Have I been Halfordsed ?

[steve evans]

The Halfords that has got good reports is Clough Road, Hull.

The guys name who has been recommended to me is Danny.

They need to be good because Hull is blessed with a fantastic lbs, Cliff Pratts.

As for the crappy lbs near me, they won't get any further custom from me. I bought some expensive shoes from them last summer and I felt like I was disturbing them at the time, they've had their second chance.

Please don't ask me to name them because I won't, not my style. I'm always happy to recommend good service but I won't publicly slate anyone, they still have a living to make and it may be me that's wrong about them. I tried them twice, didn't like them and will go elsewhere from now on.

 

[jimboalee]

Don't worry Steve Evans, you are in good company.

My first new bike was from Halfords. My mum sized it for me. I have bought bikes from Halfords since then , BUT,,, I strip and rebuild before they see the road.

The Boardman bikes are OK. Once you get it home and go round with the hex keys and spanners, it will be as good as you can maintain it.

Agreed, the kids who work at Halfords don't know much, but they know the law about selling bikes. They won't let anything out the door until its had its brake test.

When I bought a bike on the web, I was phoned by the shop and asked a few questions about my ability to assemble the bike.

I never have bad issues with LBSs because I ask for Solihull CC discount.

 

[Crankarm]

The Halfords that has got good reports is Clough Road, Hull.

The guys name who has been recommended to me is Danny.

They need to be good because Hull is blessed with a fantastic lbs, Cliff Pratts.

As for the crappy lbs near me, they won't get any further custom from me. I bought some expensive shoes from them last summer and I felt like I was disturbing them at the time, they've had their second chance.

Please don't ask me to name them because I won't, not my style. I'm always happy to recommend good service but I won't publicly slate anyone, they still have a living to make and it may be me that's wrong about them. I tried them twice, didn't like them and will go elsewhere from now on.

Fair enough one wouldn't want to be sued......

 

[junglegusset]

Guess I am in a minority here becaus the there are two Bike Shops within a mile of my house in Chester which have never been less than incredibly helpful and customer focussed in my experience. Might be because it is in an area which has always had a lot of cycling enthusiasts. Halfrauds staff in this locality do not even seem to want to help you even when you obviously want help, and if they do speak to you it quite quickly becomes apparent that you would get more sense and specialist knowledge from the mop that they (have difficulty) cleaning the floors with. Whoever said they buy car bulbs and car bits from them I would advise strongly against this, find a decent local motor factor or a Partco and but stuff there, you'll save a fortune. Halfords are neccesary evil for when nobody else stocks what you want or you need something in a hurry and everywhere else is shut. Otherwise you are just p1551ng in the wind.

Anyway, going off on a bit of a rant, I'll be on about PC World in a minute. I hope you resolve your issue and I am sure you will eventually get the bike you want and deserve.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'm spoilt for choice, three excellent LBS's two less than a mile, the other 3 miles, from my front door and an excellent Halfords in between the them. But cynic and infoprmed consumer that I am I buy stuff on the web as paying up to 100% over the odds "you want how much for a headset?" to keep these all in business doesn't appeal. Sometimes, roughly once every 2 years I wish to avail myself of LBS #1's specialist tools for, and expertise in, jobs I don't have the tools for (yet) presenting them with the stripped and degreased bits in question for tightening, replacing etc.. In return for this I buy a gratitube or a grable from them, or a round of coffee for them, as they usually refuse to charge me despite me trying to press money on them. Funny old world.

Clearly LBS's and Halfords alike locally make way to much money selling overpriced MTB's to local youths who either then break them or themselves only for the cycle to repeat itself over again.

 

[hackbike 666]

I bought a bike from Halfords Stratford years ago and when I rode it away eventually I realised they hadn't tightened the front wheel up.

I know it's bad enough buying a bike from Halfords.

 

[HJ]

It is kind of ironic that bike as good as the Boardman range are sold through Halfords, a chain with such a bad reputation for bikes and service. Such is life. The Boardman range do offer good value for money, but take them to someone reputable you trust to check that the bike has been assembled properly and is safe before riding it and don't get it serviced at Halfrauds after the first "free" service...

 

[AWG]

The cycle manager in our local Halfords gives the same service as a small family business I have to say. Once assembled he then test runs them round a huge multi retail outlet parking lot and cannot do enough to help and advise. Yet in another nearby Halfords I just walked out on the guy because he was an ignorant, no-doer, no go-er. OK, I was looking in Harry Hall Cycles in Manchester the other day at some superb quality stuff, and obviously no comparison, but we just want bikes for local trails, - usually about 20 miles a round trip. Stuff that I can leave in the back of a Berlingo MPV if we decide to do some walking, that's not worth stealing. For this purpose Halfords fit the bill.

 

[Crankarm]

I can't believe that Mr Boardman being a top cyclist hasn't at some time been to Halfords or is aware of the type of bicycles and components they sell. Halfords pulled off a bit of a coup when they got a top cyclist albeit a reitred one to put their name to a range of their bikes. It can only have been very lucrative for Mr Boardman.

 

[steve evans]

OK, time for an update.

I called the customer line this morning (got through in less than 2 minutes, not bad at all).

First thing I was told was that I needed to be telephoned by them to confirm my order, WTF is the point of having an online sales system if they have to phone you to confirm the order????

Anyway, as I was paying for the call they put me on hold for 5 minutes then confirmed my order.

I then asked if they actually have the bike in stock and told them what the guy from the branch had said to me, another few minutes on hold and I was assured that the bike is in their warehouse. The reason for the "confusion" from the store is that the bikes are not available for the stores to order, only for online ordering for home delivery, WHY?????

Next, I asked about delivery, originally I was quoted "no later than 5th June", since it's now the 3rd and my order has only just been confirmed would it be delivered on June 5th still? Probably not I was told as the order has only just been confirmed and the next stage is processing. I politely but firmly request he made sure that it is delivered on time or I will cancel my order and was met with an offer to put the bike on "next working day delivery" at no extra charge to me. Should be here Friday after all.

Fair do's, my thoughts at the moment are that they have crap systems but the people are OK and willing to try and help, you need to keep on top of them rather and sit back and expect things to happen like they should.

If the bike comes Friday I will be happy.

By the way if anyone is thinking of buying online from Halfords, if you enter AFF5APR in the promotional code box at checkout you get 5% off, not massive but saved me £50 on my bike, valid until 16th June.

 

[adscrim]

I can't believe that Mr Boardman being a top cyclist hasn't at some time been to Halfords or is aware of the type of bicycles and components they sell. Halfords pulled off a bit of a coup when they got a top cyclist albeit a reitred one to put their name to a range of their bikes. It can only have been very lucrative for Mr Boardman.

I thought the line was Boardman's. Is Halfords not only selling them?

That being the case they are upholding their side of the bargain very well. Just look at how difficult it is to get your hands on one. I suspect Boardman jumped into bed with Halfords becasue they gave him immediate access to a nationwide distribution netwrok where his products would be the premier brand in store. It's the fat friend thing. They may already be good but the look fantastic against everything else in store.

 

[HJ]

I thought the line was Boardman's. Is Halfords not only selling them?

That being the case they are upholding their side of the bargain very well. Just look at how difficult it is to get your hands on one. I suspect Boardman jumped into bed with Halfords becasue they gave him immediate access to a nationwide distribution netwrok where his products would be the premier brand in store. It's the fat friend thing. They may already be good but the look fantastic against everything else in store.

Check the Boardman Bikes web site

The Boardman range is available exclusively through more than 200 selected Halfords Bikehut stores in the Uk and Eire.

 

[steve evans]

It's here, arrived today, not too bad, just a working day late. Can't really co,plain at that.

Bike looks great, gears set up OK, only slight snag is both discs catching so the wheels don't freewheel to well.

Don't know if they will free off after a few miles or they need setting up by someone who knows what they are doing????

Bike still feels very quick compared to my MTB, looking forward to my 27 mile round trip commute tomorrow.

 

[steve evans]

I am very impressed with my Boardman, flew in this morning at more than 1mph better average than I managed trying very hard on my MTB on Monday (16.62mph today) and the wind, which was against for over half my commute was a fair bit stronger than yesterday.

It's a very comfortable bike too, smooths out the bumps very well indeed, can't find any real fault with the bike at all, very, very pleased and would recommend it to anyone looking for a hybrid.

Wonder how fast it will go when I get the brakes freed off?