Evans above, another cycle store

[villager1d]

I've just noticed that Evans have opened a cycle shop near Goose Green, and practically opposite a very good independent shop. We have several independents in our area which will lose out if the behemoth gains traction. Avoid.

[worldwiser]

What an unpleasant welcome to the occupant of a previously derelict and economically useless unit. The independents you mention have already affirmed there's enough business to go around. So be nice.

[Louisa]

Ah well, better to have a business open than no business at all. Or even worse an estate agent/indian/pizza restaurant.

Louisa.

[aquarius moon]

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.

[yourmomma]

Have a read of their history http://www.evanscycles.com/help/about-evans-cycles whilst yes they are a chain they started in South East London so something of a local success story.

[JohnL]

Evans were a small independent until recently.

[DulwichFox]

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

[Earl Aelfheah]

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?

[DulwichFox]

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

[Earl Aelfheah]

It's sailing close to the wind there. Any minute they're liable to turn from cuddly indie to rapacious corporate evil doer.

[Suzib]

Such a shame East Dulwich is starting to become full of chain stores. It's turning into Clapham!!!

[phobic3000]

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.

[JohnL]

If Evans go into pizzas, indians, kebabs as well as bikes and repairs, they will be a conglomerate and

the cycle profits can be used to support the loss making pizza business.

[worldwiser]

We've been here before: 25 chains out of the 216 retail units in ED is not anywhere close to full. Large stores support the viability of smaller stores. For goodness sake, stop whinging.

[harperama]

What is going above evans?

[dbboy]

IMO I think we should welcome them to ED, they have seen an opportunity, re-opened a closed premise and have created local jobs for local people, surely a good thing.

[glasshalffull]

harperama Wrote:

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> What is going above evans?

evans above knows

[Al&Em]

Shame they didn't open up on the southern end of Lordship Lane though - no need to be right next to each other I'd have thought. That would have meant one for each end of town...

[clockworkorange]

Retailers are very choosy who their neighbours are when punching into a new area. All about footfall, image and type of shopper attracted to an area. Choice and competition - that is what retail is based on.

If you don't like it, don't shop there. If enough people agree, it will close.

[DulwichFox]

dbboy Wrote:

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> IMO I think we should welcome them to ED, they

> have seen an opportunity, re-opened a closed

> premise and have created local jobs for local people,

surely a good thing.

Totally agree..

DuulwichFox

[hornimanslope]

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.

[DaveR]

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.

[hornimanslope]

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.

[grace3]

"local jobs" oh yeah ? their total weekly wages bill would not come to more than a knocked off mountain bike in Railton Road.

[Chirpie]

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.