Halfords - a Joke!

jo.king

I decided to get a new bike this year for my Christmas present - so looking forward to the sales i went into Halfords in Carrickmines!!

Unreal - there is barley anything in stock - they wont sell off the display models - have been waiting two weeks for a delivery on one of their 'sale' bike which has now since been put back to their original price as the sale is apparently now over!!

My advice - stay away!!

How Strange

My bf bought a bike from them a few years ago and his mantra now is 'never again'.

They are fine for kids bikes or whatever but for anything more go to a proper bike shop that has qualified mechanics and sales staff that know what they are selling. Anyway, they are part of a UK chain so IMO its better to give your business to the guy who owns his own business and who will appreciate your custom and do a deal with you.

liljenny

halfords are useless i went in and ordered a gasket and your man said it would be in on monday, went back on monday and had some fella try to give a shock adsorber!! then i was told what i was looking for wasnt even ordered in, i wouldnt go back to them again

kona

How Strange wrote: »

My bf bought a bike from them a few years ago and his mantra now is 'never again'.

They are fine for kids bikes or whatever but for anything more go to a proper bike shop that has qualified mechanics and sales staff that know what they are selling. Anyway, they are part of a UK chain so IMO its better to give your business to the guy who owns his own business and who will appreciate your custom and do a deal with you.

and how do you know the mehanics are not qualified???
halfords isnt the biggest bike company in the british isles for nothing.

and as for stock, half price bikes usually sell very quick, but being honest anything in halfords under e300 is not worth the hassle, they do make **** bikes, but they also make very good bikes, for compeditive prices.
ive dealt ith many a bike shop and the worst service ive ever got was off the two shops in fairview.
the bloke in little sport thought a downhill bike was a bmx(this was the owner!!)
the city cycles place i handed him a list of parts i wanted to order, the list was over €600, when asked what a downhill handle bar was, he took a used piece of scrap from under the desk and said hed do it for €20, also he didnt know what marazocchi are.

all bike shops in this country are **** in my opinion,and it has to do with the irish attitude to bikes,(cheap and only fit for the poor)so they are out for a quick easy buck. i only deal with cyclogical, as they are used to working on good bikes and i know only stock quality parts, and even then its only if they have a tool that is too expensive for me to buy.

as for UK shops, do you honestly think that most shops in ireland are 100% irish owned?? not a chance, and halfords is actually a PLC, so im sure there are irish share holders, and im sure staff get shares when they join, and commission when they sell a bike.

and jo.king what bike where you after??was it decent ??

kona

liljenny wrote: »

halfords are useless i went in and ordered a gasket and your man said it would be in on monday, went back on monday and had some fella try to give a shock adsorber!! then i was told what i was looking for wasnt even ordered in, i wouldnt go back to them again

yes and i need a gasket for my bike:rolleyes: this is the bike forum, think before you post:D
out of interest what gasket where you looking for, and afaik halfords dont stock shock absorbers in store, as i needed one for my mini and they had to order it in, it actually came 4days later.

beans

Aw, I was hoping for a joke...

Ok, why did the Halfords employee cross the road?

To ask his supervisor what a track pump was!

(lame but still better than another Halfords-bashing thread)

jo.king

kona wrote: »

and jo.king what bike where you after??was it decent ??

It was the Shockwave SUS 550 - dont know if its decent of not - but it looked the part!

kona

beans wrote: »

Aw, I was hoping for a joke...

Ok, why did the Halford's cross the road?

To ask his supervisor what a track pump was!

(lame but still better than another Halfords-bashing thread)

:D:D:D:D
why did he cross back again??
so he could be shown how it works:D

kona

jo.king wrote: »

It was the Shockwave SUS 550 - dont know if its decent of not - but it looked the part!

you were lucky its a piece of ****.:eek:
they did you a favour:D;)
any dual sus under €1000 is going to be a heap of crap.
especially under €200,
what price are those bikes??€100??

jo.king

kona wrote: »

you were lucky its a piece of ****.:eek:
they did you a favour:D;)
any dual sus under €1000 is going to be a heap of crap.
especially under €200,
what price are those bikes??€100??

It was €115 - Only need for going to the shops and back...

daymobrew

kona wrote: »

and how do you know the mehanics are not qualified???
halfords isnt the biggest bike company in the british isles for nothing.

He didn't say that their mechanics weren't qualified, but it is understandable how you could read it that way.

Contrary to logic, the business size does not imply good things about product quality or customer service. For example I have major gripes with Tesco stock control i.e. being out of stock of about 10% of my shopping list every week.

How Strange

kona Quote:and how do you know the mehanics are not qualified???

An opinion based on the fact that everytime they serviced the bike it fell to pieces and he had to bring it back again. Once they made such a botch job of it they extended his warranty and didn't charge anything.

kona Quote:all bike shops in this country are **** in my opinion,and it has to do with the irish attitude to bikes,(cheap and only fit for the poor)so they are out for a quick easy buck.

That's some broad sweeping statement there. Have you visited every bike shop in Ireland and bought something from them to base this opinion on something?

kona

How Strange wrote: »

An opinion based on the fact that everytime they serviced the bike it fell to pieces and he had to bring it back again. Once they made such a botch job of it they extended his warranty and didn't charge anything.


That's some broad sweeping statement there. Have you visited every bike shop in Ireland and bought something from them to base this opinion on something?

I work in a bike shop, in my opinion it could be run an awful lot better, i dont like seeing people pissed off at my work, i take pride in it.From experience every bike shop ive been to is crap with the exception of cyclogical, so appling this statistic to the rest of the country , in my opinion bike shops are a joke compared to the US, Europe. maybe im just unlucky to hit every crap shop out there....which is unlikely.
how many stores do halfords have?? if you are so pissed it should be halfords carrickmines is a joke.

how strange, out of interest what bike was it that fell apart and what form of cycling were you using it for???
sub €300 bikes fall apart no matter how well maintained, its what they do best, bike standards dont specify what materials the parts are made from it only covers the fame, sub €300 bike are not even welded they are brazed.

I know for a fact at least 1 halfords store in dublin has a 100% qualified mechanic, he has the cert and all under the desk in halfords.
id like to see how many bike shops in ireland have mechanics up to a qualified standard, id imagine few as most are polish and wouldnt have been around long enough to get one.

ill agree that some halfords stores are crappy, but the reasons given by the OP are not very solid, and no offense to them(to the untrained eye sub €200 bikes can look the part) but i wouldnt take advice on a bike from sombody who
was going to buy a shockwave, or any bike for €115.

ALL english shops run "sales" they are like ryanair 1 bike will be half price and limited availability especially afer X-mas( sold at a mad price before)to get you in, the rest will be full price or have samller reductions. Halfords actually have a good sale on their middle rang bikes.
the fact of the matter is, in a sale people dont buy what is the best deal for them, they just buy the bike thats half price(doesnt matter if its made of clay and crap)

Chet T16

Me and the wife went to get bikes in halfords carrickmines last week and it was the same story. The chap that was there was very helpful and apologethic and said the order for that week had been shipped to tallaght by mistake.

He said they couldn't sell the display bikes incase they had been tampered with. Unlikely but knowing the way this country is going they're better to cover their arses

In the end we went to tallaght and got the wife an apollo and i ordered a BeOne from chain reactions

Hungrycol

kona wrote: »

I work in a bike shop,... every bike shop ive been to is crap with the exception of cyclogical...

A) Therefore you work in Cyclelogical or you admit that the one you work in is crap too?!

You're not that busy in order to be able to write such long winded replies!

Chips Lovell

kona wrote: »

I work in a bike shop...

Do you work in Halfords?

kona

Hungrycol wrote: »

A) Therefore you work in Cyclelogical or you admit that the one you work in is crap too?!

You're not that busy in order to be able to write such long winded replies!

dont insult my intelligence:rolleyes:
therefore i work in cyclogical, right lets apply that train of thought to somthing.........................I think ireland is a joke of a country, so THEREFORE i must not be irish???:rolleyes::D
people are quick to spit venomous bull**** about stores, when in fact they dont have a clue about bikes, mechanics, as far as im concerned unless you have either worked in a bikeshop or have a qualification with bikes, you are in no position to rate the standard of workmanship/service. The amount of people who claim to be "engineers" because they can fix a lightbulb, and therefore are the bottom line on mechanics is unreal

i already said the shop i work in could be better, i dont care, i get paid, the name the business gets is the managements problem.
I work in a ****ty bike shop near the city centre, so **** they dont even have all the tools i need to do a full service.
and yes i dont care what the management thinks.

find me a bike shop that will sell you a set of deore shifters for e9???
find me a bikeshop that sells a bike with 130mm travel, 27 gears, hydraulic brakes for under €700??
yes halfords can be bad, as can every other shop in the world, yes they maybe sold out....it happens.
i think halfords has a bad name that it doesnt deserve, mainly because ithe view if the shop in drogheda is crap than every store must be crap.
My local halfords is great for bargains on good bikes/quality parts every now and again. and thats my opinion.
If halfords gave you crap service when you wanted a cheap bike..............you get what you paid for tbh.
im off to put my e9 deore shifters on my bike;):p

kona

el tonto wrote: »

Do you work in Halfords?

do you?:rolleyes:

Johnny Jukebox

kona wrote: »

as for UK shops, do you honestly think that most shops in ireland are 100% irish owned?? not a chance, and halfords is actually a PLC, so im sure there are irish share holders, and im sure staff get shares when they join, and commission when they sell a bike.

Er, yes I do think most shops in Ireland are 100% Irish owned. In fact, apart from Halfords, Argos etc, I can't think of one specialist bike shop that is *not* Irish owned. Could you please list the specialist bike shops that you know for certain are not 100% Irish owned ?

Your insight into the Halfords remuneration scheme is also fascinating, but, I suspect, a little inaccurate for all but the most senior management team.

kona

Johnny Jukebox wrote: »

Er, yes I do think most shops in Ireland are 100% Irish owned. In fact, apart from Halfords, Argos etc, I can't think of one specialist bike shop that is *not* Irish owned. Could you please list the specialist bike shops that you know for certain are not 100% Irish owned ?

Your insight into the Halfords remuneration scheme is also fascinating, but, I suspect, a little inaccurate for all but the most senior management team.

never said bike shops i said SHOPS.
and all of these PLC have the same share package for staff

kona

Johnny Jukebox wrote: »

Er, yes I do think most shops in Ireland are 100% Irish owned. In fact, apart from Halfords, Argos etc, I can't think of one specialist bike shop that is *not* Irish owned. Could you please list the specialist bike shops that you know for certain are not 100% Irish owned ?

Your insight into the Halfords remuneration scheme is also fascinating, but, I suspect, a little inaccurate for all but the most senior management team.

could you please list the things that i typed bt didnt post:rolleyes::rolleyes:

are you blind I said SHOPS not BIKE+SHOP.
argos isnt a bike shop, as they dont service.
i know cycleways is run by a aussie, but i think the bloke who owns it is brothers with the bloke who owns cyclogical.

halfords remuneration scheme, i dont know but most large PLC companies give share packages to staff as a matter of fact, so id imagine halfords are similar.
"specialist bike shops" there are only two worth mentioning tbh.

but in case you did read correct, heres a very small list of foreign owed shops operating in ireland.
1. Starbucks.
2. Dell
3.that pizza place on talbot street.
4.debenhams
5.boots
6.specsavers
7.foot locker
8.vision express.
9.H&M
10.Mc donalds
11. Tesco

do you want me to continue...........

mkdon05

I wouldnt be so cocky in your answers there, i have a suspicion that some of the above mentioned are franchises that are Irish Owned. within Ireland of course.

Chips Lovell

kona wrote: »

as far as im concerned unless you have either worked in a bikeshop or have a qualification with bikes, you are in no position to rate the standard of workmanship/service.

OK. Now I'm laughing.

kona

el tonto wrote: »

OK. Now I'm laughing.

:D:D:D
el tonto told the yanks how to fight in iraq...........now look at them.
how the hell can you question somthing you know feck all about???

kona

mkdon05 wrote: »

I wouldnt be so cocky in your answers there, i have a suspicion that some of the above mentioned are franchises that are Irish Owned. within Ireland of course.

not being cocky, just trying to attain the same level as johnny. hes very quick on the aul reply ted.
and the money that they pay for the right to use the name goes back to the corporation in the yankee states,
but yes franchises could work both ways.

Chips Lovell

kona wrote: »

how the hell can you question somthing you know feck all about???

Says the bike mechanic who forces a chain back into shape with a pliars.

Ciaran500

kona wrote: »

how the hell can you question somthing you know feck all about???

If I get a plumber in and he doesn't fix my problem/it brakes again/makes ****e of the pipes etc. Am I not allowed criticise cause I don't know how to do it?

niceonetom

you're all a bunch of DRUGGED MONKEYS!!!

kona, you used the "you have to be a mechanic to be entitled to an opinion" argument before, it was laughable nonsense then and it's still that now. i'm sure your piece of paper is very important to you, and you're very proud of your mechanical skill (that piece of genius where you explained that bending the plates of a chain with a pliers doesn't weaken it really impressed me btw :rolleyes:, that was some seriously highly trained engineering right there) but when you respond to people by telling them that their opinion is worthless rather than addressing their actual issue, well, you look like an ass.

so, out with it man. where do you work? either fess up, or stop talking about it. basically i want to know so i never accidentally go in there, which i'd imagine would suit us both. yes?

kona

el tonto wrote: »

Says the bike mechanic who forces a chain back into shape with a pliars.

prime exmaple of sombody critising , with out knowing what the story is.
when then pin comes out the whole way, due to you not paying attention or rushing, a pliers is used to put it back into place THEN a chain tool.
when the chain is twisted, if the customer is too cheap to buy a new one i will bend it back, not my idea of a fix but it is better than leaving it and some muppet coming on boards and badmouthing me, and only telling one side of the story.

kona

Ciaran500 wrote: »

If I get a plumber in and he doesn't fix my problem/it brakes again/makes ****e of the pipes etc. Am I not allowed criticise cause I don't know how to do it?

but you could have FORCED him to use the cheaper materials, because in ireland we are all cheapskates. if it breaks* again maybe you just dont know how to use a tap.

kona

niceonetom wrote: »

you're all a bunch of DRUGGED MONKEYS!!!

kona, you used the "you have to be a mechanic to be entitled to an opinion" argument before, it was laughable nonsense then and it's still that now. i'm sure your piece of paper is very important to you, and you're very proud of your mechanical skill (that piece of genius where you explained that bending the plates of a chain with a pliers doesn't weaken it really impressed me btw :rolleyes:, that was some seriously highly trained engineering right there) but when you respond to people by telling them that their opinion is worthless rather than addressing their actual issue, well, you look like an ass.

so, out with it man. where do you work? either fess up, or stop talking about it. basically i want to know so i never accidentally go in there, which i'd imagine would suit us both. yes?

tom aul fool,
if a chain is twisted its fupped anyways.
bending a chain will weaken it. as will popping links.
Shock shock horror, lots of bike shops do this, in fact i was told this technique by a mechanic in a bike shop which is praised by many a fool on this message board:rolleyes:

i love the way we all go back and dig **** up and take it out of context.
this board really cements my idea that most cyclists are asses, only a few on this board have disproved me.
and tom are you a washing machine engineer???:D

you really cant have a discussion here.
do you know what the really funny thing is, i can guarantee ive fixed some of your bikes!!
im not saying on a message board where i work, would you like my credit card number too???
most threads here ask for opinions actually

okay, ill retract that statement "you have to be a mechanic to have a opinion"

but your opinion doesnt hold much weight, well as much weight as a mechanics.

kona

this is miles off topic.

what i am trying to say is,
halfords as a whole in my opinion aint a joke.

on the other hand

halfords CARRICKMINES could well be, judjing by reports:)

i think people should say the full story not just 1 part, to make the enemy look bad(we all do it:D)

niceonetom

QUADRUPLE POST! wow kona dude, you really can't help yourself can you? you're 'cementing an idea' of your average shop mechanic too, btw, what kind of impression do you think you're creating? just out of interrest?

if you'd really like online discussions to go more smoothly (though this works in most aspects of life) stop assuming that everyone else is an idiot.

kona wrote: »

tom aul fool,
if a chain is twisted its fupped anyways.
bending a chain will weaken it. as will popping links.
Shock shock horror, lots of bike shops do this, in fact i was told this technique by a mechanic in a bike shop which is praised by many a fool on this message board:rolleyes:

i love the way we all go back and dig **** up and take it out of context.
this board really cements my idea that most cyclists are asses, only a few on this board have disproved me.
and tom are you a washing machine engineer???:D

you really cant have a discussion here.
do you know what the really funny thing is, i can guarantee ive fixed some of your bikes!!
im not saying on a message board where i work, would you like my credit card number too???
most threads here ask for opinions actually

kona

niceonetom wrote: »

QUADRUPLE POST! wow kona dude, you really can't help yourself can you? you're 'cementing an idea' of your average shop mechanic too, btw, what kind of impression do you think you're creating? just out of interrest?

if you'd really like online discussions to go more smoothly (though this works in most aspects of life) stop assuming that everyone else is an idiot.

i know but its somthing that dealing with the public in a bike shop has forced on me.:(

well, ya know im stuck in bed with the flu.
great job is a bike mechanic

david1two3

el tonto wrote: »

Says the bike mechanic who forces a chain back into shape with a pliars.

I was waiting for someone to bring that up. He probably says thats what the customer wants or in other words the customer wants to kill themself so I better give a hand. He didnt like what I have to say about his advise so was demanding to know who I was and what would I know, it would be hilarious if it wasnt so dangerous.

Mr.Boots

kona wrote: »

dont insult my intelligence:rolleyes:
therefore i work in cyclogical, right lets apply that train of thought to somthing.........................I think ireland is a joke of a country, so THEREFORE i must not be irish???:rolleyes::D
people are quick to spit venomous bull**** about stores, when in fact they dont have a clue about bikes, mechanics, as far as im concerned unless you have either worked in a bikeshop or have a qualification with bikes, you are in no position to rate the standard of workmanship/service. The amount of people who claim to be "engineers" because they can fix a lightbulb, and therefore are the bottom line on mechanics is unreal

i already said the shop i work in could be better, i dont care, i get paid, the name the business gets is the managements problem.
I work in a ****ty bike shop near the city centre, so **** they dont even have all the tools i need to do a full service.
and yes i dont care what the management thinks.

find me a bike shop that will sell you a set of deore shifters for e9???
find me a bikeshop that sells a bike with 130mm travel, 27 gears, hydraulic brakes for under €700??
yes halfords can be bad, as can every other shop in the world, yes they maybe sold out....it happens.
i think halfords has a bad name that it doesnt deserve, mainly because ithe view if the shop in drogheda is crap than every store must be crap.
My local halfords is great for bargains on good bikes/quality parts every now and again. and thats my opinion.
If halfords gave you crap service when you wanted a cheap bike..............you get what you paid for tbh.
im off to put my e9 deore shifters on my bike;):p

Kona.....Snore zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!

kona

:D:D
losers:p

kona

david1two3 wrote: »

He probably says thats what the customer wants or in other words the customer wants to kill themself so I better give a hand. He didnt like what I have to say about his advise so was demanding to know who I was and what would I know, it would be hilarious if it wasnt so dangerous.

1. yes a chain will kill you:rolleyes:
2.seems to be a boards.ie thing to demand where you work etc.
mate i dont give a ****e where you work, and tbh i dont want to know who you are.
have a nice day:)

Mr boots...adhd possibly?????

cowan

Cycological - Good
Cycleways - Good if you get to know them, and whenever your buying something tell them you want to go to cyclogical and see what they have first. DO NOT GET REPAIRS DONE THERE, one of them lot put a bb that was too being into my mtb, and then tried to tell me it was ok and that it should be squeaking the first time I cycled it.
There's one out past blackrock cant remember the name, might be the bike hut, theyre fairly good
The Halfords on the Malahide road, two of the staff there know their stuff.

cowan

kona wrote:

i think halfords has a bad name that it doesnt deserve, mainly because ithe view if the shop in drogheda is crap than every store must be crap

lol i know a couple of the people that work there

who007

Jesus... these boards get a bit full on! Another thing that's sh*te about this country - no-one can express an opinion without someone else targetting them for sarcastic/insulting replies.. Doesn't happen on UK sites and happens only to a degree on US sites.. Came here looking for some helpful info and got stuck reading a load of "well my daddy has a shot gun and yours doesn't" sh*te!

Mr.Boots

kona wrote: »

1. yes a chain will kill you:rolleyes:
2.seems to be a boards.ie thing to demand where you work etc.
mate i dont give a ****e where you work, and tbh i dont want to know who you are.
have a nice day:)

Mr boots...adhd possibly?????

adhd???????

cowan

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders aka A.D.D.

kona

who007 wrote: »

Jesus... these boards get a bit full on! Another thing that's sh*te about this country - no-one can express an opinion without someone else targetting them for sarcastic/insulting replies.. Doesn't happen on UK sites and happens only to a degree on US sites.. Came here looking for some helpful info and got stuck reading a load of "well my daddy has a shot gun and yours doesn't" sh*te!

you can express a opinion, just make sure its accurate.;)

Mr.Boots

cowan wrote: »

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders aka A.D.D.

Yea i know what it is......Just wondering why kona reckons i have it

kona

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Kona.....Snore zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!

bit harsh maybe

Mr.Boots

Dont take it to seriously mate......it just ruins a thread when people go off on tangents and it turns into a schoolboy arguement over who knows the most ect ect.
Apologies if i offended.

jacob2

if your buying a bike from halfords u are better buying it boxed and assemble it yourself or get a local bike shop with some experience to assemble it steer clear of there bike care, give it to a bike shop that knows how to repair a bike

velo.2010

There was Christ's resurrection, then there was this thread....

punisher5112

jacob2 wrote: »

if your buying a bike from halfords u are better buying it boxed and assemble it yourself or get a local bike shop with some experience to assemble it steer clear of there bike care, give it to a bike shop that knows how to repair a bike

Zombie thread. wonder what was the oldest to be revived......

Eamonnator

Posters got away with a lot of sh**e back in 2008.