How Do You Find Your Local Halfords

[GrumpyGregry]

As for Halfords bikes. Let's face it if you're on this forum you either know a bit about bikes or you are very interested in cycling. Having looked at what they sell in Halfords most of us wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. Not because there is anything wrong with the bikes, I am sure they are good value for money. But they seem to be geared around the everyday Joe who just wants "a bike". If you are into Mountain Biking, Road Racing or getting a decent Commuter bike you would probably go elsewhere anyway.

Have people not looked closely at the Boardman Range then? Serious range of quality MTB's, Hybrids and Road bikes clearly aimed squarely at serious cyclists. Read the reviews in ther mags and on line. Marketing wise selling these thru Halfords is a canny move - they know darned well nobody is coming back for service, becuase the majority of people spending that much on a bike will be largely self sufficient especially so the MTB'ers who have to be imo, so they can concentrate on box shifting instead.

One would probably go elsewhere because one is a label conscious muppet who cuts of their nose to spite their face and who doesn't want to get sneared at by one's mates for buying a bike from a shop that sells car accessories. One's loss. This one prefers one's bikes performance to do the talking not the badge.

Seriously agreed the Apollo bicycle shaped objects are dross. Carrera's always seem to get better reviews, from a competency and VFM perspective, than the bikes you'll find in your LBS at the same price point. The Crawley Halfords had Van Nicholas' and, I think Condors and other road exotica in last time I was there. Are they serious enough for people. (But the "condor owners club" got very arsey about the Halfords deal - devaluing the brand dontchaknow) But if people can't see past the logo over the door all the more bargain bikes for the rest of us!

 

[summerdays]

Have people not looked closely at the Boardman Range then? Serious range of quality MTB's, Hybrids and Road bikes clearly aimed squarely at serious cyclists. Read the reviews in ther mags and on line. Marketing wise selling these thru Halfords is a canny move - they know darned well nobody is coming back for service, becuase the majority of people spending that much on a bike will be largely self sufficient especially so the MTB'ers who have to be imo, so they can concentrate on box shifting instead.

One would probably go elsewhere because one is a label conscious muppet who cuts of their nose to spite their face and who doesn't want to get sneared at by one's mates for buying a bike from a shop that sells car accessories. One's loss. This one prefers one's bikes performance to do the talking not the badge.

Seriously agreed the Apollo bicycle shaped objects are dross. Carrera's always seem to get better reviews, from a competency and VFM perspective, than the bikes you'll find in your LBS at the same price point. The Crawley Halfords had Van Nicholas' and, I think Condors and other road exotica in last time I was there. Are they serious enough for people. (But the "condor owners club" got very arsey about the Halfords deal - devaluing the brand dontchaknow) But if people can't see past the logo over the door all the more bargain bikes for the rest of us!

Part of the problem I see is that even if you buy a bike at the top range of what Halfords are selling - you have no gaurentee over who puts it together for you knows what they are doing. And I'm sure there are good mechanics at Halfords... but at which shops are they hiding? I think if they are any good at their job they must get bored assembling the BSO's that they probably sell more of and then move onto a LBS.

 

[tyred]

I have never paid anyone to fix a bike for me so can't comment on that side but they do keep a good range of components, etc are open on a Sunday when neither of my LBS are and they tend to stock all sorts of odds and end that you wouldn't get easily elsewhere. I was able to buy a proper three speed gear cable, it was exactly the right length with the correct end to fit the SA changer and came with a spare spindle thing and adjuster that screws into the hub. And all for £2.99. My LBS said they'd have to order it in and would cost about a tenner. I think you need to know what you are looking forthough as the staff aren't really that knowledgeable.

 

[John the Monkey]

It's the indifference that's the thing, I think.

As tyred points out, they can have really odd, obscure little bits and pieces, and yet an empty space where the tyre lever sets, or 700c inner tubes should be. They can have someone who knows about bikes, and wants to help you, or someone who couldn't care less and wishes he was over in the car bit selling you new alloys.

 

[pinkkaz]

I got my first (well, since I was small) bike from Bikehut in Putney last year and they seemed good to me! They all seemed to know their stuff. Mind you, they bike they sold me isn't the one I'd choose if I could do cycle2work all over again knowing what I know now!

 

[bonj2]

How do I find my local halfords? I usually just get its address from the store locator section and then look on a map.

ding! igmc




Seriously though halfords is fine, for what it is. An outlet selling basic parts for cars and bikes, and a few half decent bikes, if you research and decide on the one you want and order that specific one and then check its build.
What halfords is NOT is a place to actually choose a bike, a place to get work done on a bike, or somewhere to get advice on pretty much anything.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Part of the problem I see is that even if you buy a bike at the top range of what Halfords are selling - you have no gaurentee over who puts it together for you knows what they are doing. And I'm sure there are good mechanics at Halfords... but at which shops are they hiding? I think if they are any good at their job they must get bored assembling the BSO's that they probably sell more of and then move onto a LBS.

That's a very good point well made. But I do know who puts any new bike together that I buy before I ride it. Me. No good to a newbie I know - so I tart myself about to my local newbies to come to the shop to check things over; useful as I'm not wrapped up in the excitement of their new bike causing them to miss the sort of basic setup/build errors that ALL bike shops are prone to in their haste to get on a ride.

I make mistakes too esp. when tired or rushed so I do a through 'M' check at least once a week on my road bike, and before every ride on the MTBs. It's my face that will plant if the mechanic gets something wrong after all. I learnt the hard way that Pace RC35 forks don't have lawyer tabs.

Finish Line Wet Lube is 1.75 x the price in my LBS compared to my local Halfords and the LBS wanted 100% more for the same headset as any number of online retailer (50% more expensive than Halfords who had none in stock) said they would have to order some XT cartridge style brake pads whereas Halfords had loads in stock.

 

[porridge]

As posted on another thread, my Halfords (Watford) beats all the LBS hands down, good service and always helpful !

 

[Crankarm]

Got this idea from another thread and after my recent experience with that lot. We can copy and paste the list as it goes on each new post. So Excellent, Good, Bad or Total Rubbish on the list only. You can post your reaasons seperately from the list. This way we might find some really good branhes that are worth a visit.

List
Mine is: Chichester ........... Total Rubbish

I think your spelling of this company's name Halfords might be defamatory especially as there is little doubt that it is not referring to any other organisation. I think you can defame an organisation/company. Your deliberate misspelling might well be libellous unless you could establish that the meaning it suggests is true in substance and justified in fact. The defence that you got the thread from somewhere else is not a defence as you have in effect re-published the libellous word(s) by starting another thread. Be prepared to be sued.

 

[The Jogger]

this thread was meant to let people find a good branch and I don't know how to delete the thread. That name has also been used many times on this site.

 

[The Jogger]

Crankie, I said I got the idea from another thread. You need to read the post properly.

 

[TheDoctor]

Well, I've just gone through and changed the spelling. I have no idea of the likelyhood of legal action, but I'd sooner be safe than sorry...

 

[PpPete]

Can we get back to original point of thread?

Eastleigh - Poor range, poor stock control, most of staff never heard of Boardman bikes (!) but there is just one competent customer-service oriented member of staff.

Winchester - slightly better stock, still no sign of any Boardmans last time I looked. A few reasonably competent individuals - but quite a lot of numpties too. Once bought a child's MTB there - child was happy and bike still in use by younger siblings today.... but I always wished I'd checked the weight before buying. It's very nearly as heavy as my 531 tandem!

 

[John the Monkey]

British libel law is nonsensical, but I'd be fairly confident in a "fair comment" defence. As for everything I've recounted, it happened, and I'd have no problem standing by my comments should push come to shove.

 

[Bigtwin]

Well, I've just gone through and changed the spelling. I have no idea of the likelyhood of legal action, but I'd sooner be safe than sorry...

There is absolutely zero chance. This thread gives rise to no actionable cause whatsoever.

Panicky nonsense.