Dont agree.

I like Halfords.

Needed help sorting out a bike rack for my mini and the staff were more than helpful, so helpful in fact i ended up buying the bike to put on it from them the next day.

Bargin as well.

I got a 20 yr old pair of pliers replaced FOC under their lifetime guarantee scheme .

They are more expensive than the local motor factors, but they are more likely to be open when you need them, and their Professional tool range is excellent quality

Never really had a problem with them they do exactly what is expected sell car stuff a bit higher priced than the net/factors.

All Because of the convenience of them being just down the road and open when you might need them sundays/evenings.

The only issue I did have was the local store refusing to replace a broken tool with lifetime cover due to me not having the receipt, swiftly sorted with a strongly worded email to head office

Now you mention it, I've had that too.

I've had good and bad experiences at Halfords, some of the staff are friendly and helpful, others aren't. They do offer a lifetime warranty on tools, but the one time I took a broken tool back they didn't have a replacement in stock and didn't offer to order it for me - "just keep coming back with it and we'll replace it when we have one" was the unhelpful advice. My wife went to a local store with me to buy a bike and was so fed up with the cycle salesman's attitude that she walked out (he was very reluctant to adjust the seat-height in a cycle so she could try it for size properly). We went round the corner to and indipendent bike shop where they couldn't have been more helpful (which resulted in a sale for them).
I Have also had experience of a bike that had been bought and set up by their cycle mechanic. I had to set-up the brakes and gears properly before it was safe to use on the road.

I've only ever written a letter of complaint once, and it was last year in relation to the Bishopbriggs branch of Halfords.

Walked in on a Monday night looking to buy a set of short number plates. The place was deserted, i think only one other customer browsing the isles, and about 4 members of staff talking together over at the bikes section.

I tried to make eye contact with them as i walked passed the staff, to aknowledge them and to show that I was looking for assistance. But they blanked me. I made my way to the service desk, where I continued to be ignored for about 5 minutes. Whilst waiting I used the time to confirm the spec of plates I wanted, although I couldn't see a price listed next to their picture in the plastic flip chart type things they have in the store.

By this time i was starting to get pissed off with the lack of service. I decided to see if staring at them would make any difference, but the staff did all they could to avoid making eye contact so they could continue their chat.

It became a game now, to see who would give in first. I didn't see why i should have to walk over and interupt their conversation, so I decided to phone to the store. Surely they would answer the phone, no. They ignored the phone and continued to chat away. I should have just walked out at this point. But i wasn't going to be beaten.

I kept the phone ringing, and waited to see how long it would take for them to answer. Quite some time as it happens. I could see the point if they were busy serving customers, but the place was dead, and there they were gabbing away, laughing and joking, not a care in the world.

I wasn't going to be beat. after a good 5 minutes or so of constant ringing, one of them must have got fed up with the noise, and eventually answered. He seemed suprised when I asked if he minded serving the guy who had been waiting for 15 minutes at the service desk. "Oh" was the reply.

Reluctantly they guy came up to serve me. I remained calm and politely enquired about the plates I was after only to be told "We don't sell them"

Yes you do, you ahole. I didn't say that, although i felt like it. I pointed the plates out to the guy, showing him their picture in the stupid flip chart thing. The sales asst replied to this "Oh sorry I didn't know we sold them"

I then enquired into how much they were, only to be told he didn't know.

I did what i should have done alot earlier and walked out.

They were kind enough to give me a generic blah blah blah style reply to my letter of complaint.

ive got one about 20mins walk from me..

im always in there when im working on the car, as i ALWAYS ALWAYS need another tool

Superstores are open until 5 on Sundays

the girls at our halfords are helpful, but not that helpful

They sold me an incorrect brake light bulb for my old Fiesta. When I returned and said it was wrong, they said it could not be, as they had been using the same bulbs for years, and the reference catalogue was always correct. When I told them what kind I needed, they replaced the incorrect one for free, but suggested I was not installing it properly. When I said they should come out and see the "incorrect" bulb fit perfectly, they said they were intrigued but could not come out as they would have to charge a "fitting fee" if they left the store. Bulb fitted perfectly and I was on my way - I wonder how many other MK4 Fiesta owners have had their time wasted over the years by this infallible catalogue?