Never again from halfords

[45cotterless]

Yo, just come to terms, they should call it Bikeslut!
I feel deeply ashamed that following the petrol crisis , when we got issued with ration books, I wrote to Halfordz head office. I asked them to consider going into bikes big time, even to have a se[erate part of the stores dedicated to cycling
. At the time there was a trend to switch to cycling due to the East having tightened the knot on fuel. I didn't get a reply, but it must have gone to some bright spark and we now know the results.

 

[Weegie]

Also learn how to do it myself aswell, think that may be best thing.

Definitely the best thing, if you're at all mechanically minded. It's not particularly complex once you understand how the derailleurs work, and just think - next time your gears need a little tweaking (which will probably happen as the new cables stretch) you can do it yourself at the roadside in 5 minutes, instead of having the hassle & expense of visiting a shop.

 

[rusky]

I got a Carrera Vulcan disc spec from halfords, collected it when they were finishing it off, looked like they were adjusting it correctly but when I came to ride it home, the gears weren't particularly well adjusted.

10 mins at home & it was sorted.

I have to say though, the guy did spend a while getting the fit right.

 

[Cubist]

Just to add that my gears were pretty close when I picked mine up from Halfords, but I still spent a happy hour getting them bang on. Exactly the same thing on my MTB from the LBS. Close, but nothing works on the road like it does in a workstand, or even upside down in the garage. You need to ride it to find out where the niggles are, then fix them.

 

[13liverbird]

Is it best to get a stand to work on mike bike and clean it or is it ok just doing it upside down.

 

[rusky]

I find it easier in a stand, apart from anything else, it's at a sensible height.

 

[mikeitup]

Bought a MTB from there 9 weeks ago, when i got it home and took it for its first spin realised that some of the gears didnt work properly. Tooki it back after a week and when had it back that day took it for another ride and although they wernt perfect the were better. week 7 started to heara squeeking noise and took it back in on week 8 for its free service/safety check.

Had it back and went out this morning. The squeeking noise is still there and the gears are worse than ever. If i put it in 7th the chain keeps wanting to come off. If i put it in 12th the gears keep juming and the same for 17th and 18th.

Not sure now wheather to take it back for them to correct or take it to another bike shop (tredz) and pay them to service it to get the gears right.

Never again will i buy a bike from halfords, getting a drop handle bar soon and think it will be from tredz.

I had the same probs with my local Halfords when I bought my Carrera Fury '07.
Took it back 3 times and they didn't sort it.
Took it to LBS and had it serviced. Rode like a dream ever since.
Next bike will be from LBS.

 

[Virtual DBP]

i've had two bad experiences with regards to halfords and as such would never go back.

I am in the camp that says if i want a bike, i go to a bike shop. i wouldn't go to a supermarket, so why would i go to a car accessory supermarket.

thing is, they've actually put me off buying anything from their shops.

 

[Hilldodger]

I am in the camp that says if i want a bike, i go to a bike shop. i wouldn't go to a supermarket, so why would i go to a car accessory supermarket.

Halfords are bike shops and they have been since 1902 when the first one opened - so they've been around longer than 95% of current bike shops.
They have 300+ stores so there are bound to be more stories about them than a single LBS.

Plus, they currently sell over 25% of all bikes sold in the UK and have done for years. Must be doing something right.

 

[akaAndrew]

Plus, they currently sell over 25% of all bikes sold in the UK and have done for years.

Of which x% are sitting rusting in the garden shed because the riders got so frustrated with a poorly set up bike that they gave up

No problem with H's myself but I have never, and would never, buy a bike from them. A tin of car wax maybe but not a bike!

 

[D-Rider]

Just more worrying chat re Halfords. I'm planning to get a new bike via the cyle to work scheme. Would much rather buy from a LBS but my company scheme is exclusively with halfords.... Bugger.

 

[marinyork]

I knew someone that had a LBS scheme with halfords. Despite this, condor or whoever it was wouldn't let halfords touch the thing and assembled it themselves even though it was through Halfords.

 

[Cubist]

Just more worrying chat re Halfords. I'm planning to get a new bike via the cyle to work scheme. Would much rather buy from a LBS but my company scheme is exclusively with halfords.... Bugger.

Suppose it needs saying again. The bikes are good. Some of the Halfords staff are not. Some of the Halfords staff are good. I got a Halfords bike. It's brilliant. It was very good value for money. It was set up pretty well, but needed a bit of adjusting. If you don't trust yourself to do that, then take it to someone you do trust. If your company, like mine, binds you to halfords, you have a choice. get them to source another bike for you, but then who will set that up? Back to square one.

 

[marinyork]

Suppose it needs saying again. The bikes are good. Some of the Halfords staff are not. Some of the Halfords staff are good. I got a Halfords bike. It's brilliant. It was very good value for money. It was set up pretty well, but needed a bit of adjusting. If you don't trust yourself to do that, then take it to someone you do trust. If your company, like mine, binds you to halfords, you have a choice. get them to source another bike for you, but then who will set that up? Back to square one.

Halfords can order in plenty that aren't halfords bikes. It's sometimes limiting, sometimes not.

 

[D-Rider]

Aye. Don't get me wrong, I'll be buying through the scheme and that means Halfords so hopefully they'll be OK. I'm not really up to setting up / adjusting much on my own though so it'd be a pain if there were any problems.