Biting my tongue in Halfords

[thelawnet]

Just went to the outskirts-of-town shopping centre thing (you know the type, branch of Halfords, a Currys (or was it Comet?), an Argos, and a DIY store), took my daughter there on my bike.

We had a quick browse through the shops, stopped off in Halfords, a woman came in at the same time with her daughter (about age 6), looked at the small display of bikes near the entrance, we both went upstairs to the bikes section. They've got quite a mixed bag in Halfords, some very nice bikes and some absolute crap.

Daughter was looking at 'girly' bikes, she told her mother 'I want a basket', bloke behind the counter ignores us both, eventually she asks him for help. He pulls out a 24" wheel Apollo for £200 (!) she can't even get on it, well perhaps she could but the bloke is not really interested in helping or explaining standover height, adjusting the saddle. I don't look too closely but it's got ridiculous knobbly tyres and probably weighs a tonne.He says 'why don't you have a look around', and pisses off again.

Am wearing my Altura jacket and must look somewhat cyclist-like, but I didn't feel like offering unsolicited advice and I guess she didn't feel like asking me.

Feel sorry for the poor kid who was going to end up with a piece of crap, or nothing at all.

 

[MontyVeda]

Apollo, being the Halfords brand is what the staff are expected to push.

 

[thelawnet]

Apollo, Carrera and Boardman, at a minimum, belong to Halfords. Possibly Trax as well?

This one doesn't look too impractical:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_816515_langId_-1_categoryId_165630

would hate to see how much it weighs though, being solid steel I suspect rather a lot.

From what I can see on their website almost all of the Halfords kids bike have some sort of useless suspension system so it might have been hard for him to push something sensible really. Which might be why he had so little interest, if they're all crap. Can't see any kind of aluminium-framed bike with sensible tyres and no suspension on there at all.

 

[Peteaud]

Crap wages and he dont care so its no loss to him.

Its why i detest hellfrauds.

If it was me i would have told the woman to go to a lbs.

 

[brokenflipflop]

Crap wages and he dont care so its no loss to him.

Its why i detest hellfrauds.

If it was me i would have told the woman to go to a lbs.

I've had a similar poor customer service experience at a lbs.

 

[400bhp]

Crap wages and he dont care so its no loss to him.

Its why i detest hellfrauds.

If it was me i would have told the woman to go to a lbs.

Do you think lbs's pay significantly higher wages.

Whats "he dont care"? Are you singing?

I have had very good service at my local Halfords, so it is a bit hit and miss.

 

[thelawnet]

Crap wages and he dont care so its no loss to him.

Its why i detest hellfrauds.

If it was me i would have told the woman to go to a lbs.

Well the LBS sell a lot of crap kids bikes too. A lot of the adult bikes are pretty crappy, when it comes to that, but it's probably worse for a child to have an 18kg hunk'o'junk.

Islabikes Beinn is a fantastic first real bike IMO, I think the fabulously named 'Puky' might be ok too. Neither available in any LBS I think....

 

[ufkacbln]

Despite everything ......

The Carrera Subway series made good commuters and day bikes!

 

[thelawnet]

Despite everything ......

The Carrera Subway series made good commuters and day bikes!

Plenty of decent adult bikes in Halfords, the Boardmans are good.

A Boardman Hybrid Comp 'kids' bike might be an idea....

 

[gaz]

Well the LBS sell a lot of crap kids bikes too. A lot of the adult bikes are pretty crappy, when it comes to that, but it's probably worse for a child to have an 18kg hunk'o'junk.

Islabikes Beinn is a fantastic first real bike IMO, I think the fabulously named 'Puky' might be ok too. Neither available in any LBS I think....

Depends on the LBS, my one doesn't sell any bikes for less than £1,000. To some those bikes are crap.

 

[thelawnet]

Depends on the LBS, my one doesn't sell any bikes for less than £1,000. To some those bikes are crap.

Was referring to 'the LBS' not a generic LBS, i.e. the one that is local to the Halfords I was in (well there are three reasonably local, and they all sell a number of crap bikes).

 

[Peteaud]

Do you think lbs's pay significantly higher wages.

Whats "he dont care"? Are you singing?

I have had very good service at my local Halfords, so it is a bit hit and miss.

Agree its hit or miss, but most small lbs will be a one man band so he / she will at least try. the 18 year old in "insert large chain of shops" could not give a sh*t.

Fair point, some are good, but imho its rare. My last visit to them for a roof bar i asked the guy behind the counter if they had mine in stock, his reply, ddduuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnoooooo.

 

[thelawnet]

Agree its hit or miss, but most small lbs will be a one man band so he / she will at least try. the 18 year old in "insert large chain of shops" could not give a sh*t.

Fair point, some are good, but imho its rare. My last visit to them for a roof bar i asked the guy behind the counter if they had mine in stock, his reply, ddduuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnoooooo.

I had a fun Halfords roof rack experience. Was going away (on a flight), leaving the kids with the parents, thought we'd bring their bikes, so I went to Halfords on the way to the parents house on the way to the airport. Bought the rack, thought 'these people will have done it before, I'll pay the £5 to get it fitted'.

They hadn't, and it took over an hour, they were clueless.

Nearly missed our flights....

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Bikehut Mechanic Part time London Area
£4.81-£5.93 ph

 

[User16625]

Bikehut Mechanic Part time London Area
£4.81-£5.93 ph

Dam thats crap! They are asking a whole lot from someone for minimum wage. Would the company expect employees to give them "minimum effort"? Hell no. I hate employers attitudes. That job description should be paying at least £8 per hour.