Had my heart set on a Chris Boardman but......

kingaaa

Halfords wont sign up to the bike to work scheme with the job (Something to do with one4all vouchers).. So now I'm looking for a brand with similar spec to the Boardman performance hybrid and a retailer (just about any of them) on the northside.......any recomendations?

iregk

welcome to my pain.

Lumen

Cycleways or CSS would be my first choices.

Cycleways will probably sell you a Specialized.

CSS will probably show you a Giant then sell you a Lapierre.

kingaaa

Lumen wrote: »

Cycleways or CSS would be my first choices.

Cycleways will probably sell you a Specialized.

CSS will probably show you a Giant then sell you a Lapierre.

I know of cycleways, but who are css?

kingaaa

just found them, too far away.

mike12

Halfords are in with the one got all vouchers crowd but you can just get a cheque from your company and go and buy the bike off them then as far as i know depends how your company are doing it but there are ways around it.
Mike

kingaaa

mike12 wrote: »

Halfords are in with the one got all vouchers crowd but you can just get a cheque from your company and go and buy the bike off them then as far as i know depends how your company are doing it but there are ways around it.
Mike

Yeah, I know - but my company wont swing that way.

jollylee

Did you give Halfords Limerick a call? They have sold a lot of bikes on cycle to work scheme and should be able to accomodate you. Ask for Conor or Ger and they'll help you out if they can.

kingaaa

jollylee wrote: »

Did you give Halfords Limerick a call? They have sold a lot of bikes on cycle to work scheme and should be able to accomodate you. Ask for Conor or Ger and they'll help you out if they can.

Halfords is totally out of the picture mate, looking for a good store/brand recomendations - preferably on the northside of Dublin.

devotional1993

kingaaa wrote: »

Halfords is totally out of the picture mate, looking for a good store/brand recomendations - preferably on the northside of Dublin.

Whats the big deal with going over to the southside? some people think crossing Dublin is a major trek!!!!!!!!:pac:

kingaaa

devotional1993 wrote: »

Whats the big deal with going over to the southside? some people think crossing Dublin is a major trek!!!!!!!!:pac:

Nah, I said preferably the northside - if I have to go over I will, just was'nt aware there were certain brands/models exclusive to the southside!!:D:D

but seriously, until I get my bike I'm in the car and I get cold chills at the thoughts of crossing town with some of the headcases on the roads here!

kona

Err, what does your company pay the bike shop in?? Magic beans?

Just get the money give it to halfords, you get the boardman. Simples. Sounds like whoever deals with the c2w in your job doesnt have a clue. Halfords will accept anything in payment as long as its legal tender.

Single Malt

kona wrote: »

Err, what does your company pay the bike shop in?? Magic beans?

Just get the money give it to halfords, you get the boardman. Simples. Sounds like whoever deals with the c2w in your job doesnt have a clue. Halfords will accept anything in payment as long as its legal tender.

Not everywhere accepts one4all, as its percentage is bigger than most other B2W intermediaries.

72hundred

A little OT....

Any one else think the bike to work scheme has been nicely sh^gged up by private 3rd party companies, with limited choices and no internet sellers? I'm looking at Bike To Work LTD . I don't understand why they need to exist. Lazy accounting departments out-sourcing a little bit of work with the BTW Scheme?

Lumen

72hundred wrote: »

Lazy accounting departments

Tautology fail.

kona

Single Malt wrote: »

Not everywhere accepts one4all, as its percentage is bigger than most other B2W intermediaries.

Halfords will accept anything for the cycle2work. The oneforall just makes it easier for them.
A business cheque for example. Im sure if the lazy ass accounting dept got off their holes and rang one for all it would be a simple procedure.

OP how does your company prefer their c2w to work?

72hundred

Lumen wrote: »

Tautology fail.

Haha, I ain't trolling for accountants. (?Sorry Lumen!). But I don't like the idea of a 3rd party in the BTWS, it just means greater cost for the consumer eventually.

EDIT: kona:

Im sure if the lazy ass accounting dept got off their holes and rang one for all it would be a simple procedure.

Now that's how to troll!

kona

AFAIK you are entitled to spend your money where you like. If you couldnt well then it wouldnt be very good. Some companies deal with these retarded Bike2work etc ompanies. Why the hell cant they just give you a cheque and take the money out of your wages. Its all the same.

kona

72hundred wrote: »

Haha, I ain't trolling for accountants. (?Sorry Lumen!). But I don't like the idea of a 3rd party in the BTWS, it just means greater cost for the consumer eventually.

EDIT: kona: Now that's how to troll!

Im hungry.:p

72hundred

Oh! Tautology means something else... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tautology learn something new everyday!

kingaaa

kona wrote: »

Halfords will accept anything for the cycle2work. The oneforall just makes it easier for them.
A business cheque for example. Im sure if the lazy ass accounting dept got off their holes and rang one for all it would be a simple procedure.

OP how does your company prefer their c2w to work?

I think your mis-informed mate. The problem is Halfords are only accepting one4all vouchers ont he b2w scheme, and my company (which employs 5000+ btw) wont sign up for it - they just want a normal invoice. Halfords seemingly don even have bank accounts here.

Lumen

kingaaa wrote: »

I think your mis-informed mate. The problem is Halfords are only accepting one4all vouchers ont he b2w scheme, and my company (which employs 5000+ btw) wont sign up for it - they just want a normal invoice. Halfords seemingly don even have bank accounts here.

I can understand Halfords not wanting to give credit terms to random companies for small purchases, but can't you just get your company to buy the bike with a credit card or cash? There is nothing special about a BTW scheme purchase.

droidus

I had this as well. My employer went through a 3rd party company. Halfords wouldn't deal with them as they took a % of the sale price. There was nothing that could be done as that was the only avenue I was allowed to use to avail of the scheme.

droidus

Also - Ive heard that a certain bank will allow their employees to benefit from the scheme ONLY if they pay the full amount up front themselves (receiving tax credits in their wages for a year afterwards). Said bank is generously offering employees the oppertunity to take out a personal loan to pay for the bikes...

Moral of the story - when it comes to CTW, you are totally at the mercy of your employer and whatever idiotic restrictions they choose to place on the scheme.

mike12

kingaaa wrote: »

I think your mis-informed mate. The problem is Halfords are only accepting one4all vouchers ont he b2w scheme, and my company (which employs 5000+ btw) wont sign up for it - they just want a normal invoice. Halfords seemingly don even have bank accounts here.

I don't understand go to Halfords ask them for a quoate for the bike give it to your employer who will give u cash/cheque lodge the cheque if you have to go in buy the bike, I don't think it makes any difference if you are buying it on the BTW scheme to halfords do they get anything if its on the BTWS from the goverement or do they have to tell the revenue who bought bikes on the bike to work scheme my brother in law actually got the cheque and bought it in halfords in N.I.
Mike

kona

kingaaa wrote: »

I think your mis-informed mate. The problem is Halfords are only accepting one4all vouchers ont he b2w scheme, and my company (which employs 5000+ btw) wont sign up for it - they just want a normal invoice. Halfords seemingly don even have bank accounts here.

Then Just get Halfords to write you a quotation on company paper. Just because it says one for all on it doesnt mean they have to use one for all.

Your company is dicking you around, not Halfords. Im sure that they can lodge the money with one4all? then you get a nice voucher? Correct?
Why wont they do this? bearing in mind your entitled to spend YOUR money where you want?

Can your company not process your quote, then give you a business cheque? why not?

Very Few business are so retarded and inflexible to only pay through giro to another bank account. Go kick up **** and you will get your bike.

kona

kingaaa wrote: »

I think your mis-informed mate. The problem is Halfords are only accepting one4all vouchers ont he b2w scheme, .

This is misinformed. Halfords will accept anything as payment. I will guarantee you that they will take a business cheque or even a business credit card as payment. Believe me they dont care how you pay.

The main reason they use onefor all mainly is because they dont want people getting clearance for a business cheque as it takes too much time, and then you have the problems with bouncing and forgeries etc.

If you have a Genuine means of payment, they will take it. Your company is the problem not Halfords, Do you think Halfords will Turn down a 1000 euro sale just because they want you to dance around and get a one4all voucher?

kingaaa

kona wrote: »

This is misinformed. Halfords will accept anything as payment. I will guarantee you that they will take a business cheque or even a business credit card as payment. Believe me they dont care how you pay.

The main reason they use onefor all mainly is because they dont want people getting clearance for a business cheque as it takes too much time, and then you have the problems with bouncing and forgeries etc.

If you have a Genuine means of payment, they will take it. Your company is the problem not Halfords, Do you think Halfords will Turn down a 1000 euro sale just because they want you to dance around and get a one4all voucher?

All I can tell you is what the guy in Halfords told me, they only do the CTW scheme through all4one. My job told me they wont operate this way. Who am I to argue?

Anyway, I went to cycleways today, picked out a Specialised Sirrus Elite and lots of luggage and accessories etc...etc... The guy there filled out the form exactly as my job needs it in 5 minutes, so its off waiting for clearance now. I think Halfords have shot themselves in the foot with this one - they are certainly going to lose a lot of business from my company (I'd estimate numbers in the hundreds) just becase they would'nt give an invoice first and insisted on going through one4all. I always thought that the customer was king?

kona

kingaaa wrote: »

All I can tell you is what the guy in Halfords told me, they only do the CTW scheme through all4one. My job told me they wont operate this way. Who am I to argue?

Anyway, I went to cycleways today, picked out a Specialised Sirrus Elite and lots of luggage and accessories etc...etc... The guy there filled out the form exactly as my job needs it in 5 minutes, so its off waiting for clearance now. I think Halfords have shot themselves in the foot with this one - they are certainly going to lose a lot of business from my company (I'd estimate numbers in the hundreds) just becase they would'nt give an invoice first and insisted on going through one4all. I always thought that the customer was king?

I think you have had your wires crossed, or somebody in your company has not taken the time to find out the details.
As has been mentioned before, Halfords will accept any sort of payment. I understand their quotes say one4all on them, however the quote is still a quote, you dont have to go through one4all.

Im glad you god sorted with a bike anyways, but I really dont think this is a Halfords problem(apart from the sales guy not knowing what can and cant be done).

kingaaa

kona wrote: »

I think you have had your wires crossed, or somebody in your company has not taken the time to find out the details.
As has been mentioned before, Halfords will accept any sort of payment. I understand their quotes say one4all on them, however the quote is still a quote, you dont have to go through one4all.

Im glad you god sorted with a bike anyways, but I really dont think this is a Halfords problem(apart from the sales guy not knowing what can and cant be done).

No mate, I'm just repeating what I was told and to be honest - it was all out of my hands, if I'm told thats the way it is - thats the way it is!!

But on a different note, I'm quite pleased now, as the Specialized Sirrus Elite looks to be a good choice compared to the Boardman and I'm fairly pleased with the whole package I got. Silver linings and all that:):):)

Vego

Hate to dig this bad boy up but im in a similar situation.

Went for a boardman at halfords, price reduced on said item had to fight them to re quote me on it, then I asked about my axa discount to a reply of we dont double discount (I had a long conversation on how its double discounted)...so I changed my plan of attack my boss gave me a bank draft done out to halfords where I in theory could go in and buy it as a normal joe and use my 10% off discount on my axa card get an invoice and let accounting work with that .... for the guy in halfords to turn around and say the dont take bank drafts .....:(

StevieGriff

Vego wrote: »

Hate to dig this bad boy up but im in a similar situation.

Went for a boardman at halfords, price reduced on said item had to fight them to re quote me on it, then I asked about my axa discount to a reply of we dont double discount (I had a long conversation on how its double discounted)...so I changed my plan of attack my boss gave me a bank draft done out to halfords where I in theory could go in and buy it as a normal joe and use my 10% off discount on my axa card get an invoice and let accounting work with that .... for the guy in halfords to turn around and say the dont take bank drafts .....:(

Get your boss to do a cheque instead of a bank draft if you want to do it that way. But you won't get an AXA discount on one of the 25% off bikes.

Vego

StevieGriff wrote: »

Get your boss to do a cheque instead of a bank draft if you want to do it that way. But you won't get an AXA discount on one of the 25% off bikes.

had the discount done and then the words how would you like to pay .....he has to order a new cheque book so always thought bank drafts were as good as cash ....more secure than a cheque anyway

aFlabbyPanda

I bought a boardman from them in Sept and it was reduced plus I got the 10% axa discount.