RANT - Penny pinching Halfords
Discussion
What is it with retailers these days? Are we to believe their sob stories about recession? Halfords certainly know how to generate repeat business - NOT !!
Just back from a lunchtime stroll. Nipped into said retailer and selected a basket of bits and bobs; wiper blades, couple of bottles of de-icer, magic tree etc.
Got to the counter and the cashier refused flatly to provide me with a carrier bag unless I coughed up some extra cash "for charity".
Needless to say the queue generated by me requesting my MasterCard be refunded extended all the way up to the bicycles before she finally blinked and I got a bag for free (along with a sarcasctic comment).
Is it me? I give quite a lot to charity (but I don't like to talk about it). And I do like to be able to choose what causes I support rather than have it forced on me.
And I don't like the idea of having to walk across town with wipers and de-icer stuffed up my coat.
Just back from a lunchtime stroll. Nipped into said retailer and selected a basket of bits and bobs; wiper blades, couple of bottles of de-icer, magic tree etc.
Got to the counter and the cashier refused flatly to provide me with a carrier bag unless I coughed up some extra cash "for charity".
Needless to say the queue generated by me requesting my MasterCard be refunded extended all the way up to the bicycles before she finally blinked and I got a bag for free (along with a sarcasctic comment).
Is it me? I give quite a lot to charity (but I don't like to talk about it). And I do like to be able to choose what causes I support rather than have it forced on me.
And I don't like the idea of having to walk across town with wipers and de-icer stuffed up my coat.
Edited by ultegra on Sunday 28th February 12:15
Good for you.
Wherever we go it does seem like everyone and every organisation is trying to control us in some small but invasive and irritating new way. It's got a lot worse in the last 10 years, everyone's a meddling f
king jobsworth.
Wherever we go it does seem like everyone and every organisation is trying to control us in some small but invasive and irritating new way. It's got a lot worse in the last 10 years, everyone's a meddling f
king jobsworth.Edited by pilchardthecat on Tuesday 2nd February 13:43
ultegra said:
Is it me? And I do like to be able to choose what causes I support rather than have it forced on me.
It's not just you. I'd have done the same. I also give to charity, but they're local ones where the money actually does some good, and not to some big charity who spend millions a year on salaries and pointless mailings. ultegra said:
What is it with retailers these days? Are we to believe their sob stories about recession? Halfords certainly know how to generate repeat business - NOT !!
Just back from a lunchtime stroll. Nipped into said retailer and selected a basket of bits and bobs; wiper blades, couple of bottles of de-icer, magic tree etc.
Got to the counter and the cashier refused flatly to provide me with a carrier bag unless I coughed up some extra cash "for charity".
Needless to say the queue generated by me requesting my MasterCard be refunded extended all the way up to the bicycles before she finally blinked and I got a bag for free (along with a sarcasctic comment).
Is it me? I give quite a lot to charity (but I don't like to talk about it). And I do like to be able to choose what causes I support rather than have it forced on me.
And I don't like the idea of having to walk across town with wipers and de-icer stuffed up my coat.
Sounds like pretty wJust back from a lunchtime stroll. Nipped into said retailer and selected a basket of bits and bobs; wiper blades, couple of bottles of de-icer, magic tree etc.
Got to the counter and the cashier refused flatly to provide me with a carrier bag unless I coughed up some extra cash "for charity".
Needless to say the queue generated by me requesting my MasterCard be refunded extended all the way up to the bicycles before she finally blinked and I got a bag for free (along with a sarcasctic comment).
Is it me? I give quite a lot to charity (but I don't like to talk about it). And I do like to be able to choose what causes I support rather than have it forced on me.
And I don't like the idea of having to walk across town with wipers and de-icer stuffed up my coat.
ky behaviour on your part IMO. G_T said:
I think it's good policy to reduce the numbers of plastic bags they're handing out.
It's only 5p and it's a good cause.
No complaints here but if you're that bothered why don't you bring a canvas bag or something?
That sounds reasonable, but you have to give people a 'hand over' period to find out adjust to the change, not just order them to pay up on the spot because your policy has altered..It's only 5p and it's a good cause.
No complaints here but if you're that bothered why don't you bring a canvas bag or something?
I normally walk around holding the things I buy.... unless its a big grocery shop of course..
G_T said:
I think it's good policy to reduce the numbers of plastic bags they're handing out.
It's only 5p and it's a good cause.
No complaints here but if you're that bothered why don't you bring a canvas bag or something?
They could turn all the lights out and I could bring a torch too.It's only 5p and it's a good cause.
No complaints here but if you're that bothered why don't you bring a canvas bag or something?
Ought to save some leccy.
And they could sell more Duracells.
Without meaning to sound rude, I think you did the wrong thing. The people sat behind the checkout don't make the rules and if they don't follow them they go up against their managers - but if they do follow said rules, they run up against the customers. You see children stamping up and down in their little tantrums because they won't get what they want - I can't help but feel that you illustrated a good example of an adult tantrum.
Other large retailers charge for bags and as far as I am aware they don't donate the proceeds to charity, so I don't think it's unreasonable for Halfords to follow suit. The shops don't *have* to give you the bags for free and to be honest, Halfords has probably rightfully realised that however indignantly people react, they will still come back because their store is quite unique in offering so many useful car bits under one roof.
The number of people I've seen justify their behaving like an absolute bunch of penis' in shops, because of the 'recession' is staggering... "Ohhh it's the credit crunch dontcha know so that gives me the right to act like a child because you neeeeeeeeeeed me!"
Other large retailers charge for bags and as far as I am aware they don't donate the proceeds to charity, so I don't think it's unreasonable for Halfords to follow suit. The shops don't *have* to give you the bags for free and to be honest, Halfords has probably rightfully realised that however indignantly people react, they will still come back because their store is quite unique in offering so many useful car bits under one roof.
The number of people I've seen justify their behaving like an absolute bunch of penis' in shops, because of the 'recession' is staggering... "Ohhh it's the credit crunch dontcha know so that gives me the right to act like a child because you neeeeeeeeeeed me!"
HellDiver said:
Was a bit late to be asking for payment for the bag AFTER the credit card was run through, wasn't it?
You should have paid the 5p on Mastercard as a seperate transaction, costing Halfords considerably more due to bank charges.
I think this is the key point. I'd quite happily pay for a bag if I needed one and the money can go anywhere they like, but for them to have to refund the original transaction and then run it through again to include the bags, just because they didn't mention the charge to begin with, is just a waste of everybodies time. You should have paid the 5p on Mastercard as a seperate transaction, costing Halfords considerably more due to bank charges.
Halfords have simply changed the price of the bags (for whatever reason- their choice), just as they do with any other item. It is your choice whether you decide to buy one or not. At least they're giving the money to charity and not keeping it all themselves.
ultegra said:
I give quite a lot to charity (but I don't like to talk about it).
They actually gave me a small length of fuel pipe a could of weeks ago - did not need a bag though.
This trend of charging for bags is a total sham though. The shops are laughing their heads off at the way they have moved the cost for the bag from themselves to the customer, and we all lap it up.
This trend of charging for bags is a total sham though. The shops are laughing their heads off at the way they have moved the cost for the bag from themselves to the customer, and we all lap it up.
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