Halfords strikes again!!!

[User16625]

Blimey...that's not good is it?
As usual though, Halfords is very hit and miss when it comes to bikes.

Yeah they're crap. And not just when it comes to bikes either.

I tried to unscrew the screw & the head started to disintegrate. Told my brother if he has one more problem with it to get his money back & go to lbs down the road

Its a halfords bike, it WILL have more problems. Totally avoid halfords in future, they give bikes cancer.

 

[Milzy]

You have Planet X, Leisure lakes, tredz etc. Why buy from Halfrauds then moan about it?? :S

 

[Snapper88]

You have Planet X, Leisure lakes, tredz etc. Why buy from Halfrauds then moan about it?? :S

I told him not to buy from Halfords but he didn't want to listen. I got my road bike from Leisure Lakes & had no problems with it. I hope my brother has learnt his lesson

 

[Brandane]

I had a diamondback from there back in my late teens the first one had the stem bolts over tightened and had threaded causing the handlebars to spin. The replacement then did the same a week later. Then something broke on the frame causing me to fall off in traffic, bike replaced second one did the same and was refunded. My dad then took me to a different halfords where I bought a carrera and he spoke to the mechanic who assured us he had years of experience. I never had any issues with that bike, granted it was a better bike
I think to "avoid like the plague" is a little extreme, just do your research before hand. Halfords are often good for parts when their offers are on

Sounds as if you gave Halfords a lot more chances than most people would. I count 4 fairly serious issues on 2 bikes, yet you disagree that they should be avoided like the plague?
If I had received service like that, I wouldn't have darkened their door after the second incident.
They are a cowboy outfit with the odd shining star working for them. They don't deserve any custom.

 

[DaveReading]

Yeah they're crap. And not just when it comes to bikes either.

You're not wrong there. A couple of years back I made the mistake of paying to get them to fit a new car battery I'd just bought from them.

Not only did the idiot who attempted to fit it manage to b*gg*r up my airbag electrics with the stupid gizmo that they plug into your cigar lighter (to save you having to re-enter your radio code), but I ended up having to help him when he couldn't/wouldn't apply enough welly to undo a tight battery clamp bolt.

 

[gazza_d]

I buy quite a few parts and accessories from Halfords, as they have a lot available online, which can be collected instore usually the next day, whereas experience with a lot of LBSes is that parts to order can take a few weeks.

Picking up in store means the missus often doesn't see all that I am buying, and that when I look at it in store I can just not buy it & the store staff are not bothered.

Bought two bikes from them over the decades. A Carrera race bike & recently an e-bike on the cycle2work scheme. Took both boxed & built/checked myself.

They are no better or worse than a lot of LBSs, and better than most other chain stores flogging cheaper bikes

 

[Big_Dave]

Unfortunately many customers (my brother included)of Halfords are new to cycling & looking for an introduction but not having to spend £100s.

If they had a quality mechanic in all the stores they would make a killing with new & returning customers.

Easy business model isn't it?

Halfords has always been a cycle shop since the the very 1900's and in the mid '40s bought a bicycle company, they did sell Halfords branded cycles, they got bought out in the '60's (one of the new directors being Dennis Thatcher) and went down hill ever after (what more would you expect with his Mrs in the background!!) Over a 100 years in cycling and still can't get it right and still in business (Beats me how they do it!!)

 

[flyingfish]

Thinking back my 1st road bike was a Halfords Olympic. 5 speed & red in colour with 26 inch wheels. 1973 for my 11th birthday.
Pete

 

[buttonnine]

I go to Halfords, but only too look!...

 

[flyingfish]

Big surprise for us!!! I was hoping for a new front mech. A new bike was waiting. Lets hope that sorts it
Pete

 

[postman]

I went to Halfords once......

are you still in there.

 

[postman]

I had purchaed my last two pair of tyres from H,During one of their sales.Also my eldest needed a pair of mtb,good prices.My mate bought a Boardman road bike from Halfords in Crossgates,Seacroft.No problems,with it at all.It just might be a good store.

 

[Milzy]

Crossgates store is pretty good actually.

 

[up hill struggle]

although I find Halfords to be sorta decent for parts & service in some shops i have to admit i like to support my lbs when i can, ive started to struck up a decent friendship with the fella that runs it & just last week after buying a turbo trainer on line I found it could only be used with quick release axles which my bike didn't have, so I took the back tyre into the shop & asked if they had QR axles & left it there to be fitted. An hour later I got a call to say it was finished, when I went to pick it up I was only charged for parts which was a nice surprise but felt a little guilty not paying for fitting so threw £5 into a charity box on his counter.

 

[Idoru]

When I left my last job almost a year ago they gave me £60 in Halfords vouchers as a leaving present... I still have them as I've never found anything in there I wanted to buy (always seem to miss the bargains) been waiting on some decent lights to come on offer or something.

To add to the problem I turned 50 and ended up with a £50 voucher to go with it.

So now I have £110 of halfords vouchers I can't seem to spend, 10% BCS on top too.

Almost bought some Gore bib shorts on offer... but didn't like the pad.

I seem to just haunt the local stores in the hoppe of tripping over a bargain.