Stratton Cycles

Fantastic visit to Stratton today — I’d bought a cheap bike online from another retailer and for my sins I got a poor quality bike. I took it in to Mark who started solving problems with it straight away. I told him that I had no faith in the bike and I was looking to get a new one for my commute. Even though it was close to closing time, and he was very busy, he sent me out to test ride 3 bikes within my price range. He explained what was good about each and advised me about good locks, lights etc. I left to think about purchasing but I turned straight back and decided to go ahead with the one I liked. This was due to his very friendly and helpful manner and the fact he went out of his way to help me. Fantastic local business, so glad I popped in!

Won’t be using this place again. Took my bike in for a pre-​arranged service on the Monday. A disorganised person treated me as if i had done something wrong by bringing my bike in and told me they wouldn’t get it back to me that day. No problem i said, call me when it’s done. By Thursday, i had heard nothing so phone them, still not done but it would be done by the next day at lunchtime. Fine. Went down at 2pm the next day, still not done, no real apology, didn’t even know which bike was mine and no one seemed to care, i wouldn’t be having my bike for my comping weekend away. They eventually phoned the next day and i got my girlfriend to pick the bike up. Her experience was similar to mine, dis-​organised, no apology for lateness, didn’t know which bike was mine, arrogant manner and charged full price.
I live literally around the corner and will be going out of my way to never step foot in this place again. Absolute shambles and some of the worst customer service i have ever experienced. I would rather use Evans Cycles, which is not easy for me to say as i like to support local, independent companies.
My recommendation would be to take your business someone where they appreciate it, where they will provide you with a good service, not waste your time and actually care about their customers and their bikes.

Took my newly purchased second-​hand bike to this shop for a cleanup and servicing and was met by one of the most friendly and knowledgeable people that I have ever come across in retail (Mark). He spent 25 minutes on the bike tuning it up as best he could but ultimately recommended that I spend no more money on the bike as it wouldn’t be worth it. Pointed out tens of things that were wrong with the way the bike had been put together, came across as extremely knowledgeable without being an ass. Learnt a lot from the visit. No charge for any of it. This is a shop for life, I’m going to look no further for my biking needs in the future.
Taimur

Love this shop — it’s wheely good.
Rather than the usual get-​a-​sale flannel spoken by the likes of Halfords, Mark Trent and his team tell it how it is. Even when I first encountered Mark at a ‘Dr Bike’ session in Battersea Park, he instantly spotted 2 obvious errors by the people who had put my girlfriend’s bike together (including putting the wheel on the wrong way round).
Later this month I went to get my own bike fixed. They checked whether the part actually even needed replacing, rather than just saddling me with the cost of a new part for no good reason, and checked my brakes and handlebars into the bargain.
While I waited a few minutes for the mend, I got good advice about a pair of cycling gloves and my riding position too.
This shop reflects all that is good about great local independent services and I’ll definitely be going to see them for some more gear.