Halfords...

mrwibble

I see that it is again sale time at Halfords. Last year I bought my Subway 2 from the above chain, I waited until the bikes went on sale price in middle September 2006. However, Halfords idea of a sale is very cynical indeed. Remembering back a year ago, I think the price of the bike was £299 then for several weeks the bike went up in price to £359. This cycle was then reduced in price in the sale to £240, so advertised at a third off but really £60 off the long term store price.
This brand of retail at the time in my opinion was a bit of a cheap trick but effectively I still got £60 off the bike. Afterwards I rang the Halfords customer services and explained what had happened and the women said on the other end of the line 'That this is our promotions departmen work and there is nothing that can be done', so politely saying 'go away'.
But this year they have excelled themselves by increasing all the prices for some bikes ie Carrera Kraken (previous long term price) £359, now £399 and to top it off, offering a 10% web reduction in price until Monday 24th. So, 10% of £399 equals £39.90, minus this figure from the higher price equals £359.10. This means that two weeks ago you could have bought the Kraken 10p cheaper!
Are Halfords allowed to practice this type of business? One that is catching customers out whom in good faith are buying a cycle at what they think is a sale price. Is there anything that trading standards could about this type of business?
I just think Halfords should be brought to account.

nicklouse

they are actually playing buy the current rules.

woodywmb

Yes, NOT breaking the law but breaking the patience of customers. It will work in the short term but eventually Halfords will be the last port of call for all bikies. It's happening already. The staff are embarrassed because they know the tricks, they know WE know the tricks and it's hard to come across as genuine time after time. Raising prices to discount them is a ploy Halfords are now stuck with. Every year they have to repeat the kid-on sale to maintain target earnings. Otherwise they're in for a doing from shareholders. The share price then drops and Halfords CEO and co will have to look for new jobs. So much easier to keep up the ruse. Shareholders don't give a damn anyway.

russ0228

simple answer really don't buy from halfords. if people were to stand up and be counted by not giving their hard earned money to companies who cheat the poeple. then maybe they will learn from their lost revenue.

nickcuk

Tell the local trading standards - for once the civil service jobsworths might do some good

Father Faff

Of course it is all very well us forum users who have a fair interest in MTBs not buying fromHalfords but I suspect most Halfords customers don't spend a lot of time on these forums and Halfords couldn't care what we say about them cos we're not their customers. The Consumers Association/Which? might be a good one to try as they have a lot of power nowadays to change unfair practises.

mrwibble

The Carrera bikes aren't a bad range so why do they damage their reputation by such selling methods?

Watch this space...

Fuzzyboy

Anyone know when the next round of reductions begin? I am planning on buying a Carrera Fury, but it is currently at the hiked up price of £550. I'm hoping it might drop to sub £500

hednesfordxcer

Fuzzyboy suggest you check other threads first in General section, then make your mind up, you'd probally be better off asking for locally recommended LBS

supersonic

Fury will probably drop to 400, making it by far the best bike on the market for this money.

hednesfordxcer

I have the Fury, great bike to ride, but can't deny haven't had problems, it's actually in LBS now awaiting repair. Even though repair should be covered by warranty, given up arguing with Halfords Mrwibble there's a Halfords thread called "The Last Straw" in GENERAL which you may find interesting.

mrwibble

How fantastic, the 10% offer as been extended until Thursday.

Fuzzyboy

I've pretty much made my mind up on the Fury.. I love a bargain and I'm prepared to put up with Halfords if there service is a bit shakey.

I got my last bike from there (Kraken), and one of the pedals fell off as I rode away from the shop!! That doesn't stop the bike being great for the money (£200 in 2005). I'm aware of what I'm getting in to. I'm a technical type, so I don't mind doing my own P(ost)DI on the bike.

If the Fury drops to £400 I'll be absolutley chuffed.. I'm gonna buy it through the government cycle scheme which means it will end up costing me £228!! :-).

So anyone have any idea of when Halfords might start dropping prices?

Paul Sh

Be a devil, get the Boardman.

BoredHousewife

Paul Sh wrote:

Be a devil, get the Boardman.

You work for them don't you, how much commision you on?

Paul Sh

BoredHousewife wrote:

Paul Sh wrote:

Be a devil, get the Boardman.

You work for them don't you, how much commision you on?

Not likely, i'm a bus driver and hate it it's just a damn good bike thats all, nothing matches it spec wise for the cash you pay.

BoredHousewife

Paul Sh wrote:

Not likely, i'm a bus driver and hate it it's just a damn good bike thats all, nothing matches it spec wise for the cash you pay.

Do you drive those big pink busses? I love those! Any chance of free travel?

hednesfordxcer

Fuzzyboy remember if BB fails, it's down to poor pedal maintenance. That's what Halfords customer service will tell you anyway. Also remember the Fury is NOT an off road bike according to Customer Services. Personally I like my bike, just don't like Halfords "Customer Service"

BoredHousewife

hednesfordxcer wrote:

... remember the Fury is NOT an off road bike according to Customer Services "Customer Service"

Thought you said it wasn't a RACE bike last time, I doubt that they can deny its an off-road bike, its got knobbly tires

Fuzzyboy

I'm still set on the Fury! :-)

I toyed with the idea of a Boardman, but the frame geometry puts me off.. I'm currently riding a Kraken and it really suits me.

Thanks for all the input on this.. appreciated :-)

FENNER

Fuzzyboy wrote:

I'm still set on the Fury! :-)

I toyed with the idea of a Boardman, but the frame geometry puts me off.. I'm currently riding a Kraken and it really suits me.

Thanks for all the input on this.. appreciated :-)

Whats up with the frame geometry ?? I have heard this said a few times ????

Laters

supersonic

There is nothing wrong with it. Its perfectly standard for a 100mm travel bike for XC and trail riding. However do try it.

Jd1986@hotmail.com

One of the numptys at my local halfords tried to tell me that my Gt Chucker wasnt a off-road bike after taking it back to them due to play in my headset which was caused by one of there techs shearing the star fangled nut bolt, i now do all servicing etc myself. :roll:

Nah course its not a offroad bike, strange seeing as its classed as a dirt jumper

FENNER

supersonic wrote:

There is nothing wrong with it. Its perfectly standard for a 100mm travel bike for XC and trail riding. However do try it.

Phew 8)

Thank god for that, I'm new to this game and I love mine to death ! was begining to think I was weird

Laters

Fuzzyboy

In case anyone else is interested... Halfords have dropped their prices today on the Carerra range. The Fury is now £439. I think the Kraken is £299. I understand these prices are from now until xmas.

I have put in an order for a Fury via my employer via the bike to work scheme. If all goes to plan I should get it for £250!!

rogue trooper

Bought my Aggressor about a month ago at sale price, man at halfords also told me to get box of brekkie cereal to get further 10% off! Ive had no probs with bike....chuffed!!!!

mrwibble

What Brekkie cereal?

Paul Sh

Fuzzyboy wrote:

I'm still set on the Fury! :-)

I toyed with the idea of a Boardman, but the frame geometry puts me off.. I'm currently riding a Kraken and it really suits me.

Thanks for all the input on this.. appreciated :-)

Please, not again,

BoredHousewife

mrwibble wrote:

What Brekkie cereal?

kelloggs cornflakes, look for the 10% @ halfords token on the side of the pack

Fuzzyboy

Paul Sh wrote:

Fuzzyboy wrote:

I'm still set on the Fury! :-)

I toyed with the idea of a Boardman, but the frame geometry puts me off.. I'm currently riding a Kraken and it really suits me.

Thanks for all the input on this.. appreciated :-)

Please, not again,

I'm not sure what that means. Let me explain my point of view...

I have made a decision about what bike I want to buy based on my knowledge of what's out there. I do quite a lot of XC riding, I do my own servicing and repairs and I like Carrera because they are the Skoda of the bike world. I come on this forum to see if anyone can tip me off on sale dates. You then advise me to spend £100+ more on a bike simply because.. err you have one. I politely say thanks, but no thanks and give one of my reasons why. You then quote my reason along with a silly head banging emoticon thing! I find that a bit insulting... like I should have just listened to you in the first place!!

The Boardman bikes look great.. I'm glad you are pleased with yours. They are really well specced, the Comp has better components than the Fury. Which begs the question.. 'how do they do it for the price?'. Effecively undercutting most of the big players. It is my opinion that in order to be competitive, they most likely build high spec bikes, but save money on the frames... however, I don't know this.. I am purely speculating. I do know quite a lot about Carrera as I have owned 2 before and I think they are great.. the only down side (for me) being that they come via Halfords and therefore sometimes the PDI isn't the best (this would also be true for Boardman I guess).

As well as my concerns about the unknown frame, I personally find the Boardman geometry a bit unusual.. but we're all different right? In addition to all this, I have not seen a single independant review of the Boardmans. I don't see why anything I have said, in any of my posts warrants you (or an emoticon), banging heads against a brick wall

Paul Sh

The reason for my post is simple, you are yet another person giving some form of negative comment about the frames geometry when there is nothing at all wrong with it, thats why i posted the ever so offensive icon, you were told by another member that there was nothing wrong with it but in your post above you STILL comment on the frame :?

With regards to me telling you to buy the Boardman simply because i have one,.........what a complete and utter load of rubbish, i was trying to give some advice on what would probably in my opinion be the better buy but you were obviously offended by that advice just as much as the petty little icon, Oh my.