Halfords to buy Wiggle?

[Chutzpah]

This story from Inner Ring caught my eye:

http://inrng.com/?p=2953

Rumours that Wiggle is being lined up to be put on the market, and has lead a commentator to jump straight to the prospect of Halfords purchasing a majority stake.

It does lead to an interesting thought experiment of what could happen if that was to go through...

 

[smokeysmoo]

That doesn't sound like good news to me.

Wiggle's customer service has always been exemplary in the 100's of dealings I've had with them over the past few years.

Halfords's customer service on the other hand has always been diabolical in the very limited number of dealings I've ever had with them.

If Halford's do take a majority share I would sincerely suggest they leave Wiggle well alone and focus on re-modelling their own business to bring it upto the same level as that of Wiggle.

How many CC members are there? We only need 200,000,000 and I'd be up for a £1 share to keep Wiggle out of Halfords hands

 

[coffeejo]

I'd chip in a tenner

 

[numbnuts]

If it went over to halfords I would shop else where and so will many others

 

[the_mikey]

Agree, Halfords is/are offensive.


I have terrible visions of halfords 'bike hut' being rebranded to 'wiggle', but with the same infamous lack of customer service that created this very same outcry of horror on this thread.

 

[brockers]

I've never bought anything bicycle related from either. That credit card number theft that plagued Wiggle a couple of years ago put me off from ever using them. And Halfords...Always a great surprise when you can find that (motorbike related) thing you're looking for is actually in stock.

 

[edindave]

Halfords Bike Hut - the repair and servicing arm of Wiggle... sounds great!

Oh god what am I saying!!!???

 

[the_mikey]

[QUOTE 1387312"]
When I got back into cycling Wiggle were the best and I spent as fortune with them.

Now that I've got more knowledge of online cycle stores, I go where is cheapest. As a result I haven't shopped at Wiggle for a long time. Halfords buying Wiggle would be no great loss.
[/quote]


I agree, they're not always the cheapest (sometimes they are) but customer service is good, I use other online stores, and there are a few real bricks and mortar shops that I've found to be unusually good also.

My view of wiggle is generally favourable, which is a lot better than my view of Halfords..

I should also add, I swim more than I cycle, so maybe that colours my view a bit too.

 

[Veloscot]

I would NEVER buy a bike from Halfords. Their customer service sucks. Any time I've been in to buy something trivial like a set of tyre levers or some chain lube, their staff are always unattentive and utterly disinterested.

Wiggle will die if Halfords buy it over.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Wiggle selling Boardmans. Now there is a thought.....

No earthly reason why, if Halfords owners were to buy Wiggle they would want to change anything on the Wiggle side. Many reasons for them to change the bike side of Halfords to be more like Wiggle if the tales in here are to be believed. Though I've not had a problem with/in the branches I deal with, and they are open more often and later than any of our LBS's.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I would NEVER buy a bike from Halfords. Their customer service sucks. Any time I've been in to buy something trivial like a set of tyre levers or some chain lube, their staff are always unattentive and utterly disinterested.

Wiggle will die if Halfords buy it over.

^+1
I had to use Halfords a while ago as I'd acquired some vouchers, and the only cycling related place that accepted them was.....you've guessed it, so I pushed all my reservations to the back of my mind and went in.

Fortunately I knew exactly what I needed, and that they would have to order it. So I stood at the Bike Hut counter for what seemd an eternity, (with no visible staff members dealing with anyone else!), and eventually this guy came over and began to deal with me. At that moment the telephone on his desk started to ring, I said, "Do you want to answer that mate, I'm in no particular rush?", (as I knew now where he was and that I'd be sorted out after the phone call), and the reply I got was, "No, I don't even want to be here, never mind answering phones!".

I was gobsmacked. I work in retail myself, and while I knew the guy was busy, (he was serving me), the poor punter
on the other end of the phone must have felt he was being completely ignored.

Hopefully the guy on the phone wanted to order a top end Boardman bike, and equally hopefully he's now ordered something similar from somewhere else, no offence to CB, but it surprises me that he continues to let his products be associated with such a shower of $hite as Halfords/Bike Hut!

 

[zexel]

[QUOTE 1387312"]
When I got back into cycling Wiggle were the best and I spent as fortune with them.

Now that I've got more knowledge of online cycle stores, I go where is cheapest. As a result I haven't shopped at Wiggle for a long time. Halfords buying Wiggle would be no great loss.
[/quote]

+1. Same as above, I too spent a lot when they were the best for price AND service. Not anymore.

An example of how things have changed, I'm looking to buy some A520 SPD's:

Wiggle - £39.83
CRC - £29.99

Hmmm.....

 

[2Loose]

[QUOTE 1387308"]
Wiggle has never been the same since some venture capitalists bought it a few years ago. It looks as if, if this is true, they've done their job and are wanting rid.
[/quote]

In the last two years, Wiggle has turned into a shadow of its former self imho.
Don't get me wrong. it is still a respectable outlet, but it is no longer the market leader it once was.

 

[chewy]

If Halfords do do the deed, I doubt much would change....only if Halfords don't want Wiggle to continue and start winding it down.


That said, it would be a shame and leave a bad taste with me.

 

[Mawsley]

Wiggle will die if Halfords buy it over.

Just like Halfords has since your boycott?