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I'm not sure if I'm just impatient and a grump but I wasnt too impressed with my local Evans store a couple weekends back.
I Went in Evans last Sunday as I was desperate for a brake mount for my new Morewood frame that just arrived. It went like this:
[b]Me:[/b] Hi, I'd like a 203mm post to post brake mount please.
[b]Salesman:[/b] I'm not gonna lie, I have no idea what that is.
[b]Me:[/b] Okaaayyy, well it's the little bracket that holds your brake to your frame/fork.
[b]Salesman: [/b]hmm, can you come round here and show me (behind till on his computer).
[b]Me:[/b] Sure
I then find it and he says: ok let's ask the workshop, they may have one because we don't stock any brake mounts.
I walk over to the workshop where I find Salesman 2 (sat doing nothing at the workshop desk-on computer).
[b]Me: [/b]Hi, do you have any brake mounts?
[b]Salesman 2:[/b] Nope. We can order them though. Great considering he knew what was in the drawers and boxes in the workshop instantly- yeah right!
[b]Me:[/b] Ok cheers- smack hand against my face and walk out quicker than I came in.
Great bike shop eh?! Good stock of common items, excellent knowledge and most of all a good attitude and helpful (NOT)
Is it just me or would it have been worth a look round the workshop? I know when I worked in a bike shop while at uni we had boxes and boxes of stuff like that. If nothing else you at least look helpful instead of a uninterested numpty glued to a chair at a desk.
If I could have gone elsewhere like an independent I would have- and paid the premium for the convenience/being able to ride my new bike right away; but it was Sunday and they go riding.
So to Superstar it was, £4.99 free post and here 1st thing on Tues. Shame but for me that's why online normally gets my cash.
Anyone had a similar experience with a chain store?
I refuse to walk into an Evans store. Each and every time I have been in I wish I hadn't.
i went into the Leeds city center store to buy some Shimano winter boots.
i was told buy the salesman that'we dont sell them because they are crap. and all us who work here ride in flat shoes with sealskins, which are far better in winter'.
Wow that's bad ton.
My local Edinburgh Bike have a nice big shop but stock nothing of use whatsoever and the staff are so incompetent it's beyond a joke I went in for a new chain a while back and was told they don't sell any 10 speed chains by the salesperson who was standing right next to a wall with 3 different 10 speed chains!
complain on social media 🙂 they will love it! 😉 i would!
Must admit I do use Evans for 'in stock' items and find their 'check store stock' option pretty useful before making the trip to my local store in Cardiff - Cardiff staff have been pretty helpful on my recent visits too.
[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ashima/post-mount-to-post-mount-adaptor-f-203mm-ec023111 ]You'd have been out of luck with the brake adaptor mount though unless your LBS was the Gatwick warehouse[/url] 😉
Normally avoid Evans too but had the reverse experience in Plymouth a few weeks ago. Went into the large independent in the city centre, urgently needing a few bits. They didn't have them and basically said, with a slight attitude, that they were focusing on the online operation now so didn't worry about keeping stuff in stock in the shop. So we went down to the new-ish Evans and found a remarkably helpful friendly chap (saw him marshalling the charity ride the next day) and were able to get all the stuff required.
My local Evans does not stock anything useful either. I was desperate for some pads for Hope X2 brakes once thinking it is more likely to have them in stock than a smaller independent LBS.
They had none but the LBS had plenty in stock.
However, I must say Evans is pretty good if you are unsure about the sizing of clothing/shoes/helmet etc. What I found is they never have what I want in stock. I just order a few sizes of what I want using click and collect, try them out in the shop and get a refund from the tills for the sizes that don't fit. Their prices are pretty competitive as well.
Great considering he knew what was in the drawers and boxes in the workshop instantly- yeah right!
I expect he's correct - they'd have them sent in from warehouse stock or you could get it in click and collect.
So, 2 sales people gave honest answers. They may not have the myriad of spares needed to hand but I'd expect the sell-through rate of parts like that makes them low-priority stock at Evans.
Yetiboy, honest question (and no snarkiness intended). What amount of training do you imagine these people get?
He could well have been a sage guru on road bikes, just not into mtb. Since most bike shop employees draw on their own knowledge it's pot luck.
I don't understand how someone can be that desperate for a brake mount
Did you not think when you ordered the frame of all the other parts you would need to build it up, and order them at the same time?
It is possible salesman 2 was correct, some of us shop staff have a clue!
Weevil - which EBC? (prays its not mine).
I went into Edinburgh Planet X last week. Classic...4 staff, inc an older/senior one fawning over a TT bike customer (they were measuring it to work out what size it was). I was also ignored for a couple of minutes by their colleagyedoing something at a nearby till, until one of the TT fanboi staff helped.
I went into my local Evans (Guildford) to get a power-link. They didn't have any 10 spd Shimano ones in stock but the sales guy led me over to the workshop area and asked one of the mechanics. He gave me one of the workshop ones and when I went to pay for it they said it was free of charge!
I suppose that I'm a bit spoiled, as my local Evans [u]is[/u] the Gatwick warehouse, so I can only take your observations about your local shop as you describe it.
However, I would suggest that next time you order a new frame, you can anticipate the desire to ride it as soon as possible (who wouldn't), and order the brake mounts (and anything else required for the build) at the same time.
If the situation was slightly different, and the frame wasn't due to arrive for a few weeks, you'd probably have had a bit more patience with the shop staff, so I'd say that a fair bit of the problem was impatience on your part.
Is it just me or would it have been worth a look round the workshop?
To be fair to him, he might've been asked that regularly, or he may have just fitted the last one.. maybe.
As for not stocking boots you don't like - that's stupid. You don't stock what you like, you stock what your customers want.
i think all bikeshops are pretty crap to be honest. cant remember the last time i had good service from one.
crc, planetx/on one, wiggle all continue to provide good quick cheap service.
I don't understand how someone can be that desperate for a brake mount
Did you not think when you ordered the frame of all the other parts you would need to build it up, and order them at the same time?
Easy to overlook imho, especially now that most frames/forks are post mount, where previously it was all IS to post adaptors.
My local Evans ( MK) gave me excellent service the other wkd. Free removal of my cranks and you can't say fairer than that! And ffs I can't believe you guys having a go at the OP for forgetting a brake mount.
At least Evans was open to be able to tell you they didn't have it in stock. Though what a shop is thinking actually being open on a day when people might actually be in a position to go and use it is beyond me.
ultimateweevil - Member
Wow that's bad ton.My local Edinburgh Bike have a nice big shop but stock nothing of use whatsoever and the staff are so incompetent it's beyond a joke I went in for a new chain a while back and was told they don't sell any 10 speed chains by the salesperson who was standing right next to a wall with 3 different 10 speed chains!
Be fair - I bought some lube and degreaser from them on Saturday, so they do stock some stuff that's of use. 🙂 I nearly made an impulse purchase of gloves too but they didn't have my size in stock - they did have several other sizes though.
My only experience in store was being asked to move so the guy sweeping up could sweep where I was standing, I put down the shorts I was considering buying and left empty handed.
Weevil - which EBC? (prays its not mine).
Wait, what?
Which store are you in Al, the new one? I'm in there like twice a week at the moment...
benji - Member
My only experience in store was being asked to move so the guy sweeping up could sweep where I was standing, I put down the shorts I was considering buying and left empty handed.
POSTED 9 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Seriously? That makes you sound rather childish...
@13FM: Canonmills...are you Mr Synapse?
"i think all bikeshops are pretty crap to be honest."
You have some great bike shops in Leeds Tony.
Vertex
Garage Bikes
Chevin (Independent LBS of the year apparently)
what I absolutely HATE is that my local Evans, which is quite big, has a wonderful array of bikes BUT all they sell in terms of parts and accessories is their own-brand FWE stuff which is below average kit and on top of that is really bad value for money.
A fair few of the Manchester Evans could probably ride better than most of this forum. Good service too. No I have nothing to do with them. Like anywhere quality varies.
To be fair, brake mounts confuse the **** out of me as well.
Al:I was also ignored for a couple of minutes
Were you dressed all in black? They might not have seen you?
Seriously? That makes you sound rather childish...
NO IT DOESN'T! AND YOU'RE NOT MY REAL DAD!
*slams door*
To be honest I'd have been more surprised if they had stocked adaptors. Cant see any reason to tie up money in stock like that.
I have to admit I dislike most local bike shops, however EBC is miles better than Evans IMO. I can't recall ever buying anything from Evans.
You have some great bike shops in Leeds Tony.
i have yet to find one, Garage are exempt from my criticism because i have never used them.
examples over the years.
paid £1500 cash in Stiff for a frame and some bits. built bike up, 1 month later problem with a bearing. getting it sorted was like i had the plague.
spent 2k on two bikes in chevin, lost my receipt for one i was selling on. asked chevin for a copy, was told no we dont keep receipts of bikes we sell, even tho i paid with credit card. never got a receipt.
used woodrups for ages, bought everything from them, and they are a bit pricey. sent my son down for a rear mech (deore) tried to charge him £45. i took it back, got my cash back, was told if i had bought it, it would have been £30.
bought brakes and various stuff from another leeds shop, and was slagged off online by the shop owner for being a pain in the arse customer..... 🙄
Edinburgh Evans don't actually seem to WANT you to buy anything, even when you're standing at the till with it.
Any excuse fir a moan....
Edinburgh Evans don't actually seem to WANT you to buy anything, even when you're standing at the till with it.Any excuse fir a moan....
Totally agree. The shop is complete shit.
ton:i have yet to find one, Garage are exempt from my criticism because i have never used them.
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/leeds-bike-shops#post-5485816 ]You sure?[/url]
😛
Ton, get down to see Al @ Garage. A more helpful chap you could not wish to meet.
EDIT: Well now I'm just confused, not just by Jamie's freakish omnipotence.
Good work, Monsieur Poirot!
FWIW, some friends had truly brilliant service from Evans in Preston on a Lejog this summer.
My own recent experiences of the stores has been limited to popping in to Ludgate Circus when I've had a few minutes to kill between meetings. It's a lovely quiet space to escape the hustle and bustle of the City. It's made even more tranquil by the marvellous way the staff have been trained to leave you alone with your thoughts, never once interrupting you with something as rude as a "Hello", let alone being so uncouth as to try and engage you in actually buying anything!
TBH I use the Chill Factor Store on a click and collect bases and always found the staff pretty good.
BUT
It's till setup is a bloody joke always hammered and ques why they cannot have at least another till setup is beyond me. Being such a large and busy store. 🙄
used woodrups for ages, bought everything from them, and they are a bit pricey. sent my son down for a rear mech (deore) tried to charge him £45. i took it back, got my cash back, was told if i had bought it, it would have been £30.
Isn't this just the sort of thing people are always saying shops [i]should[/i] do?
spent 2k on two bikes in chevin, lost my receipt for one i was selling on. asked chevin for a copy, was told no we dont keep receipts of bikes we sell, even tho i paid with credit card. never got a receipt.
This makes them crap? Really?
used woodrups for ages, bought everything from them, and they are a bit pricey. sent my son down for a rear mech (deore) tried to charge him £45. i took it back, got my cash back, was told if i had bought it, it would have been £30.
They didn't recogise your son, but they sell you stuff at near trade price. That is DREADFUL.
bought brakes and various stuff from another leeds shop, and was slagged off online for being a pain in the arse customer.
I think they are right. Bit rude of them this.
You would be lucky to find a disc mount adaptor in stock in any shop. Did you really expect them to have it? Really? I would think that stocking all varieties of adaptor just in case someone comes and buys one is not a good way to run a shop. They'd hardly be flying off the shelves. Its not the sort of thing you need then and there is it.
Take brake pads for example. Something you might be much more likely to need. My local shop never seems to have what I want. There are so many types, and types within types. But they are still an excellent shop.
jamie.....i know Al at garage from riding. never used his shop, hence saying he was a good bloke who loved bikes/biking.
Buy a bike from the Reading branch and it comes with a free rattle. Well my aunt bought a hybrid bike, rode it to my mothers. I found the brake caliper was completely loose and 2 or 3 threads more would have been boltless. Not bad for 20 miles old........
Work colleague has a Fuji bike. Needed some new BB bearings. He went in there, bearing in mind they are Fuji importers and sellers. They don't stock BB bearing for that :roll:. Think it was like a BB30 bearing. Sent him to Pedal On, who said they always get people from Evans being directed to them.....
jamie.....i know Al at garage from riding. never used his shop, hence saying he was a good bloke who loved bikes/biking.
Just messing, ton. No need for....
[img] 
[/img]
AL, yes. crap in my eyes.
I'm sure the MD is loosing sleep tonight on missing that £9.99 sale (thats Evans price) and as a result is demanding all 50+ stores immediately keep 2 of each of four different product sizes/standards on its shelves (at a stock value of c. £2400) because these are afterall
which people need immediately.common items
Presumably the web analytics guy will also be fired for not realising that lots of people were searching for this, and only not completing a sale when they checked the stock in their local store. If its like my local Evans then the workshop is very clean and tidy (unlike a proper LBS) and so doesn't have random parts hiding unknown in drawers.
I'm not saying Evans are good - but the if you are going to have a rant make it over something meaningful.
EDIT: This thread is moving too fast for me!
However, if the pun is fish pie related, THIS is a fish pie.
Stargazy 😀
[img] 
[/img]
I think the bottom line here is, if you know you have a frame coming in, then you should have ordered all the bits you need ready.
EDIT: This thread is moving too fast for me!
It's like tweeting from the future!
Ride-On Rawtenstall are great for spares like thisYou would be lucky to find a disc mount adaptor in stock in any shop
re Evans: NCC were good sorting out an issue for me
Chill Factore knocked 10% off a bike with a small ding without being asked, not ideal but customer happy
jamie, that is a crap fish pie......more like a prawn pie.
jamie, that is a crap fish pie......more like a prawn pie.
Well, I am a southern soft lad. So it's as fishy as I can manage.
We stock adaptors. Not 203mm tho.
Ton, you know my views...
Stargazy is from Cornwall, Jamie 😉
Signed, A N Other Southern Softie.
I went into canonmills for a 160rear and 180front mr bikeshop man got one off the rack then went hunting for another downstairs, we had a chat about tange prestige I paid my monies and left.
Not sure what my point is.
Al, you would love me as a customer, money no object, never bring anything back, buy all my bikes without a test ride.
bike salesmans dream...... 😆
To be honest I'd have been more surprised if they had stocked adaptors. Cant see any reason to tie up money in stock like that.
I bet my LBS does. Cyclopedia in Cardiff - they always have everything 🙂
To be honest I'd have been more surprised if they had stocked adaptors. Cant see any reason to tie up money in stock like that.
I bet my LBS does. Cyclopedia in Cardiff - they always have everything
Ditto my LBS, which has all manner of mounts in stock, as well as such arcane but useful stuff as 6 bolt to Centrelock and vice versa adapters.
I went into my local Evans (Guildford) to get a power-link. They didn't have any 10 spd Shimano ones in stock
Probably a very good reason for that 😉
To be fair whenever I have gone into an Evans store they have always been polite, they can't stock everything a keyboard worrier with a fetish for the more unusual item may need, but they can generally get it for you!
I went in to a branch of Cycle Surgery today & was given the most helpful & attentive service when asking to try on basically all of the helmets they had in stock, the chap couldn't of been nicer if he tried & has ordered in a couple of the one's they didn't have in stock for me to try on, obviously I will now have to buy one from them as I would feel terrible if I had taken so much of his time & left to order it on the internet cheaper, I'm just hoping one of the Lids he has ordered in for me is perfect!
Top service from people who must be sick of people who would try stuff & then go away & order it on-line.
Evans in Cas Vegas could easily have sold me a frame a couple of years ago when my old Trusty Rust broke at the rear dropout. I stood at the counter looking at the frames on the wall, walked round the shop 3 or 4 times & tried to look like someone who needed some help. Even though there were a couple of 'assistants' standing around doing some serious arse scratching no one came over or showed any interest, so i got Trusty fixed & saved about £250/300 & I've never been back to an Evans store.
I was just thinking the same about Ride On. Invaluable place - they are 30 mins away but we always try and make the effort to use them as our no.1 choice if time permits.
Last time I was in, someone was buying a suspension bike and they made a point of showing him the wall of spare pivots bolts, bearings, seals, mech hangers etc ready and waiting if he ever had a problem.
Seriously? That makes you sound rather childish.
Do you really think so? Mid afternoon only customer in there, "not do you want any help" or "did you want to try them on"
Having worked in bike shops I would not dream of asking a customer to move so I can finish a quiet time job, think it's called customer relations rather than being childish, perhaps you run a creche so have a better view on childish 🙄
Mr Synapse
That'll be me 😀
Didn't realise you worked there, know Marty well from my previous employ.
Evans in Chiswick have been pretty good for me.
Went in there with a seized pedal, sorted for free, they've lent me tools a few times to sort myself out when I've been in a rush. Always helpful when I want to buy road kit. I always regretted not taking their advice and buying some fancy Spesh wheels instead of Hopes because of the spoke availability problems with them.
My only beef is that they didn't stock decent tubeless tyres. I'm sure that's now different.
Same here for previous Plymouth Evans store really helpful great mechanic the lbs in Plymouth are really not so good and that comes from a big group of lads who have used them all.
hora - MemberA fair few of the Manchester Evans could probably ride better than most of this forum. Good service too. No I have nothing to do with them. Like anywhere quality varies.
I agree, great staff in the Manchester store - friendly and knowledgeable.
Not keen on the Velodrome shop though.
I have found the staff in the Brighton branch to be very helpful, last time the chap at the till found a part they did not stock on chain reaction for me.
Oh, I've also abused their "no quibble returns policy" a couple of times with no grumbles from them when I ended up not buying. A Whyte 905 and a Norco Aurum. Not sure if that's still around though. I've lost count of the times I've hit them up for advice to be honest.
It is just a job for some of the staff though. You just need to learn which ones you need to speak to I guess.
Not a 'proper' bike shop though is it, just a store front for shiney crap. Both of my local bike shops would have stocked a 203 adapter.
If you treat Evans for what they are, the Argos of the bike world, you will get less emotional.
I've had good and bad experiences and I will continue to go as they are pretty convenient (plus my local is the Gatwick warehouse).
Their target audience is the weekend warrior trade who would rather buy a new bike than replace a small component so it is no surprise that their stocks of spares are kept mainly for workshop use.
A fair few of the Manchester Evans could probably ride better than most of this forum
Sadly, that doesn't make them any better at doing their job.
...their stocks of spares are kept mainly for workshop use
Evans have warranty-use spares that aren't on the site but general spares are - eg currently listing
[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/components/brakes/f#!Spares=Spares!page=1;per_page=99 ]92 brake spares items [/url]
[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/components/bottom-brackets/f#!Spares=Spares!page=1;per_page=99 ]41 BB spares[/url]
[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/components/hubs/f#!Spares=Spares!page=1;per_page=99 ]141 hub spares[/url]
There's a fair bit there, just not every item in each of 50+ shops. Admittedly not as extensive in some areas as the amazing range of spares SJS have, but still pretty good I think. The Fuji BB30 comment - noted, checking that.
Hey Al my local Edinburgh is in Aberdeen. The one in Edinburgh is actually quite good the couple of times I've been in looking for the odd set of gloves.
I was in the Sheffield Evans last night.
i thought the new trek road bikes were ugly beyond belief, but the staff were friendly and helpful.
PSA: holy ****-balls! the Pinnacle Ramin looks bloody great vfm; £350 or something.
Wow this was moving my quickly!
The reason i didn't have the correct adaptor is because the frame (Morewood Makulu) uses a rear post mount. Not like you'd expect where the posts accommodate -20mm than a front one (like IS does).
So I needed a front post to post to enable me to run a REAR 203mm rotor. I couldn't find sod all about it online so had to wait till it arrived and go through my spares box.
If I didn't have one in the spares box I intended to take it of my other bike- then I remembered my forks were off for servicing. Doh!
And for the record- at least two of my local 'proper' shops had the right mount in stock- just none were open on a Sunday.
I use the Glasgow city centre one pretty regularly because their stock never changes so if I know exactly what I need then I'll know if they have it. Just little things like oil, degreaser, energy gels. Generally though their stock is poor. Clothing is almost exclusively Endura, Altura or Gore. Catering for the commuter or roadie market. Tools aren't too bad and I've had a few decent bits. Lights are ok. Tyre selection is poor. Never had to talk to the staff so can't comment on them.
Their Braehead store is absolutely abysmal. The staff are disinterested and aloof. The till area is always an absolute pig sty. I'll gladly never use it again and even if it's open when I visit Soar I won't bother going in for a browse.
And for the record- at least two of my local 'proper' shops had the right mount in stock- just none were open on a Sunday.
My experience of Evans:-
1. Evans is not really a 'proper' specialist bike shop. They are a high street retailer aiming mostly at the mass market, which I'm afraid does not stretch to stocking post-post brake mounts! I would have considered it a very long shot at best.
2. The Evans in Milton Keynes is actually quite good and some of their staff are quite knowledgeable (although haven't been in for a while). If you are looking for more obvious items like a pair of gloves, sunnies, tubes, cables etc. then they do tend to have reasonable stock. Been very handy for me on occasion. For example they had brake pads in stock for my Formula Oros one time when I got caught short ahead of a ride. I was pleasantly surprised.
3. At least they are actually open on a Sunday, so that's better than most "proper" bike shops.
Of course it does, I'll be calling in there later, I will be sure to ask for the most raddest of gnar shredders to serve me.A fair few of the Manchester Evans could probably ride better than most of this forumSadly, that doesn't make them any better at doing their job.
"can I help you sir?"
"I don't know, can you huck 8' to flat?"
"sorry sir, 6' is my best"
"then go get me someone who can!"
Everyone will have said this already, but nevermind.
Evans sell bikes and stuff to people who are happy to buy a bike and some stuff.
If you're happy to go to buy (say) "a good cycling jersey" they will have one.
If what you want is an after-market component of a particular size, they won't, and if it's going to annoy you just buy online.
🙂
I'm now longer a evans cycles customer due to staff at the Chillfactore store in Manchester. In the last year I've spent a fair bit of money at evans including buying two of my bikes from them. Never had a problem with them until a bought a Pinnacle Ramin 1. Looked like a great value bike so I ordered one. I took it for it's fist ever ride and completed 20 miles when on the first down hill the front brake started grinding (pad worn out) and the chain device decided to depart from the bike. I decided to ride home mostly on the road using the back brake which after a further 10 miles started grinding as well.
When I got home I phoned the store who asked me to drop it in to be sorted, great. When I got there I was "interviewed" about the bike for 30 minutes by the bike mechanic and the assistant store manager who didn't believe I'd only just got the bike. I was told to ring the store manager in the morning who also "interviewed" me for another 30 minutes and I was then told he didn't know how this could happen and that he'd never seen it before, which I agreed with. I have brake pads which have done a lot more difficult rides which have been in months on my other bikes.
The manager said he would go away and sort it and told me he would ring back in 1 hour. At the end of the day after no returned call I phoned him back. He said I had 3 options:
1 - Pay for the repair
2 - Take the bike away and sort it myself
3 - Send the bike to their warranty department for assessment (he advised me against this option as he said he didn't fancy my chances)
Rearly annoyed at this I rang their customer relations department, the lady at the end of the phone could tell the distress I was in at this time. She contacted the store manager and the warranty department to get the complete story. Within 24 hrs the store manager was told to sort the bike out as I'd only had it a few days and the issues I had were unacceptable. They put better quality brakes but didn't replace the disc's that were scored. I reported this back to the customer relations department who were shocked and commented that this is an unacceptable training issue which needed immediate action.
So basically Store manager and staff lack knowledge on sale of goods, training and customer service.
Customer service were the opposite, fantastically supportive.
AVOID EVANS CHILLFACTORE STORE!
P.S Apart from the problems stated about the bike it rides really well really enjoy it and plenty of opportunity to upgrade.
Cheers Weevil.
13FM you'll get the secret Big-hitter handshake when you're next in.