Halfords bike repair shop- good or bad??

jerry3571

Hi.
Just had my bike serviced at Halfords as my local bike shops are fairly crap but after breaking off my bell and putting on the bike tape a bit wrong I also found they have dented the bike frame by tightening the clamp too hard on my top tube. The bike is an old cannondale (15 years old) but still is good order but now not so sure. :?

Are there any other experiences?

penguin_of_death

Totally depends on the shop, they will range from whoever knows most through to the technicians who have been on a training course, and the few stores who have someone Cytech trained.

Take it back and point out the problems to a Manager, be polite and calm about it and see what they can do to sort it

jerry3571

Yeah, popping round there tomorrow. I think they've offered to take out the problem with a hammer. I'm not sure we're talking about Italian Frame builders having a looksee. Not sure aluminum is repairable; only steel is.

Colinthecop

You have a bell...?

k-dog

Well, they've trashed your frame so I'd be looking for a new one.

A tube is strong because it's a tube - now that they've crushed it it's useless.

Then find a decent shop because that's a joke.

Matthewfalle

As above - it's not the shop it's the guy/girl with the spanners. One local shop that sold itself as specialists (Moda, top of the range Trek, that sort of thing) once did up a friends cassette lock ring so tight the free hub wouldn't move..... The local Raleigh shop specialising in family and kids' bikes had the best mechanics for miles around.

Pop in, be polite, see what happens - you may be pleasantly surprised.

jerry3571

Well, here's the update.
At the weekend- They said they have video footage in all areas of the shop so the repair should be on video in their records.

Today- Well,they had a look and said the video was very fuzzy and it was tricky to pick out whether they were at fault.
They have offered 3 solutions-

1. To swap like for like. My cannondale is about 1995 so a bit of an old beast. They say to look for classic cannondales in second hand ads and they said frames like mine are about £80-£100.

2. To offer me Halfords Vouchers for the same amount of £80-£100.

3. To take the bike to some kind of welder, they have a relationship with, who can pull the bump out under heat. I think, they mentioned about using some kind of plugs put in to the frame so the damaged area can be pulled out. After the bike would be given a respray. (this is not bad as I've had quite a few crashes over the last 15 years and it's quite scratched).

What do we think then peeps!!??

I'll be interested in your responses.

Thanks.

k-dog

First option isn't bad.

Second option's not great.

Third option is nonsense - you can't repair aluminium like that. Heating/welding etc ruins the heat treatment so it's useless and once it's deformed you can't knock the lump out. Any repair would be cosmetic only.

I'd still hold out for a new frame - the new Boardmans are pretty good and they'd probably manage that.

navrig2

Option 1 works to a point. Who sources the frame and takes the risk that it is what it is described as? Who strips your bike? and Who rebuilds the "new" bike? They will suggest their mechanics but.......

Options 2 is pants. £70 worth of vouchers realistically represents less than £50 worth of goods at their buying power. If you want that route then go for £120 at least but that means your restricted to buying whatever stuff they sell. Who gets your old frame? Depending on the depth and location of the dent you may still be able to ride it. So vouchers at £120 and you keep the frame may be an idea?

Forget option 3.

I doubt you will get a new frame unless you try something more heavyhanded involved small claims court or lawyers.

penguin_of_death

Would you consider your parts on a similar Boardman frame as an option?

jerry3571

Might see if they can do a boardman for trade and i'll stump up the cash.

I thought repairing aluminium was a no, no. hmmm...

thanks for your responses.

Monty Dog

Repairs a no-no as the frame is made from heat-treated alloy - any further heating will considerably weaken the structure.

I'd go for a replacement frame.