Halfords purchase review

[Dave Davenport]

I have received two e-mails from you requesting me to review a recent ‘collect in store’ web purchase. Despite trying several times to do this the link always says that the review facility is not available, so here is my review.



I ordered a pair of Shimano SPD SL road pedals for collection from your Eastleigh branch and received a text confirmation. On arriving at the store later that day it took the chap serving in your bike hut section about 10 minutes to present me with a pair of SPD pedals. On pointing out that they’re weren’t what I’d ordered or wanted he basically shrugged his shoulders and said the stock record must be wrong (I got the impression this was a common occurrence). He didn’t offer to check other stores or have them sent direct to me. I have to say that this experience was not untypical of my previous dealings with Halfords, which is a pity because you actually seem do some decent bikes at good prices but your levels of service leave a lot to be desired.

 

[XmisterIS]

I have had problems with the reserve & collect facility with Halfords, once I turned up to collect something I'd reserved; the slack-jawed gum-chewing checkout girl who had all the enthusiasm of a depressed sloth, dragged herself off to the stock room, came back 10 mins later and said, "Nah mate, we ain't got it, I fink we sold it to somebody, or summink or nuffink", in a very Vicky Pollard way. She seemed to regard me as nothing more than a nuisance when I asked her what could be done about it ("Nuffink", apparently).

Anyway, I took the attendant's name, the time of day, etc, and sent an email to head office detailing the whole incident and pointed out that it wasn't the first time it had happened. I got an email back saying it was being "investigated", but nothing more came of it.

Perhaps Halfords has adopted the all-American policy of paying it's shop floor staff next to nothing and working them like slaves for the privilege, resulting in staff who are demoralised and don't care about their jobs or the customer.