Evans-not a very good experience.

[BlackPanther]

Today, I went looking for a new road bike to use for commuting during the Spring/Summer, and for the occasional long ride. My Dawes Tanami is excellent for getting to work on, but I want a second bike for a bit of variety/more fun/more speed! I've never had a proper road bike before. Anyway, after much t'internet researching, and deciding I wasn't going to spend much more than £500, I'd narrowed it down to a Specialised Allez, a GT GTR series 4, a Carrera Vanquish and a Giant Defy 3. I drove up to Evans in Castleford (Xscape). They weren't busy, and there were 4 guys behind the counter. I walked around. I looked at all the bikes. I came back the the Allez (which was right in front of the counter.) No offers of help, so I asked if they had any 2010 models within the company. The guy behind the counter looked at me as if I'd just asked him for the cure for cancer. Nope, the only one in stock within Evans was a 61cm (I'm only 5 ft 8), and I wouldn't be able to get a 2010 in my size from anywhere. I knew this to be untrue as I'd already found 3 or 4 sites selling them. Anyway, I looked again at the 2011 model. I had £600 sitting in my pocket, and would have been prepared buy a bike there and then, if the price was right. I picked the bike up (as much as you can pick up a bike that's cable locked) and still no offer of help/advice, so I left.

I then drove to J E James cycles in Rotherham. They were extremely busy, but a member of staff who was already seeing to another customer at least acknowledged me and said he'd be happy to help if I could be patient. 5 minutes later he showed me the Allez. They only had the 2011 model but he did show me other bikes around the same level/price as the 2010. Unfortunately, after seeing the Allez in the flesh, the Defy 3 and others in the same price bracket just didn't do it for me, and they couldn't really knock enough off the price of the 2011 Allez for me to buy.......but at least they were professional, and that makes me far more likely to go back again if I decide to upgrade in a year or two.

So, I have now ordered a Specialised Allez 2010 (£399.00) for delivery on Tuesday.
Evans need to get their act together.

 

[photography27]

hi, i would send this in an email to Evans, not to get any money or anything like that, but to make aware to the managers that their staff aint very good!!
good reading blackpanther

 

[jonrwg]

Evans in Birmingham had a very good service though. They will ask me to wait for a while when they're busy and came back to me right after serving the customer. Maybe you should talk with the store manager? hmm..

 

[skudupnorth]

Evans at the Chill Factor are brilliant,always get good service and someone always asks if i need any help,cannot fault the team there.

 

[Mark_Robson]

Evans at Gateshead are great. When I forgot my print out a web page so that they could price match a helmet they googled it for me and even managed to find it three quid cheaper than I did. I bought a helmet that had an shop price of £50 for £32.

 

[Peter88]

Evans at the Chill Factor are brilliant,always get good service and someone always asks if i need any help,cannot fault the team there.

+1 never had a bad experiance in the Chill Factor store.

 

[gaz]

I've always had great customer experience at Evans Cycles. I'm always asked if i need a hand when just browsing.
Send them an e-mail and let them know. It might just be a one off, but best to let the head office know so they can do something about it.

 

[jonrwg]

Evans at Gateshead are great. When I forgot my print out a web page so that they could price match a helmet they googled it for me and even managed to find it three quid cheaper than I did. I bought a helmet that had an shop price of £50 for £32.

Evans at Birmingham did the same thing when I ask them to price match a helmet.

 

[jig-sore]

if i had £600 cash in my pocket i would have took it out, spread it into a nice fan shape and casually fanned myself with it as i looked at the bike.

if they had eventually took any notice i would have just said no thanks and walked out !!!

 

[BlackPanther]

The thing is that I genuinely wanted to buy, and I actually wanted some advice (I've never even ridden with sti shifters for a start). Mind you, I eventually got all the advice I needed from JE James in Rotherham. I guess the smaller 'family run' outlet staff have more of a passion for the goods they sell, than the conveyor belt trained staff at multi branch outlets?

 

[Ticktockmy]

I find that both the Crawley town shop and there warehouse shop at Gatwick, very good, and always get good service and information at both. I would contact there head office and explain the poor service you where given.

 

[Woz!]

I've had very good service in the Reading branch too. Attentive enough, but not TOO attentive (which bugs the hell out of me!).
Infact, I get good service from Halfords too (bracknell store). The staff there are enthusiasts though - you can tell by the bike tattoos!

 

[nightoff]

I had excellent service at the Castleford Branch of Evans.

I was so impressed I set up my works ride to work scheme with them.
Within 45 minutes of setting foot in the store for the first time in my life, I had tried 4 different bikes in my price range. Some needed pedals attaching.

2 weeks later the scheme was set up.

1 week after that I was riding my price matched steed out of the store with a free inner tube given as a parting gift.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I have hit and miss service at Evans.

Fair play to them, they did replace a part under warranty on my road bike, and the lads in the Spitalifelds unit are ace. However I've had woeful, rude and arrogant service on many occasions at waterloo cut. I think there's a 'road bike specialist' snobbishness and I have seen a few people simply walk out of their store when it's busy.

 

[Nigeyy]

Isn't there a problem here of either you get sales people circling you like a shark (when all you want to do is take a couple of minutes to look) or they don't help you at all -but isn't it damned if they do, damned if they don't?

I've got to say, if I was in your position, I'd do the obvious -ask for help when I went in. Something along the lines of "I want to buy a bike...." and start from there. I take your point that they should have asked -but what if they were trying to give you some space? Having said that, I'd also be a bit miffed if at least you weren't acknowledged. If their attitude is slovenly, you have to wonder how they'll help you if you have any warrantee issues.

Also, and if I'm interpreting this correctly, you found 2010 models online at other stores, but not at any other Evans? I'm not sure I'd hold something against an employee not searching the internet to be cognizant of the fact that a previous year's model in a certain size is available at his competitors stores (possibly miles away). Yes, maybe he shouldn't have been definitive, but was he referring to Evans stock only? And perhaps he did know there were none to be had in the local area. However, if you'd found some in stock at Evans, I'd have most certainly pushed the point of the 2010 models -tell them you did find some at Evans online (though I don't know if they have a reciprocal program for branches or would ship old stock from one branch to another). Anyway, ultimately you voted with your money -any self respecting business will take note of that.

It sounds like you didn't buy from JE James in Rotherham -that's too bad as it sounds like you got some good advice and they sound like a good place.