Evans Cycles to begin accepting gift cards again from Friday

Evans Cycles, the retailer bought out of administration by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct group last month, has confirmed that it will begin accepting payment by gift cards again from this Friday.

As we reported earlier this week, the company had temporarily suspended accepting gift cards or discount vouchers following its change of ownership.

The company announced the news on Twitter at lunchtime today. It said: “We are pleased to confirm we will re-start accepting gift cards from this Friday 16th November. All Evans Cycles gift cards will be honoured in-store, online or by phone.

The retailer added: “We’re sorry for the delay in updating customers, we’ve been busy updating our systems and processes over the last week to make this happen.”

Evans Cycles directed customers to a post on its website, which said: “Gift card redemption will be available from Friday 16th November 2018. You will be able to redeem your gift card in the usual way either in-store, online or by phone.

“All gift cards issued before 30th October 2018 – the date of our acquisition by Sports Direct – will be honoured. These cards will expire on 31st January 2019. 

“For gift cards issued on or after 30th October 2018, our standard terms and conditions apply.”

Meanwhile, Cyclescheme has told road.cc that it should be “business as normal” for people wanting to redeem vouchers for bikes purchased under the Cycle to Work scheme with the retailer.

We understand that Evans confirmed last week that was the case and that stores should be accepting the vouchers.

While we are aware of instances of people encountering difficulties, it’s possible that with all the turmoil the business has undergone in recent weeks the message may not have been communicated effectively from the top down, or may not have been implemented at individual branch level.

When Sports Direct announced last month that it had bought Evans Cycles, Ashley said it was likely that half of the chain’s 62 stores, located mainly in London and the south east, would close.