It’s not often I write a complaint but today I was compelled to. Now I know why they are nicknamed “Halfrauds”
![Halfords Halfords Customer Service [FAIL]](http://www.everywherevirtually.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Halfords.jpg "Halfords")
I recently visited Halfords in Cheadle (3 STANLEY GREEN RETAIL PARK, CHEADLE, CHESHIRE, SK8 6PT, 0161 4857213). I wanted to buy a license plate for my motorbike. My existing plate does not have the GB and Euro stars on it so I had seen that this was a service Halfords offered on a previous visit.
I asked the guy behind the desk could I have one made up while I wait, which was advertised on the wall behind him in big bold letters. He said “Oh, you have a motorbike. No we don’t do them for motorbikes”. I pointed out to him that the information on the counter and on the wall said otherwise. He said I should go to the Altrincham store (MANCHESTER ROAD
BROADHEATH, ALTRINCHAM, WA14 5PZ). So with a resigned sigh I rode the 11 miles to the Altrincham store.
When I got to that store I saw half of the young Halfords staff outside smoking with friends who were not in uniform or not connected with halfords. It didn’t make for a positive image. Once inside the store there was one girl on the till and nobody else to be seen. I walked to the counter where the number plate service was advertised at the back of the store. I waited there for 10 minutes and a girl arrives. The one that had been on the front till.
She asked me what I want and I said I required a licence plate for a motorbike. In quite an abrupt tone she asked if I had my vehicles documents almost expecting that I wouldn’t. When I said I had them and ID she looked worried because I suspect she was not qualified to make up a plate. I pointed out it needed the Euro badge as I was travelling abroad. Without looking she said I dont think we have those.
I asked her to have a look and she came back and said no she didn’t have them but she could do me a white plate for the front. Confused I asked her what she meant. She said for the front. I said it is for a motorbike. Motorbikes do not have license plates on the front. She said well there was nothing she could do and that I could ride to White City. I said no thanks. I was not going to ride a further 6 miles on one of the busiest roads in Manchester at rush hour only to find the same service I’d had in the previous two stores.
I notice on your website that the stores are listed as “Halfords Super”. I can tell you there is nothing super about the stores, the customer service, the attitude of the staff and on many occasions the stock levels. Considering the monopoly you have on the market it is truly pathetic that you cannot even cover the basics. On many occasions I have asked staff for advice on a product and they read the description from the shelf or the box as if I was not capable of reading the information myself.
Upper management know the state of the stores because you are the people paying the minimum wage to these work shy teenagers. As somebody in my mid thirties I would rather see people of retirement age in these stores who have knowledge and some interpersonal skills.
It really is pathetic Halfords.
Yours disgusted
9 responses so far ↓
1 Sam Dalton // May 27, 2010 at 11:24
Oddly I had the exact same experience with Halfrauds last weekend. My plate is peeling at the side, and before I get pulled over, I thought I would get a new one. Went to Halfrauds and saw that they advertised the service only to find out that they don’t have the correct letters to make the plate and haven’t had any motorbike style letters for years!
They can order one for me apparently but it might take a couple of weeks. Needless to say I ordered one on the internet which should arrive today!
2 Jonathan // May 28, 2010 at 01:29
Hi Sam,
thanks for the comment. Now I know they are a national disgrace.
3 BILLY CHARLTON // Aug 14, 2010 at 06:14
i would advise you dont buy rsk alloys from halfauds either…bought a set of ”alloys” they started to corrode after just 12 weeks from the centre hub outwards……took them back…apparently i have to chase rsk….not halfords….man at rsk…sorry sir i know you pais 1000 quid for the wheels but we dont cover corrosion in our warranty…but they have only been onthe car 12 weeks…not covered…back to halfords..we can get them recoated for 100 quid a wheel…..yeah right….dont buy rsk alloys they are crap dont buy alloys from halfrauds cos they just pass the buck to the supplier….oh what did i do with the alloys?? ..got the local tyre fit to turn treads inside out got 4 champion plant pots out of them…..rsk make great [lant pots but the alloys well look good for about 12 weeks…………………….
4 David Moore // Jul 15, 2011 at 23:03
Went to Halfords for diagnostic test on Focus, Manager said we cannot do test without engine management light on…he said they could give the car a manual test to find fault with idle…i get call two hours later says its the coil pack…ok i say change that then….ok he says…..two hours later get call…its all fixed come down to collect…ok….I get there chap there says…oh we changed the coil…dosnt work sorry…thats £50 for our time…i get home…old coil on car ..never moved…still rust round bolts…..bunch of liars….will never recommend or use again!
5 Fern Hume // Oct 3, 2011 at 10:38
Did Halfrauds get back to you in the end?
6 Jonathan // Oct 4, 2011 at 00:41
Nope. No contact at all. If I had such negative feedback against my company at the very least I would want to find out how I could address it and perhaps offer the customer the opportunity to see how things have improved. But this is Halfrauds. Things haven’t improved and they don’t care as they virtually corner the market in that area. What the market needs is some competition.
7 Clare // Oct 27, 2011 at 21:26
How many Halfords staff does it take to replace a indicator bulb- answer is 3 and took an hour and half – rubbish service
8 Ahmad // Nov 6, 2011 at 00:05
Absolutely agree with all the bad reviews about halafords (halfrauds). The staff are very unprofessional. Most of them don’t know anything about the products they have in store and often read what is on the box when you ask. You wait for 15 minutes at least for someone to approach you and they act as if they are doing you a huge favor. I have used them once and that is the end of it. I would better pay doublethe price but have a decent service.
They disgust me!
9 John Grover // Nov 18, 2011 at 13:15
Hello
All I seem to see is rude remarks about Halfords, however as a complete
contrast I should like you to congratulate a young man called JOEe.
This chap is working at your Burgess Hill branch and is by far the most
decent young man I have yet to meet. I visited your store in Burgess Hill on the 15th of November 2011 with a request for help. I am a disabled and spend a lot of my time in a wheelchair and my request was that I thought I had a puncture in the tyre of my wheelchair. I explained this
to JOE and at once started to rectify my situation with great speed and
interest. He finished the job in excellent time and I feel this young man
shoulb be conratulated by your powers that be. It seems to me that people today are very quick to criticize and very slow to praise.
Please make sure he gets a congratulation on his actions.
Regards John Grover
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