Remote warehouse...

[rich p]

I ordered a chainset online from Evans which was marked as 'in stock in a remote warehouse'. Living a few miles from their main warehouse I assumed that it was there, and would take but a couple of days.

I popped into the shop to check on the arrival date, to be told, that 'held in remote warehouse' means that it's with the manufacturer or distributor. I asked how that could be deemed to be 'in stock' and the guy said that it just means that it's not an obsolete part and will be actually in stock sometime.
I cancelled the order.

 

[Globalti]

China?

 

[Dayvo]

That'll learn 'em!

 

[rich p]

China?

Maybe, or Mars.
He did say that Madison were having a spat with Shimano and it could be causing supply issues generally.

 

[jefmcg]

Not quite the same situation, but I needed a new wheel for my folder, so it had to be sourced from the manufacturer. Evans told me it would take two weeks, which was a problem as this was my main transport. So I rang the manufacturer and was told they could deliver it in 2 days, but they didn't sell straight to public. Went back to Evans with this information, the mechanic told me "2 days to Gatwick warehouse, then 10 days from there to Canary Wharf". Took my bike back, and ordered it through a local LBS. Had it 3 days later.

 

[biggs682]

We have similar at work we have a uk warehouse then one in Europe and 3 more spread around the other side of the world.

If sourcing from other side of the world it's a 10 - 14 day lead time even though you can fly from their in 24 hours or less

 

[Globalti]

It's all about consolidating parts in weekly shipments. Less than that means a special courier at extra expense.

Last month I had to phone a random dealer in the USA to order a suspension part for a USA imported Ford Explorer that my colleague drives in Lagos. The local Ford dealer had told him they couldn't get the part in less than 6 weeks and even that looked iffy because at the moment there are no US Dollars in Nigeria. So I paid for the part by VISA, got it couriered here then onwards to Lagos and my colleague had it within ten days of driving too fast through the pothole that broke his suspension.

 

[rich p]

It's all about consolidating parts in weekly shipments. Less than that means a special courier at extra expense.

.

My point is that it's all about being economical with the truth to the customer.
Their website says it's in stock but that's not true. It's in stock with somebody, somewhere on the globe, but not by Evans Cycles. Had I realised that I wouldn't have placed the order in the first place.
That apart I really like my local Evans shop for knowledgeable staff, good range and price matching.

 

[Haitch]

being a use it or lose it kind of guy i ordered a book from the local book shop
they said it would cost about 100 pounds and would take six weeks to deliver
thanks to amazon it was in my hands in four days for less than half the price
cant really see the relevance of this post but im being a use it or lose kind of guy

 

[Andrew_P]

I have fallen foul of that too, with Evans. Once explained it kind of made sense but I assumed it meant it would be special ordered if I bought and paid for it? I think Evans has and is going down hill. The warehouse store doesn't really have that much on display and most of the bikes are in the same price range. Ordering down can take an age to wait and I REALLY HATE them keep asking for my postcode to run a £3.99 oil through the farking till. It is not like they use it to promote anything to me.

They have discontinued a lot of brands on parts and are relying on consumers to purchase their cheapo FWE (that is not actually that cheap) own brand. Strikes me that buying decisions are being made by accountants.

 

[Andrew_P]

Oh and the great new website is bloody mess and the search leaves loads of stuff out that has the keyword in the title. Classic fixing something that wasn't broke.

 

[Gravity Aided]

My lbs uses the same or similar suppliers as I do, so if I order something from them, (like any parts) I pay a 50 to 100 percent markup. I do order from them time to time, to avoid some wait time, and to keep some lights on.

 

[Bollo]

You should have paid with money held in a remote account.