bigamac Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 I recently started working in cyclesUK Which is LBS but also about 20+ shops Around essex and london i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robwalker Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 I personally think any workers of Halfords shouldn't be allowed to post in here, I wouldn't consider it as mover in the cycle industry, mainly because it gives people the wrong impression that you can get a good quality cycle for under £100, making most independant cycle retailers look a joke.Serious? You talk some crap if im honest. Yes we sell £100 bikes, but so do ALOT of other bikeshops. There are two main different markets in the cycle industry, there's your budget bikes and then the 'higher end' bikes. Not only have halfords separated these by using different brands, but they also opened up stand alone stores that only stock better quality bikes. Not to mention the introduction of the cycle to work scheme that has boosted sales in the industry. I cant be asked to explain myself. Just f**k off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_malcolm Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Received some Giant animators in this morning i was happy about that as we have outstanding orders for them, when i go to acctually grab one and send it out it turns out they were booked on wrong and were 16" not 12" wheels Bit annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Serious? You talk some crap if im honest. Yes we sell £100 bikes, but so do ALOT of other bikeshops. There are two main different markets in the cycle industry, there's your budget bikes and then the 'higher end' bikes. Not only have halfords separated these by using different brands, but they also opened up stand alone stores that only stock better quality bikes. Not to mention the introduction of the cycle to work scheme that has boosted sales in the industry. I cant be asked to explain myself. Just f**k off.You are right, but wrong. Halfords DO have a good range of bikes and accessories, but 7 out of 10 employees are complete f**k wits. That is fact, because they actively employ people who are a a bit dim so they can mold them to how they want the shop to run. So if you've got a shit manager (I mean, the one in Basingstoke is a f**king joke. He couldn't even spell "Cannondale" in a letter to us asking to buy a bike from us for the CTW scheme) then the employees under him will also be shit, that way nobody will threaten his position. Don't argue back that the majority of Halfords employees are good people who get trained up and shit, because there not. If Halfords employed proper salesmen and mechanics then they wouldn't have a reputation for being shit, although there are some people who work there who do know a bit about bikes and do try and do their job properly. What's the motto again, "Your not a Halfords employee until you've nicked something"? That kinda' mentality is exactly what makes everybody think Halfords suck, because if they haven't got the respect to keep the stock on the shelves as apposed to their car boots then they certainly haven't got the respect it needs to service and sell proper bicycles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robwalker Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Couldn't agree more with you to be honest pashley. Alot of the other stores in our area put us to shame, which is partly the reason that as from yesterday i have exactly a month left until i leave, and start my new job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Couldn't agree more with you to be honest pashley. Alot of the other stores in our area put us to shame, which is partly the reason that as from yesterday i have exactly a month left until i leave, and start my new job Choarrr, I was expecting that post to be full of f**ks and testosterone !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robwalker Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 If people are slating halfords as a whole, it pisses me off, because i do work hard and without being too modest i do know a fair amount, its nice to know that people understand the situation such as yourself. And also to some extent im fed up of protecting a company who treats its employees like shit. If anyone is thinking of starting a career in the cycling industry, stay well away from halfords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Quinn Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 You are right, but wrong. Halfords DO have a good range of bikes and accessories, but 7 out of 10 employees are complete f**k wits. That is fact, because they actively employ people who are a a bit dim so they can mold them to how they want the shop to run. So if you've got a shit manager (I mean, the one in Basingstoke is a f**king joke. He couldn't even spell "Cannondale" in a letter to us asking to buy a bike from us for the CTW scheme) then the employees under him will also be shit, that way nobody will threaten his position. Don't argue back that the majority of Halfords employees are good people who get trained up and shit, because there not. If Halfords employed proper salesmen and mechanics then they wouldn't have a reputation for being shit, although there are some people who work there who do know a bit about bikes and do try and do their job properly. What's the motto again, "Your not a Halfords employee until you've nicked something"? That kinda' mentality is exactly what makes everybody think Halfords suck, because if they haven't got the respect to keep the stock on the shelves as apposed to their car boots then they certainly haven't got the respect it needs to service and sell proper bicycles.Sure everyone knows Halfords is shit, but there's still no denying they're a massive part of the cycling industry How that Captain Scarlet guy can try and say such a massive chain are not part of the cycling industry is beyond me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtrials Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 How that Captain Scarlet guy can try and say such a massive chain are not part of the cycling industry is beyond me Snobbery... And presumably annoyance that his shop is getting shat on by the big guns...I have no problem with Halfords, it's not like they're the only shop that sells cheapo bikes, far from it, and they also have their own range of very good, amazingly priced bikes? If anything they're doing cycling a big favour by making bikes more affordable to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Sure everyone knows Halfords is shit, but there's still no denying they're a massive part of the cycling industry How that Captain Scarlet guy can try and say such a massive chain are not part of the cycling industry is beyond me I know, it does seem a bit silly.They are probably one of the largest retailers in the uk, but I think what he was getting at is that when Halfords let a bike go out the door without a thorough PDI or somebody who knows what there doing having a go over it then they set a bad image for the rest of the trade. IE, most people think bikes then think Halfords. So if Halfords can't give a good service then a small independent bike shop surely can't ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redneck Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 (edited) soo....who the hell is deng? Edited July 17, 2009 by Redneck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 soo....who the hell is deng?makes all your echo, zoo, gu, adamant gear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrEvil270183 Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Halfords are so big with so many stores that it's probably difficult to find staff for every store that are all trained well and know what they are doing. Saying that though they should be thinking of safety of customers letting someone go out on a bike that has been built up by a 16 year old kid who knows nothing, no training etc.Tesco, Asda and other supermarkets are worse though. Selling bikes, in boxes without mechanics or any cycle related employees at all. It's a line Supermarkets - Halfords - Evans - Cycle shops in between, few stores located around - single stores doing okay - single stores struggling.Supermarkets are crap.Halfords struggle with theft and crap staff (not 100% but lots.)Evan are similar to halfords but stock more reputable brands.Middle guys will always have it better, easier to find good staff, reasonable budgets etc, tough competition though.Single stores can get good staff but have smaller budgets, struggle to get bike in compared to companies with bigger budgets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Single stores can get good staff but have smaller budgets, struggle to get bike in compared to companies with bigger budgets.Kind of.However, (and I'm sure were not the only ones!) my bike shop has more moneys worth of stock, more bikes and accessories on display and more suppliers than Halfords do. Were massive compared to Halfords, but were in a shop half the size. Theres got to be other bike shops out there which don't quite fit that mold ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Quinn Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 No offence here, but surely that just makes for a cluttered shop that looks crap, is less practical, and is less of a pleasure to shop in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 No offence here, but surely that just makes for a cluttered shop that looks crap, is less practical, and is less of a pleasure to shop in?...Not a word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Quinn Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Precisely haha, man you need to actually sell some stuff before you go ordering another 300 bikes from cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Precisely haha, man you need to actually sell some stuff before you go ordering another 300 bikes from cube No no no, thats the problem !We sell a load of bikes, the shops looking tidy and the bikes are easy to get at/view/aren't getting damaged by the one nextdoor, then a TNT lorry arrives with 50 Marins and 100 Probikes and the boss has them built up and in the shop in a couple of days !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_malcolm Posted July 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Got Dave from Hotwheels with us at the moment, some of the 2010 bikes are looking really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totaltrials Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) Also, WTF is it with Shimano prices at the moment ! There ridiculous and they've never got anything in stock at Madison, so we've been ordering through Massi instead Massi the cycle manufacturer? What the trials community..? I'd imagine trials is probably less than 5% of the industry currently, it's a bike old market out there.I personally think any workers of Halfords shouldn't be allowed to post in here, I wouldn't consider it as mover in the cycle industry, mainly because it gives people the wrong impression that you can get a good quality cycle for under £100, making most independant cycle retailers look a joke.Exchange rate is bollocks, naturally it puts the prices of production up, leading into cost and therefore retail prices. But it's almost guaranteed prices won't go down when the exchange rate sorts itself out.Halfords is the Uk's biggest cycle retailer and they take up around 27% of the cycle industry I think I remember reading recently.The £70 Asda bikes are really grinding my gears lately. Asda do not make a penny of the sale of those bikes, they are completely non profitable. God knows how many people will be riding about with their forks on backwards because they are backwards in the box. It shouldn't be allowed for a start as it's hugely unsafe. Edited July 24, 2009 by totaltrials Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Scarlet Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Serious? You talk some crap if im honest. Yes we sell £100 bikes, but so do ALOT of other bikeshops. There are two main different markets in the cycle industry, there's your budget bikes and then the 'higher end' bikes. Not only have halfords separated these by using different brands, but they also opened up stand alone stores that only stock better quality bikes. Not to mention the introduction of the cycle to work scheme that has boosted sales in the industry. I cant be asked to explain myself. Just f**k off.Maybe I was a bit strong and worded it wrong.I'm not trying to say that Halfords don't do well, because that would be like saying the sky is red, I just think it has changed peoples personal expectations of the cycle industry. I worked in a Halfords store for 9 months, I couldn't hack the environment that the manager knew nothing about bikes and was prepared to give away free bikes as "Warranty" just because customers couldn't perform basic bike maintenance which is covered in their respective handbooks, individual Bikehut stores are the way forward and the introduction of the Bikehut brand definately made some difference, but it should still be treated as a separate store to the rest of Halfords. My store could have easily benefited by having its own "Bikehut Manager", an angry customer would come in and ask directly for the manager, (as said, he doesn't know bikes so never took repair as an option). The manager ultimately just wants to make this customer happy, but in the process makes the Bikehut staff look idiotic by using his authority and position to cheat the system and provide a quick and easy fix to the problem that this customer may have. The majority of the time, a new bike.To the customers it is a game, soon after they would ask "Can I have some free accessories for the inconvenience?" and of course the manager would promptly reply "Yes!" without any hesitation or question.With the shop I am at now, as the owner is still up to date and concise with bikes as the industry has changed through the years, he can address customers matters in a sympathetic manner, finding a solution to the problem and ensuring that the customer is happy, not just throwing them the last resort option of a new bike, which just shows lack of confidence in the product itself, and therefore inexperience of the sales person.Got Dave from Hotwheels with us at the moment, some of the 2010 bikes are looking really nice.I've only seen the MTB range, is there much change in the BMX's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 I've only seen the MTB range, is there much change in the BMX's?http://pijinbmx.blogspot.com - I put the new model flip-book up on there. Either scroll down or just search "WeThePeople" and they'll come up. They're f**king niiiiiiiiiiice. Don't really know about any of their other ranges (e.g. GT), but they're pretty irrelevant because at every price point, the WTP completes are going to be 2439503940543% better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) Anyone else find that working with bikes all the time really puts you off riding? The last thing I want to do when I get home is see another bike! Also pretty fed up with customers who know everything..."My mates had a bike for 3 years and never replaced the chain..". More than anything the word 'Warranty' drives me crazy! Edited July 24, 2009 by David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishy Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Yeah, I feel the same. I work at Halfords, and I don't know if it's the same at other stores, but pretty much everyone is on the ball, obviously you do get some gorms, but on the whole most of the staff know what they're talking about/what they are doing. It does get boring reading about people who claim they know that all the staff that work there are greasy teenagers. Although it doesn't help, especially on this forum, having FP talk shit ALL the time, thus lowering the rep. Jardo, does it not make you depressed working in such a cluttered space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Jardo, does it not make you depressed working in such a cluttered space?Yes, because your constantly making little improvements then they got covered up by more shit !As for the hotwheels 010 bikes, they might look good but they'll never have any in stock so meh'.And yes, Massi the Spanish bike company are importers for Shimano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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