what do we think of Halfords

[Russell]

I have no true high opinion of Halfords - in truth I have realistic expectations.

Here's the thing, though - the type of bike shop that recently disappointed me? An LBS...

Me too.

Recently went to my LBS (Leisure Lakes, Cheltenham, FWIW) to buy some gear cables.

Bloke was gone for ages and then came back with the correct inners, but brake cable outer...

Me. "Thats brake cable outer mate, I wanted gear cable."
LBS. "Its both the same."
Me. "No its not, you can tell by looking at the end, gear cable has strands, brake outer is coiled, they look different."
LBS. "......"
Me. "Have you got any gear outer?"

LBS monkey goes back to cellar for another ten minutes whilst another bloke behind the till tries to tell me that its very hard to tell the difference. I'm assuming that they dim the lights down there.

LBS monkey comes back with the correct gear cable outer and then procedes to charge me £17 for a couple of metres of cable outer, two inners and some cable ends.

It's not just Halfords, its retail in general, and it's one of the reasons that more people are binning off their high street for internet shopping.

 

[velomaniac]

I find my local Halfords-Bike Hut very competetive on prices but hit and miss on knowledge. If the Bike hut staff are in then for current tech they seem knowledgable but old tech leaves them flummoxed. if one of the Hqalfords staff is guarding the Bike Area then usually they dont know up from down, its a lottery as their uniforms dont differentiate them fom each other.

Generally I like Halfords but you get what you pay for

 

[Neil]

It's not just Halfords, its retail in general, and it's one of the reasons that more people are binning off their high street for internet shopping.

Ain't that the truth.

My instance of going to an LBS was that sort of encourage your LBS by using them thing - normally I do most things myself, but in that instance, didn't have the correct tool, and didn't want to just botch something, and whilst I was there, I thought I'd pick up the odd other liitle thing I needed - knowing it would be a bit more expensive than getting the bits online, but willing to compromise to get them there and then, and also make use of local bike shops.

But you're absolutely correct - that's the sort of reason why I rarely bother going to bike shops any more. I'll normally opt to buy a tool, if I haven't yet got one, now. And on things where I probably won't justify the expense of buying a tool (say fork threading) - would I really trust an LBS not to botch the job?

 

[drcarlos]

No bearing in the non-drive side mega-exo BB in my brand new Kula, which the female chimp didn't spot and tried to just tighten it up to compensate. Never rode it took it home and took it apart and then returned the next day to complain miraculously they had the part in stock to replace it. I won't go there again and only bought there as the Cycle2Work scheme stipulated it.

Carl.

 

[legrandefromage]

Theres so little money on offer as wages in the LBS or Halfords it doesnt surprise me that it never seems to go right that often.

 

[godders]

I have to say that for parts and the odd cycling tops/shorts that ive
bought in there over the years they have been ok ..i wont by a bike from there because they dont have what i would want ...but i must say that when i have been in there for those odd bits for the car/van that ive wanted even if they dont have it in stock, or dont even stock it at all
they have been spot on for information as to where to get said
part/bit and it allways seems to be the younger members of staff that
are the most enthuastic/helpfull ........but maby ive just been lucky
Mick

 

[rocky ridge]

the only good thing about halfords is
a guy i know bought a brand new zaskar race frame there years ago for quite alot of money and never ever built it up
then sold it to me for 60 quid wahoo happy days

 

[dyna-ti]

That's highly patronising of their customers. Most know exactly what they want, a cheap bike to get them from A to B.

Yup.Thanks for the money.Goodbye :?

Halfiords method for removing a CK headset[my own experience]
Step 1-Find a small screwdriver
step 2-Hammer it in
Result- Headset removed but now damaged

 

[nj_cisca]

I would be wary of tarring all halfords stores and staff with the same brush. One of my local stores has a couple of really knowledgeable and helpful members of staff and I know at least one of them is a forum member here. They even bled a brake for me for nowt after I had made a complete mess of it I've often found them good for some smaller parts and they will do the online prices instore which can be fairly competitive. They are also happy to keep bike boxes and packaging for me.
I'm sure there are plenty of examples of poor service at some stores (as with a number of lbs unfortunately) but I've been pleasantly surprised by my local halfords recently.

 

[greenstiles]

The guy who is/was responsible for the birth of the Apollo bike range in Halfords lives near Malvern and is a partner in a newish Worcester bike shop..........i was offered shop manager at it's inception but couldn't bring myself to selling cheap crap at over inflated prices, it went againt my values towards the customer, so left after 3 days.........i couldn't forget all those crappy heavy Apollo bikes that used to come through the door in my previous cycle jobs let alone working for the man responsible for them :roll: