Evans Cycles Struggling!

Evans Cycles Struggling!

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Discussion

g7jhp

Original Poster:

6,959 posts

237 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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Evans Cycles is the latest big high street name struggling against online retailers.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I can't remember the last time I even felt the urge to go into an Evans shop. There is one pretty close, but I cycle / drive right past it to go to one of much better (in every aspect) independents in York.

Website hasn't tempted me either. Always better stock / prices elsewhere IME

My perception is that it might be a decent option for C2W users buying a £1k bike. Maybe I am wrong about that

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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When I was looking for a new bike 3 years ago, they were the best organisation for actually trying bikes. Unlike all the LBS I tried, they stock loads of different brands, and you don't have to have a £3k budget to ride something. You can ride the £700 bike you can afford, rather than the £2500 version of it near the top of the range; the one that uses different materials/wheels/gears etc etc etc...

njwc

167 posts

222 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I really like Evans, it will be a great shame if they disappear IMHO. The staff in my local shop are excellent and its really useful being able to see and/or try before buying, to the extent that I've hardly bought anything from Wiggle et al since our local opened a few years ago

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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Damn, I just started using my clubcard vouchers in there, for every £1 you get £3 in store.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I recently bought a Pinnacle Arkose using Cycle Scheme vouchers, from the Plymouth store.

The staff were knowledgeable and helpful, and dealt with the problems I had with the back wheel in a way that displayed maturity, common sense and generally "doing the right thing."

The one in Kendal was fine a few years ago, although only for lights and a few bits and bobs to get me to John O'Groats.

The one in Clapham High Street always used to be (under) staffed by folk who were crap. This was 5 or 6 years ago. I think there will always be good and bad ones.

Like any big chain, there will be good and bad examples. I certainly don't want the good ones to close, or for good people to lose their jobs.

ShortShift811

532 posts

141 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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My local Evans store (Leeds City Centre) is really good; wide range of stock, backed up by knowledgeable staff. Another fairly local outlet I've been to once was pretty shocking in terms of service though. Their website is pretty clunky too.

I suspect it's hard for any bike shop with a bricks n mortar store(s) to compete with Wiggle. Even if they price match they're on a hiding to nothing.

As a consumer it's sometimes hard to support even a good Evans /your LBS when stock of everyday parts and clothing etc. is so plentiful and cheap online.

g7jhp

Original Poster:

6,959 posts

237 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
I got to say I like Evans stores as I can reserve stuff drop in and try it on and leave it if I don't like it rather than having to post it back.

They do have a good range of bikes and they price match.

The trouble for Evans is I do still use Wiggle, Tredz, Merlin etc depending on what I want to buy and availability.

lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I like my local one (Maidstone), always helpful especially one lady who was great with my toddler when I got him his first helmet. Would be sad to see them go.

My issue with them is they seem to carry very little stock in store, I get they don't want it sitting around but their click and collect service is really slow, so often I end up just ordering from whoever is cheapest and save my petrol from driving down there. I'd happily pay a little bit extra for stuff I need urgently if they had it in stock there and then.

P-Jay

10,551 posts

190 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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The odd thing about this story, and the last reported about 2 weeks ago about them needing £10m or die, is that only Sky News is reporting it, (aside from some smaller news sites reporting that Sky are reporting it).

Could it be anything to do with Evans refusing to advertise in The Sun (owned by the same organisation who own Sky News)?

It's odd that no other agency are touching it (admittedly it's not exactly a Royal Baby story).

lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I thought they had issues with the Daily Mail too.

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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P-Jay said:
The odd thing about this story, and the last reported about 2 weeks ago about them needing £10m or die, is that only Sky News is reporting it, (aside from some smaller news sites reporting that Sky are reporting it).

Could it be anything to do with Evans refusing to advertise in The Sun (owned by the same organisation who own Sky News)?

It's odd that no other agency are touching it (admittedly it's not exactly a Royal Baby story).
That is extremely interesting. I hadn't realised that, and now you come to mention it, it does appear only to be the Currant and Sky News who are reporting it (and the Grauniad which is quoting the Sky News article)

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I like the Evans in Guildford. The one in Reading I like much less.

Good to be able to get stuff checked online, but reserved for collection nearby, especially as they'll price-match their competitors. Bad for them I suppose, but then I have no qualms as they're a bit like Halfords in respect of how they'll match online competition (or in the case of Halfords their own online prices) if you ask them to, but if you just go in as a "walk-in" they'll happily separate you from nearly twice as much cash for exactly the same product.

They've also got an online store, and a big warehouse. I can't see how they're doing worse than online-only outfits beyond the costs of running their stores, so in the end it's down to customers voting with their feet really. We all want internet prices in proper shops. I'm as hypocritical about this as anyone else too. I realise there are extra costs involved in running a physical store over and above the cost of goods, but I want other people to pay the extra while I get the price-match treatment. Local independents struggle too, and we'll only realise what we're missing when we've lost it. It's not like you can just "nip into Wiggle" on the way home and have them help you out with a loose crank arm or a missing chainring bolt on the spot and for pennies...

CharlieCrocodile

1,186 posts

152 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I visited the newly opened Evans in Ipswich, it was totally uninspiring. More than likely won't bother going there again. With club discount I've got two other LBS that are stocked better and not far off Wiggle prices.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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I’d be very sad to see Evans go. Sadly, c. £2m profit on £138m sales doesn’t sound like a high margin!

The Daily Telegraph recently asked has cycling peaked in the UK?

P-Jay

10,551 posts

190 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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lufbramatt said:
I thought they had issues with the Daily Mail too.
Yeah Evans very publicly refused to advertise with The Sun, The Mail and The Express. It was during a push to stop funding the hate rags.

I’m not saying they’re not struggling, after-all the Beeb have in the last few hours reported it (although their story is only reporting the original sky story and a ‘no comment’ from Evans and PwC) but it wouldn’t be above News Corp to put the boot in to warn others from messing with the swindle.





Alan16ac

149 posts

148 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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That's a shame. I wanted to get back into to Mountain Biking this year, and ended up buying my bike from them (Chester store) because they were the most helpful of all the retailers I visited. I'd never have bought a bike online without advice.
Such a shame so many shops are disappearing, but I guess we've only got ourselves to blame. I know I'm guilty of buying things online instead of on the high street.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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Such headlines damage their chances even more, unfortunately.
Many won’t now order bikes or stuff for pickup, for example. Perhaps unfounded as get protection using CC
But why risk ordering an item that you don’t get if they went under, like HOF & the rest.
Shame as my local branch is great.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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Evans easily price match Wiggle, Chain Reaction and Tredz (amongst others)

I'm lucky that the Gatwick hub is only 20miles away so often go there to buy things. And then get a price match. I would hate to see them go under!