Re:
Many years ago I purchased an X Lite Chris Peat stem from Halfords.
I didn't trust them with the relatively small job of removing the old stem, adding a few spacers, and then fitting the new stem, so I thought I'd ask my local bike shop to fit it instead.
What a waste of time !!!
I was told by my lbs,that they would not fit my new stem because I had not purchased it directly from them,and because of this, they were not insured to do so !!!!!
It's safe to say, I wasn't terribly impressed with the excuses that I was given and promptly left the shop, never to return.
In my experience,Halfords service may not be the best,
but sometimes independent local bike shops are far worse !!!