I'm still trying to get my employer to move to a more flexible cycle to work scheme to allow us to purchase from independents, but in lieu of this, does anyone have any experience of special orders on the Evans scheme? I'm thinking about bike brands that Evans might be able to get from their uk importer / supplier arrangements but they wouldn't normally stock? I'm thinking brands like Ibis, Pivot, Santa Cruz etc.
We're on the Evans Scheme and were frustrated with the choice available, we have managed to persuade the company that does our benefits (3rd party) to allow us to use the Evans vouchers with other local bike shops near our offices and also Alpkit for Sonder bikes. Always worth asking?
Isn't the Evans special orders thing just for different versions of stuff they stock? They only stock black Hope hubbed wheels (or they did) but you can get the other colours via special order for example. Might have changed now though, that was a few years ago.
@mattcartlidge - that's interesting. Did you have any trouble getting the LBS to use the Evans vouchers? I could see that being a bigger stumbling block than the employer / benefits broker to be honest. I think that's all handled in house for us, so I doubt they'd care where we "spent" the voucher.
It will be fine to use on special orders, just might be a case of waiting a bit longer. From an experience, a santa cruz frame from Jungle took about 2 weeks to arrive so not even that long. Will probably be a bit longer atm though.
We just asked in the shop round the corner from the office and put them in touch with Evans, I believe Evans contacted Alpkit direct after our benefits provider talked to them.
From an experience, a santa cruz frame from Jungle took about 2 weeks to arrive so not even that long. Will probably be a bit longer atm though.
Lol, took me (a fair bit) longer than that buying from Stif... (owned by, and in the same building as, SC/jungle)
I hope you have more luck than I did dealing with Evans, I already had my voucher for a 2020 Sight A1 plus some other goodies, but I had to cancel the order due to their incompetence.
It was a very, very frustrating journey.