Breaking News: Cycle Lab Acquires Chris Willemse Cycles

[Kranswurm]

Well done Chris

 

I remember when he had a little shop in Claremont with buggerall stock.

He has done well and reaps the reward for his hard work.

 

I really dont know why everyone has this LBS allegiance thing.I buy where it is convenient and the pricing is competitive.

 

If I am in the area I will buy from CL

 

I bought 10K worth of stuff from CWC online in Oct 2017 because the price was reasonable

 

Bought wheels from CL because the price was good.

 

Bought about 20K worth of upgrade on my PYGA and a Thule from Finishline because they were convenient and reasonably competitive

 

Get a life...more important things to worry about

[karma]

Disaster , Chris what were you thinking , retiring ?? Cycle Lab are the worst terrible staff & crazy high pricing . Chris Willemse best staff & pricing !!!

 

1st Post....delusional...nice try though....

[Jewbacca]

I love how okes can have opinions of opinions on assumptions.

 

Let this play out before we all start speaking in absolutes and pre-empt the end of the bike industry economic world.

 

Omnico were one of the biggest instigators of price fixing yet no one says 'I will never own a Fox/Cannondale/GT etc'.... 

[Shebeen]

Well done Chris

 

I remember when he had a little shop in Claremont with buggerall stock.

He has done well and reaps the reward for his hard work.

 

I really dont know why everyone has this LBS allegiance thing.I buy where it is convenient and the pricing is competitive.

 

If I am in the area I will buy from CL

 

I bought 10K worth of stuff from CWC online in Oct 2017 because the price was reasonable

 

Bought wheels from CL because the price was good.

 

Bought about 20K worth of upgrade on my PYGA and a Thule from Finishline because they were convenient and reasonably competitive

 

Get a life...more important things to worry about

it's in the name LBS

 

For years a bikeshop has been way more than just a business. Traditionally owned and run by former star riders (some with negligible business experience) they become more of a club/social gathering spot than just a place to buy an item. Some have tried to record why they want to support - https://www.singletracks.com/blog/uncategorized/opinion-the-top-5-reasons-you-should-shop-at-your-lbs/

 

That's it. With the industry growing up it's becoming more London Business School, and well you can take your bucks wherever you want anyway.

[Andrew Steer]

I love how okes can have opinions of opinions on assumptions.

 

Let this play out before we all start speaking in absolutes and pre-empt the end of the bike industry economic world.

 

Omnico were one of the biggest instigators of price fixing yet no one says 'I will never own a Fox/Cannondale/GT etc'.... 

 

That is not the Bikehub way 

[DieselnDust]

I love how okes can have opinions of opinions on assumptions.

 

.......

 

Omnico were one of the biggest instigators of price fixing yet no one says 'I will never own a Fox/Cannondale/GT etc'....

 

That isn’t factually correct. Instigator vs participant. Different things.

The fine they paid is just an unfortunate circumstance of being one of the biggest distributors and not taking a stronger position against the events. Guilty? Yes.

Big instigator? No.

 

It’s al in the transcripts. Plenty of big instigators got off Scott free. Some still strong arm the industry today and get away with it and have loyal devoted followers

[Renier Hugo]

if the good specials vanish...so will we.. CWC at special can only beat direct imports by a small margin...2%

 

remember...online is online... and takealot.com/others also increases their offering in this regard on a monthly basis...with free shipping...

 

Its already an expensive sport...moet nie die hoender ruk nie

[Shebeen]

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/first-ascent-free-rider-mtb-shoe

https://cyclelab.com/first-ascent-free-rider-mtb-shoes/

CL wins by R420

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/bell-tracker-helmet

https://cyclelab.com/bell-tracker-mtb-helmet-unisize/

Same price

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/shimano-xt-10-spd-cassette-m771

https://cyclelab.com/shimano-10-speed-11-34-xt-cassette/

CWC wins by R460

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/maxxis-crossmark-ust-29er-tyre

https://cyclelab.com/maxxis-29x2.1-crossmark-ust-mtb-tyre/

CWC wins by R40

[Brandon P]

Damn. Feel much the same as most seem to feel about this acquisition.
Always enjoyed having CWC as an online source for goods and hope that will continue but suspect not. Will wait and see.

[ChUkKy]

Buycycle / Evo Bikes here's your chance to try step up your online market.

 

EasyBike to that list also

[taito]

Well I just hope that the specials will still happen I bought a lot of things on special. There is a trend of the big fish eating the smaller fish to eliminate competition .

I remember Omnico received a fine for price fixing. But what did the average Jo get out of that ,,,not much.

 

The margins on cycling related items are crazy.

[stefmeister]

Makes no difference to my future purchases - all will be from UK/EU online shops where possible.

[vulgar]

AHHH now I have to buy from the wholesaler again...

[awesme]

... its very well CL says they will beat any price.

 

It becomes allot easier if you buy the competition whom's price you had to beat every time, and you now make their price, so easy to push that (price) up to align with yours,

 

Now it's just the other online smaller players that don't always have the volume to be able to compete on price.

 

Might not be price fixing but it accomplishes very much the same in the end, control your market and clients.

 

G

[Shebeen]

... its very well CL says they will beat any price.

 

It becomes allot easier if you buy the competition whom's price you had to beat every time, and you now make their price, so easy to push that (price) up to align with yours,

 

Now it's just the other online smaller players that don't always have the volume to be able to compete on price.

 

Might not be price fixing but it accomplishes very much the same in the end, control your market and clients.

 

G

quite a few T&C's but all are reasonable. #3 is a very good system if they actually do it.

 

 

We Will Not Be Beaten on Price

Price Promise at Cycle Lab

1. Can buy it cheaper elsewhere? - If you've purchased any item from Cycle Lab and, within 30 days, find the identical product advertised at a competitor for less, tell us and we will match the price!
2. If you intend purchasing from Cycle Lab and find the identical item at a competitor for less at the same time tell us, if the price and stock availability is validated we will Match that price!
3. Bought it from us and we reduce the price within 30 days of purchase? We will match the new price and refund you the difference.

Please note the following:

• Does not apply to offers made on in-store or online loyalty programs.
• The Price Promise does not apply to new store openings, store relaunches, display, aged, discontinued or damaged stock.
• The Price Promise does not apply to one day only sales such as Black Friday.
• The competitor in question must be in-stock of that identical item.
• The competitor must be a legitimate South African retailer, and the price beat must include the cost of delivery.
• The price promise does not apply to foreign stores (outside the borders of South Africa), including foreign online stores.
• The items up for comparison must be the identical item, brand, barcode, volume/weight.
• The warranty/guarantee period must be identical to that of the competitor product in every way.
• The retailer deemed to be a competitor needs to be a valid VAT registered retailer – accredited by our suppliers as a reseller of their goods and brands that are in question.

[Pure Savage]

You know why CWC fans are bleak, it has to do with the way it was announced, instead of CWC fashion. "We are now part of CL lets have a ask what you want sale" The posted these positives instead of a sale:

 

As a result of the acquisition, Cape Town-based cyclists will now have access to an even wider range of bicycles and accessories at the best prices. 

Chris Willemse Cycles, a Cycle Lab Business, will now also offer:
• The widest range of cycling products under one roof Yeah CWC been fine thanks
• The best price (we will not be beaten on price!) Why must we ask you to beat prices, just give us the lowest price.
• A 30-day satisfaction money-back guarantee Pretty sure got that from CWC, actually with my tyres I got more than 30 days.
• Bike trade-ins Yeah no, we got the bikehub classifieds
• Unbeatable finance, by Wesbank*  Dont see this as a positive, never will use that
• Free insurance with every bike purchase, by King Price* Pretty sure the majority already have insurance

 

So the way the even announced it set the tone going forward.