JEEZ, these LBS shops

[apollo179]

Ive never had any problems with halfords. I find them useful for of the wall stuff like grease and chains. Unlikely that i would ever buy a bike of them but the same could be said of the lbs.

 

[stevetailor125]

I can recomend Cycle-Trax at Loughborough, I brought my used hybrid from them at a knock down price with a warranty and they are always friendly and helpful even if I need some cheap part.

 

[twobiker]

I would like to recomend Hot Pursuit near me apart from one guy who, although I have spent a ton of money in there told the lad I was talking to whilst my bike was being fixed , not to chat, I said " If I am spending money on my bike I expect to be able to talk to the guy whos fixing it" he 's ignored me since then.

 

[element]

There is a bike shop just up the road from my house and first time I went there I found them to be seriously lacking in social skills. The second time I went I found them to be only marginally better although I pretty much forced them to engage with me by returning the pump I got first time that did not work. When they got me another pump I asked them for a bike to test the pump on.(never ever buy a pump without testing it)
I casually mentioned the exceedingly poor quality of the first pump they sold me and the guy basically said thats what you get for buyng a cheap £12.00 pump. I wanted to reply that I only sell products that work hence why I have a big house and five cars while you work in a ****ing bikeshop for minimum wage but it rarely pays to be rude.
Given my experiences in halfrauds and the LBS I will now just buy what I need from Maddison and do any repairs and servicing myself. I cannot be arsed with poor customer service and In all honesty I have no time for that ' I am doing YOU a favour' attitude that some kinds of shops and business' have.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Time to move house, mate?

Of the 4 LBS I've used in Leeds, there's one I don't go to unless I really, really have to (pity, cos it's far and away the nearest). But the other 3? Brilliant. And I can think off hand of 3 in towns around I'd very happily go back to again and again.


I'll whisper this one - shhhhhhhh! Don't tell anybody it was me who said this .... but for a long time the local Halfords had a pretty good bike dept; built up over a few years by a couple of good guys. Hmmmm - then came recession, and they sacked their car parts staff, and put the the bike guys on to car parts sales because they were good .............. Huh?

Which LBS is that? I've used Woodrups Kirkstall and Edingburgh Bike Co-Op in Chapel Allerton ok.

Halfords Kirkstall i have had good experiences with, although the staff there are crippled with halfords stocking policy and cronic understaffing, the two lads that do the bike stuff have generally being very good and partial to discounting when the inevitable happens and the stock doesn't come for weeks (again)

Halfords 'Town' on Hunslet business park....ugh everything you've heard of halfords being crap and more. Dont go there!

 

[Herzog]

I wanted to reply that I only sell products that work hence why I have a big house and five cars while you work in a ****ing bikeshop for minimum wage but it rarely pays to be rude.

Perhaps you could flog one of your cars to finance the purchase of a better pump...

 

[wiggydiggy]

Perhaps you could flog one of your cars to finance the purchase of a better pump...

Considering the pump I use very succesfully on my travels was £1.99 from wilkinsons, for £12 I think yes he (element) deserved a pump that worked

 

[Moodyman]

Hi All,

What is it with these local LBS, i mean you walk in and want a part and you come out feeling like 2" tall, i just done get it and it makes my blood boil.

I went to my local, but run down shop, to a spare part and i do have a average knowledge of bikes and parts and the owner was so rude and belittling to me that it just made me feel so small that all i wanted to do was get out of there and his attitude was the famous of " i know what i am talking about and you don't".

No wonder people still go to Halfords, ok the staff are crap but at least you can see everything hanging on the shelves

If i walk in with a part that i want then :-

I don't want a third degree on what the part is for

I don't want to be sold something that is for a £2000 road bike

I want to be treated like a customer who can ask questions and not get a huff or a sigh with a cute answer

and after all that he has the cheek to turn around and say " well if its that urgent then i can order it for you"
No thanks i think i will leave it and i walked out

I hate LBS but i am still looking for one that i am happy to walk into and be treted with respect, i will still look but down to my final 2 so lets see otherwise Halfords here i come

Some of my local ones are like that. To be honest, they don't mean it in a bad way - it's just that they actually know more than the average guy and what they recommend is usually based on experience.

I've often gone in with my mind made up about a part and come out with a different part altogether based on the advice I got. I've yet to be disappointed.

 

[guitarpete247]

Someone should start a recommended LBS website where you can search by postcode, like this one for GARAGES. I'm sure there's one for tradesmen too.

Cycle routes UK has a tab for cycle shops and we can add those we recommend and comment on those left by others. There are a lot of Halfords on there so we could comment on the good ones (there must be at least one).

I've added a couple, but bear in mind that it can take a few days for them to be added.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I'm thinking I'll probably get my next bike from one of the Rutlands stores. I visited them recently and was very impressed with the staff at the Giant store in particular.

 

[growingvegetables]

Which LBS is that? I've used Woodrups Kirkstall and Edingburgh Bike Co-Op in Chapel Allerton ok.

Drakes Cycles in Harehills

Bob Jacksons in Bramley? Stanningley?

And one of the Headingley ones - don't know the name.

Edinburgh Bike Coop have been good to me too - for buying a bike, aye and helping out on running repairs at 7.45am - long before they opened at 10.00am.

 

[byegad]

Sadly some shops are just like that. Avoid that one and find a friendlier shop, there are plenty of good ones who know a bit about customer service.