The new CTC shop . . . is Wiggle !!

[Tony]

Well, I searched for Carradice as well. Then I searched for Dawes. Then I looked at the category list for "Touring bikes"
Haven't looked up Brooks yet, but none of the others are there.

[rogerzilla]

Brooks is there, but not the full range.

[glueman]

How long before they have to commit someone full time to CTC enquiries?
"Now then Mr Wiggle I've got this here bolt...threads? I dunno, let me just get me glasses so I can count 'em, it's for a loose whatsname on a Freddie Grubb?"

[robgul]

How long before they have to commit someone full time to CTC enquiries?
"Now then Mr Wiggle I've got this here bolt...threads? I dunno, let me just get me glasses so I can count 'em, it's for a loose whatsname on a Freddie Grubb?"

There's the issue ... Wiggle does not speak to people (on the telephone) .Period.

... whether CTC's negotiator has built a "human interface with a movable tongue" into the deal remains to be seen .....

Rob

[JohnW]

There is a similar thread on "Cycling Goods and Services".

[napier]

Why did I always buy stuff from the Evans/CTC web site? Because the prices, range and service were OK and, more importantly I could generally get what I want. Why do I not buy stuff from Wiggle? Well the clothes never fit, if you normally buy large size bib shorts then you need XL from Wiggle otherwise you'll injure yourself. That's one reason. More to the point, whilst absolutely applauding the CTC's modernisation (long overdue) it does also exist to represent the needs of those who want to "tour" or go on longer recreational rides. As a flat barred tourer I am nonetheless aghast at the non-existence of names like Dawes in the product list in the new CTC shop. It beggars belief that the club could set up a shop that doesn't sell a Dawes Super Galaxy!!!!
So I'll continue to use Evans and hopefully enjoy the 10% discount they offer CTC members in their retail outlets.
Sorry CTC, going to Wiggle is serious commercial mistake that is going to cost the club finances cash at a time when I bet they can ill-afford it. Doubtless the relevant person(s) who made this decison will be held to account at the AGM.

[rogerzilla]

I, among others, was pushing for change, but I'm not sure about Wiggle. The former Geoffrey Butler Cycles CTC shop was pretty much ideal in terms of range and service, but presumably didn't make enough money for the CTC.

I never bought anything when it was with Evans, having had woeful experience of Evans' mail order before.

[random37]

Now if you could get a deal with Spa Cycles, I'd use it all the time.

[Mick F]

I agree, but would the deals be ok?

How about this, here and now with Wiggle.

I want to buy a Speed/Cadence thingy for my Garmin 305.

Wiggle (with 10% discount for Joe Public)
Speed/cadence unit
3 Vittoria inner tubes (to make the order up)
Free standard delivery
Total £51.05

CTC Shop (with 10% for CTC members)
Same order
Free delivery coz I spent over £50
Total £52.22

Where's the sense in this?

Just ordered from Wiggle.

[frank9755]

The sense is, from Wiggle's point of view, that it can give you a better price for going direct because it doesn't have to give CTC a cut!

The surprising thing with the new shop is that, unlike the old Evans one (I believe), CTC allows Wiggle to brand it, thereby enabling the customer who may not know to cut it out of the deal.

[thirdcrank]

This sort of thing is really rather sad. Once upon a time, the CTC was an organisation to which you used to belong; membership implied a certain mutuality. I suppose parts of the CTC were a bit less businesslike in those days, but members thought things were done on their behalf.

The original CTC Shop was an example of this, in that its purpose was never really clearly defined: was it a service to the members with no other source of Patterson postcards or a commercial concern? At some stage, a decision has obviously been taken that the CTC Shop's purpose is purely to bring in the £££ for the benefit of the CTC and ultimately, that of the membership in general. The CTC appears indifferent as to whether individual members who patronise the Shop would be financially better off not doing so.

In a modern commercial world this is all very well, but there is a bit of a danger that some of the membership will be blinded by that old-fashioned membership = loyalty thing.

[Phatman]

I would echo Mick F's post, but worse.

I bought 3 sets of SKS race blades discounted to £83 for the ordinary Wiggle Customer. The poor old CTC customer has to pay £92!

[Greybeard]

Have I missed it, or is it no longer possible to buy CTC Badges etc to let the world know that the CTC exists and that you're a member
Couldn't see anything on Wiggle (unsurprisingly), but nothing else obvious on the 'home page' either.

Steve

[Speshact]

CTC badges come up quite frequently on eBay, though regrettably with no 10% discount for CTC members.

[Paul Smith SRCC]

Have I missed it, or is it no longer possible to buy CTC Badges etc to let the world know that the CTC exists and that you're a member
Couldn't see anything on Wiggle (unsurprisingly), but nothing else obvious on the 'home page' either.

Steve

When BikePlus lost the franchise to Evans, BikePlus naturally had to stock take the CTC Branded items before they were given back to the CTC Organisation, who sent them onto Evans. This was done after the last day of trading, the CTC organisation came to help with the stock take, which took a few weeks if I recall.

No doubt the new shop will have them in due course, as well as the sales history to help them decide what items they need to stock. Incidentally the CTC Shop telephone number remained the same when it moved to Evans, so may remain the same again; this is an important service they need to offer and indeed promote

Paul_Smith
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