Planet X makes significant redundancies – says it is looking to become a more flexible business

Well; so the buy'em for naff all sell'em for substantially more model is screwed. For companies like planetx/ribble it'll be a race to the bottom. First to suffer will be the staff, after that, maybe the customers - short term staff paid naff all, tend not to.be invested in the future of their employers. They're normally looking for a better paid future role.
Buying direct maybe the 'future', for many of us.

Sounds a bit like WiggleCRC then ! So why don't you give them the same flak ?

I agree, a pro carbon previously looked attractive - not anymore....

A suggestion though, writing to them direct will make a much bigger point than comments here.

Ribble though is now worth a look - assuming they are aren't jobsworths as well?

And so Italian online bike retailer 'Pianeta X' buy up a warehouse of new old stock from northern England … 

Seriously though, that's rotten for all concerned. Hope they can turn it around, but it won't be easy in the current and what could well be future climate.

Do you people saying that you will stop using them realise that you are putting the future of the remaining staff at risk?

I have a Planet X track bike and have bought from them regularly over the years. I know they import nearly all of what they sell but I liked the idea of supporting a UK business smaller than the online giants. Not any more.

I've bought from them before, not any more. On-One can do one.

Have they asked the government for the same deal Nissan got?  The one the government won't tell us about?  The one that will cost tax-payers billions over the next twenty years?

I'd always seen them as rebellious, anti-industry (Pompino, Kaffenback, Dirty Disco et al) but this just makes the yet another exploiting employer. Staff being punished for success and hard work...

Ah well, that's them off my list. Shame, as I've liked their bikes and approach (until now)

Disappointing. As others have said, looks like a move to zero hours contracts and "flexible" working practices.

I don't know how many other companies I have or do purchase from use this (there's probably a list out there somewhere) but it certainly colours my opinion of them as a company/owner. Enough to not purchase from them again.

Hated agency work. Always had it in my mind that 10 minutes of every hour worked was going to support a recruiter. Enough to make you feel a bit stabby.

I have steadily decreasing respect for this company, and this has taken a big chunk out of it. I think it was Dave Loughran who said he modelled their fake sales on Mike Ashley and Sports Direct, and it seems they've been inspired by some of their employment practices as well.
Poor employees.

Ah, zero hours contracts then? Or just minimum wage with minimal benefits?

Next up will be news of egregious tax avoidance or even evasion.

"More flexible" = we will be sacking and rehiring, then treating our workers like sh*t.

Sports Direct had a similar attitude.

And this is  an industry that is still booming, is this the best we can do as a country?

I'm with Greg on this one, they are simply reducing costs by using agency labour.  Some of their stuff is so cheap I guess they have to do what they have to do .....

Wouldn't be surprised if Brexit is the real cause, it's just that any company who says so gets shouted down these days. If Unilever had to backtrack for putting its head above the parapet then a company a hundredth of the size has no chance.

Considering their business model of buying everything in from abroad and selling it cheap I imagine they've taken a beating with the recent devaluation of the £.

So they're essentially farming out employment to an agency and therefore avoid some employer responsibilities.

I've worked for a number of these agencies, they do very well out of it. The loser is the employee.