Halfords Business Model

[Bicycle]

Quote from Arch in response to something I wrote: "Those things, the dry chain, the flat tyres, are nothing to do with Halfords though are they? Those are down to ignorant or lazy owners. Any bike can be reduced to that."

Damn... You're quite right and now I feel slightly silly.... In my defence... Ummm... I think I was trying (without success) to paint a piture of bikes that are somehow half-worn well brand new. But I buggered it up.

As to the Tesco analogy being a poor one because of the safety issue (I can't recall whose point that was)... Errr..... Yes. Good point. Quite right. I've never heard of anyone suddenly being catapulted to the Moon by a loose brake lever on a Halfords bicycle, but I still think the point made is a valid one.

So I'll be very careful with my Tesco analogies in future.

I still can't get very excited about Halfords though....

Good for bulbs and warning triangles and engine oil, not great for other stuff.

 

[Chris.IOW]

Good for bulbs and warning triangles and engine oil, not great for other stuff.

You missed Christmas tree shaped, foul smelling, air fresheners off your list!

 

[Arch]

Quote from Arch in response to something I wrote: "Those things, the dry chain, the flat tyres, are nothing to do with Halfords though are they? Those are down to ignorant or lazy owners. Any bike can be reduced to that."

Damn... You're quite right and now I feel slightly silly.... In my defence... Ummm... I think I was trying (without success) to paint a piture of bikes that are somehow half-worn well brand new. But I buggered it up.

Ah, sorry, I do tend to adopt a superior manner sometimes, normally people just rant back...

As to the Tesco analogy being a poor one because of the safety issue (I can't recall whose point that was)... Errr..... Yes. Good point. Quite right. I've never heard of anyone suddenly being catapulted to the Moon by a loose brake lever on a Halfords bicycle, but I still think the point made is a valid one.

So I'll be very careful with my Tesco analogies in future.

I still can't get very excited about Halfords though....

Good for bulbs and warning triangles and engine oil, not great for other stuff.

There was someone on a FNRttC a little while back, had a brand new Boardman bike, came off, and found that something or other had been badly fitted or not tightened or something. It was just before that Easter ad came out showing the family on old clapped out bikes falling to bits, and then getting sorted at Halfords. Some felt the captions 'before' and 'after' had been misplaced....

There, I've gone and been all superior again....

 

[dellzeqq]

There was someone on a FNRttC a little while back, had a brand new Boardman bike, came off, and found that something or other had been badly fitted or not tightened or something.

not a Halfords thing.........

 

[Flying Dodo]

As a business, it is surviving very well. The fact that people are increasingly buying bikes there can be seen as a lack of cohesive competition. There's Bicycle King in the South of England, but there just isn't any other national retailer. Evans??

 

[dellzeqq]

As an aside. Most of the staff at the Surrey Quays Decathlon are french - is that how it is in other stores?

(and they do a great cup of coffee and a croissant for two quid - I mean what more could you ask for!!!!?)

 

[Fab Foodie]

Heh I've used them before at work to describe internal service offerings

How much does that score on bullshit bingo

 

[Fab Foodie]

but their business model is founded on tat. They spend a lot of money promoting the (not far off) top end, and provide a service that is simply not worthy of the bikes.

I can say this, by the way, because I've Doctor Bike'd bicycles straight out of Halfords. And they were shockers. As in brakes not working and spokes flapping in the breeze.

Decathlon turn out bikes which are well put together. Halfords could learn from them.

Oh I quite agree about their current service, it ain't the best (we recently bought a Boardman Hybrid for Mrs FF). However, not all bike shops are perfect either, the difference is that Halfrauds (and Evans) are national and so it's not surprising we hear more complaints than we do about Mr Crapbikes of Dingly-dell. I've seen shocking service from LBS' too.
However, I digress, they could certainly learn from Decathlon and agree this is where they should look. The heartening thing is that people are buying bikes and if Halfrauds can serve-up some decent low-end bikes that people will ride, then cycling in this country has a future. I got the impression the boss recognises he has an opportunity.

 

[marinyork]

As an aside. Most of the staff at the Surrey Quays Decathlon are french - is that how it is in other stores?

(and they do a great cup of coffee and a croissant for two quid - I mean what more could you ask for!!!!?)

A few dee dars, a few french, a few from elsewhere.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The irony of letting someone who couldn't build a bike properly to fix it is of course lost to Joe Public. But what an amazing business model huh?

It's a business model that works remarkably well for a lot of the independent bikes shops too if the experience of friends, family and colleagues/BUG members are anything to go buy. With one difference; at least Halfords don't actually attempt daylight robbery when selling parts unlike most LBS's.

If a total stranger walks into most LBS they often find offhand patronising crap service awaits them. Especially if they are female.

but their business model is founded on tat. They spend a lot of money promoting the (not far off) top end, and provide a service that is simply not worthy of the bikes.

I can say this, by the way, because I've Doctor Bike'd bicycles straight out of Halfords. And they were shockers. As in brakes not working and spokes flapping in the breeze.

Again not universally true of Halfords. I've fixed bikes that have come straight out of LBS's with the same faults. The Halfords I bought my Boardman from serviced it twice and did the job impeccably. The two LBS's that tried to sort the brakes on my boss' bike (bought from Evans) let him ride away on a bike where the brake lever touched the drop bars.

and some of that tat seems to last for years and years....

Halfords are open late evenings and on Sundays... how many LBS's are? One of ours round here still does half day closing!

 

[abo]

How much does that score on bullshit bingo

Quite highly, I can do better

 

[marinyork]

Halfords are open late evenings and on Sundays... how many LBS's are? One of ours round here still does half day closing!

They do open late, although it's more of a skeleton staff if you've ever had to take someone down there about 7:30pm (same of where I work before anyone thinks I'm being unfair). You can obviously buy bits and bobs, you're not too likely to get much advice that quickly though.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Quite highly, I can do better

err, please don't though

 

[abo]

err, please don't though

Heh ok I won't. Actually 'internal service offering' isn't too bad and contains two actual relevant words. I agree I do hear some shite banded around...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

They do open late, although it's more of a skeleton staff if you've ever had to take someone down there about 7:30pm (same of where I work before anyone thinks I'm being unfair). You can obviously buy bits and bobs, you're not too likely to get much advice that quickly though.

If i want advice at 19:30 I come and ask in here