Do Halfords really understand about cars or customers?

Do Halfords really understand about cars or customers?

Author
Discussion

vikingaero

10,256 posts

168 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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ILoveMondeo said:
True, but it's a LOT less intimidating for someone that doesnt really know what they want in the way of oil to go to the Halfords and ask than it is to go to ECP, or any of the other places to be greeted by a crowd of sweary, know it all (but actually know-very-little) gibbons laughing and hooting behind the counter.

Motor Factors are generally trade suppliers, sure they have a retail counter, but many just wouldn't be comfortable using it for lots of reasons.
Up until a few months ago I was also a motor factor virgin. Everyone recommended buying stuff from there so I decided to try it. It's no different from walking up to the parts counter at Halfords and the staff at my local one grunt, but are matey friendly.

ambuletz

10,693 posts

180 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Do you really expect a part-timer working 2hours during the dead lunch time shift to know their entire product range and uses?

I don't suppose anyone here has gone to Asda and asked for a fashion guru to help pick them out something from their George range?

Piersman2

6,596 posts

198 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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555 Paul said:
Halfords adverts are always typically very bad but their latest "we fit" advert on the radio is on another level. "When changing a bulb let it cool down first" "ouch it's hot" smash!

Errr if you're changing a bulb isn't that because it's already broken and there for won't get hot?
Exactly my thought when I heard the advert yesterday! laugh

Piersman2

6,596 posts

198 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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To be fair to Halfords they've had to reinvent themselves over the last 15 years as people do less and less work on their cars on their driveways.(old fart mode)It's not like it used to be (/old fart mode)

However it has got me out of the st a few times as they do tend to stock a decent enough set of tools for when you need something special and they do have a basic selection of bits and bobs you can browse to find those weird fittings or screws you sometimes need.

I tend to look on ECP first, there's one very local and their prices are competitive and you can check stock and reserve before heading over.

If I'm not 100% sure what they have is what I need I go an Ebay and order the spot on bit from there.

Case in point recently was a new ignition switch electrical switch assembly for the Boxster. Apparently a 'generic' thing usd by AUDI, BMW etc... Halfords, not a chance. ECP, checked, has something close but not sure. Ebay, found what I wanted and ordered. Unfortunately it didn't work, the ebay advert was for the generic model. So back on and ordered the more expensive Porsche version which worked perfectly.

So for me:

Specialist parts - Ebay
General servicing and pattern parts (brakes, oil, etc...) - ECP
Tools, wipers, cleaning products - Halfords

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Halfords have improved since they turned orange, most of the hate seems left over from the old blue shops. It's still over priced & limited in stock & knowledge, but it's a LOT better than pre-rebranding.

ILoveMondeo

9,614 posts

225 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Hooli said:
Halfords have improved since they turned orange, most of the hate seems left over from the old blue shops. It's still over priced & limited in stock & knowledge, but it's a LOT better than pre-rebranding.
I'm 37 and can't remember the blue shops!

Rolls

1,502 posts

176 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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The blue shops would have been about 12 years ago : worked there whilst I was at uni, and we went from blue > orange in that time!

Fane

1,308 posts

199 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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During MOTs we've refitted quite a few headlamp bulbs which the Halfords experts have put in upside down.

wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Like a lot of places it's good and bad. Depends on so many things.

I've had them go the extra Mille in my failed attempt to fit a radio. Nine of the plugs matched it was some wierd BMW/Rover connectors butchered onto something else. The guy sold me a load of bits that might work, and told me to bring back what didn't fit or work.

Equally I had an imbecile who told me on a rainy afternoon when I popped in ahead if a long journey to replace my blades that flatt blades could not be fitted to my car, despite the fact it was outside with its worn OEM flat blades on.

They do provide a decent 7 day service.

My local motor factor (Est 1976) closed last year when the owner died. He was great, had vast stocks and was well known in the area for stocking that left threaded spigot pin in copper fitted for only 3 minths to French Spec V6 Triymph Stags in 1971. Or whatever. He also knew what bit went in what cars and what parts they shared.

You could get everything from a tin of polish to an cylinder head.

His shop is soon to become a wine bar.

pad58

12,543 posts

180 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Brought a set of brighter bulbs from Halfords ,the guy asked me if I wanted them to replace them in my car, for £3.99.

If anyone knows the Mk4 Golf these are a sod to change as you (correctly) have to take the bumper and grill off, basically a lot of faffing about, to a novice, a good half hour...in the rain.

I said okay, then he calls an older chap, to sort it out.
The older guy takes a look at my car and says "sorry sir we don't change bulbs on these cars, you will have to go to the dealership".

Flounce.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
pad58 said:
Brought a set of brighter bulbs from Halfords ,the guy asked me if I wanted them to replace them in my car, for £3.99.

If anyone knows the Mk4 Golf these are a sod to change as you (correctly) have to take the bumper and grill off, basically a lot of faffing about, to a novice, a good half hour...in the rain.

I said okay, then he calls an older chap, to sort it out.
The older guy takes a look at my car and says "sorry sir we don't change bulbs on these cars, you will have to go to the dealership".

Flounce.
If that is the case then Halfords should advertise which cars they do change the bulbs.Bad business practice.

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

157 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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555 Paul said:
Sump said:
Halfords pro range is also excellent and has a briiliant no quibble warranty. You are a goon.

Edited by Sump on Friday 24th October 22:05
It is good stuff but they don't warrant "moving parts" so they sell you a kit to fix ratchets.
Last time I swapped some bits a few months ago I was told they had changed supplier again. Back to one as good as when it was professional stuff, and they are that confident with the new stuff the ratchets are now under warranty.

pad58

12,543 posts

180 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Quite.

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I suppose the level of staff attrition in Halfords is quite high hence training their staff to a degree of knowledge acceptable to the average PHer would soon bankrput them, as for example Uni peeps go back after their summer term etc. and another round of the JML process kicks off.

Not defending it, I just accept they aren't experts.

heners54

286 posts

138 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
555 Paul said:
Halfords adverts are always typically very bad but their latest "we fit" advert on the radio is on another level. "When changing a bulb let it cool down first" "ouch it's hot" smash!

Errr if you're changing a bulb isn't that because it's already broken and there for won't get hot? And even if that is the case why would it bother you that you've dropped and broken the old one!

Their adverts seem like they're aimed at the clueless and it puts me off of using them, I went into my local Halfords recently to purchase a Halfords advanced ratchet repair kit and they managed to give me the wrong kit despite me pointing out my ratchet in the cabinet...
To be fair, most people will change their headlight bulbs in pairs (hopefully), rather than just the broken one. And judging by the number of cars people seem to report driving everywhere with only one headlight bulb working, sometimes on full beam too, I think they need reminding if they have just been out one is cold and broken and the other is pretty hot.

Buster73

5,043 posts

152 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
555 Paul said:
It is good stuff but they don't warrant "moving parts" so they sell you a kit to fix ratchets.
Sounds fair enough to me , a ratchet will suffer from wear and tear , why would you expect a replacement under warranty ?


Zoobeef

6,004 posts

157 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
555 Paul said:
It is good stuff but they don't warrant "moving parts" so they sell you a kit to fix ratchets.
Sounds fair enough to me , a ratchet will suffer from wear and tear , why would you expect a replacement under warranty ?
See my last post.

Feirny

2,500 posts

146 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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You get good ones and bad ones as with anything.

I was in management there a few years ago (hated it) but had customers (including numerous PH members) coming to see me in order to help them. I of course gave discount and didn't quibble returns or warranties.
You can't judge every person by their occupation, though subsequently the quality of my old store has deteriorated since I left wink

Negative Creep

24,942 posts

226 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Foppo said:
pad58 said:
Brought a set of brighter bulbs from Halfords ,the guy asked me if I wanted them to replace them in my car, for £3.99.

If anyone knows the Mk4 Golf these are a sod to change as you (correctly) have to take the bumper and grill off, basically a lot of faffing about, to a novice, a good half hour...in the rain.

I said okay, then he calls an older chap, to sort it out.
The older guy takes a look at my car and says "sorry sir we don't change bulbs on these cars, you will have to go to the dealership".

Flounce.
If that is the case then Halfords should advertise which cars they do change the bulbs.Bad business practice.
So you'd want a list of every car they can do? That's one long advert

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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You know what? Halfords has its place.

I can drive a vacuum cleaner too but my wife and I pay for a cleaner to do some work for us every fortnight so we don't have to do it all. We still do a fair bit of housework but there are times when free time is short and I can't be arsed. The time is worth more than the money to me there.

I have changed headlight bulbs, and sometimes I have let Halfords spend the 20 minutes it takes to pop out the headlight assembly and change the bulb while I read the paper and have a coffee. Sometimes having a few free moments is worth the money for the teenagers to do it for me. May the powerfully built forces of PH strike me down for admitting so! hehe

Complaining about Halfords not being top quality is like complaining that McDonalds didn't have a romantic ambience and you couldn't order fillet steak. It serves a specific part of the market. Sometimes I feel like a Big Mac. When I don't feel like a Big Mac, I cook decent food at home or eat at a more upscale restaurant I like.

If you don't feel like buying stuff from Halfords, go elsewhere and let them serve the stuff they provide to the people who do!