One Star on Monday, Four Stars on Tuesday... (Halfords)

Member Name: DavyMichelle

Product:	Halfords
Date:	08/07/09 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Depends on the Day of the Week

Disadvantages: Depends on the Day of the Week

Halfords has to be one of the more inconsistent places I shop at. I can go in one week and get a top of the range product at an unbeatable price along with outstanding customer service. Then the next I can go in and get ripped off by an emo (I believe you now call goths) who clearly slept through his staff training.

If you've never been quite sure what Halfords are all about, then basically they specialise in transport accessories. So if you ever need anything for your car, such as a stereo, new windscreen wiper blades or a car jack - then Halfords are your one stop shop. Similarly, they stock an extensive range of bikes and cycling accessories in most of their stores. They even stock a few caravan and camping bits and pieces.

The reason a lot of people choose Halfords above supermarkets and the like, is because Halfords are supposed to train their staff to be able to help you with product choices. They usually have trained staff able to fit car stereos and others who are able to advise you on which accessories will fit your car, or which new bike is the best for your situation. Whether or not you get the right member of staff to help you does seem to be a bit of a lottery though.

Not long ago, I purchased a car stereo that came with free fitting for the daughter's car. Great, I thought, I won't have to fiddle around with it and pretend that I know what I'm doing! The guy couldn't have been more helpful. He helped us get the right stereo for her needs and price range, and quickly had it all installed and working in under ten minutes.

Then recently I went with the grandson to choose a bike. The grandson is four, and has very little legs, yet the sales assistant (the aforementioned emo/goth) seemed to think that the grandson wanted a 16" bike. The grandson is not 5-7yrs old neither is he 112cm - 125cm tall, which is what the Halfords' website recommends a 16" bike for! After protesting that this seemed obscure, as the grandson could not even touch the ground with his tip-toes on the 16" bike, the sales assistant shrugged and said he'd leave me to have a think about.

Well, I did, and I put the grandson on a 14" bike (appropriate for his age and height) and off he went. Even on this new bike his tip-toes only just went on the ground, so he's got plenty of years use out of this new bike ahead of him. I perservered despite the shoddy service, because at the end of it all I got a new bike for the grandson for less than £60 thanks to a current sale on Apollo bikes. And not just any bike either, a good quality bike with a free back wheel and solid, sturdy frame.

How you fare with Halfords really does depend on the staff around at the time. Because of the hit and miss aspect of dealing with them, I never use any of their service or guarantee schemes I'm afraid to report. I wouldn't recommend other people do either, but of course it's personal choice. I think Halfords is best used as a store to find everything you need in under one roof, and if you happen to get some decent help and advice out of it, then consider it a bonus.

Summary: Recommended? Depends on the Day of the Week