Halfords earning their nickname...

[Hip Priest]

I too had to take my Halford's bike to an LBS to get it set up properly. The mechanic laughed at the 8 inches of extra brake cable sticking out, and asked me if it was an aerial.

 

[Drago]

Against my advice the Westshire police have moved the bike maintenance contract from a centrally placed, reliable and trustworthy LBS to a Hellfrauds right on the edge of the area.

Doubtless the change was motivated by money, but the time and fuel wasted shuttling bikes back and forth for repeat attention must surely outweigh any saving. Hell, we had one bike come back with both cranks oriented the same way on the cranks.

See, I'm not allowed to work on them beyond fitting, running maintenance etc because I'm not 'qualified' to wield the spanners, yet they'll pack them off to Hellfrauds so some unqualified chimpanzee can cock them up. Go figure.

 

[Herzog]

Hell, we had one bike come back with both cranks oriented the same way on the cranks.

That's got to be an exaggeration... if not, wow...

 

[Boris Bajic]

Hell, we had one bike come back with both cranks oriented the same way on the cranks.

I find that extremely unlikely and bizarre, but can just about believe it.... Not the sort of thing one would make up.

On a sad note, a part of my messed-up head would like to try that on a fixed-gear bicycle.

I think it might be amusing.

 

[Drago]

It's very true! The lad that collected that batch for me isn't a cyclist and took zero interest when he chucked the in the van. Just as well, cos if I'd gone I'd have made the offender undo the bolt with his teeth, refit it correctly, and tighten it with his buttocks.

 

[wiggydiggy]

.......


I suggested it needs to go back for the two threading faults, but he wants to take it to a proper LBS first and pay them to set it up instead.

.......

An LBS may fix it but in this case I'd take it back. I'm sure I dont need to tell you about things like Sale of Goods Act, if they stripped threads on the bike when building it then its clearly been sold not fit for purpose and a full refund/replacement can be demanded.

The old adage 'You get what you pay for' applies, many 'bike mechanics' at Halfords are Sales Assistants with nothing more substantial than a bike maintenance booked waved near them and told to get on with it. As Halfords don't appear interested in ensuring that they offer a competent level of service consistantly through all their stores.

They can be good mechanics and offer good services, my own experiences are mostly good for instance, but obviously in this case the lads an incompetant fool!

 

[sidevalve]

Though I've never seen this myself, my oppo last night, to whom I told the same story, insists he saw a mech (numpty) at my local store using a power drill with Allen key attachment to set up bikes!

Actually if it was being done corractly it may not have been as bad as it looked. Power tools have torque settings [as do air tools used in garages]. As to wether the guy was using this is another matter. I too have torque wrenches but also have never needed them on a bicycle. Good quality tools [allen keys or spanners] are ,or should be of such a length that firm but not brutal use will produce the correct tightness for the relevant nut / bolt. If the tools you use are constantly stripping threads either 1 - you need to stop eating red meat and cut down on the steroids or 2 - you are using them wrongly or finally 3 - you need more appropriate tools [and no I don't care what tool catalogue they came from or if they cost £100 each].
A very old [and skilled] friend told me "your tools are your friends, use them well and won't let you down, use them like an animal and they will bite back".

 

[Rob3rt]

They should never have let him leave the store with the bike if they knew something was faulty and this stripped or cross threaded.

 

[Boris Bajic]

[quote="CopperCyclist, post: 2248145, member: 17626



I suggested it needs to go back for the two threading faults, but he wants to take it to a proper LBS first and pay them to set it up instead.

[/quote]

I once bought online and collected (it was a Trek) a bike from Evans that had clearly had no PDI.

The shop was 40 miles away.

They were happy for me to pay my excellent LBS to PDI it and sent me a cheque the next day and also a fairly generous voucher.

Your pal might find Halfords similarly inclined.

PS. I was polite when I rang Evans and that might have oiled the wheels a little.

PPS. Despite their kindness, i vowed never to use them again as the bike really was just thrown together and if that can happen once it can happen again.

 

[fossyant]

Number 2, they did not use a torque wrench then.

I've seen a 'mechanic' get out a bloody big bar and socket to tighten bolts on a 'kids' bike, rather than actually look for the clicking noise. I very nearly told him he shouldn't be putting that much force into the bolts. Hence I was rather glad I signed the 'disclaimer' and took my sons bike away in the box, un-opened. Did the same with my daughters too.

 

[Cubist]

My worry is that the stripped threads need replacing, not setting up. If an lbs does work on the bike Halfords may wriggle out of their obligation to sort it out.

 

[screenman]

I have worked at 3 garages today, none of the air tools had calibrated torque settings on. All of the mechanics I worked alongside today used torque wrenches.

It is not about being tight enough only, being too tight can be as much as a problem as too loose.

This may or may not be so detrimental on an E93A engine. Long time since I worked on one.

 

[Banjo]

I think that wherever you buy a bike its a lottery how proficient the guy that assembles it will be.

I watched my new bike being PDI /safety checked at Evans Cardiff Store. The process took well over an hour,the mechanic methodically checked everything and used a torque wrench where appropriate. Have to say I didnt watch it all as I slipped out for a coffee but the bike was running perfectly when I rode off later.

 

[Paddygt]

I'd have made the offender undo the bolt with his teeth, refit it correctly, and tighten it with his buttocks.

I would pay to watch that!!!!!!!

 

[akb]

Not doubting that Halfords are planks, but did he/you not check it before taking out for a ride?