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I’ve bought shed loads of cycle stuff from Evans over the years clothes tyres pedals energy bars oakleys etc including two new bikes but I always buy online. And always buy sale stuff. It surprised me how they managed to have so many stores everywhere!
Their most recent sale is ridiculous.
I ordered well over £1000 of clothing/ helmet and stuff, and paid just over £400 with the sale price and the EXTRA20 code they had.
It was also on a Ride2Work voucher so will actually pay just over £270 for it all 👍😳
I can't be alone in not spending a single penny more than I absolutely have to in light of the forthcoming economic chaos. If my job survives then I will start buying things again, but until then the purse stays shut.
I can’t be alone in not spending a single penny more than I absolutely have to in light of the forthcoming economic chaos.
I think there is a good group of people who feel completely isolated from that. They show no signs of panic or concern. It could be denial though and just going hard into the inevitable crash.
The majority of bike shops still depend on discretionary spending. No matter how many claim to be cycling to work they will give up the bike before the petrol pump.
No matter how many claim to be cycling to work they will give up the bike before the petrol pump.
Sold my car to buy an E-cargo bike. Do an average of 130 miles a week. No more petrol/diesel pumps for me
Use my local Evans for most things, they are great.
Stuff still arriving in shops. Picked up my light today to keep my commuter ticking over in the darker nights....
I bought my one-up dropper and lever from them, one of those suit carrier messenger bags which wasn't cheap, some XT groupset stuff for a bike build.
One thing I don't like is that their stores are now just full of that L Garnier own brand stuff, if you want much else in you have to click-and-collect it, try it on, and refund if no good.
Also bought some stuff from Cycle Surgery recently as well.
Garneau? Deff not own brand stuff big canadian lot with some good stuff, bibs are great
Garneau are actually a Canadian company, not an Evans own brand. They do high end stuff, but they seem to have an image problem over here presumably because of the misconception with Evans.
EDIT. Too slow
I’d always assumed the rent on the Cardiff store must be small because of the challenging location. It used to be a Hypervalue. I understood the business model to be to find lower rent premises just off town centres. Good for click and collect for office workers. Seems like a runner.
Rapha I understand, they have mid season gaps and if you want something it’s pretty much out of stock, been trying to get a technical t-shirt for months, they are great! Plus they must of got more business from team sky deal, the amount of rapha t-shirts still seen in the crowds and the roadies my way there’s always a few rapha team sky kits but never seen any of the new kit. I will admit I have a ton of team sky stuff from rapha. They need to get the price point right, sale stuff fly’s out maybe they should lower prices all year and no fire sale each year??
Evans I’m indifferent the bham store is terrible, well the I’m assuming the manager or deputy complete arse, remember getting a new bike, I was passing store and the bike was sat there in the work shop signed off and ready to go, he refused to let me have it as my appointment was Friday...was tempted to cancel the order.
I’ve ordered a couple of things from them today. Do my tiny bit I suppose.
rapha. They need to get the price point right, sale stuff fly’s out maybe they should lower prices all year and no fire sale each year??
Nah it's retaining the high price faux exclusivity that means it flies off the shelves in the outlet stores but also in the shops/web I've bought most of my stuff at discount but a couple of bits full price. The people not spending money are not the rapha buyers at the moment
Good to know Sky news is so up to date. This story is about 9 months old and related to an earlier finance restructure.
It's a shame as I use them quite a lot, mainly due to the price matching and the fact there's a big ass store right near where I work most of the time.
That and the Kalf stuff is ace
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jameso
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<div class="bbp-reply-content">Good to know Sky news is so up to date. This story is about 9 months old and related to an earlier finance restructure.
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Can you add any more detail to that? It does seem that only Sky News reported it (and some smaller outlets reported that Sky reported it) Sour Grapes because Evan's Blacklisted some News Corp sites for advertising?
Garneau are actually a Canadian company, not an Evans own brand. They do high end stuff, but they seem to have an image problem over here presumably because of the misconception with Evans.
Both of my kids use their women's MTB shoes for racing and they are really good quality and fit, especially for the price. Well recommended.
I'm no brand snob and ordered some LG shoes based on price, fit and looks. Impressed so far.
Oh well. I chopped in my Clubcard points last week for a voucher which I was going to buy a discounted Osprey with, but they delayed delivering the voucher until immediately after the sale was over (and a few days after the Osprey flash deal) so I was going to hang on to the voucher until the next sale.
Maybe that isn’t an option much longer!
I quite like Evans, working in Crawley means I can call in their warehouse store and try for size. Big range of stuff and no messing with returns. I wonder whether having that shop front to the warehouse pays off for them, it's certainly useful to me.
I think Rapha are in the poo too. They have had loads more sales this year and their stuff has been on SportPursuit.
80 redundancies.
im surprised they didn’t do the Burberry thing and burn unsold stock rather than discount it on sales sites to keep the brands image intact.
they also closed the cafes in the afternoon to save some money, they probably gave a high value to the members club when selling the business but i know people who work near the cafes and became members so they could get 2 coffees a day for the year at a hugely discounted price, £6 x5 x52 weeks is £1560 membership was £2-£300?
they have no interest in cycling but like high quality coffee (from The Barn Berlin etc) at huge discounts.
Good to know Sky news is so up to date. This story is about 9 months old and related to an earlier finance restructure.
Can you add any more detail to that? It does seem that only Sky News reported it (and some smaller outlets reported that Sky reported it) Sour Grapes because Evan’s Blacklisted some News Corp sites for advertising?
Not got much more detail to add really - it's an old story that's popped up again related to recent large retailer stories along these lines.
News Corp may have not liked that move a while back but any company can choose where it advertises and if this is linked (which would suprise me tbh) then that backs up why businesses need that choice. On second thought it may be linked as it seems like poor fact-checking, but that's into a topic about News Corp and the media, not Evans.
I think I agree with this after a casual google. Apart from dropping the ‘new’ CEO at the start of the month there doesn’t seem to be much to substantiate this story other than what we ‘knew’ about two years ago.
= Fake News.
The cool thing about the Cardiff branch is that if you are driving in they'll validate your parking for the adjoining NCP car park too. That was a over a year ago though when I bought a wheel.
In other news, is the copy paste quote functionality *still* broken? 🙄
(I just edited a bunch of html tagging that didn’t show in preview out so the post was slightly readable)
We sold plenty of bikes last week in my shop, reading some of the comments about no prices on bikes and not being able to pick up bikes seem a bit odd. Definitely not standard practice, if youve had an issue then mention it to someone. Id aways rather hear about a problem and try to rectify it than not hear about it and have an unhappy customer. Not a quote....sigh
Cardiff Evans is great.
Right near work, friendly staff and good click & collect choice.
Bit lacking in options for MTB clothing but not surprising as I doubt they are big sellers.
They still validate parking as well.
Just spent £50 with them. Is this fake news plus getting a £5 off code this morning by email drumming up some sales to clear the 2017 stock? Good work by them I guess
Had an email earlier to tell me the Bell Super I have an backorder will be in earlier than expected and they'd let me know, anyway fairer that that.
Also bought an LG MIPS road lid at a big discount earlier this year and it's the comfiest, quietest lid I've owned and my word, I've owned a few
I’ve only been into Cardiff Evans once, not a great experience but I wouldn’t knock them too much for it.
Truthfully I avoid ‘Town’ like an STD and I’d have to pass two great LBSs to get there (used to be 3 sadly).
But I shop online with them fairly regularly.
Sunset are moving to the top of Caerphilly Mountain to what looks like a massive place (work seems to have stalled through summer though) and building a little bike park / hire place to go with it. I don’t suspect I’ll fancy the trip into town any more after they open.
Website is down at the minute, I have a £50 voucher to spend from Tesco vouchers, hopefully it’s back online soon or I can swap them back!
and still down - I have a Camelbak hopefully at local store for pickup, which I have paid for, hope no issues....
Up here,
Can get to my account and everything - though the posts above said it was mostly a non story/old one picked up
ta, doesn't work for me - will try later - opens but won't let me log in, probably me !
Just ordered a couple of clothing items from Evans.
They're usually good for Gore, so I checked them out as usual - and found they are doing £15 off £100. On top of the fact that the £160 jacket I wanted was £95 and Quidco... that really can't be beaten. One does wonder how sustainable this is?
I still can’t get in, on phone, iPad or laptop. Will call them tomorrow but guess it’s my account rather that an Evans issue.
Been on the site and in to my account no worries today.
Why, oh why don’t they have 29” Hope Enduro wheels in boost?
Worry not ..I'm sure the saviour of all things retail will be watching with interest ..and will step forward and do a " House Of Fraser " at the appropriate time .. Mike Ashley ( the bastard )
well, still can't get into my account...... a phonecall shortly...
Ive been logging in fine for the last 24/48hr
Placed my order on Weds morning and it has been picked ready for despatch
Mine is out for delivery today - got an Endura jacket with £60 off.
gave their call centre a buzz, my order is fine and at local store (who didn't send me any notification mind you ) for collection. They also said that they are having website issues last few days which means that many people cannot access their accounts.
I used some Tesco vouchers to buy a Maxx-D last week. Everything worked as per usual.
My account works fine, new cassette is with Postie at the moment I'm told.
Does sound like someone at Sky News wanted to put the boot in, no other news agency has reported it.
There is definitely issues at Evans I left a few months ago and they hadn't paid a number of distributors for a while and had stopped receiving orders from them one of the distributors was Madison. It will be a massive shame if it does go bump there are some fantastic people who work in store and it's all decisions out of their control that's causing this. I enjoyed my 6 years there but I could see the end was in sight. Fingers crossed something is sorted for all my friends who still work there, they are being told that there is nothing to worry about and that they are seeking more funding to move the company forward but as usual the staff will be the last to find out what's actually hallening.
Aren’t Maddison the only UK dist for Shimano? I’d think there would be huge problems for Evans if Maddison cut them off, conversely I’m sure Maddison would be in trouble if Evans go under, I doubt they have a small facility with them!
Whilst i was there the only things we could get from Madison was warranty replacement. In store we was getting grey import Shimano stuff most of it was coming without packaging. They also ordered more SRAM stuff from Fishers but they then went on hold with them. If you go in the shops now you will see they look empty to how they used to look. At the store I worked we had gondolas which were empty and big sections on the walls that were also empty.
There are now a lot of senior people in the business who are not cyclist which is polar opposite to what it was like when I started there. But there are still some really good people in there they just need to focus on what there good at. The big problem for them is that the likes decathlon can sell a carbon raid bike specd with Dura Ace and Zipp 303's for £3499, or the same frame with Ulterga and Mavic Cosmic's for £1999, you compare that to the Pinnacle Dolomite 4 which has Ulterga but an alloy frame for £1450. Then you have go outdoors selling a Caliber Line 10 with 10 speed SLX, Recon fork and a dropper for £749. When you compare that to the Pinnacle Ramin or Iroko it's difficult to sell the Pinnacles as you get less "kit" for more money, the frames will be massivly better but at that price most people look at the kit. These companies must have better deals set up with the likes of Shimano so they can sell lower because the mark up on Pinnacle is similar to other manufacturer's. Either that or they are selling with a tiny mark up.
There is also the issue of how wiggle and CRC can sell so low, we were often price matching for less than our trade ie what Evans bought the item for. This is why I have no doubt you've seen staff (managers) pull their face when you price match.
The own brand stuff is great, Pinnacle Bike are amazing James Olsen is a top guy. The FWE clothing rang is good and the Kalf looks really good.
Fingers crossed they get the funding they need or get bought out by someone with industry knowledge. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Ashley went in for them he was sniffing around last time it was sold.
Ashley would destroy them if he tries the same tactics he's using at House Of Fraser.
Yep wverever was worried when they heard he was sniffing about last time.
Yep wverever was worried when they heard he was sniffing about last time.
That was also untrue, or a paper taking a quote and making something else from it.
True that there were overdue accounts a few months back though. The insurers that cover credit lines in this industry reduced or removed credit cover in many cases so some suppliers couldn't or wouldn't take any risks. Accounts then go on stop and no one makes any money, things stall. All related to downturn and this springs bad weather. Same pressures have bankrupted a number of IBDs this year.
(and thanks for the kind words matt)
No problem James it was always a pleasure chatting to you when you was in store. The Mike Ashley thing was floating about the Manchester stores so might of been a load of rubbish but you know how stuff fly's about with in the sotres. Really hope it all works out it's a company full of good people and we need a big cycle retailer.
One thing I never understood was why in store we were fed lies about being on hold for so long that is what crests unceeuncert in the staff and rumours to fly abiut.
I've avoided CRC/Wiggle on the grounds of what they're doing to the industry it seems. It's been great using bike shops recently for bits and pieces that I need. I really fear that we aren't far away from having very very few actual bikes shops around with decent stock.
If suppliers are refusing to supply that could explain the lack of 29" Hope boost wheels. Bum.
Time to find something else to spend the £400 Tesco vouchers I'd saved up on then.
Rapha was sold last year after it left sky. I believe to family members of Wal-Mart. Don't quote me on it but pretty certain. The new owners are highly into MTB also so a new market.
There clothing actually in deal format isn't that expensive and is some of the best road gear you will buy.
As for Evans anyone that follows the high street for a living or retail at the least is well aware its been for sale for ages. Sports direct looked at it seriously but at 50 million didn't see it viable.
The savvy just won't pay the prices in store and the rents are simply what are bankrupting all high street business.
If YOU 're selling from a warehouse or offering a proper LBS service which Evans doesn't then you won't survive on the high street.
There pricing although profitable in store is not competitive in the market place. Example Conti all season 25mm £85 per tyre. I had to query it in branch and the young lad just told me to go to crc as way cheaper.
I absolutely refuse point blank to use any Evans store today.
I have absolutely no issue paying more than online but that premium must match premium service and unfortunately today this is very hard to find within any chain.
One thing I never understood was why in store we were fed lies about being on hold for so long that is what crests unceeuncert in the staff and rumours to fly abiut.
I'm not sure what was said but as this thread shows, whatever is said turns into other stories somewhere along the line. I can't imagine many businesses putting out a detailed release on all the different supplier relationships and negotiations so it will be unclear. From what I know supply was disrupted for various reasons at different suppliers. Go from eg 1/2 million credit with a larger supplier to 1/2 that almost overnight based on the credit insurer's insistence due to retail market uncertanties and it creates a problem for everyone. Creates a problem for the supplier when you're one of their biggest customers. A kind of lock-up then reset that takes a while to work through and each supplier may want to manage it differently.
Sports direct looked at it seriously
Ashley was quoted as 'interested' in the media but that was all, SD wasn't one of the companies that actually got into talks about it. At 50 million he would have seen it as viable if he has the business sense you'd expect he has - it sold for a lot more than that.
The continental all season was £85? Wow, why we were selling a car tyre for that much I'm not sure. You probably mean 4 seasons and it's never been that expensive as the RRP is £50, also we price match crc....all slightly odd.
Speak with the lad in store akira. It was Norwich. I have no idea but supposed he had enough of people asking why they are so dear?
So I wanted to buy an xt rear mech from them, in stock according to website, had £50 of Tesco voucher too.coz I'd checked it out online got a follow up email reminding me they price match, so could get for £52 CRC price.
In shop not actually in stock but they happily agreed to price match & reminded me they have a £5 off £50 deal
How much do they pay for an m8000 mech , much less than £45?
Picking up my new helmet tomorrow from Castleford store.
It didn’t look empty when I was in on Monday, and the leeds store didn’t today either. Loads of new stock in, could barely move for stock actually.
Cracking deal in the helmet too. £270 POC Ventral Spin for £130 (hope it fits! )
my bike turned from them.
Dropped into Evans Gateshead last night and the new Cycle Republic store is open next to them - a chain is never heard of before. Confusing if one is expanding while another is in trouble.
Anyone used cycle Republic before or know the history?
Cycle Republic is Halfords.
Oh so it is... I could have used the internets for that. Thanks. A weird aggressive move to set literally next door to a competitor. I wonder if they'll price match each other to death?
Kimbers, I was interested in this so I asked my mate who works in a bike shop to check out the trade price of an m8000 mech. He wouldn't tell me exactly but apparently it is "over £50" (ex-vat). After tax Evans would take £39 from your £47. So they will lose £11-12 on that sale alone, unless they have a great source of OEM (they might). Even then they can't be making enough to run a shop on. How stupid do you have to be to have a policy of price matching everything indiscriminately? Maybe they think this customer will come back and spend big on something else but come on....really? From what I see on here and acter talking to riding mates, Evans are being used as a convenient local warehouse to get stuff as cheap as anywhere, same day. It's not a business plan.
So they will lose £11-12 on that sale alone, unless they have a great source of OEM (they might). Even then they can’t be making enough to run a shop on. How stupid do you have to be to have a policy of price matching everything indiscriminately?
We will turn down some price matches. That could be due to a number of reasons, such as not making a loss on a sale.
I run a retail business and we are very selective with price matching. For instance I've just been asked by a new customer whether I'll price match a German owned website selling in the uk on an expensive item which we import properly through the official importer with warranty etc - for which the answer was a resounding no. Buying from us, a physical shop where you can touch and see the goods , discuss the pros and cons etc v a massive 'just in time' website which probably doesn't even hold the stock - are you kidding. Thats just a race to liquidation
However if a customer comes in and shows me a similar shop has something in stock and available but at a slightly cheaper price then, yes I'll probably match it as thats just good business sense. Unless they are a real dick about it like marching in and waving a phone at me demanding 'my best price' before even saying hello....
Oh so it is… I could have used the internets for that. Thanks. A weird aggressive move to set literally next door to a competitor. I wonder if they’ll price match each other to death?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotelling%27s_law
There is also the issue of how wiggle and CRC can sell so low, we were often price matching for less than our trade
Set up bike brand order 1000 SRAM groupsets OEM forks and rear shocks dump stock after selling 20 bikes at 19 .2 percent markup,
Compete with CRC wiggle
Website has been down for nearly a week now. I'm looking to purchase a new bike soon and was going to use Evans for their "trade in" discount plus vouchers purchased at a discounted rate from a corporate perks scheme to pay the balance.
The only issue with purchasing the vouchers is they're non-refundable so if for some reason the bike I want (currently pre-order) doesn't show up, I'm stuck with some very expensive vouchers.
Not sure what to do. I was ready to commit to a purchase prior to this news coming to light and with the website still down, I'm suspicious they may just be in a spot of bother.........
Website has been down for nearly a week now
No it hasn't. Some folk have been unable to log in for some reason. For the rest of us it's been just fine.
Website has been up all week for me.
I know as I’ve got my eye on a Fulcrum wheelset but they’re on preorder, and the delivery date keeps slipping. Hope that’s nothing to do with the supplier relationships mentioned above.
It would be a shame to see them gone, I’ve had three bikes from them over the last 8 years or so.
I guess it's too soon to know what'll be happening to the Hoy brand?
If anyone's got a lightly-used Hoy Napier in green, let me know!
Oh so it is… I could have used the internets for that. Thanks. A weird aggressive move to set literally next door to a competitor. I wonder if they’ll price match each other to death?
Thanks, thought there might be a term for this strategy.
Just need to take back what I said on the thread. Having spoken to the web chat thing they gave me a special order email which confirmed they can get any configuration of the Hope wheels I want and in any colour. Can also use my Tesco vouchers. Cheers Evans!
Ashley also owns Tri Uk (who I have never heard of), they seem to be a big player in the industry and he's opening a number of new shops including one just down the road from me in Shirebrook which is due to open in a few weeks. I imagine that Evans locations would be handy for him if he was interested in buying them out.
Can we all just stop and read, then reread jamseo's posts on this matter?
I'll recap, this was ages ago and Sky randomly picked it up and ran with it.
Yep. I think some people can't read.
A none story.