What bikeshops do you avoid at all cost?

[Croydian]

I will never go to Hellfrauds again! The last time I went for a pair of rim tapes the shop was shut and I waited 15 minutes for the manager to reappear. I wheeled the 'dale across to the Bikehut bit and was chased by a member of staff who blurted out "you can't bring you bike in! you'll have to leave inside the front door or chain it outside!" I replied "Are you going to look after it 'cos I haven't got a lock" At this point he ran off for the manager. She appeared and repeated the mantra to which I replied"well I'm here now I'll remember next time!" The young assistant reappeared a minute later and snarled "what do you want?" I said rim tape and he got a single pack from the shelf, I asked him for another and he sighed in an overly exasperated fashion and reluctantly trooped off for another. We filed to the cashdesk with my aisle blocking, potential deathtrap M900 and his next line was "that'll be £6.95!!" At this point I was furious (a curious feeling I rarely experience) and said something like you have to be pulling my leg. I left, detoured a mile to Steels of Gosforth, got some Specialized vinyl tapes (not the rubber Bikehut sh*te) for £2 saving a fiver. For the attitude, poor quality and price I will never set foot in a branch again!!!!!

 

[retrojon]

It is difficult to get worse than Halfords really, be it car or bike parts.

The chances of them having it in stock, and it not being massively over priced are near to zero.

 

[Radar]

Another vote for Evans. Their Manchester shop is one of the more convenient shops for me (on my travels). First time I went in I wanted to try the new Pace dry chain lube, as they are listed as a stockist and I was passing I decided to pop in, asked the assistant "no we don't stock that, want some GT85 that's a very good lube". I love GT85 (the smell just says new clean shiny bikes, but as achain lube I don't think so)Second time I went in asking for some ATAC cleats; shop assistants didn't have a clue what i was asking for, even when I rephrased it as Time mountain bike pedal cleats. Eventually they found someone who knew what I was asking for, "no none of them in we can special order them". Somewhat foolishly I visited a third time: for Time road cleats - which they had and sold me. Got them home one of the bolts was missing - I didn't have a spare, so rang them. No problem bring them in and we'll replace it. Fine me thinks. Make special journey to town - told they wouldn't change it, nor give me a bolt as I'd lost it. "Fluff off" was their attitude and almost their exact words.

Even in desperation I wouldn't vist Evans.

 

[jonnyboy666]

shops i would never use, thats a good one!! bear in mind i'm ex shop staff!

halfords- mainly cheap rubbish, staff suck

evans- they've had a negative effect on the independant shops through discounting so harshly devaluing an independants shops stock, they have all but forced cannondale out of the independant. alot of the staff are there for the job not the interest of bikes, also i like to shop in smaller specialist shops.(although in their defence, they must be doing a reasonable job to have expanded, this is partially due to them runnin a bike shop like a department store which normal bike shops don't do) so eventhough i don't like them i do respect them, a bit.

dave hinde mail order- thieving barstewards! useless, ill educated idiots with now idea how to deal with life, business or anything.

chain reaction- from a shop point of view i was sick of getting a print out or magazine shoved across the counter by some spotty little berk saying can you match that. t.w.a.t.s. buy it off me or buy it off them, just make the decision. but you can't fault their growth.

wiggle- used to work with one of the guys who runs it, and he's a knob.

peter hargroves cycles- can't stand the man, arrogant oblivious to the world around him and the affect he can have, prick! 1st time i met him 10 years ago he was rude and swore at me ( i worked for a new shop and he walked in, i didn't know who he was, so i said can i help you, and he said where's the f***in manager?!) he has offered me a job twice, once infront of my former boss while i was still working for him at his shop! he's a bullshi**er, and a loudmouth.

i'll edit this later and add more when i think of them!!

 

[Radar]

Blimey this has really got me going now....

the shop in Buxton, Mark Antony Cycles - dire service, arrogant staff who would rather talk to their mates than serve a customer, condascending staff, over inflated prices... and breathe

Harry Halls in Manchester - used to really like this place, but the staff make you feel like you should apologise to them for entering their shop. Pretty average range of shiny things these days to be honest - not enough lust inducing glass cabinets

 

[development_cycle]

sorry guys for not supporting local businesses, but my one local bike shop just doesn't sell the kind of stuff I buy. I just help them to dispose of the odd bike or frame box once in a while.

As I do 99% of my own mechanics, and really am only interested in the advice people on here have to offer, I buy pretty much everything online!

 

[cherrybomb]

Halfords.

Don't get me wrong, I like going in there but for entertainment not with any misguided hope that they will have (or even understand) what I want. :roll:

I've been in for lube......which they didn't have :shock: and chainrings and rim tapes but they didn't understand what I meant!

Oh, I went in for some mitts once and when I couldn't find them I asked.
They pointed to the other side of the store where they were next to the furry neon steering wheel covers. :?

 

[raider60]

As a rider who has never left the US I now know if I ever go across the pond I'll avoid Evans! Here in California I avoid Performance Bicycle Shops--

 

[Drapoon]

Second vote for Leisure Lakes Daventry - the guy that runs the place looks down on you whether your spending 2k or £2.

Never had a satisfactory answer to a question & they generally never seem interested in selling owt - c*cks!

I once had a Chris King headset knocked out of my Hei Hei, some donut used a screwdriver - never again!

 

[legrandefromage]

Halfords are usfull for absolute basic parts but go beyond asking 'how much is this sale item please' I find myself walking out the door.