Halfords - Never again

clarryd

Can't believe what happened to me this morning.

My front passenger side headlamp needed replacing so I went to Halfords and asked them for the correct bulb and fitting (as I thought it was free to get it fitted) the bulb was £9.99, which I thought was a bit on the expensive side and they charged me £6.99 extra for fitting. I had already asked the assistant to the fit it for me so I just paid and thought deserves me right for not doing it myself.

When the young assistant was fitting the headlight bulb he informed me that the small side light bulb had gone also, I told him that wasn't possible as I had just checked all my bulbs before I went into the shop just so I could get them replaced at the same time, but he insisted and asked me to have a look. Well it was out when I looked but thought he must have done something so I asked him if he touched that bulb instead of the headlamp bulb he refused to admit that it was him that made the bulb blow. I asked if he could just go into his shop and get me a bulb to fit at the same time as he was doing the headlamp, he said the small side light bulb would be £2.99 ( I thought great this is a cheaper bulb) and then asked me for another £6.99 to fit it, I asked why would I pay another £6.99 as he was already fitting the other bulb and they where right next to each other, he informed me that if I wanted him to fit that bulb aswell then I would have to pay the £6.99. I informed him that this is ridiculous £13.98 to fit 2 bulbs. I said there was no way I was paying them anymore money and I would fit the second bulb myself. It took 2 minutes max to fit that bulb.

I think this is a terrible service, I understand that the headlamp bulb is a bit more difficult to fit so a small charge would be acceptable but the side light bulb just needed pulling out and pushing back in with the new bulb.

I will not be going back to Halfords for any other car parts or services I am going to stick to the smaller local car shop's as they give a much better and friendlier service, and would have never asked for £13.98 to fit 2 bulbs.

facade

On the other hand, if you can get them to fit a headlamp bulb to a Ka for £6.99 it would be worth it.

I suspect the Ka is on the list of "doesn't apply to these vehicles"

clarryd

I didn't have a problem with the first £6.99 it was the second £6.99 that I am objecting too.

Spicy_McHaggis

clarryd wrote: »

I didn't have a problem with the first £6.99 it was the second £6.99 that I am objecting too.

I object to Sports Direct when they say can we put your goods in this bag at x cost rather than the free one.

Same as I object to halfrauds fitting costs.

You were free to do the same.

Nick_C

The charge is clearly stated. If you don't like Halfords, there are plenty of other places you could try.

Personally, I think the fitting charge is good value. I always get them to change the lights on my Yaris, and they are usually a pain to do, even for someone with experience. They have taken 15/20 minutes sometimes (including getting down under the car to retrieve the old bulb that they have dropped into the engine).

I would never expect a big national firm like Halfords to allow its employees to haggle with you over their pricing structure. Take it or leave it.

motorguy

clarryd wrote: »

I didn't have a problem with the first £6.99 it was the second £6.99 that I am objecting too.

Thats how halfrauds make their money - charging people like that.

Next time try your local motor factors. The main bulbs will be a couple of £ tops and a sidelight bulb a pound. If they dont have any formal charge usually a couple of pounds, then chances are one of them will fit it for a small tip.

straighttalker

Price to fit one bulb is £6.99. Price to fit another bulb is another £6.99. Halfords are there to make money and if you have a problem with that just order some cheap chinese bulbs from Ebay and fit them yourself in future. Whilst the fitter had the bonnet open, why didn't you ask him to do an oil and filter change for free whilst he was there?

I don't see what the OP is moaning about.

harveybobbles

The reason for the charge is because you are taking an employee off the shop floor for 15/20 minutes at a time when there could be a queue building up inside.

motorguy

harveybobbles wrote: »

Ah, playing the disabled card..!

My partner is disabled, but can put up a book shelf.

How do you know what disability the O/P has that would prevent them fitting a bulb into an awkward place?

My wife has rheumatoid arthritis which would prevent her fitting a headlight bulb, but putting up a shelf wouldnt be an issue.

You could of course, just admit you were nasty to the O/P and back off?

motorguy

Nick_C wrote: »

The charge is clearly stated. If you don't like Halfords, there are plenty of other places you could try.

Personally, I think the fitting charge is good value. I always get them to change the lights on my Yaris, and they are usually a pain to do, even for someone with experience. They have taken 15/20 minutes sometimes (including getting down under the car to retrieve the old bulb that they have dropped into the engine).

I would never expect a big national firm like Halfords to allow its employees to haggle with you over their pricing structure. Take it or leave it.

Halfrauds had an offer on Bosch wipers some months ago for £5 for two and i went down with a mate of mine as his car needed a pair. The clips werent quite right so the bloke in the shop came out and fitted them. Didnt bother charging fitting. Probably shouldnt have, but he did it anyway.

Trying to stiff someone for another £6.99 to fit a push in bulb beside the one you're fitting anyway is a bit much IMHO.

Norman_Castle

I will not be going back to Halfords for any other car parts or services I am going to stick to the smaller local car shop's as they give a much better and friendlier service, and would have never asked for £13.98 to fit 2 bulbs.

Wise choice, as apparently Halfords mock their customers.