GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: ROO1 on 18 October 2013, 16:32
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Hi guys,
Doing a project on Halfords at the mo. Would you all mind giving me your feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and what you would like them to do in stores.
Thanks
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well dunstable store could do with some better staff i know of people that have walked out the store with goods without paying due to no staff and no one at the tills.
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Unless you've got a trade card the prices for their service parts are insane.
I've always been impressed with the quality of their tools for the price though.
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Over priced, poor quality, poor staff, gash
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Over priced, poor quality, poor staff, gash
+1 agreed! apart from the halfords proffesional tools.
stop selling ripspeed crap, start selling more pro motorsport goods like demon tweeks etc.
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I wouldn't buy service parts from them except things like oils and greases etc and thats only because I have a trade card. They supply the general public that don't really know any better with regard to prices, so at the end of the day its supply and demand. I think the tools are very good though, and they do have some decent offers on these. They are also very good with their returns policy. The staff are simply undertrained. At the end of the day its a retail store, and most of them know very little about the automotive industry and automotive parts in general. There are a select few in store that know a little more, but they're slim pickings amongst the teenage girls that seem to make up the majority of their workforce. They can demand these inflated prices as more and more people are doing their own maintenance yet don't know any other local suppliers. This is due to good advertising which the likes of local or national motor factors don't do except at prime time on specific tv channels.
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I saw a gem in there yesterday, 4off stainless penny washers, £5.49!!
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Just normal people that are not interested in cars that just need a job.
I had an argument about wheel bolts.
I asked if they had extra long wheel bolts. They asked for my car reg. I said it is irrelevant as ive got 15mm wheel spacers and aftermarket wheels that use different bolt seat than standard. They asked again and said cant look with out reg. So gave it to them, they looked and went and got some standard vw wheel bolts. I said you are not listening. I need bolts 15mm longer than these and a total different shape. They replied with I dont know mate and we only have these shaped bolts!!!
I walked away.
I walked in not long ago and a women asked if I need help. I said doubt you can help (rude I know) she said how do you know. Ok I need lsd diff oil and bearing grease. This is no joke! She said ha very funny, we dont sell drugs and the engine oil is there, then she went and got me a can of wd40 for my bearings!!!
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Oh and when I asked someone at the counter if they had lsd diff oil as you got none on the shelf he walked to the oils and got me normal halfords gearbox/diff oil. 70w90 I think.
I said thats no good mate. He said yeah its all the same. Do you know what a viscous diff is? He said no.
I said I have a bmw m3 that NEEDS 75w140 LSD oil. So 5 mins on the computer to tell me, you guessed it, they dont sell that oil.
These people know nothing about cars!! If they did they wouldn't be working at halfords
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I only go to Halfords to collect my freebies courtesy of O2 priority moments
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I only go when I need to. Never to buy something in advance. Only when its bit of an emergency.
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they need some more usefull staff, the hereford stor is a prime example of this
the worrying thing is they actualy think they know what they are on about untill they prove otherwise shortly after. they are pritty much computer controlled puppets.
also they run away unless you looking at cd players, sat navs or bikes, then they harras you lots all of whitch they are very expensive for.
also there fitting service is a JOKE last time i was in there i was after a headlight bulb it was OMFG expensive compared to what i normaly pay for them but din't really fancy driveing back to ws with O/S light out they offerd to fit it then declared they din't fit bulbs to that ide of that car because you have to remove battery - f**king numptys
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Bike people are the best they are passionate about what they do, as most of them ride daily can't comment about car parts as you really would not be going to halfrods about advice and parts if you are serious about your cars :whistle:
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Bike people are the best they are passionate about what they do, as most of them ride daily can't comment about car parts as you really would not be going to halfrods about advice and parts if you are serious about your cars :whistle:
I would agree, would! But im into bikes. I know a lot and yes they can set up a bike they get in a box.
But do they have a clue about custom bikes and marzocchi suspension? No they dont!
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Our local recently removed ALL of the belt section from the store.
Went from being 'expensive but handy in an emergency' to 'useless c*nts' in one fell swoop.
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Bike people are the best they are passionate about what they do, as most of them ride daily can't comment about car parts as you really would not be going to halfrods about advice and parts if you are serious about your cars :whistle:
I would agree, would! But im into bikes. I know a lot and yes they can set up a bike they get in a box.
But do they have a clue about custom bikes and marzocchi suspension? No they dont!
You would be surprised most of those bikers in the workshop run top end stuff, they special order there own stuff like I said what the average halfrods customer thinks he wants usually gets :tongue:
I know three halford bike workers who built there own bikes running into 3-5K and work there to pay for it, hence they do know there stuff, and like I said if you know your stuff you would not be in Halfords buying it! :wink:
DH sums it up in an emergency on a Sunday afternoon.
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Bike people are the best they are passionate about what they do, as most of them ride daily can't comment about car parts as you really would not be going to halfrods about advice and parts if you are serious about your cars :whistle:
I would agree, would! But im into bikes. I know a lot and yes they can set up a bike they get in a box.
But do they have a clue about custom bikes and marzocchi suspension? No they dont!
You would be surprised most of those bikers in the workshop run top end stuff, they special order there own stuff like I said what the average halfrods customer thinks he wants usually gets :tongue:
I know three halford bike workers who built there own bikes running into 3-5K and work there to pay for it, hence they do know there stuff, and like I said if you know your stuff you would not be in Halfords buying it! :wink:
DH sums it up in an emergency on a Sunday afternoon.
as I said before DH is I only use them in an emergency. Going halfords asking if they can get me stanchions seals as mine have just failed is an emergency.
Living in a small town with no custom bike specialist is not ideal. My halfords is 2 minute walk from my house.
The lads in my local halfords have spotty faces and still eat cheese strings for lunch. :grin:
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they need some more usefull staff, the hereford stor is a prime example of this
the worrying thing is they actualy think they know what they are on about untill they prove otherwise shortly after. they are pritty much computer controlled puppets.
also they run away unless you looking at cd players, sat navs or bikes, then they harras you lots all of whitch they are very expensive for.
also there fitting service is a JOKE last time i was in there i was after a headlight bulb it was OMFG expensive compared to what i normaly pay for them but din't really fancy driveing back to ws with O/S light out they offerd to fit it then declared they din't fit bulbs to that ide of that car because you have to remove battery - f**king numptys
Bulbs are dirt cheap with a trade card though. But your right, I wouldn't pay £6 for them to fit it!
Its funny when you see a middle aged bloke getting a battery or lights fitted by a 17 year old girl!
How emasculated must they feel!
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they need some more usefull staff, the hereford stor is a prime example of this
the worrying thing is they actualy think they know what they are on about untill they prove otherwise shortly after. they are pritty much computer controlled puppets.
also they run away unless you looking at cd players, sat navs or bikes, then they harras you lots all of whitch they are very expensive for.
also there fitting service is a JOKE last time i was in there i was after a headlight bulb it was OMFG expensive compared to what i normaly pay for them but din't really fancy driveing back to ws with O/S light out they offerd to fit it then declared they din't fit bulbs to that ide of that car because you have to remove battery - f**king numptys
Bulbs are dirt cheap with a trade card though. But your right, I wouldn't pay £6 for them to fit it!
Its funny when you see a middle aged bloke getting a battery or lights fitted by a 17 year old girl!
How emasculated must they feel!
I call that perving with money to burn.
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I worked for said company for 5 years. I have to say I agree with most of whats been said. I usually only go to Halfords now when i know exactly what I want. Tools and consumables is probably their main attraction to me.
What i think we need to remember is that most of us here are enthusiasts to one degree or another. Halfords main aim is really to cater for Joe Bloggs who needs a head lamp replacing on the cold rainy drive home from work, or a roof box supplied and fitted a few hours before the family driving holiday to France.
The generalised nature of a number of their products simply boils down to allowing for greater profit margins. If Halfords were to have a bigger range of products to capture the car enthusiast, it would put them more in the market of the like of Demon Tweeks etc, which frankly they would struggle to compete with in terms of service and product knowledge. That's largely why the Ripspeed brand fell on its arse years ago.
Which brings me to the next point. Staff. Yup, most people on here probably know more about what they're looking for than the staff do. But most customers want a store colleague to simply tell them what bulb/wiper/battery etc they need and offer to fit it, most people aren't too interested in the finer details. There are staff that may be able to offer more insight into what they are selling, but when your simply selling something over the counter and not using it, unless there's a problem you don't know whats good or not.
Regarding the 'WeFit' service, if they break it they'll pay for it to be fixed. But like most i'd rather fit my own parts. Bear in mind the cost of fitting say a brake bulb plus the part would be the equivalent pay for that member of staff for an hour, not just the 10 minutes or so to actually do it.
General rule of thumb, pay peanuts, get monkeys.
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Bike people are the best they are passionate about what they do, as most of them ride daily can't comment about car parts as you really would not be going to halfrods about advice and parts if you are serious about your cars :whistle:
I would agree, would! But im into bikes. I know a lot and yes they can set up a bike they get in a box.
But do they have a clue about custom bikes and marzocchi suspension? No they dont!
You would be surprised most of those bikers in the workshop run top end stuff, they special order there own stuff like I said what the average halfrods customer thinks he wants usually gets :tongue:
I know three halford bike workers who built there own bikes running into 3-5K and work there to pay for it, hence they do know there stuff, and like I said if you know your stuff you would not be in Halfords buying it! :wink:
DH sums it up in an emergency on a Sunday afternoon.
as I said before DH is I only use them in an emergency. Going halfords asking if they can get me stanchions seals as mine have just failed is an emergency.
Living in a small town with no custom bike specialist is not ideal. My halfords is 2 minute walk from my house.
The lads in my local halfords have spotty faces and still eat cheese strings for lunch. :grin:
Granted not all halfruads are going to have the same level of service. TBF I know what they get paid and the hours they do also, weekends is a killer even though friends of mine say its rotational work shift regime. I'm quite upset at the level of wages its worse than VW mechanics get :lipsrsealed:
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Granted not all halfruads are going to have the same level of service. TBF I know what they get paid and the hours they do also, weekends is a killer even though friends of mine say its rotational work shift regime. I'm quite upset at the level of wages its worse than VW mechanics get :lipsrsealed:
The hours and working 3 out of 4 weekends was the final nail in the coffin for me. Days off seemed to be randomly dotted throughout the week. Getting to leave on time became a rarity, and having to work out of hours to complete day to day tasks became ridiculous, for little/no gratitude or reward.
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Granted not all halfruads are going to have the same level of service. TBF I know what they get paid and the hours they do also, weekends is a killer even though friends of mine say its rotational work shift regime. I'm quite upset at the level of wages its worse than VW mechanics get :lipsrsealed:
The hours and working 3 out of 4 weekends was the final nail in the coffin for me. Days off seemed to be randomly dotted throughout the week. Getting to leave on time became a rarity, and having to work out of hours to complete day to day tasks became ridiculous, for little/no gratitude or reward.
Yes my friend is going through the same thing and He calls me after 8.00pm when he has left work, but he enjoys it though.
Think its only been 9 months since he started.
He does mention meeting targets and the area he is in meets them or exceeds them so go figure.
He did mention not all areas are the same level and some are quite bad in experienced staff and people who give a monkeys.
Like most corporations they want to give littlest pay and more responsibility given. :rolleyes:
I was told last week they chucked out about a ton of brake parts, because they don't want to hold them and they weren't selling them, but the amount of waste I've been told is ridiculous :lipsrsealed:
I had a go at him when he told me what he was getting paid, but apparently there is an educational system halfrauds runs and regardless of background and education you have to pass these exams they set before they even consider a pay rise or promotion? :undecided:
TBF its not just this company I think most companies with large corporations behind it are exactly run the same code, right or wrong if its a job, its a job!
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This new education system must have started after I left, makes sense though. Regarding the waste, some stuff its cheaper to just throw it than return it to the supplier, reminds me about the time I had to cut up a load of old bikes with a disc cutter and chuck them in the bin :whistle:
But, it is indeed a job. Learnt some life skills in my time at Halfords, had some brilliant managers at the beginning, and had some woeful ones towards the end. learnt at least how not to deal with people regarding the latter!
As a part time job I really enjoyed it, a career though, i'd have to say as with any job in retail, i'd look elsewhere
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I was told I can't remove oil thought the dipstick tube yesterday...that's because the sump is at the bottom and the dipstick is at the top. Genuine words from the parts desk guy. The parts manager, a few months ago, told me Dextron 3 fluid as fine for my ABFs PAS system!
If they don't know, they really shouldn't advise....
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FYI:
(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr182/the_flying_elvi/Matt-Davies-_389.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/the_flying_elvi/media/Matt-Davies-_389.jpg.html)
Matt Davies Alan Carr chief executive, Halfords
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/NicolaJ11/alan_carr_140x140.jpg) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/NicolaJ11/media/alan_carr_140x140.jpg.html)
http://www.retail-week.com/analysis-halfords-strategy-should-put-retailer-on-road-to-recovery/5049566.article
http://www.maryportas.com/secretshopper/halfords/
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as previously mentioned staff are not brilliant.
I do now have a list of number plates relating to various cars, g60, ABF, VR6 etc if I need a specific bit.
Pricing can be a bit optimistic on certain items, 10.00 for work gloves you'd get for a 1.00 anywhere else. Do sell some amount of tat too.
Trade card is not bad and deals on tools can be good as a result. I still have my 1st halfords socket set that I bought 14yrs ago :shocked:
Open on Sundays so in a pinch can be a life saver.
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Halfrauds is over priced in my opinion and usually have a lot of young staff who are clueless :whistle:
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My worst experience was getting my bike serviced there a few years ago, i got on my bike outside the shop to cycle away as i lifted the front to go up a kerb the front wheel came off ! Luckily it was not on a road or i could of got seriously hurt.
I agree with most some of the staff in there are clueless & there is usually one member of staff in the whole shop who is a little clued up but that is not always the case.
I have had some good experiences with returning faulty goods, they were very helpful & actually replaced my jet wash twice in a year the 2nd time they could of made me wait for repair but replaced it instead.
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Local auto factors any day even if there closed on Sundays.
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Although - in general - the staff are pretty sh!te and don't know the first thing about what they're selling, it's actually a pretty handy shop to have nearby. I'm into cars and mountain bikes, so being able to nip in and buy something I need there and then really isn't a bad thing. I would never ask the staff for any kind of advice though, and most certainly wouldn't let them anywhere near my car or bike! As others have said, it's useful for consumables and branded products where you know what you're buying - may not be the cheapest place to get them, but if you need something on the spot and know what you're looking for it's fine.
The level of care and attention you're likely to receive from the staff has been made pretty clear to me, when on a couple of different occasions at my local store I've been told: "The alarm might go off when you walk out because this thing has a security tag in it that I can't remove. Don't worry though, nobody will come running after you." I literally told the bloke that I'd just fill my pockets next time, then... (I wouldn't actually, just in case anybody starts hating on me.) :shocked: