Halfords online - misleading items!! - be wary!

monkeytennis14

Last night I thought I'd get my Christmas shopping done online and ordered some items (using the Megashopbot of course!).

I ordered a MICHELIN TYRE INFLATOR (MODEL NO 12262) from Halfords via their website and I would collect it in my local store (Kingston) today.

I went down there this morning to collect the item and was given a lower spec model (MODEL NO 12260), I queried this with the sales guy and he double checked with the order and their stock levels - I said I was sure I'd ordered the digital model and he said he had none left. I said I'd probably made a mistake as I was ordering last night and he cancelled the order no problem.

When I got back home later on I double checked my order and lo and behold I had actually ordered the higher spec digital model as I had originally thought. I called back the branch and they said they had none left and might have some later on in the week.

I then ordered and reserved another on the 12262 tyre inflators but this time I'd collect it from the Twickenham branch, seeing as on the website it states something to the effect that "even if it's more expensive in the branch the price you pay is the price online when ordered" I thought it would be fine and I'd order again and all would be great.

What a fool I was! I got a call about 10 mins later saying the item I ordered was ready for my collection so I thought I should double check that it actually was what I'd ordered, the guy at the end of the line (the manager of the store too) said that it wasn't. I pointed out to him that this had just happened to me at the Kingston branch and that I had my order printed out and it showed a picture of the 12262 model at a price of £39.99. He was very bullish, saying I was wrong and he started to get shirty with me, to which I replied that he should be honouring this order rather than trying to get me to pay more for something I had ordered at the lower price... he was adamant and rude and tried to put the phone down on me. Again I pointed out this was fraudulent, and that his customer service was pretty poor.

I didn't get any further apart from getting his name and sending a mail to their customer service dept, which I doubt will get me anywhere. What I find the most galling is that the item Halfords tried to fob me off with each time was NOT actually available to order online - so how could I have placed an order for it??

Needless to say I won't be ordering anything else from Halfords either online or instore and will not be recommending anyone else to do so either.

If anyone has any ideas or anything it'd be much appreciated please... have a good evening y'all!

thanks

monkeytennis14

Here's the response I just received from Halfords 'Customer Services' Dept below:

Dear Mr. Jones

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry you have been displeased with our website and the service received in our stores'.

I can confirm that the Michelin High Power Tyre Inflator - SKU 261396 is in fact Model 12260. The Michelin High Power Rapid Inflator - SKU 261917 is Model 12262, priced at £44.99.

I am sorry for any inconvenience that may have been caused.

Yours sincerely,

Sophie Brettell
Customer Service Advisor.


Their website still shows the higher spec model at the price of £39.99... I for one won't be using Halfords again either online or instore... rubbish!

molerat

The descriptions are correct though. A simple mistake with the picture which will be corrected now that they have been informed.

monkeytennis14

It's not a mistake with the picture.

The picture, description and the spec online are for the 12262 model, however, when you go to collect this item from a store they will give you the 12260 model (which is a lower spec, not digital) and not an item that can be ordered online!

molerat

Which halfords item code did you order ? What was the item description ?