Halfords Web Site Mess Thread

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C

cubegame

Guru
Cubist said:
I see it as dishonest and exploitative. The error was reported as a glitch early on, and yet folk flocked to get, effectively, something for nothing. It may seem like a means of putting one up Halfords, but perhaps people could take time out and reflect on what it means. The glitch was put on HUKD. Perhaps a dozen cycle chatters managed to ( who used the term "loot"?) take advantage, including at least one whose order went into thousands of pounds, so multiply this by literally hundreds, if not thousands of people all doing much the same. I liken it to the rioters of a couple of years ago who went into town knowing the stores were all being smashed up and running away with armfuls of designer gear.

Halfords may be crap in some people's eyes, but they sell a large number of good value bikes to a lot of people. This forum is full of people willing to criticise, but think about it. Many buyers don't know what they want and haven't researched bikes before going in. Their criteria may even be the colour of the basket on the front, and staff do their best, given their knowledge and experience to match what a customer needs with a decent bike. This is open to criticism, and I for one wish they would take a long hard look at their business model, but I still go in on a Sunday when i need a gear cable or a set of bolts. How can they hope to improve their business if they are trying to make up for losses of possibly tens,or even hundreds of thousands of pounds lost to looters?
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This comes across as bitterness to be honest. I bet you didn't sit and make a concious decision not to use it.

Halfords could have quite legally have sent us all an email apologising for the error and cancelled the orders. They chose not to.
 
Cubist

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
cubegame said:
This comes across as bitterness to be honest. I bet you didn't sit and make a concious decision not to use it.

Halfords could have quite legally have sent us all an email apologising for the error and cancelled the orders. They chose not to.
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You don't know me very well do you? I made a very conscious decision not to use it. Your order of £1400 worth of kit for under £12 is frankly nauseating.
 
Rustybucket

Rustybucket

Veteran
Location
South Coast
Cubist said:
I see it as dishonest and exploitative. The error was reported as a glitch early on, and yet folk flocked to get, effectively, something for nothing. It may seem like a means of putting one up Halfords, but perhaps people could take time out and reflect on what it means. The glitch was put on HUKD. Perhaps a dozen cycle chatters managed to ( who used the term "loot"?) take advantage, including at least one whose order went into thousands of pounds, so multiply this by literally hundreds, if not thousands of people all doing much the same. I liken it to the rioters of a couple of years ago who went into town knowing the stores were all being smashed up and running away with armfuls of designer gear.

Halfords may be crap in some people's eyes, but they sell a large number of good value bikes to a lot of people. This forum is full of people willing to criticise, but think about it. Many buyers don't know what they want and haven't researched bikes before going in. Their criteria may even be the colour of the basket on the front, and staff do their best, given their knowledge and experience to match what a customer needs with a decent bike. This is open to criticism, and I for one wish they would take a long hard look at their business model, but I still go in on a Sunday when i need a gear cable or a set of bolts. How can they hope to improve their business if they are trying to make up for losses of possibly tens,or even hundreds of thousands of pounds lost to looters?
Click to expand...

What was done was legal - Its upto Halfords to sort out their back of house & IT systems. People also went into store to collect the bargains - its hardly looting - more opportunist!
 
C

cubegame

Guru
Cubist said:
You don't know me very well do you? I made a very conscious decision not to use it. Your order of £1400 worth of kit for under £12 is frankly nauseating.
Click to expand...

But correct me if I'm wrong....Halfords were not obliged to send it it to me.

They chose to.
 
Cubist

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
Rustybucket said:
What was done was legal - Its upto Halfords to sort out their back of house & IT systems. People also went into store to collect the bargains - its hardly looting - more opportunist!
Click to expand...
No, it could be argued it was illegal. It was certainly dishonest, as it was reported as a glitch, not as an unbelievable offer. So, knowing that Halfords web order system was experiencing errors, you made an order knowing that the glitch would mean you would avoid having to pay for the items. You have therefore acted dishonestly. That the system allowed you to do so does not make your actions honest.

cubegame said:
But correct me if I'm wrong....Halfords were not obliged to send it it to me.

They chose to.
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No, their automated packing and dispatch systems sent you the order. Packers and shippers do not oversee or have control of the order system in a large concern such as this. You have chosen, very cynically, to exploit that.
 
Cubist

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
Rustybucket said:
What was done was legal - Its upto Halfords to sort out their back of house & IT systems. People also went into store to collect the bargains - its hardly looting - more opportunist!
Click to expand...
By this argument it's perfectly OK to help yourself to unguarded stock on a market stall or take items from a shop if the staff aren't watching you? Next time you leave the back door open its OK for me to nip in and take your TV?
 
C

cubegame

Guru
Cubist said:
No, it could be argued it was illegal. It was certainly dishonest, as it was reported as a glitch, not as an unbelievable offer. So, knowing that Halfords web order system was experiencing errors, you made an order knowing that the glitch would mean you would avoid having to pay for the items. You have therefore acted dishonestly. That the system allowed you to do so does not make your actions honest.



No, their automated packing and dispatch systems sent you the order. Packers and shippers do not oversee or have control of the order system in a large concern such as this. You have chosen, very cynically, to exploit that.
Click to expand...

Let me tell you another story (at the risk of sickening you further).

A couple of years ago I found a glitch on the Dell website while I was buying a laptop. It essentially allowed me to make a purchase of 12 laptops (their maximum order at the time) for the sum total of just under fifty quid.

I'll have some of that, I thought and promptly ordered. I had no intention of publicising the error online and I fully expected it to be noticed.

They were build to order and there was an estimated 12 days before ths shipping date. I watched in glee as the tracking system showed them being confirmed, built and then packaged. They were then dispatched to their freight forwarder and I was allocated a delivery date.

On the delivery date, I recieved a call from Dell saying there had been an error and they would have to recall the packages from the courier. They did, however, agree to let me have one system at the price of £50.


The point of the story? Up until the point of delivery Halfords could have recalled packages (although this wouldn't be strictly legal) and stemmed their losses. ThEY CHOSE NOT TO.
 
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