Do Halfords really understand about cars or customers?
Discussion
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...
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...
Umm, they're directing their adverts at the clueless because those of us who can change our own light bulbs aren't going to be customers of theirs are we? There's no point in advertising a bulb fitting service to people with opposable thumbs or the brains to operate them is there?
It would be like me advertising the Alfa Romeo parts I sell in "Fast Ford" magazine.
It would be like me advertising the Alfa Romeo parts I sell in "Fast Ford" magazine.
1. Intermittent bulb problem.
2. People generally change their bulb at home, smashed glass isn't a good thing to have around your driveway with kids around etc.
3. No one is forcing you to buy from there.
4. Their adverts are designed for people who no nothing about this stuff. What do you know about make up and the different brands?
The cabinet has a glass approximately 80cm away from the goods. You will stand about 80 cm infront of the glass. Therefore you are stood about 1.5m away from the goods. With the helper stood on either your left or right you with you pointing at the goods, there is no chance in hell of being 100% sure what you are pointing at. Usually they would half grab the tool and ask is this the one you're after.
You're just looking for problems here. Are you between 40-60 years old?
I go to Halfords frequently, I know what I want and I use my trade card, never had an issue. If there is an issue they are open 7 days a week. Allow online reservations and never had an issue with returns.
Halfords pro range is also excellent and has a briiliant no quibble warranty. You are a goon.
2. People generally change their bulb at home, smashed glass isn't a good thing to have around your driveway with kids around etc.
3. No one is forcing you to buy from there.
4. Their adverts are designed for people who no nothing about this stuff. What do you know about make up and the different brands?
The cabinet has a glass approximately 80cm away from the goods. You will stand about 80 cm infront of the glass. Therefore you are stood about 1.5m away from the goods. With the helper stood on either your left or right you with you pointing at the goods, there is no chance in hell of being 100% sure what you are pointing at. Usually they would half grab the tool and ask is this the one you're after.
You're just looking for problems here. Are you between 40-60 years old?
I go to Halfords frequently, I know what I want and I use my trade card, never had an issue. If there is an issue they are open 7 days a week. Allow online reservations and never had an issue with returns.
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
Sump said:
Intermittent bulb problem.
People generally change their bulb at home, smashed glass isn't a good thing to have around your driveway with kids around etc.
No one is forcing you to buy from there.
The cabinet has a glass approximately 80cm away from the goods. You will stand about 80 cm infront of the glass. Therefore you are stood about 1.5m away from the goods. With the helper stood on either your left or right you with you pointing at the goods, there is no chance in hell of being 100% sure what you are pointing at. Usually they would half grab the tool and ask is this the one you're after.
You're just looking for problems here. Are you between 40-60 years old?
I go to Halfords frequently, I know what I want and I use my trade card, never had an issue.
No I am not between 40 and 60 years old and the staff behind the counter should know their own products. When I questioned him about the wording on the packaging he stated that they had changed the packaging and it'd be find.People generally change their bulb at home, smashed glass isn't a good thing to have around your driveway with kids around etc.
No one is forcing you to buy from there.
The cabinet has a glass approximately 80cm away from the goods. You will stand about 80 cm infront of the glass. Therefore you are stood about 1.5m away from the goods. With the helper stood on either your left or right you with you pointing at the goods, there is no chance in hell of being 100% sure what you are pointing at. Usually they would half grab the tool and ask is this the one you're after.
You're just looking for problems here. Are you between 40-60 years old?
I go to Halfords frequently, I know what I want and I use my trade card, never had an issue.
555 Paul said:
No I am not between 40 and 60 years old and the staff behind the counter should know their own products. When I questioned him about the wording on the packaging he stated that they had changed the packaging and it'd be find.
So the whole thrust of your argument is that the staff are clueless and you know better. Yet you still walked away with the wrong thing.?????
555 Paul said:
Sump said:
Intermittent bulb problem.
People generally change their bulb at home, smashed glass isn't a good thing to have around your driveway with kids around etc.
No one is forcing you to buy from there.
The cabinet has a glass approximately 80cm away from the goods. You will stand about 80 cm infront of the glass. Therefore you are stood about 1.5m away from the goods. With the helper stood on either your left or right you with you pointing at the goods, there is no chance in hell of being 100% sure what you are pointing at. Usually they would half grab the tool and ask is this the one you're after.
You're just looking for problems here. Are you between 40-60 years old?
I go to Halfords frequently, I know what I want and I use my trade card, never had an issue.
No I am not between 40 and 60 years old and the staff behind the counter should know their own products. When I questioned him about the wording on the packaging he stated that they had changed the packaging and it'd be find.People generally change their bulb at home, smashed glass isn't a good thing to have around your driveway with kids around etc.
No one is forcing you to buy from there.
The cabinet has a glass approximately 80cm away from the goods. You will stand about 80 cm infront of the glass. Therefore you are stood about 1.5m away from the goods. With the helper stood on either your left or right you with you pointing at the goods, there is no chance in hell of being 100% sure what you are pointing at. Usually they would half grab the tool and ask is this the one you're after.
You're just looking for problems here. Are you between 40-60 years old?
I go to Halfords frequently, I know what I want and I use my trade card, never had an issue.
I sometimes browse in Halfords to waste time and gen up on the latest tat for our automobiles. I grimace when I look at the prices in there for wipers and oils. Castrol Edge 5-30W is £46ish. 30seconds drive around the corner is a Euro Car Parts where they charge £32ish. Same with wipers. Some set of branded wipers are £30-40 in Halfrauds and less than half the price in ECP.
Tell them then...
I sent a friendly email to my local garage suggesting that their latest local radio add, where someone is angle grinding and using a hammer did not send the right message! The advert was changed to a more appropriate air gun/garage type noises backing track a week later.
I sent a friendly email to my local garage suggesting that their latest local radio add, where someone is angle grinding and using a hammer did not send the right message! The advert was changed to a more appropriate air gun/garage type noises backing track a week later.
vikingaero said:
I sometimes browse in Halfords to waste time and gen up on the latest tat for our automobiles. I grimace when I look at the prices in there for wipers and oils. Castrol Edge 5-30W is £46ish. 30seconds drive around the corner is a Euro Car Parts where they charge £32ish. Same with wipers. Some set of branded wipers are £30-40 in Halfrauds and less than half the price in ECP.
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.
I popped into Halfords the other day.
I'm sorry, it won't happen again.
But seriously, I needed a new headlight bulb and didn't have car manuals/Internet access to hand. I was going to just get some online but found myself near a halfords and thought why not. I flipped through the little book on the bulb rack, found my make, model and product code and summoned a halfords employee to verify.
Out he came from the 'back', shuffling towards me on all fours.
"Good afternoon sir", I began.
"I wish to purchase these bulbs, would you mind confirming if these are correct for my make and model?"
"Gnnnnfrr" came the reply.
I tried again, repeating the previous question with a hint of annoyance.
"Blaaaahhgnnnnnffffrrr" came the equally unhelpful follow-up. The creature before me then turned tail, literally, and scampered back to his coven of similar primates whereupon he sat, squatted and laughed the laugh of the stupid.
Foolishly I bought the bulbs and lo! They didn't fit. Cue a return visit, a refund, some poo flinging and a online visit to my cheapest online bulb emporium.
I'm sorry, it won't happen again.
But seriously, I needed a new headlight bulb and didn't have car manuals/Internet access to hand. I was going to just get some online but found myself near a halfords and thought why not. I flipped through the little book on the bulb rack, found my make, model and product code and summoned a halfords employee to verify.
Out he came from the 'back', shuffling towards me on all fours.
"Good afternoon sir", I began.
"I wish to purchase these bulbs, would you mind confirming if these are correct for my make and model?"
"Gnnnnfrr" came the reply.
I tried again, repeating the previous question with a hint of annoyance.
"Blaaaahhgnnnnnffffrrr" came the equally unhelpful follow-up. The creature before me then turned tail, literally, and scampered back to his coven of similar primates whereupon he sat, squatted and laughed the laugh of the stupid.
Foolishly I bought the bulbs and lo! They didn't fit. Cue a return visit, a refund, some poo flinging and a online visit to my cheapest online bulb emporium.
The only real source of proper car parts is eBay. The rest, and I count Halfords, Euro Car Parts and countless other factors into this, cant tell you exactly what they're going to give you. It's not the people's fault, in Halfords case they're just not given the training other than 'It's 3 for 2' and Halfords seem to have this policy of hiring one main 'fitter' and a bunch of people who like Radio 1 turned up loud, together with a few girls who do tills.
Factors tend to just work off whatever's on the computer. They seem to prefer or want to sell off the shelf stuff like oil and screenwash, maybe coolant. Ask them for something really specific, they'll mutter, tap, wince, tap, scratch their head then disappear off round the back for a bit
In my case, let's say I want a temperature sender that has an orange ring around it. It's model specific, I give them the part number, their system matches that with everything that fits the same engine, so red, purple, brown, and it's luck of the draw which one you get in the box.
If I buy from eBay, I can make sure I get the orange one, with the right thread type, that I know will fit and be a match to the ECU. Fair enough, I have to wait for it to arrive, but I've found that convenience shopping at factors ends up with me just buying the right part online later anyway
Factors tend to just work off whatever's on the computer. They seem to prefer or want to sell off the shelf stuff like oil and screenwash, maybe coolant. Ask them for something really specific, they'll mutter, tap, wince, tap, scratch their head then disappear off round the back for a bit
In my case, let's say I want a temperature sender that has an orange ring around it. It's model specific, I give them the part number, their system matches that with everything that fits the same engine, so red, purple, brown, and it's luck of the draw which one you get in the box.
If I buy from eBay, I can make sure I get the orange one, with the right thread type, that I know will fit and be a match to the ECU. Fair enough, I have to wait for it to arrive, but I've found that convenience shopping at factors ends up with me just buying the right part online later anyway
I have never had a problem with Halfords. In fact last time I went to buy some bike bits I was so well looked after by a number of staff I phoned up the manager later that and gave feedback. He encouraged me to use their online customer feedback page as it goes directly to HQ. I let them replace a headlight bulb once. In those days they did not charge. The lad took about 3 minutes on a job that I had failed to master in 30. It helped that he had smaller hands! In any event it would have been worth paying their fee.
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