Halfords - Stockport — Local services in Stockport

This was one of the worst retail experiences of my life.

I would award four stars for the item, but zero for the shopping experience.

I've used the charger once so far and it works fine. It's a shame that they can't supply an instruction manual. Instead you get a warranty booklet in 27 languages, but the only way to get the instructions is on the manufacturer website.

I had found the item on their website and checked that it was in stock - they actually had two of them. It's a five minute walk from my house to the store. I was then in the store for 25 minutes. I spent three minutes standing in the queue. The rest of the time was spent waiting for them to find the item.

The poor young lad who served me must have been on his first day, as he didn't seem to know how to do the most basic tasks. As the item is small and quite valuable (£115), they don't carry it on the shelves. Instead you pick up a small card and take it to the till. This seemed to totally baffle him, until I pointed out the barcodes for him to scan.

He first looked in a secure room behind the till, and came out with an item that was from the same manufacturer (NOCO), but a totally different model. If I hadn't done my research and had just walked in, I would have been charged at least £50 more, and for the wrong item. After I pointed out that it was the wrong model, he did a search on the till, then told me they didn't have any. Again, I had to point out that they had two in stock according to their website.

He then asked a colleague what to do. The colleague looked at the card and disappeared into a different back room for about ten minutes. He then eventually returned with the item, just as I had given up on getting it that day.

It then took another five minutes to pay, as he still didn't seem to understand how to scan a barcode. Eventually I was able to pay for it. Halfords usually ask if you want the receipt emailed. I always do this as it's a great backup if the paper receipt goes missing. He struggled to input my email address, then found me on their system. I didn't wait for the email to arrive as I'd had enough by then, and instead went home to cool down my frustration.

The following day I still hadn't received the email. So I went back to the store with the receipt to ask them to email it again. The young lass serving said that she couldn't do that without refunding the item to my card and then getting me to pay again. Once again, I walked away in disgust and frustration as I didn't have the time at that point, never mind the patience.

Finally, I returned later that day when I had more time. This time I got the one competent employee in that branch, who was able to sort out the emailed receipt within two minutes.

This entire process required me to visit the store three times, and took about three times as long as it should have done.

Only awarding one star as zero...

If I could give zero stars I would, but the system won't let me. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DO NOT RECOMMEND HALFORDS. Halfords caused damage to my Volvo car during a 'We-fit service'. They tried to fix the damage but couldn't, even sending it to the local Halfords Auto Centre for them to try and fix it. This was a bit of a pain but hey, mistakes do happen and if they are rectified then this review would be more positive. The fitter at the Stockport store and subsequently the Auto Centre did try their best to fix the damage but could do no more than they did, and my complaint is not directed at them. The store admitted liability and said that if they could not fix my car, I would have to raise a case to claim the cost of repair, which I would have to arrange myself with a Volvo service centre. I was told to speak to the store manager to raise a case. It has been over a week now and I have never once been able to speak to the store manager despite numerous phone calls from me, and even a visit to the store ('sorry, he's not in today'). In addition to the damage caused to my car not being fixed by Halfords, I have an issue with the lack of follow up and complete non-communication from the store manager. I also have issue with the method of communicating with Halfords when there are issues - you cannot speak to the store direct. Instead you call a number and get through to their 'support team' who take down notes and try to put you through to the store, which is constantly having 'internet phone issues', and then say the store manager will call you, even reading a note on the case file saying things like 'I can see that the store manager has responded to your last request and says he will call you'. Not once have Halfords ever called me, or emailed me, or contacted me in any other way to resolve this case. As I said earlier, if there had been some communication, some idea that Halfords were trying to sort this, some progress, then I would not be giving a poor review. But when a company completely ignores you, they are not worth anyone's business. I have now had the car repaired at my cost, and still have no idea what Halfords are doing. Seriously, I will avoid using Halfords in the future and I will be going back to more local car and bike shops, those with a personal touch that won't hide behind corporate call centres and automated systems when things go wrong. No doubt someone from Halfords will respond to this and tell me of all the ways in which I can report this stuff online, and that their "Help and FAQ's' page on the website can resolve most issues, and all the other usual, automated, chat bot stuff that no-one wants to use. But that doesn't excuse the disgraceful way I have been treated by Halfords, and it could happen to any other potential customer reading this review. I recommend you...

Beware of going to this Halfords.

So, I bought (and paid for) some new side lights and fitting. When I went into the store, I bought some additional wipers. Great. The manager even did me a deal with all of them together instead of separately. This meant cancelling my online order and making a new one. Okay!

Then, I had one of the most incompetent people I have ever met to do the installation. He disconnected the passenger side indicator bulb and then jammed it back in, making it no longer work! He also lost part of the housing for one of the engine vents, so that now rattles! Now the wipers... So, apparently, the incorrect wipers were in the box. He goes back into the store to get another box. He comes out with the wrong ones and tells me that I need to go and see about getting them changed; basically blaming me for them being wrong. No, no, no. It was confirmed by the manager that I had purchased the correct ones and that the fitter just does not read things properly. After all that, he then goes and snaps the arm of my rear wiper. They accept liability (too right you do) and say that they will get it replaced. This is where the fitter then tells me that I (me) should get quotes for the part and fitting then come back to them. I'm sorry, what? That's your job, not mine!!

So, I get a call from the manager a week later clearing up the final part and that an Autocentre will carry out the repairs.

It has been THREE weeks since the time of this review, and I've had no repair and been without a rear wiper! I've also had no refund from the first cancelled order, so Halfords have charged me twice for the same things! I have been robbed and inconvenienced so much from this store. Such a bad experience and a poorly run operation. Get it...