A bad experience with Evans Cycles and Trek Bikes

[wafflycat]

Yes, I tried Pedal Revolution but they didn't have the bike I was interested in and couldn't get it. And yes, Specialized cycles is also my favourite bike shop in Norwich, shame they have very few bikes.

But they will make you one to your specifications...

 

[TheDoctor]

Have you tried a more local LBS than London?
Does Fat Birds still exist in Hunstanton? Seemed pretty good when I visited.

I rate thier mail order operation. I got a full carbon frame, fork, and headset from them. For £350. And it's luvverly

 

[BalkanExpress]

I guess the Evans experience depends on the store. In the last couple of weeks:

Gatwick priced matched on the basis of a couple of printouts fron the internet saving me £15 on £45 worth of barbag and RX insert (at Evans prices)

Brighton, set of pedals thrown in with the purchase of a bike.

Crawley nice big bike box given to me to transport the new bike back here. However, when I told them the barbag would not fit teh oversize bars on teh new bike they did n't tell me they sold the necessary adaptor.

Final score 9/10

 

[John Ponting]

So, I bought a Trek 1.7 Road Bike on-line from Evans Cycles (RRP £925)and was told I'd have to collect it from London Victoria - I live in Norfolk but OK, make a day of it.

Standard practice with TREK - collect from shop only, no mail delivery.

btw

It may be worth phoning TriSports in Letchworth - they got a TREK for me at 48 hours notice. I did go the shop first and they had me try several sizes on a turbo before I ordered but ... If you already know what size you want then phone and try them.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

I bought a bianchi nirone from Evans Woking and they were fine, the person I first spoke to was a bit unsure of himself but probably only a saturday lad anyway, but all in all my experieice of that particular store was more than OK. I expect you'd find the same at any branch of a nationwide organisation.

 

[pinkkaz]

I went into Covent Garden Evans before my holiday to see if anyone had any ideas why my Cateye computer wasn't working and he just gave me a new one. Didn't even need proof of purchase! They were nice and friendly too.

Your experience sounds v bad though!

 

[Cranky]

Have you tried a more local LBS than London?
Does Fat Birds still exist in Hunstanton? Seemed pretty good when I visited.

I had a mixed experience with Fat Birds when they made up a bike to my own spec. They substituted cheaper components - some after consultation, others not - which created problems when I went to collect the bike, and then were very reluctant to reduce the quoted price accordingly. In the end I had to buy and fit some of the correct components myself later. I'd travelled to Norfolk by coach and train so that I could ride the bike home, so I couldn't exactly just walk away from the deal and I think they played on that.

The bike is excellent now, after a thorough service by a local mechanic.

 

[Crankarm]

Ben Haywards in Cambridge are a Trek dealer and decent shop if your are a proper cyclist. They also now do Brompton . I bought a Trek 7500 from them years ago and then a Trek 1500 with all Ultegra spec in '04. They were pretty good doing a nice deal. I guess they get alot of air head students and tourists in their shop which can't be much fun but as I say if you come across as a regular "proper" cyclist then they will do a lot for you well they do for me . They always seem to have a good range of bikes, clothing and accessories. They can get equipment in within a week. There are also a few other ok bike shops in Cambridge one on Hills Road which I can't remember the name of which does Specialised bikes and also a reasonable range of accessories and clothing. Might be worth a trip for you this weekend?

 

[wafflycat]

I had a mixed experience with Fat Birds when they made up a bike to my own spec. They substituted cheaper components - some after consultation, others not - which created problems when I went to collect the bike, and then were very reluctant to reduce the quoted price accordingly.

Can't say I'm surprised by that...

 

[Cranky]

Can't say I'm surprised by that...

Interesting.

 

[wafflycat]

Just that whenever I've gone into Fat Birds, I get the hard sell approach flung at me, so I wasn't surprised at the posting. It's not my favourite cycle shop from that POV.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Just that whenever I've gone into Fat Birds, I get the hard sell approach flung at me, so I wasn't surprised at the posting. It's not my favourite cycle shop from that POV.

I've been in a few times and was there a couple of weeks ago. I found them friendly enough and helpful to the point that one of the lads came out with a cycle stand for me when I was having difficulty preventing my bike from rolling out of the provided rack outside. I agree though that they do not seem to be that keen on casual browsing as I was asked several times if I was looking for something specific. Maybe the sales staff are on bonuses.

They do have some nice bikes though!

 

[wafflycat]

That sort of sums it up - it's a bike shop I can't relax in to have a look about, so I rarely go there these days. Even when in the past I've gone in there to look at bikes as WCMnr was in need of a new steed, it was the constant asking of if I'd made my mind up and the pushing me in a particular direction which came across as not addressing the needs of WCMnr but the sales needs of the shop, which detracted from the experience. So we went elsewhere even though yes, there are some lovely bikes in there.

 

[e-rider]

So, just to up-date, Evans decided to give me £60 in vouchers as compensation for petrol costs for 2 trips from Norwich to London.

I used these to buy some new Look pedals from Evans, I checked by phone that they were the ones I wanted, and again I wrote a note with the vouchers/order that I posted (couldn't use the vouchers online) making sure that they would be the new 'black and red' look pedals and they said everytime that they would be. Pedals arrived after 10 days and they were Grey!!! Are these guys useless or what?!? Anyway, I was in London this weekend, so I stopped off at the Hendon branch and had no problems swapping them for the correct ones so at least they can get something right.