Simon Cobb
Update 22/09/14
Have returned to the new improved store. Staff seem to have changed and the service is greatly improved. Glad I did not cut my nose off to spite my face, good price for a great service on my bike!
Original visit June '13
Just went into store. Selected a jacket without needing help went to check out and was ignored for so long I left without the jacket. Several staff were chatting and wandering around but obviously had more important things to do than work. Don't waste your time going in, shocking service!
Lucy Copleston
Great friendly bunch. And they really know there stuff.
Sophie
I can't speak highly enough of the team at what used to be Bike UK. I love the bike I bought through them, it has served me well as a starter bike, and I'm now ready to upgrade. Unfortunately Trek have taken over the shop and cancelled the free annual service that I was entitled to. This is very disappointing, especially given that no comms has been sent out by Trek to this effect. The team have always looked after my bike well, but given this cancellation, coupled with my partner's Trek bike constantly breaking and having faulty parts, I don't expect to continue using the service centre (cost & proximity), or buying my next bike through them (gone off Trek!). I will probably use them for parts etc due to the nice discount they give UoB staff, unless Trek have cancelled that too.
Dave
I have been a customer of bike UK for a few years now and decided it is time to write a review. Initially very impressed however my recent experiences have been poor. The store offers a price match service, and a while back was advised by the staff they would rather I price match in store than buy elsewhere.
Recently, I have asked to buy price matched products and been told that I'm "killing the bike industry" in a somewhat confrontational manner. Now, first off, I wouldn't feel the need to price match if not advised to by the store, and, if it wasn't so ridiculously expensive in the first place and 60% cheaper online. Basically, I feel I'm being asked to be mugged off on a huge mark-up.
Meanwhile, I popped into Evans the other day and It was great, they sourced the components I needed for a repair, didn't pressure me for labour, (I do my own), and looked up cheaper products online for price match without me asking. Bike UK, at the very least, needs to have a consistent store policy as being confronted by staff for price matching was not a good experience.
I used to love the store when I had a good relationship with them and felt they were helping me out, now it depends on who serves me, (and I know less of the staff who know I bought I bike there, which probably made them more friendly).
I hope bike UK sorts this out, otherwise it's a great store with knowledgeable staff, and most of the team are super helpful. So, I still give 3 stars, will continue to use the store (it is my local, but possibly more of my money will go elsewhere), and review again in the future.
Philip Haycock
About five months after buying a second-hand bike from Bike UK I checked it in to get a punctured tyre changed. Apparently there were a lot of things wrong with the bike, which also needed fixing. After holding the bike for 4 weeks without doing any repairs they eventually told me it wasn't worth repairing and that it was too dangerous to ride. Repair staff were very unhelpful. The manager was however extremely friendly and apologetic and arranged a full refund for the bike.
Richard Storr
Disappointed, the customer service on the bike service was poor. Bike matters aside I do not feel I was listened to and little effort was made to help.
Bike not available to collect more than 2 weeks after dropping it off.
Won’t be returning as a customer.
phil wood
This was a far better shop when it was "Bike", what is the point of a shop that really only sells one brand?
Charlie Be
Had some poor advice from some of the staff at this store, ended up buying a bike over £1k in the wrong size. This gave me back problems, meant I haven't ridden it and now I have to sell it. Disappointed.
Peter Marinov
Slow service and unreliable.
I was asked to wait a few months for a bike service.
Joshua Stewart
Having worked in customer service a number of years ago, I do appreciate how even the best of teams can have off days, be it last-minute absence of staff putting pressure on those covering, or unexpected surges in customer volumes. Reading all the reviews on here, it seems the Trek team are pretty decent and I must have just have caught them at a bad time.
I went into the Bristol store on Sat 23rd Oct, hoping to spend my £1,000 cycle2work voucher. I knew the exact bike I wanted (FX 3) and was only looking to grab it, add a few accessories and pay. This proved to be a great challenge, with all staff members either busy with customers or otherwise occupied. I waited 25-30 mins but nobody was available. There were other customers in a similar situation to myself. Unfortunately with no queuing system in place, customers joining after me were often served first. it was a case of pot luck, being in the right spot at the right time. In the future, some kind of ticketed queuing system might work well in the store.
In the end I left the shop and rung the Bath store instead. I got through immediately to an extremely helpful chap called Ben, reserved my bike and was even offered a specific slot for collection. It's another week to wait and a 15 min train ride, but will be worth it to guarantee the collection.
Claude Monecel
There's nowhere to lock your bike up outside the store and Helmet that was reduced in price had no documentation or a box
Lauren P
Won't be going back. They left grease on the disc brakes after a service, leaving a pretty dangerous bike to ride. Customer service needs working on too - they were pretty rude when we told them about the problem. Add that to a months wait for the service in the first place. Not impressed.
Simon Wicks
Got a "free" annual service as bought my bike there and never again. Didn't fix a problem with my brakes which I flagged up but did do other work which I don't think was needed.
Sahar M
I went inside ,just saw one of the staff who was talking with a customer .I needed help to choose a bike but no one around to ask if they can help . that sales gentleman talked with the customer for more that 15 minutes . so it was wasting the time to stay longer while he already knew that I am waiting for him to answer my questions.
Tom
My first mistake was coming back to this place after a grueling experience last time nut i thought hey the staff could've been having bad day. I was wrong. Is it company policy to be the rudest and most patronising people on earth? If so their staff need a raise.
When I walk into this establishment I'm looked at like I'm a complete freak and spoken to like one as well. I have serious issue with the speccy bike mechanic who has got to be one the rudest people in customer service I've ever met. Maybe find a new career if its such a burden to help fix peoples bikes which is quite literally your job.
Do not go to this place if you value self worth.
Angus Gregson
I bought a bike in April. It's coming up to its complementary first service and also needs a spoke replacing. (I hope this isn't indicative.) But I can't book it in - regardless of what the website says - it's a first come-first served system, and the one mechanic they have in at the moment is concentrating on building new bikes for sale. This is my day-to-day bike; I need certainty on turnaround time. Trek can't provide this, it seems. I'll go elsewhere.
Scarlett Miller
Found out some quite distressing things the other day when I went to the Trek store. Apparently Trek is partnered with Lidl which sells these cruelly bred "Franken-chickens". There were protesters outside the store telling me about it. As an animal lover who trusted Trek as a business I am quite surprised. I will go elsewhere for my bike until they stop supporting this horrible stuff with Lidl.
Zebedee (Zebbers)
When I was in Bristol the other day I saw some animal rights people outside this store, which I found odd. They explained that they were there because Trek are working with Lidl. I have heard about Lidl's poor animal welfare recently. I'm shocked a company like Trek would support them. Puts me off shopping with them both tbh.
steven tunn
Only gave 1 star as zero wasn’t an option. Terrible customer service, never answer the phone and they’ve had my bike for seven weeks and still haven’t been able to diagnose what’s wrong with it. Worst bike shop in Bristol
Steven Ling
Call over 10times this week and no one answering the phone.
