Wiggle sold in deal valuing business at £180 million

I guy i know here in Singapore is buying Look pedals from CRC as they're cheaper than going through local distribution channels.

As an importer in NZ who has recently quit due to wiggle et al I can categorically say that we were not rolling in the cash!!

We paid for shipping ex works in the UK, customs fees, MAF fees, tarifs etc up the wazoo then have to get the product to the stores. Wiggle pay no duty or taxes shipping to NZ - that is a huge competitive advantage (e.g. The recent debacle over the cost of All Black jerseys here). In many ways you can argue that it is similar to ripping a CD and maybe a loophole that needs closing.

Wiggle were shipping to some of our stores for less than what we could buy the gear from the manufacturer. We would regularly support local events and vie away product and get feedback that it was great but we buy on Wiggle!! Where are they supporting local races etc?

I agree that for the consumer the choice and price is great and yes some stores have rubbish service but it is sad that local jobs and opportunities are going to go and the cash end up with a bunch of VC city boys.

As an importer in NZ who has recently quit due to wiggle et al I can categorically say that we were not rolling in the cash!!

We paid for shipping ex works in the UK, customs fees, MAF fees, tarifs etc up the wazoo then have to get the product to the stores. Wiggle pay no duty or taxes shipping to NZ - that is a huge competitive advantage (e.g. The recent debacle over the cost of All Black jerseys here). In many ways you can argue that it is similar to ripping a CD and maybe a loophole that needs closing.

Wiggle were shipping to some of our stores for less than what we could buy the gear from the manufacturer. We would regularly support local events and vie away product and get feedback that it was great but we buy on Wiggle!! Where are they supporting local races etc?

I agree that for the consumer the choice and price is great and yes some stores have rubbish service but it is sad that local jobs and opportunities are going to go and the cash end up with a bunch of VC city boys.

Have to mention the bike I bought on 30-day trial with Wiggle, and decided I didn't want to keep - jeez@ was that hard work getting them to take it back and refund me

About 4-5 weeks' worth of emails to customer service, who just kept failing to reply to me

In the end, I wrote a long complaint and they sorted it out pretty quickly

With that kind of customer service, though, you won't ever find me spending any serious money at Wiggle

When I broke my bike gps unit, I claimed on my insurance. The insurers took the details and contacted their dedicated LBS who rang me to sort out the replacement. Then they said the unit I wanted wasn't available any more - Garmin have stopped doing it (and the alternatives didn't seem to me to be as good). A quick look on Wiggle and behold! Ten in stock. So I had to ring the insurers to tell them that not only could I get the replacement unit, I could also get it a lot cheaper. What a bloody palaver. The LBS took 2 weeks to not sort it out and when I ordered it I had it within days.

I've griped before about unfriendly condescending service from LBS staff; I really would like to build up a relationship with one and get good service ... but they don't seem interested, and I'm not spending a fortune there when I can go to Wiggle or CC.

in the UK, imaca, Wiggle/CRC have a price advantage over shops but not necessarily a massive one, where they score for a lot of people is convenience, a massive range, and no quibble returns policies.

The combination of favourable exchange rates and carve ups of various markets by local distributors has given them a much heftier price advantage in other parts of the world. I think you are on to something there imaca when it comes to shops completing online service loops - though it's also got to be said that efficient postal systems in the southern hemisphere must still make it pretty easy to return goods. We were having a similar discussion in the office today, not about Wiggle or CRC using shops as their service centres but about manufacturers selling direct to shops or manufacuterers or distributors selling direct to consumers operating click and collect services through their dealers which would also act as service centres - I think we definitely see more of that in the future. That would be interesting because they would in effect be competing against the online retailers while also potentially supplying them. Of course if such a model was a success I suppse they'd potentially be not supplying too.

I'm interested to know what the price difference is between Wiggle etc. and LBSs in UK. Here in NZ it is usually 50-150% more expensive to buy local. Even local online retails are much more expensive and charge shipping on top. Having worked for LBS, it seems they cannot get things wholesale for the online UK price. My suspicion is that the importers are putting on huge markups, and making money for doing essentially nothing. A recent survey (by wiggle, I think) makes it clear they are looking at providing aftermaket support for bike sales overseas. If traditional LBSs here do nothing, they will go the way of the dodo - already they are trending more and more to the low end of the market. Locally we have a service oriented (with limited parts) shop - it's only a matter of time before online retailers realise that these type of operations can complete their service loop.

Never bought from them and private equity means I probably never will. Somerset Bike Centre and Edinburgh Bicycle every time, depending where I am at the time. EBC has a pretty good online service too.

I've only been dealing with Wiggle for a year or so, but have been impressed with their service and prices - hope the new owners keep the free postage to Ireland in place.

Wiggle has been truly successful with so many imitators coming to market.

Even Rose are imitating by sending out the sweets now with orders.

For me their website needs an overhaul as it is starting to get a litte confusing to navigate.

DHB has certainly worked for them as a brand, quality products at good prices, they need to keep that part of the business going.

hope the new owners look after their old(er) customers in the true 'Wiggle' way.
PS: could we have some free vouchers/tokens instead of the sweeties???

I hoped they used an offer voucher??
Or even quidco...I'd have a couple of percent on 180 million!!

online's great if you know exactly what you're getting. (A rear mech of make/model x is precisely that), but you can't beat trying on clothing/footwear.

I'm torn. Bike shops aren't open when I need them to be, don't carry enough stock etc. But I can't do all my own maintenance.

I'm sort of leaning towards relying on Wiggle/CRC for my bits and someone like Taylored Cycles
(http://www.tayloredcycles.com/) for maintenance jobs.

It annoys me when people use the word 'organic' like that.

Id guess the new owners would want to improve profit because their current profit figures are woeful for a company with that turnover (no doubt down to ridiculous price thrashing and raping of independent shops). The way to improve profit is to either improve efficiency (which being onine will be fairly tough as Id imagine they are quite lean at the moment) or to increase profit per sale...possibly more sensible pricing? There is always CR and other well knwon online retailers selling grey import parts to ensure you will get your cheap kit sans warranty.

Internet shopping is evil and should be avoided. The end.

A quick check shows Bridgepoint Capital are a quite diverse firm who seem fairly content to allow their owned businesses to keep running their own way as long as they are growing/profitable.

My only concern was they carry on being a good place to shop online for parts - and can't see this changing that any.

Well if they are worth that much I reckon we should get 2 packets of Haribo!