I wish I had looked at these reviews before waisting time on two trips here. Their low star Yelp rating is well earned. I bought a pretty cheap bike from Evans Cycles a few years back, so they were a natural go-to for my next purchase. This time, I wanted to step things up a bit and have been researching various (more) premium models for a few months -- I had my shortlist down to two, both stocked by Evans. I found them cheaper online than the Evans listed price, but I'm no bike expert. Before dropping ~£700, I wanted to get some first hand insight from people who knew more than I did, more than I could research online. I think its fair to pay a bit more for expert advice, so I strolled over to the shop ready to hand over my credit card and cycle home.
Sadly, on not just one but two visits there, I was met not by experts but by people who knew virtually nothing about the bikes they were trying to sell me. They didn't even know the basics: model names, sizing, weight, etc, let alone have any perspective how they might ride or common problems people encountered after a few years of use. They suggested instead that I look online for these answers.
One sales rep told me categorically that an accessory I wanted would definitely not be possible on the bike. I had to show him on the maker's website that the accessory actually came as standard with the bike. The last guy excused his ignorance by directing me to take in the vastness of the store and telling me that they stocked over 1000 bike models and he knew everything about all the other ones, just not the two I was considering. What bad luck for me, eh?! I get the guy who knows everything there is to know about 998 bikes, but not the two I might want to buy.
No problem. It's a big store and there are many sales reps.
"Who does know about the ones I'm looking at?" I ask.
"No one," was his reply. They don't sell many of that type of bike, he offered in explanation.
Seems fair. Expect that just a few minutes prior he had told me that the reason they didn't have the exact models I was looking for in stock is because they sold so many of them.
"Its a very popular bike!" he said. "Especially as summer has just started, many people are buying them."
I was left to ponder this conundrum on my own while he was busy being dismissive, repeatedly telling me to just look online, and generally coming across like he couldn't be bothered. Anyone can have a bad day. Any company can have one employee with a bad attitude. But, this was pretty much an exact mirror of my first visit there. Once can be an anomaly. Twice is way of life.
As soon as I left the store I called the next dealer listed on the site of the maker of the bike I was considering. "We no longer stock that brand," he told me. I sighed, thinking, maybe a new bike is just not meant to be. But he then went on suggest a different brand, one they did stock. It had a similar look, comparable quality of construction, but was much lighter, and - in his view - rode better.
Insight and perspective, from someone who knows what they're talking about: hooray! I headed straight there and when I arrived, he didn't make me feel like I was wasting his time. He talked me through the models and accessory options, comparing with the other brand I had come in thinking I wanted, honestly weighing pros and cons of both. He encouraged me to take a couple for a spin. There was no hard sell, just pleasant and informed service.
He got my sale that day, for a bike I hadn't even been considering thirty minutes prior, and all of the accessories, too. And you know what? He's probably going to get all of my business for anything cycle related from here on out, as well as a strong recommendation to anyone I know who's interested in cycling. (Also, incidentally, a five star review on here).
Evans Cycles, on the other hand? Well, I'm sure they'll survive just fine without my business. Which is just as well, since they won't be getting any more of it. read more
