Halfrauds
24 March 2013, 08:54 AM
#1
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Halfrauds
I've a blown bulb on my work hack (08 Astra) so as I was nearby I popped into Halfrauds to check on a new one. As there were several different types (colours, power etc) I thought I'd ask a sales guy how mine releases (I've a bad back at the moment and didn't want to spend more time than necessary laying on the floor fiddling about inside the wheel arch). His response was "we can fit it for you for £6.99". No, I just asked on how it was removed and he again said "we can fit it for you for 6.99". My response was perhaps a bit uncalled for with "you can poke it up your **** as I'm not paying £6.99 for a 2 minute job". He told me good luck paying a garage £40 then lol. I bought it elsewhere at around a third of the price and fitted it in 5 minutes. So
to Halfrauds.
24 March 2013, 12:07 PM
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I let then fit a bulb in an MGZR once as it was a little tight to say the least, best £6.99 I have ever spent and the chap was quite pleasant too.
I have no problem in using peoples services (and paying for them at a reasonable rate) if they can do something I cannot or am not willing to do at that time.
It's what keeps businesses going after all.
I have no problem in using peoples services (and paying for them at a reasonable rate) if they can do something I cannot or am not willing to do at that time.
It's what keeps businesses going after all.
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24 March 2013, 12:49 PM
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If you're going to let them fit it atleast get your money's worth. I got two bulbs on their BOGOF deal and they charged £6.99 to change them both, so fitted the free one for free. What I didn't tell them is the caps on the lights were jammed and the bonnet catch needed greasing and was a b***h to close down. The guy who changed them ended up taking out the induction feed and the battery to create room to remove the caps and then sorted out my bonnet catch. Was well worth the £6.99 IMO.
24 March 2013, 01:00 PM
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I let then fit a bulb in an MGZR once as it was a little tight to say the least, best £6.99 I have ever spent and the chap was quite pleasant too.
I have no problem in using peoples services (and paying for them at a reasonable rate) if they can do something I cannot or am not willing to do at that time.
It's what keeps businesses going after all.
I have no problem in using peoples services (and paying for them at a reasonable rate) if they can do something I cannot or am not willing to do at that time.
It's what keeps businesses going after all.
24 March 2013, 01:35 PM
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Why would you knowingly ask somebody a car related question when you're fully aware they have been trained and usually work in a different department (cycles)? He's probably been trained to tell you what he did as he's not qualified in giving advice outside his 'expertise'. Granted, he maybe should have referred you elsewhere!
24 March 2013, 01:49 PM
#12
TBH I thick your expecting far too much from Halfords....
In fairness how do you expect a shelf stacker/sales assistant to know how a light bulb fits on every make and model car?
For example on my Golf the bumper has to be removed, same with Megane IIs (unless you are a contortionist with hands the size of a toddler and able to work blind). I know this becuase I work at a Garage not a motor factors. No mator factor be it Halfords, Euro Car Parts, or Andrew Page etc will be able to specifically tell you "how" a part fits. All they can do is tell you what is the correct part from their parts listings...those listings don't have fitting instrctions.
Now their fitting service...different kettle of fish. The staff doing that job "should" have an idea. But in all probabilty if its not a car they've worked on before they won't give you a straight answer until they actually attempt to replace the bulb themselves.
In fairness how do you expect a shelf stacker/sales assistant to know how a light bulb fits on every make and model car?
For example on my Golf the bumper has to be removed, same with Megane IIs (unless you are a contortionist with hands the size of a toddler and able to work blind). I know this becuase I work at a Garage not a motor factors. No mator factor be it Halfords, Euro Car Parts, or Andrew Page etc will be able to specifically tell you "how" a part fits. All they can do is tell you what is the correct part from their parts listings...those listings don't have fitting instrctions.
Now their fitting service...different kettle of fish. The staff doing that job "should" have an idea. But in all probabilty if its not a car they've worked on before they won't give you a straight answer until they actually attempt to replace the bulb themselves.
Last edited by ALi-B; 24 March 2013 at 01:58 PM.
24 March 2013, 01:50 PM
#13
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I used to order my bulbs from this place.http://www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=l&ai...=j&q=car+bulbs Got xenons now though....
24 March 2013, 01:58 PM
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TBH I thick your expecting far too much from Halfords....
In fairness how do you expect a shelf stacker/sales assistant to know how a light bulb fits on every make and model car?
For example on my Golf the bumper has to be removed, same with Megane IIs. I know this becuase I work at a Garage not a motor factors. No mator factor be it Halfords, Euro Car Parts, or Andrew Page etc will be able to specifically tell you "how" a part fits. All they can do is tell you what is the correct part from their parts listings...those listings don't have fitting instrctions.
Now their fitting service...different kettle of fish. The staff doing that job "should" have an idea. But in all probabilty if its not a car they've worked on before they won't give you a straight answer until they actually attempt to replace the bulb themselves.
In fairness how do you expect a shelf stacker/sales assistant to know how a light bulb fits on every make and model car?
For example on my Golf the bumper has to be removed, same with Megane IIs. I know this becuase I work at a Garage not a motor factors. No mator factor be it Halfords, Euro Car Parts, or Andrew Page etc will be able to specifically tell you "how" a part fits. All they can do is tell you what is the correct part from their parts listings...those listings don't have fitting instrctions.
Now their fitting service...different kettle of fish. The staff doing that job "should" have an idea. But in all probabilty if its not a car they've worked on before they won't give you a straight answer until they actually attempt to replace the bulb themselves.
24 March 2013, 02:06 PM
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Why would you knowingly ask somebody a car related question when you're fully aware they have been trained and usually work in a different department (cycles)? He's probably been trained to tell you what he did as he's not qualified in giving advice outside his 'expertise'. Granted, he maybe should have referred you elsewhere!
TBH I thick your expecting far too much from Halfords....
In fairness how do you expect a shelf stacker/sales assistant to know how a light bulb fits on every make and model car?
For example on my Golf the bumper has to be removed, same with Megane IIs. I know this becuase I work at a Garage not a motor factors. No mator factor be it Halfords, Euro Car Parts, or Andrew Page etc will be able to specifically tell you "how" a part fits. All they can do is tell you what is the correct part from their parts listings...those listings don't have fitting instrctions.
Now their fitting service...different kettle of fish. The staff doing that job "should" have an idea. But in all probabilty if its not a car they've worked on before they won't give you a straight answer until they actually attempt to replace the bulb themselves.
In fairness how do you expect a shelf stacker/sales assistant to know how a light bulb fits on every make and model car?
For example on my Golf the bumper has to be removed, same with Megane IIs. I know this becuase I work at a Garage not a motor factors. No mator factor be it Halfords, Euro Car Parts, or Andrew Page etc will be able to specifically tell you "how" a part fits. All they can do is tell you what is the correct part from their parts listings...those listings don't have fitting instrctions.
Now their fitting service...different kettle of fish. The staff doing that job "should" have an idea. But in all probabilty if its not a car they've worked on before they won't give you a straight answer until they actually attempt to replace the bulb themselves.
Yes, mk4 Golf's are a bugger to work on when it comes to replacing the headlight bulbs. Luckily, in the 4 years I had one they never needed changing.
24 March 2013, 02:18 PM
#16
I can belive it. 
Problem is, at many garages the job of changing light bulbs is often given to the apprentice/trainee. Now if he's still pretty new (or an idiot), isn't supervised and has to work fast becuase the customer is waiting (or better...standing behind watching
), chances are he'll f**k it up.
I have a nice little anectdote of a guy with a Mercesdes B-class that wanted his beam aim adapted so he can drive on the continent. Now he read the owners manual and realised this was possible without needing any stickers on the headlamps....so off he trundled to a Mercesdes dealership to get them to do it. They said it wasn't possible.
I don't know if it was a fob-off becuase its a little bit fiddly to get at the levers or they just didn't have a clue.
But put it this way, he ended dealing with us because he just bought some stick on adpaters and wanted them fitted. Now I know most high-end(ish) BMs and Mercs of that age range with halogen projectors (and non-adaptive HIDs) don't need stickers, so decided to take a look to confirm this. I pulled the covers off the back of the headlamps, looked inside via my dentist's mirror (god send), found the lever, pushed it over, re-checked the the beam pattern, all ok, job done.
It took longer for me to find the bonnet release lever 
Problem is, at many garages the job of changing light bulbs is often given to the apprentice/trainee. Now if he's still pretty new (or an idiot), isn't supervised and has to work fast becuase the customer is waiting (or better...standing behind watching
), chances are he'll f**k it up.I have a nice little anectdote of a guy with a Mercesdes B-class that wanted his beam aim adapted so he can drive on the continent. Now he read the owners manual and realised this was possible without needing any stickers on the headlamps....so off he trundled to a Mercesdes dealership to get them to do it. They said it wasn't possible.
I don't know if it was a fob-off becuase its a little bit fiddly to get at the levers or they just didn't have a clue.
But put it this way, he ended dealing with us because he just bought some stick on adpaters and wanted them fitted. Now I know most high-end(ish) BMs and Mercs of that age range with halogen projectors (and non-adaptive HIDs) don't need stickers, so decided to take a look to confirm this. I pulled the covers off the back of the headlamps, looked inside via my dentist's mirror (god send), found the lever, pushed it over, re-checked the the beam pattern, all ok, job done.
It took longer for me to find the bonnet release lever
Last edited by ALi-B; 24 March 2013 at 02:20 PM.
24 March 2013, 03:14 PM
#19
i dont use the place but they offer a service quite cheap to the unskilled in car maintenance.
its laughable to those of us with mechanical skill but to a women with a blown headlight bulb no doubt useful.
Last edited by tubbytommy; 24 March 2013 at 03:20 PM.
greetings
24 March 2013, 07:23 PM
#23
I remember letting them do a front fog light on my cavalier gsi when it was 2 inches off the floor. Took him forever to try and get his hand under the bumper, undo the screw twist the cap and then sturggling to put the bulb in the clips.
Was the best 40mins of my life.. He was defeated and needed a jack.
Was the best 40mins of my life.. He was defeated and needed a jack.
24 March 2013, 07:50 PM
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25 March 2013, 12:49 PM
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I don't think he was being unintentionally helpful.
It's like going calling a plumber round and asking how to repair a leaking tap - you don't want him to actually do it or pay for it, you just want him to talk you through for nowt.
Given he wouldn't see the money, he's hardly creaming it for £6.99 but he wouldn't have any idea on an 08 Astra so I think you were a bit harsh on the lad.
Right about the price though. Needs must in terms of paying the price if they don't have a BOGOF on.
It's like going calling a plumber round and asking how to repair a leaking tap - you don't want him to actually do it or pay for it, you just want him to talk you through for nowt.
Given he wouldn't see the money, he's hardly creaming it for £6.99 but he wouldn't have any idea on an 08 Astra so I think you were a bit harsh on the lad.
Right about the price though. Needs must in terms of paying the price if they don't have a BOGOF on.
25 March 2013, 12:59 PM
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That was the first thing that popped into my receding cranium too
Graham is a pleasant chap and I have no reason to think he'd have been unnecessarily rude. Hell, the favours he's done for me prove that (just don't ask me to fit that bulb mate
).
25 March 2013, 01:14 PM
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Why the hell should he tell you how to fit something, so that you can go home and do it for nowt? Yeah, great business sense that........
