Searush
Well-Known Member
Nope, having been in the cycle trade & being sited close to a Halfrauds, I can tell you that they aren't even that good on bikes.
Halfords, very informed staff
- Thread starter Chrissie
- Start date
Nope, having been in the cycle trade & being sited close to a Halfrauds, I can tell you that they aren't even that good on bikes.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Nice idea...but I've always found Halfords relentlessly disappointing, even with bikes/car accessories. The problem is invariably the very low-paid, young, very inexperienced staff who it is unwise to expect to do more than carry crates or "find someone who knows".
Halfords would always be my last possible choice, and only for something that cannot be faulty or sourced elsewhere.
The company is just a supermarket, but attempts to supply relatively complex kit not understood by its personnel. Fatal.
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
I bought a calcium battery for the Skoda from Halfords with a four year guarantee........the bast*ard thing has lasted ten years so far.
Fat lot of use that guarantee was eh
Tim
Fat lot of use that guarantee was eh
Tim
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
Frequent visits to my local Halfords in Guildford have always been positive 
Most of the staff I have come into contact with, I found to be pleasant and helpful, sure you get the odd one who really doesn't want to be there, but isn't that the same in all retail stores who employ younger staff?
I do recall the time I was standing at the parts desk of the Woking store and a young employee with customer in tow nervously came up to the manager and stated that his customer wanted their roof bars fitted.
The reply from the manager was "yes Paul, that's your job"
The young chap now looking even more nervous and distressed slowed croaked "but..but today is my first day here.."
Felt so sorry for him, probably only 16/17.
Just my opinion it seems, but I am very happy with Halfords.
Granted the Guildford branch is larger than most, possibly with more experienced staff.
Most of the staff I have come into contact with, I found to be pleasant and helpful, sure you get the odd one who really doesn't want to be there, but isn't that the same in all retail stores who employ younger staff?
I do recall the time I was standing at the parts desk of the Woking store and a young employee with customer in tow nervously came up to the manager and stated that his customer wanted their roof bars fitted.
The reply from the manager was "yes Paul, that's your job"
The young chap now looking even more nervous and distressed slowed croaked "but..but today is my first day here.."
Felt so sorry for him, probably only 16/17.
Just my opinion it seems, but I am very happy with Halfords.
Granted the Guildford branch is larger than most, possibly with more experienced staff.
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LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Do they have staff in Halfords?
I go fairly often to our local store, but only because it's location is very handy for me. I'm often disappointed by the stock, and always by the staff. There are very few of them, and most seem quite adept at avoiding anyone who is seeking help. I think there could be a small proportion who are helpful, but as no-one else is available they're always tied up.
Most galling is getting to the till, which is emblazoned with some slogan about how Halfords staff go the extra mile to help the customer, and having to prompt the bored, listless cashier into giving me a bag, receipt, or even, on a couple of occasions, items I'd paid for but they'd put down out of my reach.
I go fairly often to our local store, but only because it's location is very handy for me. I'm often disappointed by the stock, and always by the staff. There are very few of them, and most seem quite adept at avoiding anyone who is seeking help. I think there could be a small proportion who are helpful, but as no-one else is available they're always tied up.
Most galling is getting to the till, which is emblazoned with some slogan about how Halfords staff go the extra mile to help the customer, and having to prompt the bored, listless cashier into giving me a bag, receipt, or even, on a couple of occasions, items I'd paid for but they'd put down out of my reach.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
Which simply shows the piss poor man management traditionally displayed by Halfords. Like many here I can remember when they were you first stop for car accessories, today I will go almost anywhere before going to them as a last resort.
Spyro
Well-Known Member
I always find it incredible that Halfords are still trading. Most of them are huge superstores, loads of stock, expensive items and very few customers.
prv
Well-Known Member
Just shows how much they must be overcharging to still break even
(Actually I have no idea how much they're overcharging as I so rarely go there)
Pete
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
4 litres of engine oil = £10
Mot = £27
Overcharging?
Mot = £27
Overcharging?
Seajet
...
Have you ever tried using their plasticine tools or batteries ?!
Not sure which low gravity super non-density planet they were designed for, maybe Crawley as that seems to be the main customer base for nail-on fancy gearknobs and pedals !
Spyro I agree, the store at Broadbridge Heath never seems to have any customers, and I wouldn't drop in for anything more serious than light bulbs or cable ties.
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sailorman
Well-Known Member
5lts to that spec on my last car service was £60 + vat
from Ford direct under £30
its all a rip off
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
Have you ever tried using their plasticine tools or batteries ?!
Not sure which low gravity super non-density planet they were designed for, maybe Crawley as that seems to be the main customer base for nail-on fancy gearknobs and pedals !
We are getting close to page 4 on a thread, so I will tread very carefully
Yes, I have some tools from Halfords Pro range and have found them to be very good, also they have a lifetime warranty so no problems there.
The Battery in my van was from Halfords, going strong after 5 years, so no problems there either.
Crawley, the main customer base for nail-on fancy gearknobs and pedals??
Interesting!
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
I've got a Halford socket set that I'm very pleased with - can't remember if it's Pro range but certainly wasn't their cheapest. Have also had some rubbish cheap tools from them, but it was obvious when I bought them that's what they were (just happened to be in the right location at the time I needed them).
maxi77
Well-Known Member
a £27 MOT is clearly a come on so they can 'find' work that needs doing to pass, a bit like that other excellent car establishment Kwik Fit.
£27 probably does not cover the labour costs never mid the overheads, I pay more here in Portugal and my garage charges less that £20 an hour.
Chrissie
Well-Known Member
The man serving me had been at Halfords for 27 years, he is the battery expert, he was very polite and attentive but also very condescending, obviously I couldnt possibly know what I was talking about, as after all, I never knew that I had to get a battery with boat written on it because car batteries dont work in boats, because boat engines are different and dont have alternators...... Ive been edumicated!
They dont guarentee their car batteries for use in boats, but would kindly change mine, but just this once to keep me happy, any problems after that, Im on my own as the three year guarentee doesnt apply to boats, but they couldnt change it, they didnt have any!
So although its only one month old, and I have found it under 12v on three of the occasions Ive tried to use it, to my eyes its never going to improve but deteriate from here on in, he couldnt understand that it is not up to scratch. At 520Amps cold cranking, its well above the 440 my engine would require.
When he checked the other batteries on the stand for me, they ranged from 12.35 to 12.78v , those were the Calcium batteries.
I have a set of beautiful shiny spanners and sockets from Halfords, still shiney and new looking because they are too tight to fit on the corresponding nuts.
They dont guarentee their car batteries for use in boats, but would kindly change mine, but just this once to keep me happy, any problems after that, Im on my own as the three year guarentee doesnt apply to boats, but they couldnt change it, they didnt have any!
So although its only one month old, and I have found it under 12v on three of the occasions Ive tried to use it, to my eyes its never going to improve but deteriate from here on in, he couldnt understand that it is not up to scratch. At 520Amps cold cranking, its well above the 440 my engine would require.
When he checked the other batteries on the stand for me, they ranged from 12.35 to 12.78v , those were the Calcium batteries.
I have a set of beautiful shiny spanners and sockets from Halfords, still shiney and new looking because they are too tight to fit on the corresponding nuts.
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DJE
Well-Known Member
Proper battery supplier. Just round the corner from Park Gate Halfords!
Seajet
...
Chrissie,
to be fair I'd only visit Halfords for a boat battery if the bad guys had Bruce Willis pinned down and an AK-47 to my head !
When I had to get a new battery ( long story ) I researched on the 'net, also I'm lucky enough to know an ace aircraft & solar panel electrician so sought his advice on gel jobs - feel free to PM me - , though I dodged his recommendation of ' money no object ' Red Top batteries !
to be fair I'd only visit Halfords for a boat battery if the bad guys had Bruce Willis pinned down and an AK-47 to my head !
When I had to get a new battery ( long story ) I researched on the 'net, also I'm lucky enough to know an ace aircraft & solar panel electrician so sought his advice on gel jobs - feel free to PM me - , though I dodged his recommendation of ' money no object ' Red Top batteries !
Applescruffs
Well-Known Member
I have to say that Dylan's slug has had the same Halfords battery in it for the past 3-4 years and it still works well.....
But he did tend to use it quite a bit...
Clue?
Car battery...used every day....
Boat battery...used maybe twice a year.....(on average , discuss!)
So...use it or loose it seems to be the thing.
But he did tend to use it quite a bit...
Clue?
Car battery...used every day....
Boat battery...used maybe twice a year.....(on average , discuss!)
So...use it or loose it seems to be the thing.
Chrissie
Well-Known Member
when I had the electronics outlet (Garmin etc) I was supplied by Bardon, but I needed a battery in a hurry, hence Halfords. (Merry Christmas Dave, Dans here tonight, but back to Cornwall tomorrow)
Seajet
...
I think you'll find the term ' CYCLE ' as in Deep, Leisure, regular or otherwise, and charging methods, applies here.
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