McHalfords do it agian

[Nigel]

I dont like Halfords much, never have done and I have always said that their employees are one step down from a McDonalds reject and that the shop itself is for under 17s and air freshners only.

However, today they outdid themselves. I have been unable to obtain my spark plugs online so as I was going passed the dreaded Halfords I stopped.

I went to the spark plug area but surprise surprise they didn't have what I needed (well its not a Nova or Ford is it!)

So I go to the "parts" counter. And this geeky looking **** asks if he could help me. I thought he was pushing his luck but gave him an oppertunity anyway.

"I am after some NGK BF7EPS plugs" says I. "For what car sir" askes he. "A 1990 Jaguar XJRS" says me.

So he looks it up on the screen and his little face lights up as he finds J.

"Is it the straight 6 or the V12?" he asks looking intelligent for once. "Yes" says I

He then looked sad as they didn't have them in stock.

Now to his credit he continued to help. "I will ring a supplier" says he. He dialled the number himself, which was a surprise, and got through to the supplier.

"Great news" he squawked, "they have them ...and all 8!"

"Ciint" I muttered to him and walked off with my wife pissing herself laughing!

I have seen it and beleive me the future is not ****ing orange!

Cheers

Sparkless Nige

 

[amit]

lol - i am gona b working there soon on sundays

 

[Rob D]

Re: Re: McHalfords do it agian

hahaha

comic genius!

 

[Nigel]

Noooooooooo

You should not have admitted that my friend - syphallis, possibly, cross dressing, maybe but working in Halfords...never!

 

[patrick]

Amit at Mc Halfords?

Lets find out which branch, and go down and give him some hassle

 

[nathan]

Jag

Nigel, I have read a number of your postings on this forum and whilst usually amusing I often wonder why do you post on a Bravo forum when you drive a Jag ?

 

[Si]

Re: Jag

haha I know which branch he works at.

What do you reckon he'd say if 20 Bravo/Brava drivers turned up all with a different question.

 

[Nigel]

Because Nathan

I have had many Italian cars, mainly Alfa's and Fiats, had 2 Bravo's and currently own a "last 25" HGT155 which I dont really think a lot of as a main car but I am stuck with it.

I love cars in general, you have to drive Alfa's, and feel I do have a knowledge on a lot of vehicles as I drive an average of 50,000 mile per year and have done so for since 1988. I have driven a huge amount of diverse vehicles as well so I am a rounded individual regardless of owning Alfa's.

I bought my Jag in July so it is a bit of a new toy so like a kid I talk about - I am just enthusuastic thats all. However as you can imagine with owning a car that even the manufacturer doesn't know anything about (there were only 248 XJR-s made in the config) then I ask about things everywhere as I find the guys here very knowledgeable in general. I also post on other forums, even Jaguar ones, but the guys here I think are the best - there you go...Fiat owners are better people the Jag owners!

Sorry if I offended you, send me some pics and I will put them on the Italian car ONLY website for you to prove I love my Italian cars as well

Cheers

N

 

[Nigel]

and theres more....

I was in the REME for 3 years doing an apprenticeship as an Auto Technician and learning to shoot people - really handy when you apply for a job at BMW! I have done two full ground up restorations, one on a Mercedes 230G Wagon - ex Argentine Army / Falklands that goes around the airshows in Europe as a display and one on a MK1 Land Rover.

I have also raced a FF1600 albeit for a short while and only 2 actual races (crashed both time on first corner as well!) but I did the qualifying (red mist and all that in a race situ - bleeding useless!) and got 1 front grid.

Further to the vehicles I have drive - I learnt with the Army on Bedford MK's and also got to drive track vehicles, Scammel Carmicheals, and even the brilliantly named Eager Beavers!

I was taught motorway and fast "A" road driving by Kent Police and am sad enough to read the Highway Code at least once per year and new versions.

So you see, I am a bit of a sad old git, but I love driving and cars (and even my HGT but I am not going to admit it!)

Cheers
N

 

[nathan]

Re: and theres more....

You certainly haven't offended me. And a very interesting background too !!

It does look like owning italian cars becomes some kind of an addiction as to be honest I always bought Vauxhalls, but got tired of driving round in 10 year old ones and wanted something a bit newer, £4000 on an Astra didn't buy much 3 years ago and I desperately wanted to get my wife a Cinq (soooo cheap to run). Whilst looking at these I got my mind decided on a Punto, but then seen my Brava in the paper at a too good to miss price and hence the italian bug had bit me.

I now have my heart set on an Alfa 147, but realistically this isn't likely so I guess I'll upgrade next year to a newer Brava maybe JTD or 1.2 16v and a Siecento for the wife.

 

[Sweenpole]

hmmm, halfords

I work for halfords, dont take the ****!!

The secret is to try to find the right branch. Superstores customer service is pants (but the product range is better), go to a highstreet tho, a lot of us are customer service orientated, and will be able to get your parts in within a few days.

The main problem is, the fiat bravo was never as popular as any ford or vauhall, so it is not as much of a money maker, and that is what we are in the business to do. (sounds harsh i know but that is the main reason that we are so successful)

If you need anything and live in or near to hertfordshire, come to the hertford highstreet or the harlow superstore, we would love to help you out,

If it is a long journey for you ring us on 01992 582122 and ask for the availability of a product.

Andrew

 

[Dug]

Re: hmmm, halfords

I don't know why this thread has resurfaced, but I have to object to any claim that Halfords is anything but dreadful.

You say a small branch can get parts in 2 or 3 days: sorry, but that's useless! My local (small) motor factor has most service items in stock, and can get most other parts the same day, or following morning. It's also a damn site cheaper than Halfords, and the quality of the components is better. When will Halfords stop stocking the god-awful Quinton-Hazell stuff? The majority of it is garbage.

Halfords may be very helpful if you want sports floor mats, head units covered in lights or cheap, nasty alloys. For anything else, they're a total waste of space.

 

[Wimmy]

FAO Sweenpole

Halfords help required:

I am currently looking at repraying the interior of my car. Looking for something a little more adventurous, I am considering a tartan design. Is the tartan spray paint available from the high street or will I have to go to a Halfords superstore?

 

[Anonymous]

Re: hmmm, halfords

There is still no excuse for blatant mistakes like the Halfords bulb selector book.

So far I have identified the following cars where the wrong bulbs are listed:

Fiat Bravo/Brava
Saab 900
Fiat Uno
Ford Fiesta

My advice to anyone is take the dead bulb with you and ignore the book.

 

[Dug]

Re: Re: hmmm, halfords

it's not just the bulbs: Halfords are dreadful at keeping up with parts changes to cars, and have a tendency to just guess.

My advice would be to use a decent, independent motor factors.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: hmmm, halfords

Even then there is a chance for total cock-ups. German and Swedish have sent me entirely the wrong parts for my VW LT before.

 

[Sweenpole]

tartan paint

hehe very funny.

There is a company in the middlands that do aboslutely ingenious ****, it is primarily used for military camo paint. it is a large bath of some liquid and on top is placed a layer of special patterened transfer (kinda like that stuff u get with airfix kits), you can dip anything you want in it and it will come out cammo..... bikes, torches, anything, if you really want a tartan interior, i shall get the name and address for you if u want, they do do it!

Andrew

 

[Sweenpole]

Bulbs

I agree with you, there is nothing more irrotating that trying to look up a part for a customer and it being wrongg because some numpty at head office is a bit of a muppet. You cant blame that on the staff of the stores, if you want, ican put you in touch with customer care and they will be able to help you out.

I do reccomend that anyone that wants a part from anywhere should look at the part you are replacing first so YOU know what it looks like and then you can challenge the staff.

Andrew

 

[Sweenpole]

other car parts

The reason why some parts for cars are wrong, is that it is a head office mistake, (the books are wrong) or that the manufacturer has not kept us up to date with current prices.
If you have genuine conserns about the service you have recieved then tell halfords through the website or go in the store and ask to talk to the manager, he or she can then organise training for these members of staff it is their fault, if not they can talk to head office themselves.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Bulbs

I've complained to my local halfords about the errors but I doubt it a) gets to the head office or b) even if it does get there they won't do a thing with it.