Halfords services any good?

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youngoldbloke

The older I get, the faster I used to be ...

- some unbeleivable comments following the article!
 

blazed

220lb+
Halfords sell many more bikes and deal with many more customers than a simple LBS. naturally there will be more horror stories, but you will also see loads of horror stories about local bike shops all over the Internet as well.

Halfords - maybe not reliable with servicing, after care and advice but will give you a good price and will not try and stiff you.

LBS - Generally better level of the technical side of things, but also more likey to con you, over charge the unsuspecting, sell items you don't need. Lie to you about quality of bikes in stock etc. The funniest is when you take a Boardman bike into an LBS and listen to the bitter venomous bullshit they spew about Boardman and Halfords.
 
Halfords sell many more bikes and deal with many more customers than a simple LBS. naturally there will be more horror stories, but you will also see loads of horror stories about local bike shops all over the Internet as well.

Halfords - maybe not reliable with servicing, after care and advice but will give you a good price and will not try and stiff you.

LBS - Generally better level of the technical side of things, but also more likey to con you, over charge the unsuspecting, sell items you don't need. Lie to you about quality of bikes in stock etc. The funniest is when you take a Boardman bike into an LBS and listen to the bitter venomous bullshit they spew about Boardman and Halfords.

Is that the norm though? I can praise my LBS for not doing that and also commenting 'solid workhorse bike' when we choosing a new ride and I mentioned I was on a Carerra Subway.

I think I know the type of LBS you mean though and I wouldn't call them LBS's, stuck up bicycle boutiques for posh idiots perhaps lol
 

blazed

220lb+
Is that the norm though? I can praise my LBS for not doing that and also commenting 'solid workhorse bike' when we choosing a new ride and I mentioned I was on a Carerra Subway.

I think I know the type of LBS you mean though and I wouldn't call them LBS's, stuck up bicycle boutiques for posh idiots perhaps lol
I have tested every LBS undercover I take my boardman road bike and wear a moustache believe me they are crooked.
 
A simple answer is no!
I bought a bike from them, took it in for the six week check, said there was a bit of noise coming from the gears. They changed it and made it worse!! I ended up buying a bike stand and doing it myself (I was just too lazy to do it the first time around, lesson learned)
I trust you bought the bike stand from somewhere other than Hellfrauds?
 

subaqua

What’s the point
Location
Leytonstone
I trust you bought the bike stand from somewhere other than Hellfrauds?

decathlon do a really good stand for £40 at the moment. should be £50 so theres a saving thatgets wiped out with buying other bike stuff i don't really need but have an irresistable urge to buy. in diving terms - shiny diving tat.
 

BigonaBianchi

Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
I don't even trust them with my car...why on earth would I trust them with my bike!!?!
 

Old Plodder

Living at the top of a steep 2 mile climb
Learn to do it for yourself, it's not hard. Specialist tools are only needed for special tasks, like freewheel/cassette removal, or bottom bracket replacement. Once you're confident doing the basics, you can either buy the tools yourself, or pay for the occasional 'big job'.
At least when you do it yourself you know it's been done.
 
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