Car Talk

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

AT — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:38:30 GMT

I recall a spot check on a council fleet of buses a few years back revealed a shocking state of unroadworthiness. Maybe its easier to get a pass at a Council garage, but that doesn't mean that car ought to get a pass.

Technically, council garages in GB can do MOTs. In Northern Ireland, MOTs are done by the government at government run test centres. Its horribly bureaucratic, you need to arrange a test weeks in advance, theres no scope for minor adjustments to be made during the test, and retests can't be done straight away. Oh, and they'll happly fail your car if its judged dirty. Because of the monopoly of brake testing equipment, few garages can offer a pre-MOT brake test. I don't think the pass rate is any higher than in GB.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

PodLah — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:42:59 GMT

Ironic, considering their adverts on the TV.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Fangio — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:31:50 GMT

Geoff Walton:

Fangio:
That is, carried out by an independent organisation that has no interest in repairing the vehicle; they only do the MOT and pass or fail it or let you know of an potential problems. They have no interest whatsoever in obtaining more business to repair any faults, and are not allowed to do so.

You can do that in the UK now. Local councils run MOT testing centres which are not affiliated to any commercial concern. Have a look at this Council MOT Centres. There is also info in the faq

Ah! Many thanks for that as I was not aware. It's hardly had much publicity but is a damn good idea and there is a station in Sussex.

Maisie normally gets MOTd by the specialist garage that does the servicing but good advice and handy to know.

Thanks very much

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Geoff Walton — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:33:05 GMT

Fangio:
That is, carried out by an independent organisation that has no interest in repairing the vehicle; they only do the MOT and pass or fail it or let you know of an potential problems. They have no interest whatsoever in obtaining more business to repair any faults, and are not allowed to do so.

You can do that in the UK now. Local councils run MOT testing centres which are not affiliated to any commercial concern. Have a look at this Council MOT Centres. There is also info in the faq

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Fangio — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:17:11 GMT

I agree and would never dream of going to an outfit such as Halfords or KwikFit. Our Maisie is looked after by people who know the car its history etc..No, not quite as convenient and possibly a tiny bit more money but massively greater piece of mind.

Frankly it is about time our MOT sytems was updated in line with most of our neighbouring countries. That is, carried out by an independent organisation that has no interest in repairing the vehicle; they only do the MOT and pass or fail it or let you know of an potential problems. They have no interest whatsoever in obtaining more business to repair any faults, and are not allowed to do so.

In Spain you make an appointment for you ITV (MOT) turn up and the car goes through a process with you at the wheel all the time; the car never goes out of your sight! My experience has been that the checks are at least as thorough as in the UK, in some ways more so, and you can see it all being done.

You can if you wish accompany the inspector when the car goes over a pit to be checked underneath - you see everything that is done.

The whole thing is a production line type system, costs 50e (1st MOT after 4 years then every 2years up to 10 then every year) and is accomplished in about an hour.

I know which system I prefer.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Once — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:44:32 GMT

Hmmm ... that's seriously worrying. One Halfords doing it could be a rogue mechanic. Two makes it sound like a deliberate policy across the company.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

nackuk — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:19:40 GMT

This steering rack trick was also pulled on by one of my friends with an MX5 at a Halfords MOT. Unlucky for him and luckily for her she was emchanicaly minded and new they were taking the proverable ____. Understand she reported them to VOSA to and had it MOT somewhere else.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

RPD — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:05:46 GMT

ibrooks:

If you knew someone with a trade card I bet you would have got the blades from Halfords for the same price. I often wonder how they can have the cheek to charge their retail prices - they aren't making a loss when they sell stuff to me at more than 50% less than the price on the label so the profit margin to joe-public is just amazing.

Iain

Exactly the same thing in the building trade with B&Q and Homebase they rip people off with their prices to. I'm a plumber and if I get a 15mm isolating valve from my supplier they are 80p same thing in B&Q and homebase £4.99 **** takers, Bathroom silicone - my supplier £2 - B&Q at least £7, flexy tap connectors - my supplier £1.50 each- B&Q £10. You dont even need a trade account to get things this cheap from where I get my parts from either its just the fact that people go in see what they need on a shelf and just buy!

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

AdamF1 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:38:48 GMT

Oh dear. Foul play.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

TommysTinkering — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:11:23 GMT

Blimey Iain, your discount card is worth it's weight in gold.....

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

ibrooks — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:31:50 GMT

If you knew someone with a trade card I bet you would have got the blades from Halfords for the same price. I often wonder how they can have the cheek to charge their retail prices - they aren't making a loss when they sell stuff to me at more than 50% less than the price on the label so the profit margin to joe-public is just amazing.

Iain

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

TommysTinkering — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:58:21 GMT

As far as I am concerned, Halfords is one of those stores only suitable as a last resort when others are closed, their spares prices are way over inflated.

For example, my other half popped in for a pair of wiper blades, not in stock so she ordered them at a cost of £57. I was horrified so got her to cancel the order, I got EXACTLY the same BOSCH blades from ebay for £8.....I rest my case!

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Clivvy — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:04:45 GMT

I had a similar experience years and years ago, at Halfords near me in Huddersfield. At the time, I had a superb Mazda 323F. I took into Halfords for the MOT, at the time, it was run by the AA. It failed the MOT on the rear drop links. I didnt know then what I know now about car, but at the time, £350 for the mot and drop link repair didnt seem right!! I took it elsewhere, and got it done for £180 (ok, STILL over the top but now i know) and a very stern letter to the AA resulted in apology, and £50 for my trouble. Not bad. I'm not sure who runs Halfords garages now, is it Halfords, or someone else like the AA?

Just got to be careful out there, and question everything unless you know and trust the mechanic working on your car. I have learned a heck of a lot about cars over the years, and I am quite capable of most repairs, but we still have to be on guard!

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Broadspeed — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:10:05 GMT

Hi Gary.

Your welcome and I cocked up david is still the C.E at halfords it was duncun wilkes that left over the the centres and bill duffy was appointed.

Day in the life of service manager.

Open branch 8:15 for 8:30 start, if your down on target phone call at 9:00am from above how many jobs are booked in ie mot`s service work brakes ends will ring you back later.

Phone call around 1:30 it`s half time results how much you done what will you end on [say your target is £1200.00 per day and you invoiced £200 at that point your asked how many jobs are booked in the afternoon say three then you need to turn these into around £333.00 hense the heavy quotes or you get performance managed.

I had a lot of age old customers who did around 3000 miles a year you get a audit brake pads 80% worn at the milage thay would last another 12 months [reason no good] told but this is why your behind target also you could have got a brake fluid change.

It`s not the guys on the shop floor it`s the boys upstairs if you don`t perform thay don`t get there bonus also the share holders same time you do get some manager like sharks BONUS can be big money if your that way.

Regards Chris.

Re: Bad experience at Halfords

Mazda-mender — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:53:38 GMT

Well i am so shocked at halfords going for a rip off

Gary they are well known for it, if your stuck on the roadster side, come and pop up to Pie land and i'll share some great stories about this great fix it Co, many a phone call from here for owners being ripped off to these super outlets, just glad that you seen through it so quick, far to many don't

M-m