MYSTERY SHOPPER
Only fools and horses?
Williams Cycles
In 2006 Cheltenham was said to be the most desirable property location in Britain, perhaps that’s why you’ll find such a wealth of bike shops to choose from in the region. Mystery Shopper visits a handful of those occupying the town, as well as a dark horse…
ONE OF the few stores with customer parking out front, this visit came during a high footfall time, in which Mystery Shopper could observe a mother seeking a BMX being given some advice that gets our thumbs up. I made a lap of the store prior to catching a staff member at the till and although still busy, a polite request happily kept me browsing for another moment. When seen I was granted his full attention. To pick a highlight, I was warned of the imminent model year switch and thus the likelihood that stock will soon be shifting. This was used to suggest a deposit should I settle on a bike.
One moment that threw me was the suggestion that
my budget of £900 was ‘too high’ for a hardtail. This led to our chat, though productive, focusing on a model at just £600. My emphasis on durability obviously hit home, as the assistant did do his utmost to re-assure me of Specialized’s reputation, build quality and support. The closure of the sale revolved around a catalogue
and while that’s always handy, it allows me to easily browse the same product online.
26 BIKEBIZ JULY Leisure Lakes
ANOTHER HIGH footfall store, with plenty of busy staff, waiting to be seen in Leisure Lakes is less of an ordeal thanks to the well labelled bikes, each detailed by spec and carrying finance details. One of the town’s two 29er fans, the staffer
contrasted and compared a Cube and a Lapierre bang on budget well, reading the signals I gave off and thus settling on the former of the two bikes as the more likely to satisfy my brief. I was given jargon-free and valid pros and cons while discussing wheel size. If it were agility I were after, it was suggested I opt for 26 and, for comfort, the 29er. Largely the bike was sold on Cube’s generous spec over competitor brands, as well as the handlebar activated fork lockout typically not seen elsewhere at my price point.
I left with a Leisure Lakes branded catalogue and
suggestion I return to ‘sling a leg over’ come pay day. Sizing information wasn’t revealed, so buying elsewhere online would be made more difficult.
BIKEBIZ.COM
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