Halfords Adult Bike Care Plan

inkj

It feels like I’m spamming this forum with Halfords related questions. And also I know most of you are too cool for Halfords bikes or their 'mechanics'. But alas I am both a newbie [so can barely pump up a tire myself] and poor enough to see £530 as a big spend on a bike [so their target person in terms of spend].

I’m trying to work out what the point of the Halfords bike plan is

For the first year – or six months [?] you should be covered as you just bought the bike

So let’s ignore the ‘wouldn’t let Halfords fix/check my bike for free’ arguments.

Where is the value in the 3 year plan?

As it seems you can only get one check a year. So that’s 3 checks. Not when ever you want.

Its £50 or £70 [if you bike is £500+] for the 3 year plan

BUT….. they have a FREE check-up service – that is the same 32 [apparently] point bike check.

So the value [in the 3 year paid plan] must be in the FREE replacements you get… brake cables/etc [?] as you can get the actual checks for free.

I was ok with that….

Then I saw this on the info about the 3 year plan page…

“Repairs with parts required”
“Every repair carries a fixed labour charge and these charges still apply”

And if there are no parts needed:
“If we don't need a part to complete a repair (i.e. it's a labour only repair) we'll only charge you the appropriate labour rate to complete the job.”

Now I am the last person to hate on Halfords. I wanted this service plan to be easy and simple. All I wanted was, I get bike check-ups and then if they need to replace anything – then it would be free, and no labour charge.

As in my mind – if you have to pay for the labour… then why have the plan????

With the free check-up – if you buy parts from Halfords they will fit them free for you …

Seems what ever you do they either charge for the parts, or the labour...

I’m not saying the staff don’t deserve to get paid – but I presumed they get paid to be there, whether they are fixing a bike, or going up to people and asking them if they can help.

I know many of you don’t like Halfords – but I’m hoping someone comes on here and can convinced me, or show me, where the value is – in this plan. As for me [new and stupid] it should be a no brainer [if I had one]… but they seem to have got it all wrong so that no one would ever see any value in this plan.

Please prove me wrong.

CLIFFS:
3 yr Halfords Bike Plan
First year isn’t the bike under warranty anyway?
Only one check-up a year [can get check-ups for free anyway]
Free parts [but they charge you for labour]

The Rookie

I have no issues with Halfords, my daughter worked in one as did 3 friends.

BUT the quality of bike work is hit and miss, there are some good guys (or gals) and some very mediocre ones, their training/monitoring isnt up to the mark.

For me that plan sounds a dud, they give you "a free check and try and create work they can bill you for" sounds like what it's saying.

On an MTB used as an MTB (rather than solely on orad and the odd gravel track) any sort of fixed service schedule is a waste of time, they need checking and tweaking and working on as required (and in winter the drivetrain cleaning and lubing pretty much every ride) , off roading is hard on a bike (not like trundling on smoothish tarmac where the wear and tear is reasonably predictable) and I like to keep on top of things.

You'd be better served putting that money into an entry level tool kit and learning to look after your own bike in my opinion, it means things will be checked and fixed when needed and not to some arbitrary service period, it will last longer and the bike will be more enjoyable to ride as a result.

It states you get a silver service each year, to be fair that's (a little - in bold) more than a check, it's some tweaking and setting as well
The Silver Service includes the following:
Checking frame and other core components for wear and damage
Checking hubs, spokes, rims and tyres for damage and that wheels are true
Alignment of brakes and checking operation and effectiveness
Lubricating chain and checking for wear
Inspecting brake pads for wear and damage
Setting gear stops and adjustment of indexing
Checking front chainwheel, rear sprockets/cassette for wear
Inspecting bottom bracket for play and adjustment
Checking alignment and wear of front and rear mechanics
Checking bearings, crank bolts and pedals for wear and damage
Inflating tyres to the correct pressure
Ensuring set up and positioning of the bike

I do like the typo's though, i'm confused by the "Checking alignment and wear of front and rear mechanics" as that sounds mildly pornographic, and as for "Ensuring set up and positioning of the bike" I'd be looking more at the positioning of the rider on the bike than where the bike is!

inkj

The Rookie wrote:

and as for "Ensuring set up and positioning of the bike" I'd be looking more at the positioning of the rider on the bike than where the bike is!

In a video about their service [old video as they have less check points in their list at the time the video was made]:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at7IHkq_8PI

At around 1m14s mark, you see that maybe that's exactly what they mean... as it's with the rider in the saddle.


I guess my point [question] really is... if that service isn't for me... who is it for?

As I should be the ideal candidate for a 3 year thing like that...

I guess I can see some value... I'm buying 'slime', computer, rack, water bottle holder - with my bike... the info email people suggest I will get charged for putting them on the bike [not free as part of the bike set up - even though it's all going to cost over 1k]

But with the service thing - you get stuff you buy at Halfords fitted for free...

So £70 and I save on

Halfords Fitting Charges:

- Cycle computer £5
- Inner Tube replacement £5
- Slime service £6

Not sure why the inner tube replacement is there

Not sure if the slime is per tyre

But the cycle computer has three things [Garmin 1030] so I would rather someone else does it

So that's £16 saved [hmm]

Still can't see the value.

Would love to hear from someone who has this and thinks it is a good deal. Or even if anyone thinks [for them] it would be

inkj

Thanks for the reply

x

The Rookie

Not sure there is much fitting involved with a Garmin 1030, looks like it will take about 30 seconds to attach the mount to the bars, I wouldn't be bothering with sensors at this stage and certainly not the cadanace/speed sensors. I'd also suggest the £500 may be better placed on a better bike, or at least wait and decide if you really need a Garmin rather than just logging the ride on a smartphone for free.

As for fitting tubes, well you need to know how to repair punctures (slime tubes are not infallible), so doing it the first time in the comfort of home is a no brainer, plus you get the removed tubes as spares in your pack - along with a decent multitool with chain splitter and a pair (or two) of quicklinks and the tyre levers and pump.

Slime service sounds like its for a bike running tubeless, as your running tubes, you won't want/need/can't have that, fitting the slime tubes is all you need to do (oh and pump them up!)

If you will be riding off road any service plan is pretty much pointless for the reasons I gave above.

02gf74

It does not seem good value but I reckon it appeals to the lazy and clueless, and maybe to pacify parents that little Tommy's bike is safe.

Think of it in car terms as an mot. You would service your car after x miles, the same should apply to a bike, with an mtb this is more frequent especially when mud is involved.

doomanic

The Slime Hellfrauds offer is for tubed tyres, not TL and costs £6 per wheel.