Author Topic: Halfords opinions please  (Read 6485 times)

Offline clipperjay

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #20 on: 21 October 2013, 18:21 »
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:

Offline Therusterman

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #21 on: 21 October 2013, 22:25 »

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.

Offline clipperjay

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #22 on: 21 October 2013, 23:10 »

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!

Offline Therusterman

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #23 on: 22 October 2013, 00:03 »
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

Offline MereKat

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #24 on: 22 October 2013, 12:54 »
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....

Offline The Mighty Elvi

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Offline Neo Badness

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #26 on: 03 November 2013, 20:04 »
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.

You don't own a Mk2, you support it.

Offline Wooosh

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #27 on: 03 November 2013, 22:43 »
Halfrauds is over priced in my opinion and usually have a lot of young staff who are clueless :whistle:

Offline Kerrse

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #28 on: 05 November 2013, 14:03 »
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.

Offline CraigBest

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Re: Halfords opinions please
« Reply #29 on: 07 November 2013, 21:31 »
Local auto factors any day even if there closed on Sundays.