Halfords

commissoiner

why do Halfords have such a bad name amongst the mtb community?

supersonic

Here we go again ;-)

One reason is lots of stores, and a person is more likely to report a f up than a normal service.

2nd is that the head office don't seem to have a clue how the industry works, and put other things above customer service.

3rd they don't train staff, or the person that employs staff fits stereos.

BUT... there are good stores! Ones where the individuals make the store, where staff are good, trained and have a genuine passion for bikes. Like anywhere, it's finding a good store. Can't argue with the bikes at 200 quid up, they are simply superb.

bonyjoe

They do not train their staff probably but they do tend to get some staff that are regular mountain bikers and like bikes, there full time bike staff are also usually very good but can be busy with more important things at times.

If you want good service don't go on an weekday evening, at the shop i work in they only have one part timer on the bike section at these times and they usually aren't great as they have only had basic training in putting a bike together and doing simple repairs.

Not all stores are bad but the whole company gets a bad name when customers get bad experiences from one shop.

They tend to have a bad customer service and a lot of the managers and deputies tend to think most problems they don't know the solution to are not their problem.

Thats all I can say really and this is just fro personal experience working there part time, I try to avoid buying anything from there that I don't know much about.

jon 0.1

theyre good bikes just for the punters that need something to get to and from work for the money they cost theyre dam good, just because were all looking at expensive beasties they seem pretty cr*p to us now. tbh i wouldnt get a bike from there but for anyone just getting going i wouldnt say you can go too far wrong
just my opinion tho

supersonic

You can get bikes upto a grand, such as carbon framed bikes, plus other brands.

bonyjoe

They can also order in many grand+ bikes such as the expensive Kona's and GT's and also some of the boardmans in store are well over a grand.

ashleymp777

Use Bikehut instead! My experience with them so favour have been very favourable - I've used the branch in Putney.

dirtbiker100

bikehut is halfords?

will3

commissoiner wrote:

why do Halfords have such a bad name amongst the mtb community?

Because they sell people overweight bikes with suspension that'll seize in no time and hence put people off cycling?

ashleymp777

dirtbiker100 wrote:

bikehut is halfords?

Yes, I'm well aware of that.

Perhaps I should re-word my post and say that, if you have to use Halfords for whatever reason (cycle to work scheme for instance), then you'd be better off going to Bikehut.

Bikedevil

ashleymp777 wrote:

dirtbiker100 wrote:

bikehut is halfords?

Yes, I'm well aware of that.

Perhaps I should re-word my post and say that, if you have to use Halfords for whatever reason (cycle to work scheme for instance), then you'd be better off going to Bikehut.

The Bikehut is IN the Halfords store, its the name if the Cycles department.

ashleymp777

No, there are seperately branded shops

nicklouse

not really. bikehut is what Halfords call the bike area of there stores.

ride_whenever

there are also bikehuts without halfords, I saw the putney one

nicklouse

ride_whenever
where is putney? must be down sarf, i dont get to go into a halfords often.

sweepy

http://www.bikehut.com/

bikehut is the name of the bike dept in halfords, but they also have a standalone offering........the newest one in st pauls has been open about 6 weeks, they stock rocky moutain, oakley, animal clothing.........

top stuff!!!!!!

ride_whenever

and not a car stereo in sight