Breaking News: Cycle Lab Acquires Chris Willemse Cycles

[Popit]

Well done to CWC for building a business that is so reputable in it's field .

I have used them on numerous occasions with excellent results ... EVEN when they got the order wrong .

 

I am very disappointing to hear this and judging by the sentiment on here CL are not the most popular in town ...

Anyway let's hope this benefits us the consumer ( But I doubt it will ) .

[karma]

Does this mean the % published on sale items will be accurate from hereon?

[Shebeen]

My view, people will bitch and moan about it because then they feel they "doing" something, but the transaction has been concluded and complaining is to what end?  How is that adding to the conversations?  What is the point to say I am not going to shop there anymore? 

 

Is it not better to rather to indicate that you had / did not experience good service at CWC and what it is that you hope the new owners will continue, be that: 

- the proper sales will continue 

- maintain their presence & communication lines on bikehub

- continue to support local events

- good value for money offerings

- wide range of product ranges

- services (including people that are empowered to make a decision on a warranty, replacement, discount, etc)

- sales force that know the products

- quick turn around on online purchases

- are they going to keep the separate brands and for how long

- what will happen to the warranties

- etc.

 

We don't yet know what arrangements / agreements were reached, and maybe they will take the best from CWC and CL and combine it into something better than the individual companies.  Or maybe it will be a classic example of an acquisition not working.  And luckily there always remain other options, some might not be as convenient, but there are. 

 

Lastly, what I am trying to say, some people might want to feel like they "doing" something by claiming they will never shop there again, but not all of them will follow through and might still rock up there to go find something that they need. 

I'm guessing that the suits from Golfcorp Inc will be monitoring some of the response to the announcement. Looking at here and on CWC fb page, the general feeling is that many people H A T E cyclelab. They have a lot of work to do with that general perception (the bottom line might actually be fine for them already, I wonder how the cyclebiz compares to the golfbiz).

[Andrew Steer]

Not sure what to think of all this... could be a win for the consumer, could be a loss, all depends on where this goes eventually. 

 

What are Cyclelab buying from CWC? Stock, a website, location... none of these in my books, they're possibly after the one thing that makes CWC cheaper - the parallel  import channels/contracts/contacts for quite a few of the biggest local cycling products. Price as many have stated is king. With Cyclelabs bigger buying power they could in theory leverage even cheaper prices, or they could have done this to stop/slow the parallel import market and grow the local industry and stabilize supply lines.

None of this will be straight forward and this is just the beginning - what the end game is, I am pretty sure very few people know

[Plentipotential]

I'm guessing that the suits from Golfcorp Inc will be monitoring some of the response to the announcement. Looking at here and on CWC fb page, the general feeling is that many people H A T E cyclelab. They have a lot of work to do with that general perception (the bottom line might actually be fine for them already, I wonder how the cyclebiz compares to the golfbiz).

 

I would imagine that Cycle Lab are the biggest and most successful retailer in the game so clearly loads of people like dealing with them but do not feel the need to post their love while the haters do. 25 years to build that business, hats off to Andrew and his staff. Not a customer myself but they must do something right.

[splat]

Hardly breaking news.  This was supposed to have happened at least  year ago.

 

Yep. The rumour has been rolling around for a while.

There were even speculations a few years ago that CWC was going to partner up with CRC.

[LeoKnight]

I'm guessing that the suits from Golfcorp Inc will be monitoring some of the response to the announcement. Looking at here and on CWC fb page, the general feeling is that many people H A T E cyclelab. They have a lot of work to do with that general perception (the bottom line might actually be fine for them already, I wonder how the cyclebiz compares to the golfbiz).

 

Think that is my point, I agree that there might be someone from be that the PE or CL that will be reading the posts to see what the feeling / impressions are.  But I am asking and sharing my view (not saying it is correct) on if there is a better way to engage on the forum.  Asking the stuff that we would like to know, highlighting what you want to see in the new combined venture vs just slating on what you don't want to see. Very few companies go out with the purpose to deliver poor service, or be more expensive, etc.  

 

Secondly, with the amount of "anger" here, what is the chances that someone from CL will even venture into the conversation and address the frustrations raised?

[Grease_Monkey]

Secondly, with the amount of "anger" here, what is the chances that someone from CL will even venture into the conversation and address the frustrations raised?

I doubt that... on an internet forum that's a lose lose for any company - no matter how diplomatic or sincere the answers are.

[Pikey]

What settles it for me:

Cycle lab organised price fixing meetings.

 

Enough said,why would anyone ever spend there money at a place that was trying to make the consumer pay as much as they could . Why ?

 

Am gutted cl have Santa Cruz.

 

Evobikes are way more dependable anyway. No brainier really.

[Pieterlab1]

Will the CWC lovers also now call Andrew "Oom"? 

[Chingy182]

I've only been cycling for about 4 years.

I have dealt with CWC on numerous occasions and have always had a good experience there.

Dealt with Cycle Lab once and was a pleasant experience too and got a price match from them.

 

Problem is if Cycle Lab now runs the show and set the price, where are we going to get the price match from?

[varkie2]

Thank the Lord i have 2 sets of spare gators, 2 sets of spare saguaros, 3 spare cassettes, 3 spare chains, 6 sets of pads, and a spare set of blades. Should last me a while as those What you want on sale days are tata hasie hasie

[Robbie Stewart]

FINALLY!

Now it is a known fact that cycling will most assuredly be more expensive than golf, seeing as the golfers have taken over cycling.

 

Thanks oom Chris, for being there all these years. It has been a pleasure, but I will be supporting my actual local, un-corporate LBS from now on.

 

adios.

[Matchstix]

Any company that has investors to keep happy . Will rather keep investors happy than customers.

[Tristand]

The problem is not CL taking over CWC but rather Moregolf taking over CWC.

CL was fine before Moregolf bought them out.

[Weimaraner1]

I strongly believe in supporting SA small business for the good of the country and I try to do so whenever I can - for instance buying from my LBS or from my local hardware instead of CL or Builders. I have however realised a long time ago that cycle wholesalers and retailers are taking us for a ride and I think it is largely the fault of the wholesalers who in turn is being put under pressure from international suppliers and there has been numerous discussions on the hub about this. For this reason I mostly buy from Merlin / CRC etc. It often even makes sense to buy clothing. Yes I have bought from CWC online before and found them great and if CL is going to make that another "CL Business" I will just not buy from them. Times are hard and money short so know your prices, shop around, caveat emptor! I will continue to shop from international online retailers - good prices, good service and ease of doing business.