Halfords come out top...

...on a list of worst shops!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ew-survey.html

I know you pay extra for convenience, needing headlamp bulbs on a Sunday for example, but having just paid £18 per bulb for "Bike It" bulbs that M&P sell for £5.99 each, I can't say I'm surprised at the result.

[Jayneflakes]

I used to work for them, I saw it first hand! The very few highly skilled staff are tarred with the dirty brush of the badly trained and poorly skilled masses that work there.

Cheap labour made up of poorly trained kids should not be allowed anywhere near expensive motor vehicles.

[timwilky]

To be honest, the trade card makes some prices palatable. About 70% of bulbs for instance.

I only use them when I need something outside of my normal choice of factors opening hours.

What made me laugh was I had to buy a bulb for the van no plate and paid with a trade card. He offered to fit it for me at about £5. I took him up. Went outside and I said get in. But it is the no plate. Yes it is in the garage at hpme. It will be worth a fiver to see if you know how to do it.

Numpty, I pay with a trade card and he thinks I wont know how to fit it. Although it took me 20 mins on line to find out how. So for dispatch/expert/scudo owners push the no plate bulb holder to the offside and then prise down the left hand side and it should come away. Taking off the door cards just proves you cannot get to the bulb holders from the inside.

[Fallout]

I'm happy enough with Halfords. I do my research on what I need before I go in, I go in and find what I want without asking for help, I go to the checkout, pay the bloke, say "no" when he asks me if I want help with fitting, and leave.

You pay a bit more, but as the OP said, you get convenience. Having said that, if I'm not in a rush I always order my stuff from flea bay for about 25% less.

Nicknamed Halfrauds for a reason I suppose. Only go in there if I need something fast/Camberley auto factors is shut.

An example of how much of a rip off Halfords are... I was looking for a blind spot mirror for my car and Halfords wanted £7 for ONE... Cambo autofactors had TWO for £3, and prices were about the same online.

They're a joke.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

I used to work for them, I saw it first hand! The very few highly skilled staff are tarred with the dirty brush of the badly trained and poorly skilled masses that work there.

Cheap labour made up of poorly trained kids should not be allowed anywhere near expensive motor vehicles.

Yes, all the experienced and fairly decent staff got the push or left my local Halfords

Now the branch is manned by kids.

Emergency use only or if they've got a deal on, plus hunt through the bargain bins can prove fruitful sometimes

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

I used to work for them, I saw it first hand! The very few highly skilled staff are tarred with the dirty brush of the badly trained and poorly skilled masses that work there.

Cheap labour made up of poorly trained kids should not be allowed anywhere near expensive motor vehicles.

You sure you haven't worked for WH Smith's also

If you pay the rip off price, then who is the fool?

If you go into a massive retail park outlet looking for advice from the 16yr old Saturday worker earning pocket money, then who is the fool?

Its there, its got better opening times than a motor factor, it's got its pitfalls but if you fall into them then you should try walking in the shop with your eyes open!

Recently went in with my second hand Halfords Adv Pro socket set, no reciept, and had two bits replaced on the spot and a third dropped through the post within 2 days, that I had clearly sheared through misuse/excessive force, under the lifetime warranty, no quibble at all. That stuff is a damn sight cheaper than the likes of Teng Tools as well.

Halfords had it's uses, and I for onr would be sorry to see it go.

[L3nny]

I got a bargain on a mountain bike from halfords and the staff in the bike section seemed to know their stuff.

Trying to buy a bulb for a 2005 model Honda Civic that was registered in 2006 however is a whole different matter.

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by timwilky

To be honest, the trade card makes some prices palatable. About 70% of bulbs for instance.

SOME bulbs. I just priced up the ultra brilliance ones. From £20 down to £15. Still a £10 off though. I ask them to price stuff up before I buy it, sometimes the non Halfords stuff is cheaper, still a discount though. Great for tools