UK Cycling discount at Halfords?

[PH]

Don't you get 10% off online purchases any way?

I don't know if it's universal, but my local store will price match their own website, then apply the 10%discount to all cycling purchases (possibly non cycling but I haven't tried)

[PH]

these LBSs have served, supported and befriended us for generations and are already under constant threat from on-line sales outfits.
[/i]

I'm pleased for you that your LBSs have served you so well, but my experience is that's far from always the case. I've had more issues with poor service from real world shops than from internet ones.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

these LBSs have served, supported and befriended us for generations and are already under constant threat from on-line sales outfits.
[/i]

I'm pleased for you that your LBSs have served you so well, but my experience is that's far from always the case. I've had more issues with poor service from real world shops than from internet ones.

I would like to see feedback percentages made for viewing mandatory on all retailers.

Halfords like Aldi etc, do invite comments but its not very comprehensive.

[Psamathe]

Hi,

these LBSs have served, supported and befriended us for generations and are already under constant threat from on-line sales outfits.
[/i]

I'm pleased for you that your LBSs have served you so well, but my experience is that's far from always the case. I've had more issues with poor service from real world shops than from internet ones.

I would like to see feedback percentages made for viewing mandatory on all retailers.

Halfords like Aldi etc, do invite comments but its not very comprehensive.

The trouble with much of the "feedback" is the "selection". Would you trust Halfords to publish "a heap of junk, terrible service, assistants without a clue ..." review on their web site (or any other retailers)? Similarly I don't trust "TrustPilot" who claim to be independent but seem to have some sort of direct relationship with some retailers. I'd had "discussions" with one company whose financial system passes customer details on a per sale basis to TrustPilot and if they are passing details on a per sale basis they (retailer) can distort the reviews/rating by not passing details in cases poor service/complaints.

That said, despite mistrusting Amazon I do trust their reviews. Maybe because they have become so large that if a product gets bad reviews they have at least 20 alternatives to sell you. Plus, if retailers were smart enough to use their bad reviews it could help their business massively - unfortunately many see complaints and bad reviews as something to ignore/dismiss/etc.

Ian

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
A little over pessimistic for sunday morning

EBay's system seems to work along with money-back guarantee.........................

[Psamathe]

Hi,
A little over pessimistic for sunday morning :mrgreen:

EBay's system seems to work along with money-back guarantee.........................

I don't use eBay so no experience of their systems. But being realistic, if you posted a justifiably bad review of e.g. an "own brand" on the retailers web site would you be surprised if it was not published. Even CTC do it, publish a comment to one of their articles critical of their policy and it will be removed pretty quickly (during office hours) - personal experience.

Ian

[JohnW]

these LBSs have served, supported and befriended us for generations and are already under constant threat from on-line sales outfits.
[/i]

I'm pleased for you that your LBSs have served you so well, but my experience is that's far from always the case. I've had more issues with poor service from real world shops than from internet ones.

I'm sorry to hear of your less-than-happy experiences PH. That's certainly at variance with my experience locally. Within 10 or 12 miles ride or so I have six or seven excellent establishments - and I'm doubly lucky in also having Spa within ride-able shopping distance . I've said the same thing before, about my local LBSs, and there's been similar responses to yours on a couple of occasions. I think you should all move up to West Yorkshire!

A couple of our LBSs have stopped selling bikes due to pricing pressure from the on-line outfits, and they make their living from setting up/preparing/adjusting bikes bought on-line, but unserviceable when delivered........and from repairs, servicing, maintaining cycles. Those LBSs also maintain a good stock of spares, and will get what I need, if not in stock, usually within the week - or a fortnight for hub-parts from America! The unsatisfactory comments about other people's LBSs are a surprise to me.

I see that you're in Derby - I've dealt with Mercian on a couple of occasions- I had a frame built, and I've called in on passing (very infrequently) and they've even had parts made for me. I've found Mercian a good outfit to deal with - knowledgeable and helpful - from my experience they'd be on my list if I lived down there.

As for discounts - well, discounts don't decide where and how I shop. As for Halfords - the reports on the Forum do vary. As for CUK/Halfords - let's see if either the CEO or the chair reply to my questions.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I like a lot of others here used to shop at LBS and Halfords from my youth.......because they were the only outlet for parts.

I have in the past used a shop for building wheels, two in fact, but I won't bore every one with the anecdotal snips of good and bad.

I am happy at my leisure to shop 24 hrs a day online........................ebay...best thing since sliced bread I.M.O.

More stories of undelivered parts bought on ebay recently.......three in one week
But Halfords have let me down with chain that I ordered on Monday last...............no reply to my email.............the shop was worse when I happen to visit a week ago (Halfords)................on offer but zilch stock, which is no surprise apart from the fact that the offer is still live a week later online..................

With all this tech you would think I could buy the stuff easy......money waiting.
Local LBS is like death warmed up................just sent me packing without finding out the facts..........I probably don't look like a young mug with 2K to burn...............

[blackbike]

Halfords are usually a complete irrelevance to me.

Their prices are sky high.

But they do sometimes have some very good offers and when they do they are so cheap the CTC discount is not worth bothering about.

[bogmyrtle]

Thanks for this thread. I got a discount on new wiper blades today. I would never have thought to ask if I hadn't read it here.

[PH]

Halfords are usually a complete irrelevance to me.

Their prices are sky high.

But they do sometimes have some very good offers and when they do they are so cheap the CTC discount is not worth bothering about.

For the best prices you have to be a clever shopper. Halfords will price match and then give you the 10% discount.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Update on my click and collect experiences -

Saw some chains on offer which use already so decided to buy, went for click and collect because I have two local dealers and save the £ 3.99 on p&p.

Ordered online, and got an instant text saying will contact you when the parts are at store.....................
Waited and waited and after a week I am out of time on that order.....
Sent an email and got a cheery.........................we are on it...........................yeh right
No reply........................

Reordered the same way and hey presto got an almost instant you can pick up your order
When I picked it up the receipt says the original order date not the 2nd order...........which means the parts were there but they forgot to tell me...............

Well that's one story -

When I got into store plenty of staff and a new enlarged bicycle display...................

Er indoors says there is the pick up counter, so I wondered over and waited in queue behind another customer......
Then I got a full history of Halfords bikes including their takeover of bike firms and the blokes missus's bike and she apparently came to store to try a size bike..........after about ten minutes of guff I placed my hand on the couter expecting to get noticed..........close enough for a bloody nose, I was all for breaking in and busting up their tea party Then it ended and the staff said sorry for keeping me waiting.................

Is that service or what?

Got my parts and left.

Too right I gave it what for on the feedback.........................

[JohnW]

Further to my post of 7th July, I sent the e-mail as I said, to the chair, and to the Chief Exec.

I received the following reply from the chair :

From: Dan Howard [mailto:dan.howard@cyclinguk.org]
Sent: 13 July 2017 14:15
To: John .
Subject: Re: (40) UK Cycling discount at Halfords? - Cycling UK Forum

Hi John,
Thanks for the message. Details of the offer can be found at: http://www.cyclinguk.org/member-benefits/halfords. Cycling UK members holding a valid Cycling UK Membership card are entitled to an exclusive 10% off the in-store price of any cycles and cycling related products and services in Halfords. Member card must be presented at time of purchase and photocopies are not accepted.

Cycling UK, its members and groups have long supported local bike shops as well and the wider retail and trade. It is widely recognised that our members are discerning customers and seek the best advice and products. The sheer number of advertisers in our Cycle magazine, both high street retailers, specialist suppliers, local bike shops and online retailers testify to the myriad of ways that our members choose to now purchase. Many groups and dedicated cyclists such as yourself have built up great relationships with these various suppliers – and will no doubt continue to do so, and these retailers off their own back may offer discounts to local cyclists. We continue to support that and in the case of smaller suppliers Cycle magazine is fast becoming one of the only remaining publications to provide a market place to such a diverse customer base. We’re proud that Halfords have partnered with us and offer our members this discount.

There are over 3 million cycles sold in the UK each year with Halfords accounting for a quarter of these. Our partnership with Halfords is to reach out to this new audience who are arguably not using LBS, and showcasing the work we do in getting the UK Cycling. We look forward to welcoming these new cyclists to our events, group rides and to learn more with us as they begin or expand their cycling journeys.

Best wishes : Dan Howard : Chair : Cycling UK


I replied to him as follows, responding to points that he made :

Thank you Dan –

It’s good to receive a reply.

With respect to your first paragraph, please note that the matter of CUK’s information with respect to the arrangement with Halford’s isn’t in question – the questions have been with respect to Halford’s staff’s knowledge. From ‘Forum’ posts at the time this question prevailed during Wiggle’s tenure as the erstwhile CTC shop (so called) and it appears that the matter of discounts eligibility was never satisfactorily resolved for members.

With respect to the other matters referred to in my e-mail to you, the CTC ‘Gazette’ and it’s successors have always been a good guide to services and outlets, that’s nothing new. It’s true that the scope of advertisements is certainly widening, but the politicians’ phrase “fast becoming” really means nothing.

However, be aware that one of our most useful and respected touring, utility and general cycling oriented retailers, Spa Cycles, have not advertised in the last previous three editions of ‘Cycle’’ which is since the deal with Halfords was announced. Whether this is coincidence I don’t know, but if I were a retailer I’d query whether to support an organisation which directed it’s members to another, different, large and nationwide retail outlet. My personal opinion is that there’s a problem with ethics here.

I remember a similar situation some years ago, when the erstwhile CTC disbanded it’s traditional ‘CTC Shop’ and marketed a chosen retailer as replacement, and giving a certain discount – as encouragement to members to support them. This caused a certain amount of consternation among LBSs and as a sop, but amazingly impertinently, sections were asked to canvas LBSs on what discounts they gave to members of the erstwhile CTC. If you could imagine yourself in the position of the LBSs in our section’s area, and being asked the question, you’ll be able to imagine the responses.

I’ve nothing at all to say against Halfords, but for CUK to direct it’s members away from our friends the LBSs is not what I would consider as laudable.

Unless you instruct me not to, I shall copy your e-mail and this response onto the Forum in the next few says.

Kind regards : John W


The chair had no objection to my putting the whole of the correspondence between us onto the Forum, which I'm sure you'll agree is to his credit. There have been other posts, on other threads, from other members complaining that CUK HQ hasn't acknowledged or replied to their queries. The chair has certainly replied on this occasion - I personally have no axe to grind with respect to the Halfords/CUK relationship, and no doubt the Halfords local staff will eventually be brought up to date with the information. However, on the basis of a non-confrontational matter, it seemed a good opportunity to see whether someone on high would respond. The chair did respond.