£90 for a replacement Bulb at Halfords!
Discussion
Halfords were a god send a few weeks back when one of my vans came back with a smashed mirror at 6pm the price wasn't bad either (£16 i think). Yet when I wanted a pair of wiper blades for the 7 series I was told £89 we got them from the main dealers for £38, you just need to be carefull where you buy from. I cant see them going bust anytime soon unless local fotor factors are going to stay open past 5:30.
Bitzer said:
clarkey540i said:
TroubledSoul said:
Nearly fell over when the guy told me! I was like £90?!?! For a Bulb?!
Jeez......
Looked on Amazon and you can get two D2S Xenon bulbs for £20!
I had that recently too. I laughed at him and asked him if he was joking. He replied "Well they're expensive bulbs". You're telling me! I bought a pair off Ebay so now I have a spare if I am ever in urgent need of one.Jeez......
Looked on Amazon and you can get two D2S Xenon bulbs for £20!
1) Make sure it's the EXACT same bulb. Could be the same in different packaging. Could be a fake from eBay/Amazon
2) Fit it yourself then. Not rocket science is it
So bored of people kicking Halfords all the time. You don't want to pay whatever they charge. Great, that's up to you. You think anyone else here cares? What's next? "Pianos are too expensive wtf"
Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 24th February 13:08
Rich_W said:
Bitzer said:
clarkey540i said:
TroubledSoul said:
Nearly fell over when the guy told me! I was like £90?!?! For a Bulb?!
Jeez......
Looked on Amazon and you can get two D2S Xenon bulbs for £20!
I had that recently too. I laughed at him and asked him if he was joking. He replied "Well they're expensive bulbs". You're telling me! I bought a pair off Ebay so now I have a spare if I am ever in urgent need of one.Jeez......
Looked on Amazon and you can get two D2S Xenon bulbs for £20!
1) Make sure it's the EXACT same bulb. Could be the same in different packaging. Could be a fake from eBay/Amazon
2) Fit it yourself then. Not rocket science is it
So bored of people kicking Halfords all the time. You don't want to pay whatever they charge. Great, that's up to you. You think anyone else here cares? What's next? "Pianos are too expensive wtf"
Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 24th February 13:08
Halfords have their benefits but as with any purchase, the balance has to be made between how quickly you want something, and how much you want to pay.
Halfords are expensive. It's simple as that. You can get anything they sell cheaper elsewhere.
One such very recent example. Sister calls me, her peugeot 206 electrics going mad, car wont start etc. Been sat for a week or so in freezing weather. Starts fine off jump leads though. Battery it is. She gets a quote from halfords, £80 and they will fit it for her on their car park. I tell her to call a mobile mechanic and ask, £65 and he fits it on her door step. The battery is readily available from any factors for £35.
Halfords is for people who have no idea about cars, which sadly, is the majority, including half of their staff too it seems.
One such very recent example. Sister calls me, her peugeot 206 electrics going mad, car wont start etc. Been sat for a week or so in freezing weather. Starts fine off jump leads though. Battery it is. She gets a quote from halfords, £80 and they will fit it for her on their car park. I tell her to call a mobile mechanic and ask, £65 and he fits it on her door step. The battery is readily available from any factors for £35.
Halfords is for people who have no idea about cars, which sadly, is the majority, including half of their staff too it seems.
That's nuts. A few weeks ago I turned the headlights on to find both had failed. Nighttime in Wales, I needed to go to Gatwick later that week, and I'm not local to Wales... drove on high beams to a nearby Fiat garage (Greens of Haverfordwest), and the guy in there changed both bulbs for £2.42 (cost of bulbs). Wouldn't even keep the change from a fiver. Bloody good service!
Halfords haven't been too bad to me, mind - I was struggling to get my old head unit out of my car (CD player would skip if I drove vaguely near a drain cover!) and I popped into the Halfords and the AV chap came out and fiddled with the tools until the head unit came out. Better than spending £40 to get them to do it!
Halfords haven't been too bad to me, mind - I was struggling to get my old head unit out of my car (CD player would skip if I drove vaguely near a drain cover!) and I popped into the Halfords and the AV chap came out and fiddled with the tools until the head unit came out. Better than spending £40 to get them to do it!
MysteryLemon said:
Halfords is for people who have no idea about cars, which sadly, is the majority, including half of their staff too it seems.
When I needed a 32mm spanner on a Saturday to get the viscous fan off my E39 to change to thermostat, Halfords had one in stock and it hardly cost any more than Amazon. I hadn't planned ahead, as I thought I'd have all the tools I'd need for the job.I slightly resent you telling me I have no idea about cars...
Of course Halfords aren't perfect, but they do provide a useful service that noone else does.
AJB said:
I slightly resent you telling me I have no idea about cars...
Halfords aren't in the business to cater for you any more. Walk into any of the newly revamped stores and you will find that you can not actually access parts or tools anymore. You have to queue and wait at the parts desk where they will look up on the computer what you want and then go and fetch it for you.
They are all about ripping off the general consumer who will happily pay through to nose because they know no better. People like you arent their core market.
MysteryLemon said:
Walk into any of the newly revamped stores and you will find that you can not actually access parts or tools anymore. You have to queue and wait at the parts desk where they will look up on the computer what you want and then go and fetch it for you.
Langley because they always used to get stolenYep Halfords are rubbish.... Except they are open when you actually need something (evenings, Sundays etc). And even though things are locked in glass cabinets, they still sell useful kit at reasonable prices. This year I picked up a hub puller for £20 and various other tools (that I suddenly found I needed for an acceptable price and I don't have a trade card).
Halfords still manage to fill a gap in the market, sure some things maybe over priced but if it helps them stay afloat, good for them.
Halfords still manage to fill a gap in the market, sure some things maybe over priced but if it helps them stay afloat, good for them.
sim16v said:
Halfords trade card actually works on bulbs.
Normal H4 bulb, retail is about £10, with the trade card £3!
Mrs phoned me saying all her bulbs were out i had to rescue her. Not having a h7 on hand i had to buy 2 for about 18 quidNormal H4 bulb, retail is about £10, with the trade card £3!
i wanted some spares to keep around as i seem to be the go to guy for f
king bulbs around here.I found this place 10 h4 bulbs for £10
Ill sell you 2 for 9
Im set for life now on bulbs i think ive fifed them next to the expensive ones and i couldn't tell a difference
Bulk buy lots of 10
http://www.jhmbuttco.com/acatalog/Shop_12v_Bulk_37...
Bitzer said:
I bought the EXACT same bulb and fitted it myself in the 1 hour that Audi specified. Not the easiest job in the world, it wasn't like a Mini of old, a few items had to be removed first and then a bit of wrist dislocating had to de done.
Halfords have their benefits but as with any purchase, the balance has to be made between how quickly you want something, and how much you want to pay.
So whats your point? They evidently charge ~£150 per hour to change that bulb. You did it under that time. Well done. Presumably not 1/4 or 1/2 that time. So it's not like it was only a 5 min job and they wanted to rip you off. If it takes an hour. They charge an hour. Bulbs are easy. But sometimes getting to them as you say is awkward. The actual bulb will almost certainly be the exact same price at every Audi dealer in the country, not like it's set on a dealer by dealer charge. Halfords have their benefits but as with any purchase, the balance has to be made between how quickly you want something, and how much you want to pay.
When will people get it into their heads that business' want to make money. Apparently a garage wanting is "bang out of order innit" You think it should be for free? How mcuh does a plumber charge for an hour. What about a solicitor? What about a baker? Are they ripping people off or is it supply and demand?
I think Halfords is OK. I wouldn't dream of buying car parts there but some folk are happy to do so.
I have used their paint sprays quite often, and find them to be a good match and very reasonably priced.
Also, they quite often have some good deals on their (normally very overpriced) engine oil - last month they were selling 4 litres of fully synthetic for £10!
With all the small independent car accessory shops going out of business I reckon there is still a need for Halfords.
I have used their paint sprays quite often, and find them to be a good match and very reasonably priced.
Also, they quite often have some good deals on their (normally very overpriced) engine oil - last month they were selling 4 litres of fully synthetic for £10!
With all the small independent car accessory shops going out of business I reckon there is still a need for Halfords.
Don't get me wrong, I certainly think they have their place, as others have said. I just don't understand some of their products and prices. They do have lots of good stuff, and the amount of times I've had to get a spanner or socket mid job, and it's always Halfords I go to.
It's swings and roundabouts I suppose.
I think they sell enough to the unaware to not really care too much about us lot. I've gone with some bulbs another E46 owner recommended, so we'll see how they turn out. I'll buy the Osrams for £48 a piece from Amazon in the future if these ones aren't great.
It's swings and roundabouts I suppose.
I think they sell enough to the unaware to not really care too much about us lot. I've gone with some bulbs another E46 owner recommended, so we'll see how they turn out. I'll buy the Osrams for £48 a piece from Amazon in the future if these ones aren't great.
skelters said:
Few weeks ago I was looking for a new digital tyre inflator and Halfrauds price was $36.99 in Greenock.
Checked on the phone for cheaper cost of the same model.
I asked the counter assistants if they would match Amazon cost and they looked at me if I was insane.
Was told, "Naw we cannae dae that".
Then asked why not?
Was told, "We cannae change eh prices an ats how much it costs".
Told them ok I'll be saving £14.99 going to Amazon.
Probably one of the next in line to go bust as they cannot or don't want to compete with online sales.
We've been getting ripped off for years and the general public puts up with it so as not to cause a fuss.
Next time you're in a shop price the same thing on your phone and ask them to match the price elsewhere!
Don't even start me on the fuel cost differences outside the Inverclyde area!
You asked a counter assistant????Checked on the phone for cheaper cost of the same model.
I asked the counter assistants if they would match Amazon cost and they looked at me if I was insane.
Was told, "Naw we cannae dae that".
Then asked why not?
Was told, "We cannae change eh prices an ats how much it costs".
Told them ok I'll be saving £14.99 going to Amazon.
Probably one of the next in line to go bust as they cannot or don't want to compete with online sales.
We've been getting ripped off for years and the general public puts up with it so as not to cause a fuss.
Next time you're in a shop price the same thing on your phone and ask them to match the price elsewhere!
Don't even start me on the fuel cost differences outside the Inverclyde area!
What sort of tomfoolery is that. You mean you actually went in it a physical shop? Where they had the thing you had seen online? And you had a "conversation"? An actual interaction with a member of staff? About the thing you had seen online and wanted to buy?
And the purpose of your visit to this bricks and mortar shop with a member of staff you could interact with was to see if you could get the thing right now, that you had previously seen online and knew you wanted but might have to wait a day or two for.
And when their price was more than your internet price, THEY are the idiots????
As consumers we need to be very careful what we wish for, cos there is a danger it might just happen.
Edited by mattdaniels on Sunday 24th February 21:33
mattdaniels said:
You asked a counter assistant????
What sort of tomfoolery is that. You mean you actually went in it a physical shop? Where they had the thing you had seen online? And you had a "conversation"? An actual interaction with a member of staff? About the thing you had seen online and wanted to buy?
And the purpose of your visit to this bricks and mortar shop with a member of staff you could interact with was to see if you could get the thing right now, that you had previously seen online and knew you wanted but might have to wait a day or two for.
And when their price was more than your internet price, THEY are the idiots????
As consumers we need to be very careful what we wish for, cos there is a danger it might just happen.
Exactly this! you want a physical presence and to have it today (and not stolen by the Royal Mail/UPS thieves) it costs a fraction more. Some people are just imbeciles to compare Internet pricing to retail shop. Only example I can think is justified is when my local independent bike shop has an internet site that's cheaper. (P&P doesn't make up that difference) They have a warehouse unit and the actual shop. They even offer "call and collect" What sort of tomfoolery is that. You mean you actually went in it a physical shop? Where they had the thing you had seen online? And you had a "conversation"? An actual interaction with a member of staff? About the thing you had seen online and wanted to buy?
And the purpose of your visit to this bricks and mortar shop with a member of staff you could interact with was to see if you could get the thing right now, that you had previously seen online and knew you wanted but might have to wait a day or two for.
And when their price was more than your internet price, THEY are the idiots????
As consumers we need to be very careful what we wish for, cos there is a danger it might just happen.
Rich_W said:
Bitzer said:
I bought the EXACT same bulb and fitted it myself in the 1 hour that Audi specified. Not the easiest job in the world, it wasn't like a Mini of old, a few items had to be removed first and then a bit of wrist dislocating had to de done.
Halfords have their benefits but as with any purchase, the balance has to be made between how quickly you want something, and how much you want to pay.
So whats your point? They evidently charge ~£150 per hour to change that bulb. You did it under that time. Well done. Presumably not 1/4 or 1/2 that time. So it's not like it was only a 5 min job and they wanted to rip you off. If it takes an hour. They charge an hour. Bulbs are easy. But sometimes getting to them as you say is awkward. The actual bulb will almost certainly be the exact same price at every Audi dealer in the country, not like it's set on a dealer by dealer charge. Halfords have their benefits but as with any purchase, the balance has to be made between how quickly you want something, and how much you want to pay.
When will people get it into their heads that business' want to make money. Apparently a garage wanting is "bang out of order innit" You think it should be for free? How mcuh does a plumber charge for an hour. What about a solicitor? What about a baker? Are they ripping people off or is it supply and demand?
I managed to change the bulb in an hour, whereas I could now change it in around 20 minutes. An Audi tech should also be able to change it in the same time, so I'd expect them to charge me no more than 1/2 hour. If I charged two mandays for a job that took me one manday then I'd lose work, it's very simple. I'm sure you can understand that.
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