Halfords to buy Wiggle?

[dodgy]

I guess this was a fairly predictable first step?
From Chris Boardman via Twitter:

At long last I can now announce, the full range of Boardman Bikes will be available Internationally from Wiggle.co.uk available to view now!

 

[on the road]

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.

I agree, they've not been the same for years. The problem is they stopped being competitive a few years ago, Wiggle were alway the cheapest and they always used to send their post free items out the same day, but now they're not always the cheapest and they never send they're post free items out the same day unlike Chainreaction Cycles.

 

[ammwhite]

I guess this was a fairly predictable first step?
From Chris Boardman via Twitter:

Looks like only available internationally, i.e. not in the UK - I had to set my location to outside the UK to see them on the Wiggle site. Also, more expensive than Halfords! e.g. Team Carbon is £1299 on Halfords website and £1515 on Wiggle!

 

[crumpetman]

Can people overseas purchase a Boardman bike from Halfords? I would guess not which is why Wiggle are able to charge extra. Even if UK customers could purchase a Boardman from Wiggle it would likely cost more than from Halfords anyway.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I am sure I noticed (ITV4) one of the US teams in the Tour of California riding Boardmans (?). So maybe the international marketing is underway.

 

[smokeysmoo]

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.

Presumably you don't use CRC either? http://www.google.co...a26adf51df2dc3a
I always use stores that accept PayPal, Wiggle, CRC, High on Bikes, Cycle Store etc, etc, etc - problem solved

 

[smokeysmoo]

I agree, they've not been the same for years. The problem is they stopped being competitive a few years ago, Wiggle were alway the cheapest and they always used to send their post free items out the same day, but now they're not always the cheapest and they never send they're post free items out the same day unlike Chainreaction Cycles.

I still use Wiggle a fair bit as I've always been extremely satisfied with every aspect of their service, plus I get Platinum discount so that quite often brings the cost in line anyway.

nless I order late afternoon or in the evening virtually everything comes next day even though I choose the free postage option, and that's despite the fact Wiggle do not state free delivery = next day, so in my book their delivery is spot on, and if I absolutely do need to ensure I've got something the next day, I visit my LBS and help to keep his cash register ringing

 

[Peter91]

I think it depends where you go, the Halfords in Derby has a great bike mechanic and the years maintenance plan for 20 quid was far, far cheaper than a lot of other places.