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Possible demise of CRC / Wiggle

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Update: Placed an order on Sunday, delivered today. In the box was the tool I ordered and a bag a Haribo!


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 2:11 pm
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I ordered a set of jockey wheels on sunday, they turned up yesterday - but no haribo!


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 4:41 pm
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So Halfords have said that they and Tredz will honour any Wiggle & CRC warranties on parts and accessories (dosent say if that includes Wiggle's own brand parts and accessories)

They have also said that they will offer all Wiggle+ subcribers a free £15 voucher

https://road.cc/content/news/halfords-honour-wiggle-chain-reaction-warranties-304971


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 4:43 pm
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That's great. Presumably that's manufacturer's warranties, yes? In which case it won't be own/house branded stuff, including Vitus/Nukeproof/Ragley bikes.

That’s why we’re announcing today that if you’ve bought parts or accessories, covered by warranty from a retailer that is no longer trading, Halfords will honour the warranties.

Our Halfords and Tredz teams are working hard to see how we can support people who may be affected... We don’t want anyone to be left with worthless parts or accessories through no fault of their own...

https://bikebiz.com/halfords-to-support-wiggle-customers-with-warranties-and-money-off-vouchers/


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 4:52 pm
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Reading the linkedin article it becomes clear why there were sudden dumps of huge bargains over the last year or so!


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 5:04 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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So Halfords have said that they and Tredz will honour any Wiggle & CRC warranties on parts and accessories (dosent say if that includes Wiggle’s own brand parts and accessories)

Many lbs stores have been honouring sram/shimano/Bosch and many other warranties for stuff bought elsewhere for years. Nice of Halfords to finally catch up I guess.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 5:08 pm
doomanic, zerocool, twistedpencil and 5 people reacted
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Many lbs stores have been honouring sram/shimano/Bosch and many other warranties for stuff bought elsewhere for years. Nice of Halfords to finally catch up I guess.

So do we think they're just after getting people in their stores here?

I did think "honouring" was an odd choice of wording. "Processing warranties" would have been more accurate, eh?


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 5:41 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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Many lbs stores have been honouring sram/shimano/Bosch and many other warranties for stuff bought elsewhere for years. Nice of Halfords to finally catch up I guess.

and many will turn you away or want to charge if you didn’t buy the product from them. Nice of Halfords/Tredz to give a clear commitment I think.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 5:47 pm
zerocool and zerocool reacted
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Nice of Halfords/Tredz to give a clear commitment I think

To be fair it's clear as mud at the moment. I mean if nukeproof disappeared and your frame snapped would you expect Halfords to replace it? With what? It's a fair comment that not all shops will do it, but that still doesn't make this anything new or unusual in the bike shop world.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 6:01 pm
branes, kelvin, branes and 1 people reacted
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Surely that's just Halfords playing the marketing game. Look good to everyone with a statement and hopefully not spend very much carrying out the action so they win overall by improving their public perception?


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 6:11 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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I'm just hoping they add a discount code in the next few weeks so I can buy a bike I'm eyeballing.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 6:11 pm
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Slightly off topic, but I needed a SRAM 12 speed chain this week. I would normally go to CRCWiggle but googled instead, best price was Halfords (and British Cycling discount too) and they’ve got stock in the store just down the road from work. Pop down to the store it’s priced at £28 on the shelf not £19 as per the website. They were happy to price match to the website, so all fine, but being a tight arse makes me think I need to price check everything to websites when I go physical shopping.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 6:16 pm
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Ordered yesterday and it's already with Evri, I've made so many orders recently the courier is probably sick of the sight of me, yet still not a single bag of Haribo, wtf ?.
I don't think I'll be bothering my local Halfords with any warranty issues, every time I've gone to pick up an order it takes a group effort, it's like the 3rd or 4th person finally knows what I'm on about, I'll initially try upstairs in the bike section, no try downstairs, no try upstairs, I just have, oh, goes to find someone else, its a total farce.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 6:34 pm
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Once the haribo stops, then we know the real trouble has started.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 6:59 pm
SYZYGY, kelvin, SYZYGY and 1 people reacted
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Ordered some new wheels (Nukeproof & DT Swiss), turned up 24hrs later.... never had it so quick from CRC before 🙂


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 9:57 pm
 mboy
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I’m just hoping they add a discount code in the next few weeks so I can buy a bike I’m eyeballing.

If it's not cheap enough already, then you don't need it... The likelihood of it being there in a few weeks one way or the other is absolutely minimal I would suggest.

yet still not a single bag of Haribo, wtf ?.

Once the haribo stops, then we know the real trouble has started.

they turned up yesterday – but no haribo!

I do very much hope that I am missing some obvious irony here right now, because the overwhelming fact that hundreds of people stand to lose their jobs directly or indirectly as a result essentially of SSU's value being grossly overstated (in much the same way that Donald Trump is facing $250m+ of fines right now in the US and probable time in jail) is looming rather more heavily with me than he fact that 50p's worth of sweets weren't included as a freebie in peoples (below cost price) vulture purchases recently...

@stwhannah – fascinating article thanks for sharing.

Couldn't agree more. So very sad to read, but fascinating how such manipulation was allowed to happen! I am no financial institution expert, but knowing the business, it's model, it's typical stock holding and looking at its most recent accounts I would have put the value of the business around $250-500m at most... The 46x EBITDA value of $3.2Bn was absolutely absurd and should never have been allowed to happen! My Dad who knows far more about this kind of topic than I do said that 7-10x EBITDA for a business valuation would be classed as incredibly generous usually, and that my $250-500m guesstimate would have been far more realistic at the time the business went public.

Dudek's assertion that the ¢150m equity commitment never really existed is quite telling sadly!


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 2:10 am
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I received a refund on a return yesterday. It all went through without a problem.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 2:58 am
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Once the haribo stops, then we know the real trouble has started.

I've had half a dozen or so CRC deliveries this year. Not a single one has contained Haribo. Have they stalked me on Arsebook and decided the last thing I need is sugary treats?


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 9:07 am
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Caved and ordered some DHB running clothing last night as the discount is particularly crazy - only seems to be available through wiggle instead of CRC (or it could be the shonky search tools). Anyway ordered just shy of £500 of clobber for £66. If you are selling off the stuff at that type of discount there is no coming back surely.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 9:33 am
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(in much the same way that Donald Trump is facing $250m+ of fines right now in the US and probable time in jail)

It's not been overstated, it was overvalued, but so many public businesses are - value is ultimately what people are willing to pay not an arbitrary multiple of ebidta. I was once asked what my business was worth, my answer was 'Less than when we hadn't made a profit'.

Unless the SEC could prove that SSU falsified their statements in order to boost the share price, then the value was what people were willing to pay for it on the open market.

Dudek’s assertion that the ¢150m equity commitment never really existed is quite telling sadly!

It probably did exist - it was likely not a coincidence the $150m was the same value give or take as SSN's shareholding in SSU at the time it was committed. Thus they could underwrite the value of the loan with the equity they held in the business without it being a lie nor needing to have the free cash on hand. Only when the equity in the business crashed and other parts of the SSN empire likewise could they then no longer afford it and even selling _all_ their shares would only raise them a few mil. rather than the $150m at the time of the commitment.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 9:42 am
 mboy
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It’s not been overstated, it was overvalued, 

Got my terminology wrong, but yes, this…

It probably did exist – it was likely not a coincidence the $150m was the same value give or take as SSN’s shareholding in SSU at the time it was committed.<br />

It really isn’t important whether it did or didn’t any more I’d suggest (it doesn’t now), more the assertion that the VP of the US operation now he has had time to look back on his 18 months in the company reflectively, doesn’t fully believe that it existed in the first place…


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 9:54 am
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Caved and ordered some DHB running clothing last night as the discount is particularly crazy

Ta, just ordered some trews, vest & a load of socks for £29.

Not sure how great value the £16 socks were at RRP but worth a punt at £2/pair.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 10:04 am
convert and convert reacted
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Ordered a few peices of winter clothing recently. All delivered very fast. I did recieve Haribo (which I can't stand)


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 10:15 am
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It probably did exist – it was likely not a coincidence the $150m was the same value give or take as SSN’s shareholding in SSU at the time it was committed. Thus they could underwrite the value of the loan with the equity they held in the business without it being a lie nor needing to have the free cash on hand. Only when the equity in the business crashed and other parts of the SSN empire likewise could they then no longer afford it and even selling _all_ their shares would only raise them a few mil. rather than the $150m at the time of the commitment.

Yeah, I read it that the money was available via the value in other businesses. When the property stock crashed due to interest rises, etc, the 150m could no longer be guaranteed.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 10:25 am
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Administrators talking up the level of interest in buying Chiggle:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/administrators-launch-sale-process-for-wiggle-crc-after-high-level-of-interest.html

I'm sure it'll be attractive to some credible buyers apart from Mike Ashley.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 12:18 pm
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I'd buy it, collapse one of the two into the other and dust off the old site.
stands a chance of making some money then.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 1:00 pm
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Yes - fundamentally, I'm not sure what the point of both the CRC and Wiggle shop fronts and brands existing is. Wiggle does stuff (outdoors, running, triathlon) that CRC does not, but I'm not aware of anything that CRC does that Wiggle doesn't. And prices are always identical. Maybe it's catching habitual use from before it was not all coming out of the same warehouse.

I'd also be interested in knowing why own brand stuff is not just labelled as that - is DHB sold through any other avenue? Again, I'm no expert in consumer phycology but if it was branded 'Wiggle' would the consumer view it as lesser than they do if it's labelled DHB? Obviously other retailers do this too - they are Apollo bikes not Halfords for example - and all the Tiwit style brands exclusively sold in Decathlon.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 1:14 pm
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Again, I’m no expert in consumer phycology but if it was branded ‘Wiggle’ would the consumer view it as lesser than they do if it’s labelled DHB?

I'd expect so. Putting the retailer's name on things suggests they're generic products just with different labels on for different brands. A brand name suggests the product has had some development. And good brand names for retailers aren't necessarily good brand names for products.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 2:06 pm
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Chiggle's product development for their brands like DHB, Nukeproof (clothes as well as bikes) and Vitus bikes has been one of their real strengths IMO.

Be more of a shame to lose that than to lose them as a retailer of cheap mechs or whatever.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 2:14 pm
dc1988, zerocool, fathomer and 3 people reacted
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Some good deals on their Fohn stuff too (another in-house brand) - paddle boards & wetsuits 75-84% off.....

Was hoping that there would be some break away by Nukeproof, Vitus & Ragley - especially if the likes of Ashley gets hold of it.......

Just hope they don't end up like Saracen did (before Madison sorted them out!) and become BSO's......


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 2:32 pm
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Bought some DHB shoes via a PSA having no idea they were a home brand, and very nice they are too for the few quid they cost.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 2:33 pm
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The DHB running gear is far to cheap not to take a punt on. Just bought £30 through PayPal, lets hope it fits and gets delivered.


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 3:11 pm
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christ the bad experience stories with ss are like, what 15 years ago? Time to move on chaps.

Its STW, people still slate Pace for some less than decent frames decades ago with the RC303 etc (half of who I'd wager never even owned one!)


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 4:02 pm
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Ordered a Endura Singletrack onsie the other day and it arrived with Haribo!

Have just ordered 4 DHB Aeron 2.0 short sleeve jerseys with a RRP of £65, paid £5 for each!

Also ordered a DHB Merino long sleeve jersey with a £95 rrp for £10!


 
Posted : 09/11/2023 5:02 pm
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And prices are always identical

Not always.  eg:

https://www.wiggle.com/p/rockshox-lyrik-select-rc-debonair-boost-fork £384.99 vs £299.99 https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/rockshox-lyrik-select-rc-debonair-boost-fork

I think I've only ever seen Wiggle more expensive than CRC.  Never the other way round.


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 12:49 am
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Its STW, people still slate Pace for some less than decent frames decades ago with the RC303 etc (half of who I’d wager never even owned one!)

😂, I had 4 pairs maybe, and a bodged repair or improv because they were sick of me before a full refund of some RC30T forks 23 /24 years years ago and I still cannot forget


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 12:57 am
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I ordered a F+R set of brakes (MT410's) for £30 on Monday, arrived and fitted yesterday.

Also in the package.........Haribo 😁


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 8:59 am
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Allyharp I've bought Nukeproof Enduro bearing kits for £35 at Wiggle when they were still full price £70 at CRC, it's always worth a quick check, and some things are not even listed on one site but present on the other.


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 10:11 am
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Thanks for the heads up on the SUPs whoever that was - £219 for a Red Paddle Co touring sup package is mad!


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 4:36 pm
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DaveyBoyWonder
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Its STW, people still slate Pace for some less than decent frames decades ago with the RC303 etc (half of who I’d wager never even owned one!)

To be fair, there's something about "we are refusing your warranty claim for your fully rigid forks that broke in half because you didn't service them" that just stands out from the crowd.


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 5:21 pm
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"£219 for a Red Paddle Co touring sup package is mad!"

Did you get one?  I hesitated and were sold out by the time I got my wallet out.  Hoping my friend gets the one she ordered.


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 5:59 pm
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Drat.  I’d have bought one of those Red SUPs for my wife’s birthday.  What do we think of the Fohn ones?


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 8:53 pm
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Ordered by 2.99 NP headset as a spare for the big al ..  turned up 48 laters as if nowt was wrong

.. long may this speedy service and cheap prices continue 🙂


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 9:06 pm
SYZYGY and SYZYGY reacted
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“£219 for a Red Paddle Co touring sup package is mad!”

Did you get one? I hesitated and were sold out by the time I got my wallet out. Hoping my friend gets the one she ordered.

Not read further back to see if anyone actually got a Red Board. Independently I came across one last night (a ride 10'6") and ordered and paid for it. 10 minutes later I got a refund but no explanation - not sure if that's because it was never in stock or if my highland postcode broke the delivery possibilities.

Felt a bit dirty even ordering it as had zero intension of using it - just selling in on through Facebook MP or the like for a healthy profit.

If I actually wanted one, I'm not convinced they are the same quality, but the Fohn ones are mighty cheap and I suspect more itwitit quality for a Lidl middle aisle price or better.


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 9:14 pm
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Nordisk tent just shipped, I think getting a groundsheet will cost more than I paid for it!


 
Posted : 10/11/2023 9:22 pm
SYZYGY and SYZYGY reacted
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