Halfords to stock Pinarello

[derrick]

Whoops missed it.

 

[Peteaud]

Mrs aud wanted the Boardman Fi but the staff in Halfords really put her off, so she bought a spesh instead from the LBS.

I wonder how many sales Boardman lose because of halfords.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/halfords-to-stock-pinarello-36180/

I assume this is a good move in terms of shifting a higher number of bikes, but is this going to hurt the perception or image of the brand.
You can't buy the high end Pinerello bikes from halfords but the same can be said for Board man bikes the very high end Air models are not available from Halfords.

Is it a good move?
What's your thoughts?

 

[MrJamie]

I think the Boardman bikes are great and incredibly good value for money, but I know if I was out to buy a really nice bike to love and cherish there would be a tiny nagging elitist snob part of me willing to pay over the odds not to have the Boardman/Halfords brand. I suspect if I started noticing a lot of low end Pinarellos around my advertising-vulnerable subconscious would start associating the brand with common Halfords bikes too.

This is more a 'if I had the money to be snobbish' opinion, I'd more than likely compromise on branding/perception for value for money.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I think that's fair, I'm a massive fan of Boardman Bikes they offer exceptional value for money with decent build quality and components. I can't help but think the brand maybe getting slightly tarnished now due to the workmanship of some stores. I remain a fan of the bikes not a fan of halfords and the nicknames the retailer has suggests I'm not the only one with this view.
I think it will be interesting to see in the impact on Pinerello brand perception long term.

Although I just can't wait to ask every Dogma owner I come across, what halfords his bike came from and they got it on C2W

 

[jdtate101]

I spoke to a Pinarello dealer today, and he's majorly pissed at this, and I can't blame him. He seemed to think they would only be available at some, not all, Halford's branches, so it may not be the same deal as Boardman. I did mention that he may get more business correcting the faults in assembly done by Halford's, to which he laughed and agreed.
I think they are taking the Uno, Due and Kobh bikes, everything else is still only via dealers or web retailers as before. Still those are seriously expensive bikes for Halford's to shift and I can't imagine anyone dropping that sort of cash without a proper bike fit (at least I hope they wouldn't).
As a Dogma owner, I'm a bit mystified my Pinarello's decision, but I guess time will tell.

 

[lulubel]

As a Dogma owner, I'm a bit mystified my Pinarello's decision, but I guess time will tell.

It seems very odd to me that a brand known for being high end, expensive, exclusive, etc, would choose to go into any large chain store that caters to the mass market, regardless of what their reputation is for putting bikes together properly. The only thing I can think is that Pinarello aren't doing so well financially, and this is a move to try and shift higher volumes of their lower priced models and make the balance sheet look a bit prettier.

 

[jdtate101]

I personally don't think this will work out as Halford's hope. I think they won't shift anywhere near the volume that they plan simply because anyone that is going to drop that much cash on a bike, usually knows what they are doing (in respect to bikes), will want a bike fit as part of the deal, and would normally go to a specialist dealer for the after care (or a trusted web retailer and do the work themselves). I doubt very much those people would go to Halford's as they are the sort of people who already know Halford's reputation.

Or I could be wrong.......

 

[Robeh]

I dont see a problem with halfords selling Pinarello,i bought a boardman team last year from halfords.
it's my best ride and a quality piece of kit which has nothing to do with halfords,and i would happily buy a Pinarello if i was in the market for one which im not.
I also have a carrea TDF which i bought 2 years ago to use as my winter bike,for a entry level bike it has been a very good buy and i spent very little on it apart from tyres pads e.t.c.
Chris Boarman has made a mint selling his quality bike's through halfords so pinarello will no doubt do the same.
He continues to sell his bike's so Halfords cant be that bad.
It make's me chuckle that their are so many bike snobs who seem to think the word halfords is something to avoid at all cost's

 

[Crankarm]

Is it 1st April?

 

[jdtate101]

It make's me chuckle that their are so many bike snobs who seem to think the word halfords is something to avoid at all cost's

Just do a quick search on this forum for Halford's and you'll see why so many people have an issue with them. It's nothing to do with being snobbish, more to do with the poor quality of work and bad customer service.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I dont see a problem with halfords selling Pinarello,i bought a boardman team last year from halfords.
it's my best ride and a quality piece of kit which has nothing to do with halfords,and i would happily buy a Pinarello if i was in the market for one which im not.
I also have a carrea TDF which i bought 2 years ago to use as my winter bike,for a entry level bike it has been a very good buy and i spent very little on it apart from tyres pads e.t.c.
Chris Boarman has made a mint selling his quality bike's through halfords so pinarello will no doubt do the same.
He continues to sell his bike's so Halfords cant be that bad.
It make's me chuckle that their are so many bike snobs who seem to think the word halfords is something to avoid at all cost's

I dont think anyone is saying that there is anything wrong with Boardman bikes, and I have seen lots of people on CC singing the praises of carrera bikes. The problem seems to be the training (or lack of training) given to the staff who assemble and repair them, there are reports of bikes with forks on backwards and bikes that have to be sorted out at LBS because they are incorrectly assembled. Personally I have bought stuff from halfords, but would I let them anywhere near my bike ........................ HELL NO

 

[Robeh]

Just do a quick search on this forum for Halford's and you'll see why so many people have an issue with them. It's nothing to do with being snobbish, more to do with the poor quality of work and bad customer service.

my point on bike snobs is there is nothing wrong with the bike,s Halfords sell i.e carrera, boardman,Voo doo e.t.c,but some peeps seem to think unless its a trek,cannondale e.t.c they wont go near it....
I agree the cycle mechanics in the main are pretty clueless and the customer service is in many case's pretty bad.
I had a BB issue with my boardman just after i bought it,i took it back to the shop,and the lad sorted it there and then.
any maintenance i do myself and i probably wouldn't take my bike back to Halfords.
people need to rise above the name Halfords and buy your bike and enjoy it..
if you need it fixed after the warranty runs out take it to your LBS...

 

[Mapster5]

The guys in scunthorpe halfords bike depot are all good at there and seem to be into bikes. Don't think Chris boardman would put his name on any old rubbish and imagine he knows a little more about bikes than any 'bike snob' on this or any other forum

 

[Mapster5]

At there job