Kona - Now in Halfords

[videojetman]

Surely if halfords are concentrating on bicycle sales, the staff need to be better at setting bikes up, and repairing etc, I don't know how many people have been into my local bike shop with a halfords bike asking for it to be fixed. Although I suppose it's good business for the bike shops.

 

[Rampage]

How many bikes do they sell? A *huge* number and up there in the very top in volume if not the No. 1.

Did a 24 mile ride this morning, saw three Boardmans on just that one ride. It's been a fantastic brand for them

Absolutely. Extremely good value for money.
I bought one a few years ago new from Halfords, stripped it and sold the parts on eBay. Made a profit!

 

[al]

Re:

I had the misfortune of working in the bike department at Halfords for 6 months between jobs....

You would trust a company that allowed me to work on bikes, you fools!! Although they had Saturday staff that built bikes up with no training what so ever. I once witnessed a young boy with his dad turn out of the car park into traffic with his wheel pointing straight as his bars twisted through 90 degrees!

Go to a decent bike shop before they have gone.


al.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Did you say cluck and collect?

 

[highlandsflyer]

Perhaps in the long run Halfords will have provided a great service to those in that market.

I would rather buy my kit elsewhere, there are any number of outdoors specialist and dedicated bike suppliers.

No snobbery involved, just a long memory.

 

[cce]

My mate bought a bike from Halfords recently. It's a Carrera and it was great value, the guy also spent the best part of an hour going through fit, bolting on his child carrier etc. I checked all the work (obviously) and it was spot on.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

My mate bought a bike from Halfords recently. It's a Carrera and it was great value, the guy also spent the best part of an hour going through fit, bolting on his child carrier etc. I checked all the work (obviously) and it was spot on.

It's all pot luck really, whether a store is an independent or part of a chain. There are several independent bicycle stores near me and a Halfords, but I wouldn't trust any of them to do a better job fixing or setting up a bicycle than myself.

Recently I tried all the local stores looking to get the threads cut further down the steerer on a set of forks. I got the distinct impression that I knew more about bicycles than any of the people I spoke to.

Of the independent bicycle shops near me, two predominantly sell children's bicycles and cheap BSOs, one also sells skateboards, wetsuits and surfboards and over-priced clothes and the staff seem more concerned about their trendy haircuts than the customers. And the last shop I haven't been into since I was about 15, and I would rather boil my own head than spend any time or money in there because the guy that owns it is such a miserable, grumpy git.

So, with the exception of the odd can of GT85 or chain lube I've bought in Halfords, I buy everything bicycle relate on-line. :?

 

[scottmac]

Re: Re:

It's all pot luck really, whether a store is an independent or part of a chain. There are several independent bicycle stores near me and a Halfords, but I wouldn't trust any of them to do a better job fixing or setting up a bicycle than myself.

Agreed.

 

[Neil]

Re: Re:

My mate bought a bike from Halfords recently. It's a Carrera and it was great value, the guy also spent the best part of an hour going through fit, bolting on his child carrier etc. I checked all the work (obviously) and it was spot on.

It's all pot luck really, whether a store is an independent or part of a chain. There are several independent bicycle stores near me and a Halfords, but I wouldn't trust any of them to do a better job fixing or setting up a bicycle than myself.

Recently I tried all the local stores looking to get the threads cut further down the steerer on a set of forks. I got the distinct impression that I knew more about bicycles than any of the people I spoke to.

Of the independent bicycle shops near me, two predominantly sell children's bicycles and cheap BSOs, one also sells skateboards, wetsuits and surfboards and over-priced clothes and the staff seem more concerned about their trendy haircuts than the customers. And the last shop I haven't been into since I was about 15, and I would rather boil my own head than spend any time or money in there because the guy that owns it is such a miserable, grumpy git.

This.

It's all down to the particular people you find in such places. I've found reasonably good people in Halfords, as well as some that don't have a clue. And guess what, just the same in several LBSs.

Which has tended to make me inclined to do as much of the spannering myself, and buy tools. As to parts, sometimes I'll either reserve or buy bits from a local Halfords, more out of convenience and when I'm in a hurry.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

It's a good move for Konas sales which given I see few places selling them, the average public will not buy them, now they will.

Who owns Kona or are they still themselves?