Halfords earning their nickname...

[Mugshot]

I'm sure there are Halfords branches which are excellent, unfortunately there appear to be many that aren't. A few years ago now when I wanted to get back on a bike I thought I'd have a look around and Halfords seemed an obvious place to look, I had a chat to one chaps who suggested I stand over one of the bikes on display, when I politely explained that my gentlemans parts were resting either side of the top tube he told me this was just right and clearly the correct frame size for me. I made my excuses and left. When I decided to upgrade I was very very tempted by a Boardman but my impression of Halfords customer service and after sales meant I spent my money elsewhere.
Hip Priest is right, if you're going to suggest your compny knows bikes it's best to make sure your staff do too, all of them. (Well the bike assistants at least)

 

[Herzog]

I'm sure there are Halfords branches which are excellent, unfortunately there appear to be many that aren't. A few years ago now when I wanted to get back on a bike I thought I'd have a look around and Halfords seemed an obvious place to look, I had a chat to one chaps who suggested I stand over one of the bikes on display, when I politely explained that my gentlemans parts were resting either side of the top tube he told me this was just right and clearly the correct frame size for me. I made my excuses and left. When I decided to upgrade I was very very tempted by a Boardman but my impression of Halfords customer service and after sales meant I spent my money elsewhere.
Hip Priest is right, if you're going to suggest your compny knows bikes it's best to make sure your staff do too, all of them. (Well the bike assistants at least)

Best thing to do is buy (i.e., an excellent value Boardman), ask for it still in the box, then assemble it at home (or take it to a quality LBS).

 

[DooDah]

I had a chat to one chaps who suggested I stand over one of the bikes on display, when I politely explained that my gentlemans parts were resting either side of the top tube he told me this was just right and clearly the correct frame size for me. I made my excuses and left. When I decided to upgrade I was very very tempted by a Boardman but my impression of Halfords customer service and after sales meant I spent my money elsewhere.

Why would you just make excuses and leave rather than putting him right. If people don't do this then the staff will be let off the hook. It also seems bizarre to me, that if you know about bikes and setup, you would not consider a Boardman and set it up yourself.

 

[lulubel]

Why would you just make excuses and leave rather than putting him right. If people don't do this then the staff will be let off the hook. It also seems bizarre to me, that if you know about bikes and setup, you would not consider a Boardman and set it up yourself.

Maybe because it isn't his responsibility to educate Halford's employees on how to do their jobs properly.

I would buy a Boardman, but like most here, I wouldn't trust Halford's to assemble it, not because I know for certain they'll do a bad job, but because there's a good chance they will, and it's easier to assemble a bike properly from scratch than to sort out someone else's mess.

 

[DooDah]

Maybe because it isn't his responsibility to educate Halford's employees on how to do their jobs properly.

I would buy a Boardman, but like most here, I wouldn't trust Halford's to assemble it, not because I know for certain they'll do a bad job, but because there's a good chance they will, and it's easier to assemble a bike properly from scratch than to sort out someone else's mess.

I have never said that it is his responsibility, but I am sure most people would have put the member of staff in his place if they know about bike sizing and setup.

The second point is exactly what I said.

 

[DooDah]

I forgot to say, Lulubel, as you are in Spain, you can buy Boardman bikes direct from Wiggle at a fraction of the cost of Halfords, including delivery.

 

[lulubel]

Yes, I know that. But I'm not actually looking for a new bike at the moment.

 

[Mugshot]

You're spot on about the buying the Boardman and setting it up myself and whilst I'm delighted with what I have I do still get a twinge of regret I didn't get the Boardman. But, I didnt trust their after sales. At the time, it may be the same now I don't know, but they were sold through the ex bike hut branches, I didnt fancy a 120 mile round trip if I had a problem which I was pretty sure my local branch would palm me off with. I could smell hassle.
As for the stand over I did tell the assistant, I had a conversation to the effect of;
"My bits are on the top tube, that's not right"
"Yeah, that's just right for you that is."
"No, I should have at least some clearance. "
"No, it's fine like that."
I made my excuses and left. As lulubel said it's not my responsibility to train Halfords staff and I suspect I could have had the same conversation for the next hour.
I'm not keen on criticising for the sake of it and I hope I'm not coming across that way but I think Halfords could make a positive difference to cycling as a whole in the UK if they just sorted themselves out and gave their staff the training they deserve.

 

[DooDah]

OK, fair enough, I guess you did put him right with those comments, but I suppose some people will not be told. He sounds like a jobsworth know it all , that actually knows nothing. I agree with what you have said about Halfords, and I am surprised Boardman are till associated with them. It is a shame that they don't let Wiggle sell them in the UK as well.

 

[Hip Priest]

OK, fair enough, I guess you did put him right with those comments, but I suppose some people will not be told. He sounds like a jobsworth know it all , that actually knows nothing. I agree with what you have said about Halfords, and I am surprised Boardman are till associated with them. It is a shame that they don't let Wiggle sell them in the UK as well.

I read somewhere that Boardman's deal with Halford's will soon end, and that Halford's will stock some of the entry-level Specialized range instead. It'd certainly do Boardman's cred no harm to split with Halford's, but I'm not sure what it'll do to their sales.

 

[Mugshot]

It is indeed, I have since found out that my lbs has some very hush hush way of getting them, shame I didn't know him better when I was upgrading.

 

[Mugshot]

I read somewhere that Boardman's deal with Halford's will soon end, and that Halford's will stock some of the entry-level Specialized range instead. It'd certainly do Boardman's cred no harm to split with Halford's, but I'm not sure what it'll do to their sales.

Depending on who they end up with I'd say it could send them through the roof.

 

[JoeyB]

Are all independent cycle shops perfect

Whats that got to do with the price of fish???

They are independant!

 

[youngoldbloke]

You're spot on about the buying the Boardman and setting it up myself and whilst I'm delighted with what I have I do still get a twinge of regret I didn't get the Boardman. But, I didnt trust their after sales. At the time, it may be the same now I don't know, but they were sold through the ex bike hut branches, I didnt fancy a 120 mile round trip if I had a problem which I was pretty sure my local branch would palm me off with. I could smell hassle.
As for the stand over I did tell the assistant, I had a conversation to the effect of;
"My bits are on the top tube, that's not right"
"Yeah, that's just right for you that is."
"No, I should have at least some clearance. "
"No, it's fine like that."
I made my excuses and left. As lulubel said it's not my responsibility to train Halfords staff and I suspect I could have had the same conversation for the next hour.
I'm not keen on criticising for the sake of it and I hope I'm not coming across that way but I think Halfords could make a positive difference to cycling as a whole in the UK if they just sorted themselves out and gave their staff the training they deserve.

Had a similar experience with a salesman concerning slick tyres (road bike) - he insisted tread was important for grip (not Halfords) ended up in a stand up row - should have just walked away, not tried to educate the oaf.

 

[Eribiste]

If you like Boardman bikes, why not go to France on holiday, buy one from Wiggle shipped to your holiday destination (for about 200 pounds less than Halfords), then you will be fine. I live in France and did just that last May, paid 580 euros delivered for a brand new Boardman Race. Delighted with it and the service, apart from a seatpost bolt was threaded, but they sent out a new one and a 25 euro voucher for my trouble.

Wish I'd thought of this before I bought mine.

What did you do about getting it changed from left hand drive to right?