclists would work on their own bikes, LBSs made a lot of their business supplying the parts unless you were going really high end or specialised and would go the mail order route, anybody remember the pocket Holdsworths catalogue?

Today it's almost completely switched around, I reckon I'm in a minority of about 20% in my cycling club who work on their own bikes, everyone else takes it to the LBS or to a one-man mechanic business working out of his garage. The LBS has been known to advise customers to source components themselves as they can't match the online prices going through their wholesalers, though this may be changing with the current upheaval in the marketplace.

Partly a space thing. I don’t have the space to store the tools needed etc.

A key change in the home mechanic Vs shop is that modern disc brake electronic shifting bikes do not need regular fettling to keep working well. They tend to be more "one service a year". A lot of people are scared of bleeding disc brakes or integrated cabling, even if they've worked on bikes for years.

that is probably down to Zwift… most people I know, including myself, are now on the turbo at the first sign of damp… things last a lot longer without a service that way