halfords. fraud of fiction?

[lip03]

Right halfords! Bit of a stigma attached to the place lovingly known as "halfrauds" amongst the cycling community

I want to know why !? I know mainly it that there staff are spotty teenagers with little to no interest, knowledge or training.

But I want to hear story's personal encounters good branches/bad branches!


So here is my only halfords encounter: I bought a lock and a helmet the lock broke and still use the helmet (giro)
Not very interesting I know but I hope you lot have better tales to tell

And remember this isn't a slag off halfords post I want good and bad views

 

[wiggydiggy]

Plenty of stories good and bad on the forums, certainly no love lost from some and yes their name will always be mud to some others.

Personally? At 1 branch my C2W Bike was well looked after by them for 18mnths+, couple of errors at times and some slow service at others but generally ok/good service. Same bike at another branch very poor service and fundamental mistakes that would damage a beginner/less experienced cyclist experience of biking.

There's worse shops out there....

 

[ohnovino]

Good points:

• Often competitive on prices
• Open later than the average LBS
• Some Bikehut staff are keen cyclists and know what they're doing
• The ex-display clearance bins are well worth a good rummage

Bad points:

• Stock system is awful, so reserving online is almost pointless
• Many of the mechanics are completely useless, to the extent that bikes can leave in a dangerous state. Job adverts show they're interested in hiring salespeople and not those with mechanical experience or a passion for cycling
• Prices are often raised for a couple of weeks then lowered again so they can advertise the normal price as a special offer

 

[swampyseifer]

absolutely, it is a matter of not so much whether Halfords is any good...its if you get bad staff members.

I was speaking to a bloke who runs an LBS near me and he said that every year he sends all his workers on a course somewhere to learn about changes in the bike world...like new models coming out, and refreshers on how to build bikes and look for common faults and fix them.

He said that its been running for years and years and the local Halfords to us only sent staff for the first time that he knows this year...and that was only 1 member of their Bike team.

As for stories...I bought a bike from a halfords and I found out that they had bent the front deraileur when they were putting the bike together. but then my second bike came from a halfords originally and the person I bought it from took one of those deals where they include some accessories for the bike, one of the accessories was a set of front and rear mudguards. They didnt actually fit the bike at all....

 

[Accy cyclist]

It isn't just Halfords who provide bad service. I was in a local bike store last Saturday trying on different cycle jackets.The 2 lads in the store had the personalities of an executioner! Every question was met by an "I don't know" or a one word reply. When i asked questions,and made suggestions and comments about the jackets on offer i was met by a dumb expression. I gave up in the end choosing to spend my hard earned money elsewhere.

 

[lip03]

It isn't just Halfords who provide bad service. I was in a local bike store last Saturday trying on different cycle jackets.The 2 lads in the store had the personalities of an executioner! Every question was met by an "I don't know" or a one word reply. When i asked questions,and made suggestions and comments about the jackets on offer i was met by a dumb expression. I gave up in the end choosing to spend my hard earned money elsewhere.

i dont doubt for a minute that not every lbs is great but most are run by people that have an active interest in bikes surely?

 

[Maylian]

Halfords Southampton - Winchester Road

Took my bike in to have the rear brake pads replaced as the pin was broken and I couldn't remove it. After 6 days of having my bike they told me to come and collect it. I paid for the service and left the store and gave it a test in the car park. When I applied the brakes I heard a grinding noise and realised that the pads hadn't been replaced.

When I challenged the store they said they hadn't been able to get the pads. The guy serving me (different to the guy telling me they didn't have the pads) found them in stock in 3 minutes and said they would get fitted. The store manager said I couldn't leave the bike there as they had too many in store already. Only when I explained that wasn't my problem and they WOULD be storing my bike until the work was complete. No refund offered, only a passing attempt at an apology however the mechanic that sorted me out was reasonably competent and decent.

Never going back unless to by stuff, will not trust them to do work.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I never use them for anything car related as they are a total rip-off (compared to a local motor factors). I have bought the odd bike item that was reasonably priced. I have no experience of buying a bike off them but I have a feeling that there is a good chance that the next bike that I buy will be a Boardman as I really do not want to pay the extra for a big name such as Specialized (although I own a Secteur), Giant or Trek for example. Well not for a commuting hybrid or CX bike with disc brakes anyway which I fancy next. I think the risk is worth taking if something has not been put together correctly as it's not an overly complicated item like a car.

 

[albion]

Tesco's expertise in food is absolutely dire compared to my local deli.

Tescrap?

 

[CopperCyclist]

Bad: When I got my Boardman CX Team the brake pads were rubbing on the discs. I took it back for adjustment, and when I got it back the pull on the brakes were so long the gear levers got trapped. Took it back to get fixed and was back to disc brake rubbing and told it was normal. Queue me checking YouTube and within the hour I'd adjusted them myself as a complete amateur to a much more satisfactory state!

Good: When I needed some small parts for a secondhand Thule proRide carrier, they were great, ordering just the minor parts I needed saving a fortune!

 

[Sandra6]

Ok, I work for them so I'm biased, but I love my local store. They do everything for my bike, from pumping up the tyres when they notice that I haven't to adjusting my seat and bar positions so that I'm actually riding correctly at last!
I get that a lot of stores are not as good as mine - Carlisle - Penrith for example is shockingly bad, but some of the "flagship" stores are amazing.

Bad points:

• Stock system is awful, so reserving online is almost pointless
• Many of the mechanics are completely useless, to the extent that bikes can leave in a dangerous state. Job adverts show they're interested in hiring salespeople and not those with mechanical experience or a passion for cycling
• Prices are often raised for a couple of weeks then lowered again so they can advertise the normal price as a special offer

I'd just like to take a couple of the above points - what do you know of the stock system to brand it so awful? Basically it's an electronic system, so we don't have to stock take -apart from when we make adjustments due to theft and other losses.
I do agree that some of the "mechanics" are useles,, but just as many are well qualified and experienced. And when we recruit for specific jobs we do aim at people with skills, but obviously we also hire sales people, we sell things, it makes sense.
Prices are never raised -that is the normal price - but some of the sale prices do hang around for a long time! Not unlike other stores though.

 

[PpPete]

Can I help you sir?
Yes I'd like an inner tube for a 27" x 1-1/4" wheel.
Er - don't think we stock that size sir
Are you sure? I bought the bike from you.
Really? I've not come across it before.
Well it was 20 years ago
Let me go and check
10 minutes later
No sorry sir - can't help you.

 

[Sandra6]

Can I help you sir?
Yes I'd like an inner tube for a 27" x 1-1/4" wheel.
Er - don't think we stock that size sir
Are you sure? I bought the bike from you.
Really? I've not come across it before.
Well it was 20 years ago
Let me go and check
10 minutes later
No sorry sir - can't help you.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_169567_langId_-1_categoryId_242552

Oh well, I just found you one.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I would guess that the Halfords experience is probably similar to experiences in other large chain stores that specialise in various items such as Curry's, Comet, Dixon's, PC World etc. As often in these stores I have encountered staff that have not got a clue and on the other hand some that are extremley helpful and very clued-up regarding their products. But then again if I wanted a decent mid qaulity hifi system I doubt I would go to Comet or Curry's. I guess Halfords is the same with bikes.

 

[PpPete]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_169567_langId_-1_categoryId_242552

Oh well, I just found you one.

Let's just say that was a few years ago...