Halfords - Test rides?

enoonan · 09-08-2012 01:06PM #1

All,
I would like to hear if other have had a similar experience to the one that I've just had.

I was in Halfords and I was extremely interested in buying the Boardman Team Hybrid(€930) as it was looking like the best option of a list I had. However when I asked if I could cycle the bike before purchasing I was told that I would be limited to the shop floor only. Now the Halfords shop floor in Limerick is not that big, longest straight is about 10m maybe, if you avoid the other customers and the display bikes. To me this is not an adequate place to test a bike.

The guy told me that its Halfords policy not to allow bikes to be ridden outside the premises on insurance grounds. I told him that unless I could at least cycle it around the car park I would not be buying it. Which is the way it has been with any other bike shops that I have dealt with in the past. Seems a bit odd to me.

Anyone else have any experiences like this??

Eoin

leeomurchu · 09-08-2012 01:09PM

Did you have a look at other bike shops? The bike you're looking at is a good one but they're better for less $$. Chain Reaction cycles are having a big sale at the min and they deliver nationwide I think.

Lumen · 09-08-2012 01:10PM

Halfords is not a bike shop.

Fair enough if they want to operate that policy, it gives a way for dedicated bike shops to differentiate themselves.

enoonan · 09-08-2012 01:12PM

leeomurchu- I have indeed. There are some good bikes out there but the spec of the Boardman hybrid and the fact that I have an Axa card(15% discount) was swinging the needle so to speak.
I would be slow to buy a bike online as I would like to cycle it first to see how good a fit etc it is.

Eoin

leeomurchu · 09-08-2012 01:12PM

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70340

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57201

enoonan · 09-08-2012 01:16PM

lumen - I would agree 100%

leeomurchu - Thanks for those. Must look a bit further but I would prefer to try before I buy though.

Eoin

leeomurchu · 09-08-2012 01:17PM

Yeah i know what you're saying suck it and see type of thing but if you go into a bike store and get fitted for a bike the dimensions won't change on the bike you order and to be honest most halfords store know little when it comes to bikes and they'll always try up sell you. If you could put it off buy after the summer usually good prices between then and christmas. Good luck anyway hope you get what you're looking for I was almost on the back of boardman hybrid (nice bike) but couldn't justify the pennies

Seaneh · 09-08-2012 01:27PM

the boardman isn't a great spec for the price really, even with the discount.

You could get something like a sirus comp or a shaper 300 for cheaper and they'd be better speced.

The disc break is pointless, totally unnecessary extra cost and weight. Means the fork will be a lot harsher too, unless you are thrudging thorugh 2-3 inches of muddy gunk normal road breaks are more than enough and a lot easier to maintain.

leeomurchu · 09-08-2012 01:41PM

Seaneh wrote: »

the boardman isn't a great spec for the price really, even with the discount.

You could get something like a sirus comp or a shaper 300 for cheaper and they'd be better speced.

The disc break is pointless, totally unnecessary extra cost and weight. Means the fork will be a lot harsher too, unless you are thrudging thorugh 2-3 inches of muddy gunk normal road breaks are more than enough and a lot easier to maintain.

Agree nice looking bike that sirrus comp but it's pricey though.

awec · 09-08-2012 01:45PM

I'm not sure how far you're willing to travel OP, but with the CRC bikes posted and you wanting to try stuff out you may be interested to know that CRC have a big shop in Belfast on the boucher road.

enoonan · 09-08-2012 01:46PM

Seaneh- The Sirrus Comp is a lovely bike I will agree. That was next on my list but at €975 it was dearer and the shops couldn't guarantee that I could get an XL.

leeomurchu - I know what you're saying about waiting but I'm off the road now almost two months and I am itchin to get going!!

Eoin

enoonan · 09-08-2012 01:51PM

Awec- Thanks for that info. At the moment I'm not sure that I would travel from Limerick to Belfast for a bike but as time goes on things might change.
At the moment I would head for Cork or Galway no problem.

Thanks again for the info.

Eoin

leeomurchu · 09-08-2012 02:11PM

Ah sure go for the one in Halfords so it's a decent bike and you're getting a good discount by the time you look around and what not you'll end up cycling in worse weather than we're currently having.

The upside to Halfords is that they're a big company and if there's any faults they'll replace straight away no hassle my first bike was a halfords hybrid and the pedal broke after a short period of time it actually turned out I'd cross threaded it at some stage but they replaced the pedal and crank at no cost to me which was handy.

You're gonna get a lot of die hards who'll say ah it's only a halfords bike but sure there's always someone with a better faster bike and the only time it really matters is when you catch a glimpse of him over your shoulder in a race.

good bike with a decent spec (buy pads and discs on ebay for little money you may even pick up a set of juicy or similar at a bargain) a big discount and no quibble returns policy sounds like a winner to me

Good luck with it and I wouldn't worry to much about the trial run if it doesn't suit or has a fault go straight back with it.

Seaneh · 09-08-2012 04:32PM

If I was going to be spending €790 for a bike myself I'd spend an extra €35 and buy this.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lapierre/shaper-500-2012-hybrid-bike-ec031584#features

CramCycle · 09-08-2012 06:54PM

I presume you could buy it, test it in the parking lot, come back in and ask for a refund so you could think about it, I thought I heard someone mention a no quibble return policy but I could be wrong.

enoonan · 09-08-2012 11:14PM

Thanks everyone for the replies. Going to mull over this one for a while I think unless I get a real good offer elsewhere.

Thanks again

Eoin

cormac_byrne · 10-08-2012 10:52PM

CramCycle wrote: »

I presume you could buy it, test it in the parking lot, come back in and ask for a refund so you could think about it, I thought I heard someone mention a no quibble return policy but I could be wrong.

You could buy it online with their 'reserve & collect' service,
website says:-

Reserve & Collect

FREE Reserve and Collect stock in your local store in only an hour

Returns

If you're not entirely happy with your purchase return for FREE to any of our 460 stores nationwide

CramCycle · 11-08-2012 09:59AM

cormac_byrne wrote: »

You could buy it online with their 'reserve & collect' service,
website says:-

Reserve & Collect

FREE Reserve and Collect stock in your local store in only an hour

Returns

If you're not entirely happy with your purchase return for FREE to any of our 460 stores nationwide

Cycle between two stores to get a proper feel for the bike, great idea.

cormac_byrne · 11-08-2012 11:22AM

CramCycle wrote: »

Cycle between two stores to get a proper feel for the bike, great idea.

then test / buy another bike to get back!

Darkglasses · 11-08-2012 11:25AM

cormac_byrne wrote: »

then test / buy another bike to get back!

I think we have found a nationwide Dublin Bike scheme.

CramCycle · 11-08-2012 11:39AM

Currently on a train to longford and brought my bike, could have just walked to halfords and even cycled back to Dublin. Is it definite that it can be returned to any store?

Crow92 · 11-08-2012 11:50AM

cormac_byrne wrote: »

You could buy it online with their 'reserve & collect' service,
website says:-

Reserve & Collect

FREE Reserve and Collect stock in your local store in only an hour

Returns

If you're not entirely happy with your purchase return for FREE to any of our 460 stores nationwide

The Reserve and collect is for all items in store, but with bicycle's they have to be built up or sometimes ordered, so you'd be waiting a day usually, or 1 hour if you want it in a box.

Not 100% sure what's the deal with returning bikes from other stores, I've never had anyone do that. And also if you do a 60km cycle on the bike they might refuse if the bikes is dirty and used as it has to be sold again.

Tis a pain but we can't let people out on the bikes, lack of staff and depending on the store location a busy carpark etc. so other local bike shops definitely have an advantage.

cormac_byrne · 11-08-2012 11:59AM

The reserve and collect info says can return to any of 460 stores nationwide, this implies that info relates to reserve and collect in the uk.

It probably is the same here (just website link not correct)

I think distance selling regulations require them to allow returns in a cooling off period etc...

C3PO · 11-08-2012 12:47PM

cormac_byrne wrote: »

I think distance selling regulations require them to allow returns in a cooling off period etc...

I thought "distance selling" only referred to online/catalogue purchases?

dahamsta · 11-08-2012 12:55PM

On topic, I test rode Halfords bikes in the car park in Mahon, Cork. It was a while back though, and it was a cheapie, policy may have changed or they might just not want to allow expensive bikes out of the shop.

kendragon · 11-08-2012 02:59PM

Thing is it might not be halfords policy at all. Could be just that particular store. I've bought and browsed for bike stuff in the Limerick Halfords a few times and I've really come to loathe going in to the place. Any staff I've dealt with upstairs have an awful attitude when it comes to customer service. Asking them a question makes you feel like you are really putting them out.

Crow92 · 11-08-2012 03:24PM

kendragon wrote: »

Thing is it might not be halfords policy at all. Could be just that particular store. I've bought and browsed for bike stuff in the Limerick Halfords a few times and I've really come to loathe going in to the place. Any staff I've dealt with upstairs have an awful attitude when it comes to customer service. Asking them a question makes you feel like you are really putting them out.

I'm actually unsure what the official policy is, I know in my store we don't let people take them out. The locality has it's share of undesirables and sometimes there's only 1 person working in the bikehut who has to build bikes, do repairs, serve customers etc. so they can't go outside with the person to try them out.

In my store we have about 20 metres you could go up and down but that's it. When people are buying boardmans is the only time I've ever been asked to bring a bike out to try and even then it's only been a handful of times, I just explain why we can't, apologise and so far they've been grand with it.

Two big problems with halfords. Firstly all stores are different so it can be hit and a miss but if you know what stores are decent you'll be grand, though every store will probably have 1 person who could have an awful attitude which leads onto the second problem of hiring young lads who want a job but lack an interest in cycling. Now in saying that if someone does his job well it shouldn't matter if they have an interest or not but it helps.

kendragon · 11-08-2012 03:34PM

Crow92 wrote: »

I'm actually unsure what the official policy is, I know in my store we don't let people take them out. The locality has it's share of undesirables and sometimes there's only 1 person working in the bikehut who has to build bikes, do repairs, serve customers etc. so they can't go outside with the person to try them out.

In my store we have about 20 metres you could go up and down but that's it. When people are buying boardmans is the only time I've ever been asked to bring a bike out to try and even then it's only been a handful of times, I just explain why we can't, apologise and so far they've been grand with it.

Two big problems with halfords. Firstly all stores are different so it can be hit and a miss but if you know what stores are decent you'll be grand, though every store will probably have 1 person who could have an awful attitude which leads onto the second problem of hiring young lads who want a job but lack an interest in cycling. Now in saying that if someone does his job well it shouldn't matter if they have an interest or not but it helps.

Sorry, I probably should make it clear that I haven't asked to test ride a bike or anything like that. My comments are just that in my dealings with at least three members of the Limerick store's upstairs staff I've really felt like they really don't want to be dealing with customers and make that fact plain in their attitude. In my mind this could easily extend to a member of staff not wanting to go to the trouble of bringing a display bike outside for a customer so he could try it out. There is actually a nice amount of paving outside that shop that could be used (assuming its not too busy, foot traffic wise).

Of course if it is in fact their policy then this is all irrelevant.

dahamsta · 11-08-2012 07:44PM

kendragon wrote: »

Thing is it might not be halfords policy at all. Could be just that particular store. I've bought and browsed for bike stuff in the Limerick Halfords a few times and I've really come to loathe going in to the place. Any staff I've dealt with upstairs have an awful attitude when it comes to customer service. Asking them a question makes you feel like you are really putting them out.

Same in Mahon. Bunch of wonkers, won't go upstairs there again. Main shop staff are grand though.

Halfords - Test rides?

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