Fix my bike voucher - How do I know if there will be an additional charge? 14 April 2021 at 7:51PM in Public transport & cycling 7 replies 161 views

united4ever

Got 2 vouchers last month and went to Halfords (yeah, I know but LBS were too busy) with my commuter bike and sons pinnacle. 

They did their assessment, sons bike had a puncture and they say needs wheel truing. I said, we would like a real mud guard or basic one too if they could include that.

My commuter bike they said was in good Nick but the brakes needed bleeding they said. I wanted a new rear tyre (they agreed) but want like for like (schwalbe marathon plus) which they only had in a  different size on that day.

Anyway, they said this all took 40 minutes faffing around and he said they don't have any free time to do it until 19th April. So I agreed to bring them bike then. 

The lad seemed non committal when I asked if it will cost me anything beyond the vouchers. I would like to know in advance if there will be a charge. Can I insist on this? Don't really want them to give me some daft charge on top of the vouchers.

Thinking of Not going. I can't do the wheel truing or brake bleeding but can do the puncture and buy a new tyre for 30 quid. The lad said it depended on the day if the mechanic decided both brakes need bleeding but really I think he had little clue and was just counting down the minutes until home time.

Thanks

united4ever

Anyone?...

Norman_Castle

I'd phone and ask. A non committal, vague quote is no use. I'd thought about trying for a voucher just for some tyres, is an assessment where they decide what gets done compulsory? Also phone the LBS again to see what they can do.

united4ever

Thanks, yeah phoned, you end up at a call centre, they said you should have been given a quote at the time so when you drop it off ask them for a quote. Its far from a smooth experience to put it mildly.

Norman_Castle

I had a click and collect bike chain from Halfords, the "sales assistant" couldn't find it and sent me (my job?) to ask someone repairing bikes who stroppily told me he was working and sent me back to customer services. At customer services an adult employee looked through the c+c items and easily found mine. On another visit a "sales assistant" was very keen to help and asked what I was looking for. When I told him he fetched a mechanic from the attached workshop who was clearly irritated by being dragged away from his work and was rude to me because of it. I avoid Halfords.

united4ever

Ok, got it all done. Cost me a tenner of my own cash so cannot complain.

The customer service was like something out of faulty towers. No plans to return. They are probably good people but they often seem to be new (probably people quit regularly) and the systems seem ridiculous and dependent on what the computer says plus demand is through the roof so they can't cope. It's exhausting  for me to deal with them. Give me a LBS any day! 

[Deleted User]

I got my LBS to do the voucher work on my commuter as the gear cables needed doing, was £50 exactly for the cables/labour and I asked them to have a look at the brakes as well to see, was a charge of £35

Was very easy. I wouldn't use Halfords except to buy stuff with British Cycling discount

sinar

I took mine to Halfords and just told them to do what they could for £50 and I wouldn’t pay for anything above that. I got a service and was advised I needed a new chain in the near future, which I later bought myself and replaced.