Halfords - I forgot how bad they are

DannyW

DannyW

DannyW

Man of Honour
Joined
31 Dec 2005
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England
Little rant here - I have not been into a Halfords branch for about 4 years , I live down the road the motorsave and near a Wilkinson's so I can get bits from there (bulbs, polish, screen wash ect) - Everything else, as you know, comes from the scrap yard ;):D

Anyway my car battery was dead and I needed one asap it was 7pm and only Halfords was open near me. Phoned up gave reg - £85 with a 3 Year warranty not a bad price I though for a 800A battery. Get into branch at 7.15pm to find its a 480A WTF! Then was told by some spotty 17 year old it would start my car - Yeh maybe until winter. The correct 800A battery for my car was £140 ! :eek:

Phoned the first dodgy backstreet motor factors on yell.com in my area, who were open until 8pm, Varta 800A 3 year warranty for £80 and on shelf ready for me. Quick Google/eBay check confirms this a good/fair price

Lesson Learned stay away from Halfords in future
 
Only worth visiting for specific 'on sale' items. Everything else, that wouldn't be available in a supermarket/Wilkinsons etc, will be overpriced.
Local motor factors will almost always do a better price, the one down here will even match a lot of online prices (but not all).
 
Halfords is actually quite a viable option when you have a trade card. Obviously thats not much use to you, but I've bought a battery from them in past with a trade card and their pricing was very good.

Shame you didnt have a friend with similar.
 
I told some guys at work they said I need a trade card to get a decent price, I can get one I have mechanical qualifications
 
DannyW said:
Little rant here - I have not been into a Halfords branch for about 4 years , I live down the road the motorsave and near a Wilkinson's so I can get bits from there (bulbs, polish, screen wash ect) - Everything else, as you know, comes from the scrap yard ;):D

Anyway my car battery was dead and I needed one asap it was 7pm and only Halfords was open near me. Phoned up gave reg - £85 with a 3 Year warranty not a bad price I though for a 800A battery. Get into branch at 7.15pm to find its a 480A WTF! Then was told by some spotty 17 year old it would start my car - Yeh maybe until winter. The correct 800A battery for my car was £140 ! :eek:

Phoned the first dodgy backstreet motor factors on yell.com in my area, who were open until 8pm, Varta 800A 3 year warranty for £80 and on shelf ready for me. Quick Google/eBay check confirms this a good/fair price

Lesson Learned stay away from Halfords in future
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They have huge overheads and just about everything is more expensive, I only buy stuff on sale, otherwise as you say, Local Motor Factors are always the better place to go..

Although I would be surprised if you are truly comparing like for like..
I can see a 800 CCA / 95AH Halfrauds own brand for £109.99, the equivalent Varta 800 CCA (blue) is only 80AH..

Although I have no issues believing how expensive they can be, I needed a hood cleaning kit (autoglym), it was £10 less in the local motor factors, not to mention the correct synth oil for the missus' beetle was £18 cheaper as well..
 
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DannyW said:
I told some guys at work they said I need a trade card to get a decent price, I can get one I have mechanical qualifications
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Definitely worth it. Some of their pricing is very good under trade card.

I had to pop in there last night on way home to buy some screenwash. Priced up at £4 and I paid £2.50 for 5 litres. Cant really complain at that.
 
I went in recently to get a fan belt, only to be told they don't keep any in stock. I stick to my friendly motorfactors these days.

Their socket sets aren't too bad though.
 
Was just going to say Ive got a 10 year old Halfords professional socket set still all in good order
 
Halfrauds are only really worth going in for the odd tools they have on offer as their tools are decent and I like their screenwash, the raspberry one tastes really nice.
 
rodenal said:
Trade card is worth while but only on their own branded stuff really.
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I agree.

It is irritating having to ask the cashier every time I want to know a price though, as the trade card discount varies wildly product to product.

You'd think there would be some form of self-scanning price check point to check trade prices. I understand they would never put trade price labels up as it would highlight to regular customers how ass-poundingly expensive their bulbs are!
 
Went in there for a rear bulb the other day, some kid insisted that the bulb that looked similar to mine (apart from the two missing contacts) would work in my bike :rolleyes:. Only went in there as it was a brake light so needed to sort asap. Ended up going to the shop by my work who sold me the exact one, cheaper as well.
 
Terminal_Boy said:
Local motor factors every time. Cheaper and the staff usually know their stuff.
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Staff knowing wtf they are on about is extremely valuable.

There are lots of things I know about cars, but plenty of things I do not know.
One thing I am certain of is that the <21 year olds working there have absolutely no idea, or at least I would not have done!
 
Since finding a local independent car parts shop I cannot believe how expensive halfords is, especially for things like bulbs, I now pay <£1 per bulb :-) also picked up new front windscreen wipers for <£10 for the two!
 
jfp said:
Since finding a local independent car parts shop I cannot believe how expensive halfords is, especially for things like bulbs, I now pay <£1 per bulb :-) also picked up new front windscreen wipers for <£10 for the two!
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Bulbs are far, far cheaper at Halford's with a trade card. I get something like 70% off most of them now.
 
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