Samways bike shop

[Bill O]

I went into Samways in Derby to buy new pedals, they did not have much stock but did have a “used once” slightly scratched set of Shimano Clipless Spd-SL 5700 105 Pedals “that a lady who was new to clipless pedals had fitted to her new expensive bike, rode 100 metres down the road and fell off as she was unable to unclip”. Samways refunded them in good faith and consequently had them for sale at £45 reduced from a RRP of £60.

I was surprised to see later that week that these pedals retail new at £39 online but put that down to the online/ retail difference, but it seems that these pedals have never retailed for £60. Buyer beware or find a different bike shop?

[seph]

Samways ok for me, they honoured the sale price for my daughters pashley even though i didnt get round to going in 'til the sale was over... high street shops just dont compete with internet prices.
In Derby i usually use Holts. Not loads of stock but a proper workshop feel, friendly, helpful. Andys a top bloke, and has put up with lots of questions about my little 'projects'!

[Redvee]

I was surprised to see later that week that these pedals retail new at £39 online but put that down to the online/ retail difference, but it seems that these pedals have never retailed for £60. Buyer beware or find a different bike shop?

I bought some SPDs from my local Evans as they pricematch and then I asked in my LBS what the bottom line they'd do the same for and their cost price from Madison +vat was more than the price I paid for the pedals from Evans. If Samways aren't turning the stock over then the cost to them will be more then an online store.

[Paulatic]

Now Closed

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/samways-shuts/020086

[TrevA]

That's a great shame. Although I was not a regular customer, I've bought quite a lot from Samways over the years. I always found their staff to be friendly and helpful and they always carried a decent range of bikes, bits and clothing.

[tyreon]

Visiting the shop t'other week I thought "this shop is closing before Christmas". I said to my wife "this shop will go before Christmas next year". I was wrong on both accounts. It went after 5 days!

I always liked the shop and its staff. Had a workshop: good.

We are killing ourselves. We can't help it. We want the local shop with the service and walk-in offer of goods. Trouble is,we then walk out and look for things cheaper: it's natural,it's competition,it makes sense. When we then find stuff cheaper our business goes there,hence the growth of on-line sales,out-of-town wharehouses etc. Following this road we will then be buying stuff from those who've bigged-up and gone to zero hours employment(if not now,later). You wonder where it's all going.

I think this is our world: Big Up or get out of here: farms,retailers,the lot.

Lower end: Halfords,Argos,Tesco and the like. Mid range: Evans and wot-not. Specialist end: SJS,Spa. They'll also be some small left overs: odd shops with 1 or 2 cycles in the window,staff employed to repair bicycles. The days of the corner bike shop or even the bike shop with 3/4 staff are going-gone.

I wonder how long before we have the complete throw-away bike. Might be an option? If you are in the correct salary bracket these days you can buy a very reasonable bike for £500,use it here or buy it abroad,leave it in a bush(or give to charity) when you've done your two-week tour,job dun.

[tyreon]

On the same day I walked down to Bikewise(the shop at Irongate in Derby). CLOSED. Had it been going a year? Bike shop,restaurant/café,repair shop,cycle parking shop. NIce biz,pleasing grub,good layout,a selction of magazines. A good try by someone to offer cyclists and non-cyclists a view of all things cycling. Gone. Obviously not enough turnover.

I think the way biz runs these days is to have your shop...with nothing in it!! Stock sitting on the shop floor is money wasted. Keep it in the wharehouse. Someone else's wharehouse...with their money. Have a picture of a bike on the shop floor: cheaper.

[tyreon]

As always I am 'behind the curve'. I wanted some cork bar ends. Went to this contraption. Makers say this is our distributors/retailers. When I went to them(telephone) no retailer had them in. No stock. I can understand their reasoning: see above. Telephoned x5 cycle shops dealing with said distributor. No go. 6th was hospitable and was,by now,able to offer me psychiatric help! He would get them in by following week. 'Hey,don't get them in just for me" I said. He said "No fine" he was going to get some new stock from supplier anyways.

Moral of storyline: To stay in Biz keep your shelves empty. Don't spend out on stuff that's gonna sit there eating your £££s. Only buy in when the customer orders. Trouble is...the younger customer then might as well buy direct from the Mega-Wharehouse Man.

[TrevA]

I agree. The likes of Wiggle, CRC and Planet X are killing the LBS. Evans are big enough to survive with a retail presence to back up their online business. There are still a few one-man-band shops which survive for now, but several long established shops locally have now closed down.

I've also noticed the rise of the bloke-in-a-shed bike shops who survive just by doing repairs. Many of the new generation cyclists don't have a clue about how to maintain their bikes and take them to these sorts of places to get them "serviced".