MYSTERY SHOPPER | ANDOVER AND BASINGSTOKE
No prizes for guessing the month of Mystery Shopper’s visit...
This is where customers can end up with the wrong Google address for your business
Winklebury Cycles
THE FIRST thing you notice about Winklebury is the masses of bikes in stock – fewer stores on Mystery Shopper’s tours have held such a wide range. The downside to this, however, was that without guidance in store it’s a bit of a ‘sea of wheels’ experience and not the easiest to navigate. Thankfully, there was an extremely pro-active and
chirpy assistant seeing to the crowds. It didn’t take long for him to pass me and politely ask if I needed help. Encouragingly, the helper flagged up a few bikes, taking my attention beyond just the hub geared Genesis on which I was to challenge the assistant to sell me in a jargon free manner. Prior to returning to the Genesis and clearly picking up on a hint of flexibility in my budget, the assistant told me of a 2010 bike hidden up in the racks that “on today’s market, is £1,600 worth of bike, now reduced to just a grand”. It was clear that the assistant knew how to sell a bike.
Halfords
EVERY NOW and then, as on this occasion, a Halfords store shines. The young lad caught me browsing shortly after I’d hit the upper level and politely asked if I needed assistance.
Getting into his stride quickly, the staffer emphasised
Boardman’s value for money, comparing the Halfords’ exclusive brand to others. What’s more, I was pushed for a good investment
straight away on the grounds that, “if I were to take mountain biking seriously I’d be upgrading a bike’s components before long.” Though aftercare was mentioned, detail on what
Halfords offered wasn’t discussed, something we’d consider a strong bargaining tool for the chain. Before allowing me on my way, the helper checked
stock levels and reassured me that he could quickly order another if the last remaining bike in my size sold. Further to this, it was asked of me whether my
budget would extend to include mudguards and other accessories.
BIKEBIZ.COM
CAN’T LIE, this extremely rainy April day was a bit of a nightmare. Between stores not being where they’re listed on Google and dodgy sat nav detours down military training grounds, a very wet Mystery Shopper wasn’t particularly convincing in his desire to get cycling.
The likes of Winklebury, and on this occasion
Halfords, did turn things around though. Winkleburys simply because the salesman was a top chap, full of enthusiasm and quite convincing in sales mode and knowledgeable of his extensive stock. Basing Cycles was a great all-rounder – with a well
presented store and bonus points for a little honest on value for money I can’t help but feel this may have been the store to secure a sale.
BIKEBIZ MAY 1 1 Summary
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