Evans

[Joe]

Bastards

Now I know everyone says to avoid them but they were the only bike shop near me selling two of the bikes I'm interested in (a Bianchi and a Felt) so I thought I'd give it them a chance.
A couple of weeks ago I ordered in the two bikes. Which they had the cheek to charge me a £20 deposit on, each!
A few days later I had a message on my answerphone saying that the Felt is unavailable indefinitely (it still says available in 7-10 days on the website of course). Fair enough I thought, and called them to arrange to get the Bianchi built by this morning - a good weeks notice!
I turn up this morning and it's still in the box and they have no recollection of me calling them
I got the £20 back on the Felt but I left them the other deposit and asked them to build it by next weekend. My line of thought being that if I do like it I will get the deposit back and order from somewhere else. Though thinking about it I may just go back later today, get my £20 back and have nothing more to do with them.
I was well excited about trying the Bianchi

 

[simoncc]

I've only had recent experience of Evans since it opened its Manchester shop. It seems like an upmarket Halfords to me - staff who don't know much about bikes but who seem more like middle class studenty types rather than the spotty teenagers at Halfords, highish prices and the occasional good bargain offer. The new Edinburgh Co-op in Manchester is a variation on the theme. It has staff who know a bit about bikes, highish prices and they never seem to have great bargains.

 

[yenrod]

Evans - who are they

 

[gbb]

Joe, it may well be worth looking locally for a LBS selling Bianchi's.

Both my Via Nirones were brought locally from a small specialist LBS...at the same price Evans (and probably other online retailers) were quoting...because they were current models.

Both times my LBS had them assembled and ready to go the same day.

If you're buying this years model, there's sometimes not much to be gained buying from online retailers....that said, if you're buying last years model, then the online retailers discount heavily.

 

[Joe]

Tomorrow I'm actually off to a not so local bike shop who have the Felt F55 at a decent price. Just spoke to them on the phone to check they haven't "done an Evans". Very friendly chap, and the bikes are being built up as we speak. No deposit required and they have got the bike in in two sizes for me. Much better! They also stock Bianchis, have a Scott CR1 on special, and do a fitting service. So if they are as good in person it will probably be worth getting some more bikes in there, and making a couple of train rides.

 

[Keith Oates]

Must admit I'm a believer in using the LBS, in the end you normally get better service and it's a good meeting point for a chat and to meet other riders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[simon l& and a half]

Evans is a franchise operation. The staff vary greatly from one branch to another - and from time to time. The Evans in Clapham is absolutely fine. The one two doors down from Condor is well run.

And...I've just been to the Halfords (aka Bikehut) branch in Brighton. Great range of womens cycling gear (Mrs L was feeling the cold) and friendly knowledgeable staff. Not a decent inner tube in stock, but you can't have everything.

I'm an LBS supporter (my brother and sister-in-law own one) but it's not fair to tar all of the chain shops with the same brush.

 

[Renard]

Must admit I'm a believer in using the LBS, in the end you normally get better service and it's a good meeting point for a chat and to meet other riders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly!

 

[Perry]

Quite a few years ago I bought a Genesis Day 02 from Evans, I was very pleased with the service but I didn't know FA about bikes.

As the years have gone by and Evans have expanded the level of customer service has gone down the pan.

The worst Evans I've experienced is the Grays Inn Road

 

[zimzum42]

Yeah, they are particularly embarrassing...

Especially when they are just down the road from Condor. Not that the service in Condor is any good, unless you've got loads of cash, but at least they stock proper bikes.....

 

[GrahamG]

I'm an LBS person - but still get annoyed every now and again. The last one was telling me that SKS don't do P45's in black. Right.

 

[Paulus]

I am fortunate to have two very good bike shops within two miles of each other. One tends to be more higher spec, leaning towards the race trade but still caters for the everyday cyclist. The other has everthing you could want, is very friendly and knowledgable and will get you anything within a couple of days if he hasn't got it, and phone you to let you know that the items have come in.

 

[Alex]

The evans near Liverpool street is a lot better than the one at Canary wharf, I felt patronised for being interested in a carbon racer.
Cycle surgery is very close to the evans at liverpool street, i'll always go there instead and only to evans cos they are everywhere

 

[gaz]

My local evans in croydon has a few guys that are top notch and know some good stuff. so i go their for a few stuff.

Unfortantly my lbs is geoffrey butler, and my bank balace can't even afford their cheapist bikes.