Halfords

I've worked in 3 different branches. 1st one was a small highstreet shop and I worked with lovely people. Customers were mostly friendly and took advice well, not just always comming in wanting the cheapest sack of shit availible.

The last 2 branches were shameful examples of both customer service and the cycling industry. In my opinion, one of the biggest problems with halfords is (1) the way in which staff are trained (or infact, lack of adequate training) - learn as you go, what happens if you're learning from staff which lack adequate traing? ...and (2) their adverts. I could go on.

Good buys in halfords sometimes but many other things are incredibly expensive and if I were ever to shop there, it would be out of conveinience or lack of other shops.

^ yeah, I used to work in Halfords Bikehut and I got hired despite having no professional experience and no qualifications.

And received literally no training either.

Sorry, should've added, I meant no disrespect to anyone who does work in Halfords. It's just that I don't hold an amazing opinion of them.

Halfords now charge £2 to pump up tires.

WTF?!

(not me, i was in there for something else)

they shouldnt do - what branch?

Whitechapel

when I asked the saled rep guy he said "we have to coz customers kept breakin' our pump innit"

what was even more despicable that they charged a father for his 5 year old's bike. he obviously didnt know a rim from a tyre, and the rep was quite rude as well.

Fucks sake ! My nearest shop that. I always try to go further and use an lbs. Halfrauds is open later and longer so I occasionally have to go there to pick up bits. Hate the place.

Boycott

Will now. Final straw that. I've got an old track pump I no longer need at the studio and I'm very seriously considering locking it to the fence near the road at the front of that retail park on my way home.

Burly pumps integrated into sheffield stands or boris stations would be a nice and useful idea..

They would eventually be knackered or abused though wouldn't they. I will simply chose to shop at lbs that have a pump for patrons and non patrons at the front of their shop.

Well most probably, maybe in lower risk areas like office bike parking, flats etc. I just pump up my tyres at home.
It's a shame we can't live in a world where communal bike pumps would be free from abuse.

Whitechapel

when I asked the saled rep guy he said "we have to coz customers kept breakin' our pump innit"

what was even more despicable that they charged a father for his 5 year old's bike. he obviously didnt know a rim from a tyre, and the rep was quite rude as well.

The clowns in that store tried to shaft me on a continental tyre warranty a while back - took about an hour to return from the storeroom then claimed they only had to replace the innertube. He'd even brought the wrong size with him. Amazing

Got asked for ID when trying to buy GT85 today. [Had no idea it was necessary.] I must be the 'luckiest' person i know, and yet i only got one number on the EuroMillions last night.

was 5 one of the lucky numbers?

No, out of my lucky dip selection only number 10 came up.

I wish Camelot would take a leaf out of Halfrauds' book: "Have you [strike]got any ID[/strike] matched all seven numbers? No? Have it anyway."

^^^ how old do you have to be to buy GT85? I thought there was some old law about being over 12? Now I'm wondering why, just tried sniffing it and it made a right mess and no high!!!!

No idea. He didn't ask my age. I'd've had to've lied if he did, because i don't think he'd've believed 34. I actually do like the smell of it though. Maybe he could tell.

While uploading something else to flickr just now, i noticed this old screen grab in 'my pictures'. When i wrote to halfords to tell them there was a typo in the 'Bike repair service' box and that i was going to email it to Private Eye, they replied and told me the prices really do start at £3.99. Hislop never published it.

The fixed gear fashion has ended: http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/halfords-to-stock-fixies/014437

Time we all started riding time trial trikes around.

"The range tops out at £329.99 with the Create Original."

That's some range!

And there's a typo on the first word of the second paragraph.

This is a fucking revelation;
"Stop without using a braking just by resisting the rotation of the cranks and also ride in reverse"

(From Halfords' website)

"The range tops out at £329.99 with the Create Original."

That's some range!

Range just got quite a lot bigger...

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/halfords-and-pinarello-the-complete-range-36608/