MOT @ Halfords - Just gonna try sell me stuff?

nutcase · 19 Mar 2016 at 07:12

iaind said:
Halfords autocenters have nothing to do with the retail store - so don't let the reputation put you off. They bought the Nationwide Autocenters brand a few years ago - who, IMO were one of the better chains of fitters and Halfords Autocenters are still fine. I'd certainly take my car there before Kwik Fit etc

Long time ago now (late 90s/early 00s) I took my car to a nationwide with a half price voucher - they put a screwdriver through my cv gaiter, loosened the exhaust to manifold clamp, and moved one of the headlights. All things I had checked prior to the test.

Sanchez · 19 Mar 2016 at 07:52

I've never had an MOT at one of their auto centres but I did get new tyres fitted there. It was really good service and the staff were extremely friendly and professional. I'd go back again. Our car is due an MOT next month actually so I might take it back there.

Duke · 19 Mar 2016 at 10:15

nutcase_1uk said:
Long time ago now (late 90s/early 00s) I took my car to a nationwide with a half price voucher - they put a screwdriver through my cv gaiter, loosened the exhaust to manifold clamp, and moved one of the headlights. All things I had checked prior to the test.

What happened?

nutcase · 19 Mar 2016 at 17:36

Took it elsewhere. Needed the car so couldn't wait for VOSA to inspect it etc. None of it was provable anyway - was obvious a screwdriver had been put through the gaiter, but no way to prove it was them.

snowdog · 19 Mar 2016 at 18:47

nutcase_1uk said:
Long time ago now (late 90s/early 00s) I took my car to a nationwide with a half price voucher - they put a screwdriver through my cv gaiter, loosened the exhaust to manifold clamp, and moved one of the headlights. All things I had checked prior to the test.

Hopefully you returned the favour with a brick through their window :mad:

?

How dare they sabotage your car

. The cv gaiter thing would bother me most, it can destroy the joints in the driveschaft, which is an annoying/expensive fix as it often means replacing the oil seals in the gearbox and gearbox oil too (when taking it out).

Camalot · 20 Mar 2016 at 09:31

No problems here, mine passed fine, no pressure selling either.

Tom_ed1987 · 20 Mar 2016 at 21:18

I always take mine to halfords. They open at 8 so I can just book a slot online, turn up, pay £30 (or whatever the offer is at the time) , wait around 50mins then go to work without any faffing about.

King85 · 21 Mar 2016 at 09:59

Last 4 years I've used halfords and never had an issue and that was with a 10 year old citroen.

Akagi · 21 Mar 2016 at 10:04

I suspect it varies from branch to branch. I took my old car to Kwik Fit for its MOT's and it always passed with useful minor issues, and nobody tried to sell me anything I didn't need.

But you hear so many horror stories about *some* Kwik Fit branches.

(I know we're not talking about Kwik Fit.)

Fr0dders · 21 Mar 2016 at 12:20

stoofa said:
My MOT is due in just over a month, going to get it sorted this week.
See Halfords are offering an MOT for £30. Not an MOT is just an MOT. I'm confident the car will pass without any issue.
Do Halfords use the MOT simply as an excuse to try and sell you other bits and pieces or will I be quite safe booking and that's it, MOT complete?

Short version:
Anyone here had an MOT at Halfords and did they seem to know what they were doing?

Of course they do.

Classic one is the headlight alignment which of course has to be done using proper equipment so you couldn't possibly do it yourself but we can do it right now for £30 for 2 minutes work sir ?

iaind · 21 Mar 2016 at 12:23

I had an MOT at Halfords years ago and needed headlight alignment, they didnt charge me for it. Normally places like that will charge a tenner at most, so I dont know where you're pulling £30 from!

nutcase · 21 Mar 2016 at 13:17

Fr0dders said:
Of course they do.

Classic one is the headlight alignment which of course has to be done using proper equipment so you couldn't possibly do it yourself but we can do it right now for £30 for 2 minutes work sir ?

If you've got a flat floor and a vertical wall you can do it easily. Get them close if they're way out, then park the car right up against the wall. Main beam on and mark a cross at the centre of the focus points on the wall. Roll the car straight back a few feet, and adjust the focus point to meet the cross again. Check by switching to dipped beam.

NEVER had a fail doing that (apart from the above when they changed it).

Fr0dders · 21 Mar 2016 at 13:48

nutcase_1uk said:
If you've got a flat floor and a vertical wall you can do it easily. Get them close if they're way out, then park the car right up against the wall. Main beam on and mark a cross at the centre of the focus points on the wall. Roll the car straight back a few feet, and adjust the focus point to meet the cross again. Check by switching to dipped beam.

NEVER had a fail doing that (apart from the above when they changed it).

that's not what they tell you though

iaind said:
I had an MOT at Halfords years ago and needed headlight alignment, they didnt charge me for it. Normally places like that will charge a tenner at most, so I dont know where you're pulling £30 from!

Interesting they didn't charge. I know a family member who was. Not sure about £30, I'm going from memory. But definite deliberate tactic to get more money considering the MOT was cheap.

nutcase · 21 Mar 2016 at 15:45

Fr0dders said:
that's not what they tell you though

Interesting they didn't charge. I know a family member who was. Not sure about £30, I'm going from memory. But definite deliberate tactic to get more money considering the MOT was cheap.

I know. People see the equipment they use and believe them. The garage I use these days does do adjustment for free if required, but it's never required

ttaskmaster · 21 Mar 2016 at 16:16

stoofa said:
Do Halfords use the MOT simply as an excuse to try and sell you other bits and pieces or will I be quite safe booking and that's it, MOT complete?

Safe?
If they do attempt to sell you stuff, are you afraid you'll cave in, or something?

So what if they try?
You just have to say no, or that you'd like the pleasure of doing it yourself at home where you already have the parts...

stoofa · 21 Mar 2016 at 16:24

ttaskmaster said:
Safe?
If they do attempt to sell you stuff, are you afraid you'll cave in, or something?

So what if they try?
You just have to say no, or that you'd like the pleasure of doing it yourself at home where you already have the parts...

I prefer a stress-free experience. Also, I don't have the time to actually see if things need replacing.
The question was in respect to - was I likely to be told things needed to be done that didn't etc.
If loads of people had told me that yes, whenever they went to Halfords the people always tried to sell them things they didn't need, then I would have gone elsewhere. Indeed I can say no, but I don't want to patronise a location where that kind of thing happens.

So really not an issue of "caving in" rather an issue of spending my cash at somewhere that will give me a fair service.
As it turns out, cannot find a single fault in the way they handled my MOT.