I took my car there for them to fit two new bulbs i bought, cost me something like £15 for both bulbs to be fitted just to drive home and go back out at night and one headlight was aimed directly at the road in front so couldn't see anything and other was aimed way too high causing me to blind other drivers, took it back and they wanted £30 to do headlight alignment.....keeping in mind the headlights were aimed fine before the bulb change! ended up going to a local garage who rechecked they did the bulbs right and aligned my lights for £10
took my car there for an MOT many years ago (1990's) they failed it and said that the work that they could do would cost £ 450 to £500 the work they could not do would cost @ £500 . i changed 2 front track control arms @ £10 each . I took the car to another MOT garage and it passed . One of the things they failed it on was the emissions test ,as a kit car registered on a Q plate it was exempt from this test .Biggest bunch of Numpties i ever had to deal with. 310-
A lot of garages get that wrong with kit cars, i've spent hours of my life arguing with mechanics, MOT testers and garage owners over the emissions rules for kit cars.
I normally buy a car for £1000 run it for few years and if its comes to MOT time and needs expensive work more than car worth I just sell for spares and repairs for £300 and get another £1000 car. Currently a 2005 Passat TDI 1.9 lol
I took my Astra sports tourer to Halfords for a gold service and a diagnosis for a whirring noise when idling, i got the car back and on starting it was whirring so i asked what they thought, they said we haven’t got a clue so didn’t bother to look further, VW garage sorted it in 30 minutes for £56, cam tensioner was lose.
As a mechanic when ever you fit a reconditioned rack you have to send the old one back that's how it works..I can fit an average steering rack including tracking and road test in a couple of hours... absolute cowboy's..
Halfords autocentres are all around the country. You can't tar them all with the same brush, surely it depends on the staff where you take it. My 6 year old car has its last 3 annual services and MOTs there, passed every time and I've been very happy with the standard of work and fair prices charged. Much better than previous rip off garages I've had the displeasure of using.
My partner went to Halfords for a new front light bulb and £5 for them to fit it. After twenty minutes while she stood watching them they told her they don't know how to access the lights to change the bulb so she drove away and went elsewhere. Access was via the the wheel arch so that just sums up what kind of people you are trusting your car with.
So this video was a few years ago and although I have never used them again for a service I do go in there for some other stuff. Yesterday though I thought getting a simple fuel can would be a safe bet and as I approach someone working in there to ask where they are kept he laughed. They are over there is we have any, sure enough they didn’t, hot day and pissed off running around. Yes everyone runs out, but a fuel can :-(
Sounds like a part issue that Halfords tried to help half price bill and hire car a 14 year old car sounds like a job maybe they should have deferred not taken on the car but working for a main dealer I can tell you this happens it’s how it’s dealt with. Just to note halfords prices are very good and 1/2 of price of dealers
A mate of mine's son got a job with Halfords straight from school, he had never lifted a car bonnet before, turned up the first day and the manager had him changing bulbs and batteries the lad said 'I've never done that before' and the manager said 'don't worry you will soon get the hang of it'!
What a way to be put on the spot, Some cars are really really awkward to change a bulb,some easy. Customers standing there watching you struggle to get your hand in small gap to change bulb or figure out what plastic items to remove without causing damage Pressure!
Got to learn somehow, I cut my teeth rebuilding an engine with zero knowledge or experience with cars. You've just got to get in there, get your hands dirty and learn. That was 20 years ago, last year I changed the discs and pads on my daily barge, I've just finished servicing, rebuilding, jetting and balancing a pair of weber carbs and converting a 1974 engine to electronic ignition. I don't have a single qualification to give me permission to do it.
It’s a scam it’s happening at all Halfords even here in Swansea , my car had a big scuff on front corner of bumper and scratches in different directions like someone tried to remove the scuffs/damage and they told me it looks like it’s been there a while even though I cleaned my car before taking it for its service and I told them the car is fitted with a dash cam ???
I bought a used car and after 100 miles it blew its engine oil out on the M5. The top of the oil filter housing had been replaced with the O ring not in its groove. I looked in the paperwork and it said the previous service was by Halfords of Portsmouth. They are incompetent. Why does anyone take their car to them?
A couple of things, 1) currently new cars still require an MOT after 3 years (4 years is a proposal the government is looking at). 2) Should you take your car for the MOT prior to the existing one expiring, if it fails, your car is no longer road legal, dispute having some days left on the old MOT.
If you love your car, take it to a good independent garage or if you can afford it, the main dealer, if you hate your car, take it to Halfrauds or shit fit, they are guaranteed to ruin your car
if buying car battery go main dealer several years ago needed battery for 4x4 halfords over 200 quid main dealer same make battery an size and output 130
I'd never take my car there for service/repair. As far as I'm concerned they are there for accessories. Take your motor to a proper garage with trained mechanics.
I like Halfords and would be disappointed to see the company go. Things go wrong and to halve your bill and provide a hire car seems generous? Best wishes
Most tool chest manufacturers use the same supplier, some like Clarke have a "professional" range, but still sell the cheap stuff at the lower price point.
if you did your researtch like you say you did why did you go to them if there was such bad reviews and if like you say they always find issues with your car why keep using them also you are wrong about new cars having mot every 4 years that is under review at the end of the day you got it done half price and you got a hire car the gripe about the key is down to the third party hire company as halfords do not have there own hire cars they are hired from either avis or europcar and they always do not give out the master key as they are often lost and got fed up with people losing the master key which can cost up to 1000 pound to aquire from dealer you said the dealer wanted 4 weeks to get the new part which is how long you said you waited and again the dealer would have charged you for a curtesey car and would not have reduced the bill
Robert...fair points there.... I did wonder too: Why take your pride & joy to a place you have read bad reviews about.... But be fair: 4 weeks to change a steering rack? That's ludicrous. You can ship a reconditioned rack anywhere in the country in 24 hours MAX! I know the UK is pretty poor service-wise, but it's still better than Unaomabongo. Even on a bad day. (I know...I've been there too....) Was a bit surprised they supplied a courtesy car though... They must have been at Embarrassment Level Red. And, please, spare me the "dealer" comparison stuff: Absolutely the worst rip-off merchants going..... They just charge you more for rubbing your face in their crap! At least in that respect...Halfords are more economical!
ROBERT CORNISH Just a P.S. on your subtle defence of "Dealers"... Had a neighbour with a rather newish Toyota RAV4...had it serviced prior to going on what he believed would be a 1,000 mile trip (To a neighbouring country) They did the usual routine service but informed him he had damage to his steering components and that really "it should be addressed" as it was "potentially very dangerous"..... Well, he's a Mancunian and didn't fall for it: He asked me to take a look. Absolutely-bugger-all-wrong with the vehicle. Damaged steering components are fairly easy to spot....they claimed the vehicle had been heavily "kerbed" at some point....needed close on a thousand pounds worth of parts & labour to rectify it. Absolute tosh. I have recently bought a 'rather old' Volvo Xc 90 V8 AWD...2009 vintage! Amongst its various papers and service histories is an estimate to replace the two front suspension legs..as "They are dangerously worn" according to the Main Volvo Dealer in the country..... at a cost of 1500 pounds (UK). The estimate was dated some 8 years ago and the owner never had the work done... Here I am, in the same car. Same original suspension legs... 80,000 miles later...absolutely nothing wrong with 'em! And believe me...I drive the car hard at times..... Never anything but complete control. No cause for alarm, ever. So...I dunno...draw your own conclusions. As I stated elsewhere: I just hate being ripped off. We all should. Take care. Stay safe. Cheers.
John... No criticism on your First Video....at all. You'll get better I'm sure. But hey....criticising Halfords on your first attempt..... That's definitely starting in the shallow end! I mean..An MOT at Halfords: You must be begging them to rip you off. Shades of Harry Enfield... "I saw you coming"
Would only se Halfords for their free checks you have to watch them closely as I’ve caught them sitting car. Up and ignoring it as they tell you it’s not making them any money that was Poole branch go in an watch them but as for paying them for anything no way not a chance
I guess that is the point I made a mistake. No I am not a moron just trusted a company to do the job they have been paid for like anyone paying for a service. I have learned by this mistake and will never trust them again.
I took my car there for them to fit two new bulbs i bought, cost me something like £15 for both bulbs to be fitted just to drive home and go back out at night and one headlight was aimed directly at the road in front so couldn't see anything and other was aimed way too high causing me to blind other drivers, took it back and they wanted £30 to do headlight alignment.....keeping in mind the headlights were aimed fine before the bulb change! ended up going to a local garage who rechecked they did the bulbs right and aligned my lights for £10
Just take your car to an independent mot service garage
took my car there for an MOT many years ago (1990's) they failed it and said that the work that they could do would cost £ 450 to £500 the work they could not do would cost @ £500 . i changed 2 front track control arms @ £10 each . I took the car to another MOT garage and it passed . One of the things they failed it on was the emissions test ,as a kit car registered on a Q plate it was exempt from this test .Biggest bunch of Numpties i ever had to deal with.
310-
A lot of garages get that wrong with kit cars, i've spent hours of my life arguing with mechanics, MOT testers and garage owners over the emissions rules for kit cars.
I wouldn’t trust Halfords to change a bulb in my car let alone the work you’ve had carried out and the same goes for Kwik Fit
National tyres are no better..i do not trust any of them..
I normally buy a car for £1000 run it for few years and if its comes to MOT time and needs expensive work more than car worth I just sell for spares and repairs for £300 and get another £1000 car.
Currently a 2005 Passat TDI 1.9 lol
I took my Astra sports tourer to Halfords for a gold service and a diagnosis for a whirring noise when idling, i got the car back and on starting it was whirring so i asked what they thought, they said we haven’t got a clue so didn’t bother to look further, VW garage sorted it in 30 minutes for £56, cam tensioner was lose.
As a mechanic when ever you fit a reconditioned rack you have to send the old one back that's how it works..I can fit an average steering rack including tracking and road test in a couple of hours... absolute cowboy's..
Absolutely Tone...and failing to track the steering? Unforgivable.
Give me A shout buddy we can have a interesting chat about these lot
Halfraud?
Halfords autocentres are all around the country. You can't tar them all with the same brush, surely it depends on the staff where you take it. My 6 year old car has its last 3 annual services and MOTs there, passed every time and I've been very happy with the standard of work and fair prices charged. Much better than previous rip off garages I've had the displeasure of using.
My partner went to Halfords for a new front light bulb and £5 for them to fit it. After twenty minutes while she stood watching them they told her they don't know how to access the lights to change the bulb so she drove away and went elsewhere. Access was via the the wheel arch so that just sums up what kind of people you are trusting your car with.
So this video was a few years ago and although I have never used them again for a service I do go in there for some other stuff. Yesterday though I thought getting a simple fuel can would be a safe bet and as I approach someone working in there to ask where they are kept he laughed. They are over there is we have any, sure enough they didn’t, hot day and pissed off running around. Yes everyone runs out, but a fuel can :-(
The one in aberdeen is top notch, cheap, passed, happy days.
Sounds like a part issue that Halfords tried to help half price bill and hire car a 14 year old car sounds like a job maybe they should have deferred not taken on the car but working for a main dealer I can tell you this happens it’s how it’s dealt with. Just to note halfords prices are very good and 1/2 of price of dealers
Why didn't you bother to get there earlier rather than five to six? I feel that's quite ignorant of you arriving just before they close.
A mate of mine's son got a job with Halfords straight from school, he had never lifted a car bonnet before, turned up the first day and the manager had him changing bulbs and batteries the lad said 'I've never done that before' and the manager said 'don't worry you will soon get the hang of it'!
Sound about right from them. My car never ran correctly again and sounded like a bag of rubbish.
What a way to be put on the spot,
Some cars are really really awkward to change a bulb,some easy.
Customers standing there watching you struggle to get your hand in small gap to change bulb or figure out what plastic items to remove without causing damage
Pressure!
Got to learn somehow, I cut my teeth rebuilding an engine with zero knowledge or experience with cars. You've just got to get in there, get your hands dirty and learn. That was 20 years ago, last year I changed the discs and pads on my daily barge, I've just finished servicing, rebuilding, jetting and balancing a pair of weber carbs and converting a 1974 engine to electronic ignition. I don't have a single qualification to give me permission to do it.
It’s a scam it’s happening at all Halfords even here in Swansea , my car had a big scuff on front corner of bumper and scratches in different directions like someone tried to remove the scuffs/damage and they told me it looks like it’s been there a while even though I cleaned my car before taking it for its service and I told them the car is fitted with a dash cam ???
I bought a used car and after 100 miles it blew its engine oil out on the M5. The top of the oil filter housing had been replaced with the O ring not in its groove. I looked in the paperwork and it said the previous service was by Halfords of Portsmouth. They are incompetent. Why does anyone take their car to them?
A couple of things, 1) currently new cars still require an MOT after 3 years (4 years is a proposal the government is looking at). 2) Should you take your car for the MOT prior to the existing one expiring, if it fails, your car is no longer road legal, dispute having some days left on the old MOT.
Seems like a lot of you confusing the store with auto center the auto centre dose not sell accessories like fuel cans and bulbs that is the store
If you love your car, take it to a good independent garage or if you can afford it, the main dealer, if you hate your car, take it to Halfrauds or shit fit, they are guaranteed to ruin your car
if buying car battery go main dealer several years ago needed battery for 4x4 halfords over 200 quid main dealer same make battery an size and output 130
I’ve seen the results of Halfords servicing work.
Sorry you have been taken for ride john
They are £86 an hour
Halford's good for parts, but wouldn't use them for servicing, mot's etc. I'll take mine to a 'proper' garage
They should have rung you every day and offered a free holiday and bunch of flowers when you picked it up at closing time , how rude they are.
Why on earth would you take your car to them?
I'd never take my car there for service/repair. As far as I'm concerned they are there for accessories. Take your motor to a proper garage with trained mechanics.
Would never go their again I can assure you of that
It don't sound to bad free hire car half price bill most garages will shaft you that's just a given 😠
True, but it was a crap car :-)
I like Halfords and would be disappointed to see the company go.
Things go wrong and to halve your bill and provide a hire car seems generous?
Best wishes
Halfords tool chests are shit. Bad sliders and locks.
Most tool chest manufacturers use the same supplier, some like Clarke have a "professional" range, but still sell the cheap stuff at the lower price point.
if you did your researtch like you say you did why did you go to them if there was such bad reviews and if like you say they always find issues with your car why keep using them also you are wrong about new cars having mot every 4 years that is under review at the end of the day you got it done half price and you got a hire car the gripe about the key is down to the third party hire company as halfords do not have there own hire cars they are hired from either avis or europcar and they always do not give out the master key as they are often lost and got fed up with people losing the master key which can cost up to 1000 pound to aquire from dealer you said the dealer wanted 4 weeks to get the new part which is how long you said you waited and again the dealer would have charged you for a curtesey car and would not have reduced the bill
Robert...fair points there.... I did wonder too:
Why take your pride & joy to a place you have read bad reviews about....
But be fair: 4 weeks to change a steering rack? That's ludicrous. You can ship a reconditioned rack anywhere in the country in 24 hours MAX!
I know the UK is pretty poor service-wise, but it's still better than Unaomabongo. Even on a bad day. (I know...I've been there too....)
Was a bit surprised they supplied a courtesy car though...
They must have been at Embarrassment Level Red.
And, please, spare me the "dealer" comparison stuff:
Absolutely the worst rip-off merchants going.....
They just charge you more for rubbing your face in their crap!
At least in that respect...Halfords are more economical!
ROBERT CORNISH
Just a P.S. on your subtle defence of "Dealers"...
Had a neighbour with a rather newish Toyota RAV4...had it serviced prior to going on what he believed would be a 1,000 mile trip (To a neighbouring country) They did the usual routine service but informed him he had damage to his steering components and that really "it should be addressed" as it was "potentially very dangerous".....
Well, he's a Mancunian and didn't fall for it: He asked me to take a look.
Absolutely-bugger-all-wrong with the vehicle.
Damaged steering components are fairly easy to spot....they claimed the vehicle had been heavily "kerbed" at some point....needed close on a thousand pounds worth of parts & labour to rectify it. Absolute tosh.
I have recently bought a 'rather old' Volvo Xc 90 V8 AWD...2009 vintage!
Amongst its various papers and service histories is an estimate to replace the two front suspension legs..as "They are dangerously worn" according to the Main Volvo Dealer in the country..... at a cost of 1500 pounds (UK).
The estimate was dated some 8 years ago and the owner never had the work done...
Here I am, in the same car. Same original suspension legs... 80,000 miles later...absolutely nothing wrong with 'em!
And believe me...I drive the car hard at times.....
Never anything but complete control. No cause for alarm, ever.
So...I dunno...draw your own conclusions.
As I stated elsewhere: I just hate being ripped off. We all should.
Take care. Stay safe. Cheers.
I think a simple answer to why did I use them, is I was a idiot, but lesson learned.
Four years for a new car to have an mot is incorrect.
John... No criticism on your First Video....at all. You'll get better I'm sure.
But hey....criticising Halfords on your first attempt.....
That's definitely starting in the shallow end!
I mean..An MOT at Halfords: You must be begging them to rip you off.
Shades of Harry Enfield... "I saw you coming"
I would never take my car to Halfords for any work total cowboys rip off merchants!!!
Would only se Halfords for their free checks you have to watch them closely as I’ve caught them sitting car. Up and ignoring it as they tell you it’s not making them any money that was Poole branch go in an watch them but as for paying them for anything no way not a chance
Never used them again.
I guess that is the point I made a mistake. No I am not a moron just trusted a company to do the job they have been paid for like anyone paying for a service. I have learned by this mistake and will never trust them again.