LOL at Halfords

father_jack

Checkout my question for Carrera Gryphon Disc, Bottom Bracket replacement cup.

Honestly what monkeys do Halfords employ? Would be interesting how a ISIS BB would match my taper chainset. I'm unemployed but I know more than the people who work there and on their website.

Halfords- useless. :roll:

mrwibble

apply for a job to show them you know more, ask to see the manager

father_jack

Did, was offered it but turned it down (just 8 hours a week) if it was full time would have taken it.

nochekmate

Too easy to criticise, as the previous poster stated.

Use your skills to get a job and then those people who are working at Halfords won't be contributing in taxes to people, who have your apparent skills, but are out of work and living off other people's efforts!

I'm fed up of working a few hours a week to pay for others who choose not to - I don't know your circumstances and it may be harsh, but I've got little time for people who criticise others and yet are happy to live off the back of them.

DaveHudson

Bit harsh there, You don't know his circumstances. Who says he is claiming anything?

The 8hrs thing could be their standard contract and more hours could be offered on a month to month basis. My colleagues mrs works at b&q and that's exactly what happens to her.

snickwell

Well.... you have to remember that Halfords aren't primarily a bike shop.

They might sell bikes, but that's not their primary business - even the Boardman range, which did so much for them, is now being exported to 'proper' bike shops.

If you want your bike serviced, or want parts or anything, I'd really advice going to your LBS. They provide excellent service, are friendly and helps to ensure that cycling as we know it continues.

Most of the kids in my local Halfords are about 16-18 shop boys and girls, you can't expect them to know a huge deal!

father_jack

The 8hrs thing could be their standard contract and more hours could be offered on a month to month basis. My colleagues mrs works at b&q and that's exactly what happens to her.

I'll tell the services I can only pay them a few quid then. :roll:

8 a week = about £50.

Also I know what happens do more hours but given the same amount of time off as 8 hour as that's in your contract. Less allowed sick days too.

Pretty low...

DaveHudson

I wasn't saying to take it, Just that it may be how they employ you on a contracted 8hrs then rota you on for more.

I think my colleagues Mrs does about 30hrs a week but then she isn't bothered about doing many more, She's only young (19) so doesn't have many bills.

Got to be worth chatting to one of the other staff or someone you may know that works for them to find out. Or canvas the LBS in your area?

father_jack

Or canvas the LBS in your area?

Done that. Usually give jobs to their biking mates.

DaveHudson

Where abouts are you, I could sack our mechanic tomorrow if it helps :P

father_jack

Well if I could cycle 250 miles each way in a about a hour, sure.

ShutUpLegs

Father Jack wrote:

Or canvas the LBS in your area?

Done that. Usually give jobs to their biking mates.

Go freelance

DaveHudson

I've often thought about the freelance option, Small van (VW Caddy sized) and work at the customers place, Or larger van like a sprinter that you can make a mobile workshop.

Contact the local towns churches and ask to use their hall if they have one for a donation, do a weekly clinic where people can bring the bikes to you. Fix those that you can on site and others do in the time between visits.

Could also canvas schools and offer a fixed price mini service for kids bikes ready for the cycling proficiency course.

Plenty of options, and it's handy if you go on a riding weekend away

T-Rekster

your all thinking too small, I actually seriously considered starting a high street store, after finding even in Cambridge all of the cycle shops are out of the city centre, it dawned on me that there is a gap in the market for a high st retailer specialising in cycling, for the opportunistic browser however as the saying go's the devil is in the detail..

After various calculations including initial stock, shop fitting, insurance, a modest initial salary and huge High St rentals it soon dawned on me that I would have to open 365 day a year with an average turnover of some £18000 per day in order to just break even.......well that was the end of that story....... :roll: makes you realise just why our high streets are in the dire mess they are....


.

father_jack

After various calculations including initial stock, shop fitting, insurance, a modest initial salary and huge High St rentals it soon dawned on me that I would have to open 365 day a year with an average turnover of some £18000 per day in order to just break even.......well that was the end of that story....... makes you realise just why our high streets are in the dire mess they are....

I've dealt with enough people thinking Subway 1 was too expensive :roll: and instead went for a POS full suspension bike at £100. There is obviously money in it, problem with Halfords, competition, internet age....already on a losing battle.

Not like 50 years ago. Could setup a small shop and everyone in the village would buy from you.

atakd

Father Jack wrote:

T
Also I know what happens do more hours but given the same amount of time off as 8 hour as that's in your contract. Less allowed sick days too.

Pretty low...

If that is what they do it is illegal under The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 . If you work non contracted hours you must be either given the same leave & sickness entitlement or be paid a higher hourly rate to account for the difference.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1551/contents/made

jhoyle

they employ you to work a 7 hour contract, and after that you can do extra. the problem is there isn't enough proper training provided by the company itself, although in every halfords i've been in there's always been a well informed, knolwedgeable mechanic, not least in my own store where our mechanic has worked in an LBS for years, used to race, has worked with pro teams and only moved to halfords for the job security so he can pay for stuff for his little girl. in turn, he has passed his knowledge onto the rest of the store team. i think a lot of people just put down halfords for the name, but we aren't all bad. if anyone's in the dumfries area and has any issues call in to the halfords and ask for ian. if he can't solve your issue then its something very serious. im not trying to advertise halfords as a better alternative to an LBS, it definitely isnt, but would people stop using blanket terms on the staff. its not particularly nice being called an idiot and having the company you work for with at least a bit of pride being called completely useless.

rc856

Hello fellow Doonhamer!

What Ian is it mate? Wondering if I know him?

mattward1979

jhoyle wrote:

they employ you to work a 7 hour contract, and after that you can do extra.

May I ask if your holiday entitlement is calculated off of 7 hours or the actual number of hours worked?

Many companies do this to avoid paying the correct amount of holiday, but it is completely illegal... Unfortunately 99% of casual part time workers aren't aware of the law in this regard.

The company I work for did this also... had about 10 people on 8 hour contracts, they were working 30+ hours per week but when it came to holiday, they were allowed 4 weeks holiday paid at 8 hours per week regardless of the actual hours worked.

That is until I started working there and caused a massive fuss about it =P

Anyhoo, sorry for the derailment.

My experience on Halfords have generally been positive. The people I have dealt with at the Dartford branch are always helpful.

jhoyle

RC856 wrote:

Hello fellow Doonhamer!

What Ian is it mate? Wondering if I know him?

ian adams, used to be at g and g for ages, then moved to halfords

we only get the 8 hours holiday pay for 6 weeks of the year as the rest of the hours worked count as overtime, which may or may not be illegal but as most people that take on 8 hour contracts are either young or flexible and have other jobs they tend not to mind too much.

Cleat Eastwood

To be fair they can be numpties. I saw they had an ultegra crankset for sale, I said I'd take it and was given the right crank (the driveside), I asked for the left hand crank and the young man looked at me and said "what's a left hand crank? I thought thats all you needed on a bike". I patted him on th ehead and left.

skellator3

never mind bigging up halfords, you should all be out supporting your LBS, because if you dont you will only be left with large internet stores and halfords, All the knowledge and expertise will dissapear off the highstreet and you will be left with the nationals charging top prices for so so service.

think evans charge £12 for fitting a bottle cage, look at the menu pricing for these and its shocking

so support the local boys

Im Bald Ok

I think you should be asking yourself why you were in Halfords to begin with.

father_jack

Im Bald Ok wrote:

I think you should be asking yourself why you were in Halfords to begin with.

Because at £240 where else can I get a flat bar road bike with X5 shifters, double butted frame, mechanical disc brakes?

Nowt wrong with Carrera bikes

bails87

I'm really impressed that some posters have got enough time to visit every single LBS in the country and they can categorically state that they're better than every single Halfords in the country. Really impressed.

rake

i dont like local bs shops because if you walk in with something more than 18months old theyre trying to sell you a new bike, at a heavy price. were not all fadsters that have £2k to spend on first bike and dont have a clue

gary.hounsome

T-Rekster wrote:

your all thinking too small, I actually seriously considered starting a high street store, after finding even in Cambridge all of the cycle shops are out of the city centre, it dawned on me that there is a gap in the market for a high st retailer specialising in cycling, for the opportunistic browser however as the saying go's the devil is in the detail..

After various calculations including initial stock, shop fitting, insurance, a modest initial salary and huge High St rentals it soon dawned on me that I would have to open 365 day a year with an average turnover of some £18000 per day in order to just break even.......well that was the end of that story....... :roll: makes you realise just why our high streets are in the dire mess they are....
.

There is a store just outside the lion yard with a workshop (under the car park), perhaps this wasn't there when you looked into it not sure how long its been there, plus ben haywoods isnt that far out of the 'centre' to be honest though i wouldn't want to have to go into cambridge cc to get to my lbs, it would take far to long if i had to drive, just outside is best imo as more easily accessable by car and bike.

jamlala

T-Rekster wrote:

your all thinking too small, I actually seriously considered starting a high street store, after finding even in Cambridge all of the cycle shops are out of the city centre, it dawned on me that there is a gap in the market for a high st retailer specialising in cycling, for the opportunistic browser however as the saying go's the devil is in the detail..

After various calculations including initial stock, shop fitting, insurance, a modest initial salary and huge High St rentals it soon dawned on me that I would have to open 365 day a year with an average turnover of some £18000 per day in order to just break even.......well that was the end of that story....... :roll: makes you realise just why our high streets are in the dire mess they are....


.

Totally agree, costs in High St Cambridge would be so prohibitive even in a cycling city.
Mobile bike mechanice I think is where its at.

BTW am totally with you on the Trek 1.2, mine is a 2009 double chainset and I love it to bits!!

rhext

Father Jack wrote:

Im Bald Ok wrote:

I think you should be asking yourself why you were in Halfords to begin with.

Because at £240 where else can I get a flat bar road bike with X5 shifters, double butted frame, mechanical disc brakes?

Nowt wrong with Carrera bikes

Ah, so they're not numpties at all. They're actually pretty d**n good at what they do.

rc856

jhoyle wrote:

RC856 wrote:

Hello fellow Doonhamer!

What Ian is it mate? Wondering if I know him?

ian adams, used to be at g and g for ages, then moved to halfords

Yeah, he knows his stuff

jhoyle

RC856 wrote:

jhoyle wrote:

RC856 wrote:

Hello fellow Doonhamer!

What Ian is it mate? Wondering if I know him?

ian adams, used to be at g and g for ages, then moved to halfords

Yeah, he knows his stuff

that's half the reason i don't like people knocking every halfords store, sure there's a few which are full of numpties but only due to the company's decision to recently sack pretty much every full time member of staff, however that debate is for another forum