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Evans above, another cycle store


villager1d

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JohnL Wrote:

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> Evans were a small independent until recently.


In 1921, the first shop of F.W. Evans Cycles opened on the Kennington Road in south east London.


They have built up the business over 90 + years.


The business was purchased by Joseph Smith in the 1950s.

At the time, the shop sold a range of cycles and toys,

but during the seventies Joseph handed the business on to his son, Gary Smith,

who developed the shop into a specialist cycle retailer.


So has been well established for 40 years.


http://www.evanscycles.com/help/about-evans-cycles


DulwichFox

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rahrahrah Wrote:

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> At what point does a successful, independent

> business (which obviously everyone applauds), turn

> into a dastardly, evil chain store (which we all

> abhor, naturally)? 4 stores, 10, 100?



Balfe Bikes have 3 stores..


DulwichFox

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Louisa Wrote:

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> Ah well, better to have a business open than no

> business at all. Or even worse an estate

> agent/indian/pizza restaurant.

>

> Louisa.


I don't know, an estate agent that is also a pizza and Indian restaurant sounds interesting.

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aquarius moon Wrote:

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> And are you all so well-off that prices don't

> matter?

>

> It's all about shopping around & finding the best

> deals. One might have exactly the same item at a

> cheaper price. The other may charge less for

> servicing.

>

> Too early to make comparisons but it's good to

> have a choice.


Evans price match is worth highlighting.


Check out details on their web page.


They price match quite a lot of very competitive online operations including ChainReaction.


I used it recently and it was very straightforward - no flanneling


I had to go to the London Bridge shop to sort it.


Now folks could use East Dulwich.


It may be easier sometimes to use this rather than say Chain Reaction and be out when the package comes/have to retrieve it from somewhere.


I find Evans to be a decent shop.


They get stick from some cyclists for reasons I have never understood - they are hardly the devil.


Their mechanics can I understand be of variable quality but that is to be expected with a branded mult-chain outfit.


At least it's not one of those uber-cool new cycling shops selling overpriced hipster stuff - bike locks designed to look cool rather than effective, specialising in tiddly over-designed over-pricey lights which run off a battery the size of an hallucinogenic tab. S


They do sell such things but also a general range.


I'm not complaining.

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I dropped into the new Evans last week for new brake pads - open until 8pm on weekdays, which is very convenient. I'm pretty sure I'll continue to use Balfe's as well, but it's good to have another local option. And I hadn't noticed the price match guarantee before, which is good to know.
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Glad I helped daveR.


I had dimly been aware of it for a few years but never used - I have always tended to be suspicious of such things/thought you'd get tied up in small print worthy of an insurance company.


But it's very straightforward.


I maybe have the feeling that Evans would rather you see this as some sort of guarantee that they are are always uber-competitive (of course they are not) and so go ahead and buy stuff with the idea that you can claim back later. And then just forget about it.


I wouldn't advise this - rather weakens your position.


Use it beforr you buy.


I seem to remember that I got them to price match Tredz on an item - a company which I think I have never bought from and quite possibly never will.


Simple guide to here in case folks couldn't find it:




http://www.evanscycles.com/help/price-match


PS Dave R - brake pads.


I recommend discobrakes:


http://www.discobrakes.com/


One of the most unconvincing web sites you will ever see (looks to me like it was put together by a teenager in a bedroom in the internet year of 1996 in league with the Russian mafia) but I have had good stuff from them and many others. Uber competitive pricing.

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From the look of the store, and size it should be turning over circa 1.3m or so.

That would equate to ?260k wage roll bill at 20% of sales, which is about 10 members of staff + on costs...


That's not a bad input into the area, people who will spend in the area, go for lunch, go for a drink after work.


Evans also only had 6 stores in 2000, its only in the '000s that they have expanded so quick.

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