Halfords, very informed staff

[mjcoon]

We love Halfords, because they get it wrong so often, then people come to us to have it fixed properly.

My Halfords story relates to a service bay that was attached to their store in Bracknell.

My company car was towed there after breaking a cam belt on the way to work. As usual this minor failure caused lots of engine damage and the car took four weeks to fix. Eventually they said I could come and collect it and release the substitute car I had been given. But would I bring my spare key please. Why? "We have lost your original key." I said that the car had been a hand-me-down (company problems!) and I had never been given a spare key. If they had no key for me the car was useless. It took another four weeks, and another substitute hire car (not paid for by the leasing company) before they got a key cut (car was a Daewoo) and I got it back!

Mike.

 

[Applescruffs]

Yeah...but..no...but..yeah...but..no....but...

I think you'll find the term ' CYCLE ' as in Deep, Leisure, regular or otherwise, and charging methods, applies here.

ok....But it's still starting the beast......all the time...every time......no probs !

 

[mcframe]

it worked for me with Charles Dunstone

Err, *what* worked for you?

You got lucky in an up-and-coming industry† that employes lots of $JIM_HENSEN_CHARACTERS selling stuff to punters that know even less, and bought a BIG BOAT with the proceeds? ;-)

†But with an almost comically mis-named company...

 

[lenseman]

I bought a 12v 520 amp starting power battery as a dedicated engine start battery for my Beta 14 engine, . . . .

I took it back to Halfords who put their measure on it which came up with '12.05 v good battery needs charging', then the assistant went on to explain to me that I needed a boat battery, . . . . .

Speak to Simon. He is the manager and is overly effusive. You will get your money back jf you speak to him.

 

[Plevier]

I really do wonder if the so called leisure batteries really are proper deep cycle batteries rather than being little more than relabelled conventional batteries? The price difference between leisure batteries and the recognized deep cycle ones makes me think they are different animals.

No leisure batteries are not real deep cycle batteries.
Leisure actually has no specific meaning in the industry. In most cases from reputable manufacturers what it means is slightly thicker plates than a car starter battery (probably truck starter battery plates) and different - probably double - separators to reduce the risk of inter-plate shorts. Worthwhile improvements at small extra cost.
Some of the very cheap own brand ones may well be relabelled standard batteries however.

 

[Plevier]

Mot = £27

I fell for that.

Came back to collect the car and found it with two wheels off and brake callipers removed and a repair order for about £400 ready for me to agree for new callipers, disks and pads. Oh and they threw in the old standby, adjust headlamp aim £20.

My understanding is that a garage has no right to dismantle anything as part of an MoT. They either pass it or fail it on what they can see and touch without removing anything. Like a surveyor. (Can any expert forumite confirm or contradict?)

They were not pleased when I said I was taking it away and they had to reassemble it and bleed the brakes for me. However they did it and didn't try to claim it was not safe to drive.

 

[lenseman]

Proper battery supplier. Just round the corner from Park Gate Halfords!

+1

 

[Heckler]

it worked for me with Charles Dunstone

I must say I was having serious probs with Talk Talk after they took over Tiscali, months of bull****! Somebody on the forum (was it you?) gave me his address, I emailed him on a sunday night, he replied at 9.30pm saying someone would be in touch in the morning. They were, they were a bit shirty until I pointed out that it was the man Charles who had got him to phone me! The prob was sorted within a week!
Stu

 

[elton]

My local Halfords can't sell me a 280mm bicycle spoke unless I take another spoke to compare against, because they've lost their "spoke ruler". It's been 3 years since they lost the "spoke ruler".

I now carry a special 'reference spoke' sprayed white, since they mixed up my original reference spoke with their assortment . They have spokes in length-labelled boxes, but they take them out of one box for comparison, then put them back into any box.

And please, don't get me started on Halfords batteries

 

[grumpy_o_g]

My Mother used to say "If you want to be above average you have to expect that half the people you meet will probably be stupid"*. It's places like Halford's that make us above average.


*She also said "and you'll be stupid to the rest of them" but I've always ignored that bit.

 

[mcframe]

I fell for that.

Came back to collect the car and found it with two wheels off and brake callipers removed and a repair order for about £400 ready for me to agree for new callipers, disks and pads. Oh and they threw in the old standby, adjust headlamp aim £20.

My understanding is that a garage has no right to dismantle anything as part of an MoT. They either pass it or fail it on what they can see and touch without removing anything. Like a surveyor. (Can any expert forumite confirm or contradict?)

Sounds suspect.

I've got a very good local MOT-only garage - I watch, they test. In over twelve years for 5 vehicles p/a, I've only had two fails - once I forgot to put the yellow 'MOT plate' on a '73 bike, and the other was emissions 'cos of a bust stem seal on a car.

They're good guys, but I consider it a point of honour not to [strike]take the p155[/strike] insult their intelligence - 'tho I've seen them offer bulbs and a screwdriver to folks less-prepared than me.

I've had brake 'advisories' before; "Those rear pads are a bit low, but I know you've got spares at home and will change 'em when you need to..." "Yeah, same ones as two of my other bikes that you *also* test - see you next month...." ;->

 

[Marine Reflections]

These are all bad reviews of Halfords, maybe I just have the best store in Guildford and the rest are complete idiots??

My battery works fine, my tools work fine, employees are pleasant..

Lucky me!

 

[onesea]

We had some vouchers for Halfords (we did nto request them) and the new boat needed a stereo,

Seemed an obvious choice, having given it some thought we decided to get one which could stream blue tooth to speakers (cockpit nice weather).

We choose the stereo with advice not in stock but you can go 40 miles to the next store they have it!

Which is the next model up that has same functions? this one he says 10 pound more cheaper than the 80mile return trip we will take it...

Fit it to the boat and fidn, it can do bluetooth hands free call but not stream music .

As some one said to me you feel like you do them a favor shopping there...

 

[Simondjuk]

I accidentally killed my car battery in a way that even the car's 'economy mode' couldn't prevent. It was 11 years old though, so I guess I can't grumble.

Like for like Bosch replacement; £110 at Hellfrauds, £70 at Euro Car Parts.

Guess where I went? No brainer.

 

[Greenheart]

Like I said, relentlessly disappointing.

Stay out of the place and do a private garage or hardware store a favour in stead.

 

[Marine Reflections]

I fell for that.

Came back to collect the car and found it with two wheels off and brake callipers removed and a repair order for about £400 ready for me to agree for new callipers, disks and pads. Oh and they threw in the old standby, adjust headlamp aim £20.

My understanding is that a garage has no right to dismantle anything as part of an MoT. They either pass it or fail it on what they can see and touch without removing anything. Like a surveyor. (Can any expert forumite confirm or contradict?)

They were not pleased when I said I was taking it away and they had to reassemble it and bleed the brakes for me. However they did it and didn't try to claim it was not safe to drive.

Pretty sure they are not allowed to remove or adjust anything during MOT
They should be on a time frame to do the MOT only then advise, taking your calipers apart and trying to sell you replacements even if you needed them is a big no no.

 

[Simondjuk]

I'd have walked into the store, purchased pads, stuck them in the calipers, then told them to put it back together. I think brake linings qualify for a free retest, so I'd have asked them to do that too.

No grubby fingernails, to boot.

 

[BrendanS]

Halfords are a convenience store for motorists. You use them when you have to, but are quite convenient. Nothing more, nothing lest. Surprised at the angst on this thread.

 

[Greenheart]

Halfords are a convenience store for motorists. You use them when you have to, but are quite convenient. Nothing more, nothing lest. Surprised at the angst on this thread.

The angst is a justified response to the inconvenience, widely-suffered.

 

[BrendanS]

would you use Halfords to MOT your car, or do a service?

They are useful for picking up bits when more sensible options take too long or are too far away. Not for important stuff. If anyone lives in Berks, I can give you two MOT stations who do their job, you won't get a wonderful welcome, they just do their job, and give sensible advisories. Across the country there are lots of council MOT stations who do their own vehicles, and also do private motorists, they don't do services or repairs, so only MOT, If they fail you, it's because it failed.