Bike to Work - Halfords

the_hundredth_idiot

I know, I know, another Bike to Work question. But, this is the Commuting forum so ... :?

Basically, my potential problem is this:
- my employer does the Bike to Work scheme with Halfords. I can sign up once a year in September.
- if I sign up for a £1,000 bike, I also get a further 15% (£15) of free "safety and security" accessories.
- colleagues have used this in the past at Halfords and, bar a few mechanical hiccoughs, all seems fine.
- I was in the bike shop opposite my office when they mentioned that they do actually take Halfords vouchers (but were a bit vague about how that worked).
- I thought, well that makes life easier - opposite my office and proper grease monkeys (and I mean that as a compliment) who know their way around a bike.
- so, instead, I went to Condor on Grays Inn Road to buy myself a Fratello after first checking that they also accepted Halfords' vouchers.
- Fratello is now ready for collection (but I haven't actually got my Bike to Work voucher just yet so haven't picked it up).

Problem is, one of my colleagues has popped into the bike shop opposite the office to do the same - i.e. use Halfords vouchers at a non-Halfords establishment - and the bike shop now seems to say (I confess I didn't quiz them in that much detail) that they don't give the accessories part, they simply honour the face value of the voucher (i.e. £1,000).

I've phoned Condor and, while helpful, I'm not completely convinced they understand the problem. My HR department doesn't know the answer. And all my colleagues who have bought bikes on Bike to Work in the past have always bought them from Halfords so they don't know either.

Anyone been in a similar situation and know what the answer is? If I don't get the £150 of extras, it's just about worth me forgetting about the Fratello waiting for me at Condor and getting something else from Halfords - either forgoing my £100 deposit at Condor or being prepared for an argument to get it refunded.

Thanks in advance

THI

biondino

Since the £150 of free accessories deal is most definitely not part of the C2W terms, it sounds like it's an enticement from halfords to prevent you doing exactly what you did - they must know other shops accept their vouchers, and they must know that with their rep it's a no-brainer for you to go elsewhere.

I think you have a decent argument for getting the refund of your deposit, though Condor have a decent argument for not giving it to you. I'd be humble and apologetic and explain the situation - you never know, in order to not lose a sale they might make concessions/offer freebies that makes it a sufficiently attractive enticement to continue buying from Condor.

Or - can you ask Halfords to order the Fratello from Condor, which would hopefully succour Condor, please Halfords and get you everything you want?

Littigator

No brainer

Screw the free safety stuff and stick with your Condor bike, once you've bought the bits and pieces you need, (start with a helmet :twisted: ) you'll have everything in no time really and you'll still have a beautiful beautiful bike.

Go the other way and within weeks you'll regret riding around on a Halfords Horrible

Also, there's no harm in trying a bit ofd negotiating for a few free things when you go to collect the Fratello if you really want to

lost_in_thought

Go for the condor - I doubt you'll manage to get Halfords to buy your bike from Condor and offer you the freebies. Talk to condor about the Halfords offer, they might be willing to sling you some freebies - i'd accept things like servicing as well as actual stuff.

I wish I could spend £1000 on a bike...

biondino

Well, through C2W you're only spending a bit over £500...

the_hundredth_idiot

Thing is, Halfords (i.e. Bike Hut) actually sell Condor bikes - I was looking at them in Bike Hut's St Paul's shop a few weeks ago.

Also, the accessories thing isn't that unusual - I'm sure my old company offered it too. Basically, it's not Halfords being generous just my company effectively giving me the VAT saving rather than keeping it (i.e. 17.5/117.5 is near enough 15%) they still make a saving on the employer NI.

So, either Fratello from Condor's shop for £590 or Condor from Bike Hut for £440. Either way it's a great deal and I'd rather buy direct from Condor but ...

£150 = pedals, cycle computer and new lock to keep my precious safe.

Aidanw

Condor get charged by the voucher issuer £50 which they pass onto you the bike buying public. So be prepaired for a little bit extra when you come to pay up.

biondino

At some point someone's buying the bike from Condor, so they are making a sale. So you have to go for the £150 cheaper deal even if it's through Halfords.

the_hundredth_idiot

@biondino
Thanks again. That is my thinking - I still get the Condor bike (and the "free" accessories) and Condor still get a sale. Just a shame I don't actually have my voucher yet so I can check if there is a problem or not.

Of course, you might reasonably say why worry until it's actually a problem. But, I was hoping to pick the bike up next week as Condor said I could pick it up before the voucher arrives as long as I have paid for it on my credit card - they then refund the card when the voucher turns up. That's what persuaded me to order there and then rather than wait for the voucher - I thought I might be able to put a few miles on it before the autumn weather starts (erm, that'll be today? )

@Aidanw
I've got the receipt showing my deposit and the balance to pay so not sure how they can pass the £50 on to me. If they sold via Halfords, wouldn't they have to sell it to Halfords for less than retail for Halfords to mark up to retail and still make some money?

Has anyone actually had one of these sorts of vouchers? One of my colleagues seemed to think the actual voucher was for £1,000 and a separate letter with some codes entitled him to the additional accessories. But it was a year ago and he was a bit uncertain.