is evans the new halfords?

maybe I misunderstood but you received bad service on one occasion and asked the question "is Evans the new Halfords?", others were complimentary, I've had good service as I said, this would suggest not to answer your question since your experience is less of the norm than you suggest at Halfords,
 
I've only had experience of buying from them online, but the one time the wrong item got sent out (it actually had the label of the correct item on it and was passably similar at a glance) they sent out the correct item without any fuss and I ended up with nearly £50 worth of goods for a derisory £4 odd.

I do understand the point the OP is making though... I'd have been a little surprised too - I'm sure I've bought headset bearings from Halfords in the past (though I should point out that their customer service has been abominable every time I've bought anything bike-related and they are only used as a last resort for me now) and would expect any bike shop to be able to supply some, assuming they do repairs.
 
They're a lot better than they used to be, before their expansion. They were bleedin useless then. The staff do now recognise customers instead of ignoring them...
 
Here we go again, on the anti-Evans crusade

They are what they are... a hugely successful, high street retailer supplying the general public with cycles and related parafanalia, and offering service and repairs at a commercial rate to those that wouldn't know how to change an inner tube... They are ALWAYS going to be sneered at by a select minority of what essentially is a sub genre enthusiasts who will more than likely be knowledgable and competent after years of participation in said sub-genre.... more-so than the "yoofs" that will innevitably be employed in store...

Is it any wonder then that certain people get their nose out of joint?
Is it any wonder that certain parts or technologies from yesteryear are not known by 100% of staff

I think what this is, is a case of too high an expectation, maybe "wanting" to get irritated and rant about it in said sub-genre Internet forum,

Non story....

And to be fair, if I needed to go and get some loose bearings, the last place I would go is a bike shop and pay the mark-up.... I'd go to my local bearing supplier first


G
 
I wouldnt describe a headset bearing as 'a part of yesteryear' when every bike sold for under £200 still uses them
 
Never had any problems with Evans myself, but have never tried to buy "specialist" items from there.

If you need bearings, don't bother with cycle stores online or anywhere else, go to an online bearing seller, just google for them.

I bought bearings for both front and back hubs, grade 10 hardened steel, 50 in a pack, for bugger all!
 
I wonder what percentage of bicycle owners actually have the skills/tools/wherewithal to change their headset bearings? I'm guessing that its so small that its not worth Evans stocking the items.

"I wouldnt describe a headset bearing as 'a part of yesteryear' when every bike sold for under £200 still uses them" OK, but given that Evans don't sell many (if any, I've not looked) bikes for less than £200, I fail to see whay they should stock a service item for them.

If you want spares for old school bikes, go to an old school bike shop. If you want spares for cheap bikes, go to Halfords (who incidentally have a great range of small spares such as bearings, caged or otherwise).
 
Russell":35x7mcvm said:
.................If you want spares for old school bikes, go to an old school bike shop......................

I completely agree, but sadly seem few and far between, is there a list of any that is a sticky so we can find and help keep in business ?
 
legrandefromage":35v2gd40 said:
I wouldnt describe a headset bearing as 'a part of yesteryear' when every bike sold for under £200 still uses them

I was thinking about the historical anti Evans posts regarding things like 7sp freewheels and canti brakes... should have been clearer, sorry ;)

G
 
maybe i should have mentioned the bearings in question are for my 2010 specialized allez which cost considerably more than 200 quid, isnt considered "old school" by any means and bought originally from.. yep Evans. so for them not to stock items for bikes they sell, yes i find that a bit odd. Im not hating on them I frequent them quite often and have spent quite a lot of money in there.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top