Evans cycles - the MacDonalds of bicycles?

I am semi retired and was looking around for a part time job . My nearby Halfords had vacancies so i sent them a letter.
I've a lot of experience in cycling and fitness so i thought this sort of job would ideal,just 16 hrs a week.
Had a phone chat with the manager..Not really 16 hours a week as you have to work the hours they say.Bank holidays,weekends etc.Minimum wage,and less for under 18's.
They weren't interested in cycling experience more if you were capable of changing a bulb or fitting roof racks.

Went in one of our local Evans yesterday as the wife was looking for a CX bike.

I've never heard so much BS spoken in an effort to sell one of their Pinnacle bikes. Saleswomen spoke to us like we had never seen a bike before. (I've probably been riding bikes longer than she had been alive). I kept my mouth shut and we told them we would have a think about it.

We ended up going to Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op - took us 15 minutes to get served (only 3 staff on the floor at a weekend FFS), the guy who eventually served us did know his stuff and we ended up buying there.

Such is the way with chain stores across all industries. They must have huge overheads (directors' expenses, sprawling offices) so cut costs where they can and as a result lose sight of a key element of retail.

Unless I knew that the staff at a store were clued-up and customer friendly I'd not want to give them any of my money in the first place. It's not like you can't go elsewhere. Caveat emptor.

It used to be Cycle Surgery that had me fuming due to their rudeness and general poor customer service. However over the last few Years Evans has really worked hard to strike new lows. Cycle Surgery has improved Those comments really make it seem as though it isn't only me that feels this way - EVANS you need to, read, learn, improve.. or be spoken about in hushed terms and mockery - much like malfords

I guess its the luck of the draw -be nice get nice service, teach staff that snobery isn't welcomed in a cycle shop... Action Cycles, Tut tut.

on the plus side - Evans in Nottingham, friendly,knowledgeable staff.
I use this store quite alot and never had any probs

I think it's an insult for McDonalds to compare them to those ones you don't mention

Reading this makes me think my recent ribble experience wasn't that bad...

For balance, I've always had very good service at Evans - both in store and over the phone/email. I've only ever bought clothing and a few accessories there, but still.

'pay peanuts, get monkeys' the old saying (cliche) goes..

when it comes to chain stores, specifically in the bike "industry" its even more apt

pay minimum wages on poor terms and conditions and fail to train them (especially you lot at Halfords!), you won't attract good staff, or even people that actually cycle!

The experienced staff / cyclists saw what was happening in these big chain stores, and promptly left their employment and moved to LBS or quit the industry entirely

try paying staff a living wage on reasonable terms and conditions (paid holiday helps..), offer them proper training and you might retain some good quality, experienced staff

the other saying / cliche goes "don't worry about those leaving your business, worry about those staying behind" (hint: those staying cannot attract the interest of superior employers)

The new Evans store in Cheltenham is just opposite my work. They seem to have a very small number of staff and none of them speak to you. i'm not sure about the prices as I have only bought a water bottle from there and I guess they are much the same price wherever.
There are some nice bikes on display though and seem to be heavily discounted - the Pinnacle which won the test in Cycling plus this month is now down to £765.

I enjoyed the Evans service with my Brompton

A customer and Brompton owner had to rescue me with my flat rear!

http://innercitymobility.blogspot.de/2013/07/viva-la-tour-evans-test-sec...

I have just as bad experience with them online. I bought a cycle helmet as was in the sales & one I used to have & liked, it arrived promptly but when opening the box I found the helmet caked in a layer of dust as wasnt in its plastic wrapper. So wiped off the dust as that didnt bother me as just means its been on the shelf too long. But whilst the dust was being removed, I found nicks & dents in the foam along the forehead & a whacking big chipped area on hard shell.

So emailed them with photos, they responded to say it was normal to expect. I had to correct them on this as its damaged & probably been knocked about so no way I will feel safe using it. And under distant selling regs & sales of goods act I have right to refuse. So they sent link of a form to fill in for return/exchange. I sent it back for exchange & attached copy of receipt of the postage to be paid back as entitled to.

First thing I knew they received the damaged helmet was the refund in my a/c despite asking for exchange, but not money for the Postage. So email them asking why this been done & got a basic apology & to just order another, so said I will when they refund postage. They emailed back asking copy of receipt, so they lost the one I sent which no doubt was ignored with the returns form. So emailed a scanned copy & still no refund of postage. So had to harass them daily on Twitter for all to see for over a week as email wasnt getting me anywhere & finally got it paid today.

But will not be buying from them again & NO WAY will use them to buy a new bike. It took so long sorting out all this I have managed to buy another helmet from another supplier & it arrived early this week.

So reading your experience with the stores, it comes to no surprise to me whatsoever.

I had almost the exact same experience as you describe your wife had. Ordered in 2 bikes for little comparison, went in on the day that was arranged and only 1 bike ready. This was only told to me after I'd been out on the first and asked for the second to be me with a shrug.

Went back (no idea why...) when the second one was ready. Decided it was ok (although in retrospect probably a size too big, thanks for the advice...) and basically had the bike chucked at me while I entered my PIN number.

Money secure, that was it, job done. I asked for paperwork (ie, manufacturer's warranty, manual, whatever that comes with a bike), and got given an empty wallet, with the excuse "that's all it shipped from the warehouse with".

I wrote and complained, never heard back.

I vowed never to go back, but my girlfriend had her eye on a Pinnacle in the sale. We ended up going from store to store (as each one told us the other had the bike in stock), only to be told that the right bike was in the first store. Now she's vowed never again too.

Apologies for long rant. Felt very cathartic though.