Halfords.ie no payment option on site - total disadvantage

Sounds

In this day and age, of eCommerce, how can any company even think of
putting a website online and not add a payment option for their potential customers.

That's just the worst business sense I've ever seen in 20 years online.

When I rang them they said there's some red tape because it's not a transit
or whatever, basically they're losing money as everyone shops online.

So how do you explain all the other online business in Ireland with payment options.

Boardman MX Sport Bike is 539.99 and I can't even pay for it online,

Anyone know a website where I can actually make a purchase with paypal?

Some companies are so backwards it annoys me.

Eamonnator

Wecome to the Cycling Forum.
I know, you're just having a bit of a rant, and Im glad you've got it off your chest.
As a compromise, could you reserve the bike online, and then when you collect the bike, pay as you would, if you'd being paying on line.
If you want that particular bike, I'm afraid, you're stuck with Halfords.

There are lots of online shops, who will be quite happy to take your money, some will even deliver for free.
Chainreactioncycles have a good service, Ribble, Wiggle, there are tons of them out there.

Sounds

I could do that, but that's not as convenient as shopping online and paying through one of the world's most
well known and trusted payment services, paypal, it is a bit of a rant you're right, but you know what I mean.

They won't even accept a credit card.. laughable

Has to be the most inconvenient online store I've ever been on.
I'd say there are latterly thousands of people with paypal, big loss of profits for halfords.ie

They can give me any excuse they want,

Agent Smyth

Mycycle.ie take Paypal

Don't Chute!

Is it really that big of a deal? An awful lot of people don't like shopping online.

cython

Sounds wrote: »

In this day and age, of eCommerce, how can any company even think of
putting a website online and not add a payment option for their potential customers.

That's just the worst business sense I've ever seen in 20 years online.

When I rang them they said there's some red tape because it's not a transit
or whatever, basically they're losing money as everyone shops online.

So how do you explain all the other online business in Ireland with payment options.

Boardman MX Sport Bike is 539.99 and I can't even pay for it online,

Anyone know a website where I can actually make a purchase with paypal?

Some companies are so backwards it annoys me.

This model works pretty well for Argos, to be fair! Not sure of the validity of the criticisms to be honest.

mgbgt1978

You can make purchases online with Argos (and collect or have it delivered).....in the UK. Same as halfords UK site.
It just seems to be an problem for them over here.

Sounds

I'm not saying it doesn't work, for some companies, if they can afford to pass up on money, which they are, it's very lazy and
unprofessional and pure ignorance to their own services and customers that are willing to pay online, very ignorant business sense.

There are no laws or regulations stopping any online business in Ireland from using an online payment processor.
They're just been idiots. when I finish my next project it will have the same products and a lot more.
And most important, it will have payment services that people actually find convenient, unlike halfords.ie

Considering they're not even an Irish company, I'm not surprised.
It does annoy me but it's not important, I'll gladly give my money to another company.

Eamonnator

[QUOTE=Sounds;96046469
Considering they're not even an Irish company, I'm not surprised.
It does annoy me but it's not important, I'll gladly give my money to another company.[/QUOTE]

... but you won't get a Boardman MX Sport bike from them.

Don't Chute!

Sorry, I still don't understand what the problem is here. What "project" are you working on?!

stecleary

its a very simple business model all based around increasing footfall in stores.
see a product you like, reserve it or go in looking for it, see all the flashy, shiny things by the till and go "oh i need one of them" or "ah sure its only €10 and there's a free bottle".
Just because you're in a grump you have to eave the house doesn't mean others don't like the idea of going to a shop.
I for one will prob never buy a bike online as i like the idea of throwing my leg over it first to get a feel for it

Sounds

I could throw my leg over a bike in any store.. I'm talking about knowing that customers like to pay online,
but deciding it's not that important, we take cash and if you don't like it find it else where, that is their attitude.

That's bad business sense.

Don't Chute!

Well just go somewhere else then!

awec

I'm confused by this thread. Are you complaining that you can't go online, buy a bike from Halfords and have it delivered to your house?

Sounds

What kind of country am I living in, nobody can agree to nothing that actually makes sense.
Is this a UK forum or something.

Don't Chute!

Sounds wrote: »

What kind of country am I living in, nobody can agree to nothing that actually makes sense.
Is this a UK forum or something.

What are you on about?!

jinkypolly

Sounds wrote: »

What kind of country am I living in, nobody can agree to nothing that actually makes sense.
Is this a UK forum or something.

I agree with that bit.

Sounds

If you haven't got a clue by now you might as well forget it mate.

Westernyelp

Sounds wrote: »

If you haven't got a clue by now you might as well forget it mate.

get off your high nelly

Don't Chute!

Sounds wrote: »

If you haven't got a clue by now you might as well forget it mate.

Ok here's an idea, how about you go online, book what you want, go into the store, pay for it and cycle it home? It is a ****ing bike after all! I don't think this thread has anything to do with cycling so why post it here?

Sounds

They sell bikes, which you cycle.

stecleary

Sounds two questions....

1. where else are you going to get the bike you are looking for? you're upset you have to go into the only storees in the country that sells it, Sounds like a brilliant business plan.

2. what project are you looking for? as a web developer for a company the specializes in FX payments I'm intrigued

Sounds

I might still go in and pay after reserving it, it's just the online part that annoys me and wanted to get it off my chest.
It's not the only store that sells them, but it's a good price.
Maybe it's a good idea as someone said to bring in real business
It's not a good idea for online business, basically losing money what ever way you want to look at it.

I work on many projects, I was just saying how simple it is to integrate an online payment option.

Doesn't matter what I say anyway.. people will always disagree here even when it makes sense.

awec

I know someone already said it OP, but if you are willing to purchase a bike online without going to a shop to actually look at it first then I would recommend a site like Chain Reaction instead.

I bet a lot of Halfords bikes are sold via bike-to-work where people have to go to the shop anyway.

Sounds

I don't have any issues with going into a store to see what I'm buying.
I would never open an online store and not offer online paymenoptions, but that's me.

awec

Sounds wrote: »

I don't have any issues with going into a store to see what I'm buying.
I would never open an online store and not offer online paymenoptions, but that's me.

So your complaint here is you can reserve online, but not reserve and pay online?

Honestly what difference does that make for you? Genuine question, I'm not having a go.

Sounds

An online store that offers payment options except in Ireland,
An online store that doesn't offer an online payment option.
Ridiculous

Don't Chute!

Sounds wrote: »

I don't have any issues with going into a store to see what I'm buying.
I would never open an online store and not offer online paymenoptions, but that's me.

Nobody is asking you to! If Halfords don't see it as a problem why should you? Get over it.

awec

Sounds wrote: »

An online store that offers payment options except in Ireland,
An online store that doesn't offer an online payment option.
Ridiculous

Yea but what's the problem? They don't offer online payment cause you have to go into the store to collect it anyway.

What difference does it make paying online instead of paying when you collect?

outfox

What's this 'online payment' thing? I like the sound of it! Must check it out.

ted1

Sounds wrote: »

I could do that, but that's not as convenient as shopping online and paying through one of the world's most
well known and trusted payment services, paypal, it is a bit of a rant you're right, but you know what I mean.

They won't even accept a credit card.. laughable

Has to be the most inconvenient online store I've ever been on.
I'd say there are latterly thousands of people with paypal, big loss of profits for halfords.ie

They can give me any excuse they want,

PayPal have the highest merchant fees. Most good retailers avoid them

Halfords is a brick and mortars store, they need the footfall in the branches to cover rent. Selling online removes footfall

ted1

Sounds wrote: »

I work on many projects, I was just saying how simple it is to integrate an online payment option

Clearly not e-commerce projects as your saying they should use PayPal.

stecleary

ted1 wrote: »

Clearly not e-commerce projects as your saying they should use PayPal.

ah you beat me to it, i was trying to give him a little rope tho

Sounds

I think you misunderstood, it's not about any one single online payment processor.

For the many people that don't care about the convenience of shopping online and paying for something online, great for them.
For the thousands of other folks who like to shop online, not just with paypal, but many convenient payment methods, screw them.

It's just not right to me.. they'd still have their walk in customers and the bonus of orders online, like most online stores.

Jesus christ.. don't you get it yet.

I'm finished with this topic, some people are just so close minded.

awec

Sounds wrote: »

I think you misunderstood, it's not about any one single online payment processor.

For the many people that don't care about the convenience of shopping online and paying for something online, great for them.
For the thousands of other folks who like to shop online, not just with paypal, but many convenient payment methods, screw them.

It's just not right to me.. they'd still have their walk in customers and the bonus of orders online, like most online stores.

Jesus christ.. don't you get it yet.

I'm finished with this topic, some people are just so close minded.

You still haven't really explained the problem.

What does it matter if you can't pay online when you are forced to go and collect it in the store anyway?

I shop online more often than not. Much prefer it. But moaning cause you can't pay online when you have to go to the shop anyway is completely daft.

What exactly is the convenience of paying online when you have to go collect it. Can you elaborate on that?

Sounds

There isn't a problem, I could pay online or go pay in store when collecting it, have no problems with that.
If the product is a good brand then you'd expect to be top quality, even if you pay online before you try it.
If you go to their other store outside of Ireland, you can pay online.

A lot of people keep/earn money online, keep it away from banks so to speak, I don't blame them especially in this country.
But that has nothing to do with it really, just saying, if you have funds online, which is more convenient, cash it out to a rip
off Irish bank account, which takes a few days, or just pay for it instantly online like you would any normal online service.

Convenience for millions of online shoppers, not making sense to this forum.

Eamonnator

And don't forget, you get 10% discount with an Axa card.

cruizer101

Sounds wrote: »

I don't have any issues with going into a store to see what I'm buying.
I would never open an online store and not offer online paymenoptions, but that's me.

Halfords is not an online store it is a bricks and mortar store with an online presence. This obviously works for them as they have quite a number of stores in ireland at this stage.

Sounds

They're a successful brick and mortar business in other countries also, with online payment options.
There are 100's of online Irish stores with more customers using paypal than any other service.. just saying.
In a UK / Ireland eCommerce review I read, 30% of online shoppers leave if there's no online payment options.
It's a costly decision.

salamanca22

It's about logistics, they don't want or need to keep a online shop warehouse stocked and staffed as well as worry about actually delivering to peoples home. It is also a sound business decision to get people into the store where they will more often than not be up-sold on accessories.

Halfords website, in Ireland at least is not an eCommerce store, it is a catalog.

I have developed eCommerce software in the past so have intimate experience, and what halfords are doing is not a bad business decision. Especially for the small Irish market.

Sounds

How can you really have a demand for something if there's not way for people to use it.

salamanca22

Sounds wrote: »

How can you really have a demand for something if there's not way for people to use it.

Demand is generated when something is unavailable, you have a demand for halfords to offer online shopping for instance. Now if 100k others had the same demand I am sure they would offer it. But there isn't that demand, so it's not available. That is a gross oversimplification of course.

Halfords, are doing the best thing business-wise in my opinion. A lot of halfords business is done on the up selling of accessories, which is much harder to do on a website as there is no pressure of a salesman.

stecleary

Sounds wrote: »

There are 100's of online Irish stores with more customers using paypal than any other service.. just saying.
In a UK / Ireland eCommerce review I read, 30% of online shoppers leave if there's no online payment options.
It's a costly decision.

PayPal is now where near as used as eBay would have you think.

out of interest where did you read that? personally i'd have thought it was a higher number

Sounds

I just think, as soon as they add an online option, their business will benefit from it,
Maybe not on a massive scale right off, but their online customers will grow obviously.
They're in a perfect location anyway, people will still walk in to view products.

I don't see the online option being a disadvantage to them.
I wonder how many people have shopped on the site and thought, oh yes, I can buy that right now! no you can't lol

Sorry I just fell off the chair.. you know what I'm saying though.

Beasty

Maybe you should contact them directly with your recommendations - can't imagine they spend much time on here looking for "potential customer" complaints/suggestions

Sounds

I have been in touch, they can't accept credit cards either over the phone or something like that, I forget the exact reason.
Haven't got a problem with all of that, I can walk into their stores if I want, it's their business to take care of these things.
I'm not expecting any of them to be on here reading this or any other topic, it was just a rant and now it's 4 pages long.
It's probably like Sama said, they don't see a demand for it here, I just think it should be an option for convenience.

ted1

Sounds wrote: »

I have been in touch, they can't accept credit cards either over the phone or something like that, I forget the exact reason.

If you do projects for online shops you should know the reason.

Transactions where the customer doesn't present himself and enter their PIN are not afforded the same protection to the retailer, which means your more open to fraud if taking online payments

Sounds

Maybe with a credit card over the phone Ted1

But I think with some well known services, providing an online account to users for money transactions online,
They require new customers to verify their identity before having full access to their online account/services.
If I ever use any of them it's probably to test their developer tools, api's, payment processing.
Some of them have an option to reject payments from unverified accounts, it's secure.

CramCycle

Sounds wrote: »

A lot of people keep/earn money online, keep it away from banks so to speak, I don't blame them especially in this country.

Where do you think most of this online money is kept? I imagine many people have Debit cards, linked to their banks.

awec

Paypal offer a debit card do they not?

Your complaint is you want to buy a bike using paypal instead of using a bank card?

Eamonnator

This stopped being about cycling or bikes about four pages ago.