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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
        
(Message started by: Bren on Jul 25^th, 2007, 10:38am)

Title: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by Bren on Jul 25^th, 2007, 10:38am

Bit the bullet and against my better judgement had to go to Halfords for some bits.

1. Sorry sir, we don't sell instant gasket.

2. Sorry sir, we don't sell gasket paper, what's it for?

3. then they supplied me with a 3/8th drive extension bar with the square snapped off. Obviously someone bought it, used and broke it then took it back and got a refund.

4. Yes you guessed the next haven't you - - - Sorry sir, that's the only one we had in stock.

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by john.n on Jul 25^th, 2007, 1:45pm

I agree, but on the bright they do sell bike puncture repair kits and go faster stripes. john.n ;D

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by jonnycab on Jul 25^th, 2007, 2:59pm

I find Halfords to be manned totally by stroppy teenagers with no willing to help or advise you unless it concerns sub woofers, neon light bars or flashy alloys ???

The queue always seems to go halfway around the shop & when you finally do get to the till, you're money is taken by a lobotomised monkey, who (I'm sure) deliberately misses your open palm & drops your change all over the counter, & then looks at you with the facial expression of a slack-jawed zombie from Dawn of the Dead ::)

Or is that just the Basildon branch on a Sunday morning ;D

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by RichardMS on Jul 25^th, 2007, 3:34pm

And it is not just Halfords and motor factors, I find it is just about anywhere these days >:(

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by jonnycab on Jul 25^th, 2007, 4:15pm

I may just add that my local motor factors is the total opposite.

It's owned by three guys who really do know there stuff, are always helpful, always willing to give advise & more importantly, they treat you like a human being.

If they don't have something in stock then they will get it by the afternoon or next morning & if you can't collect it (car off road) then they will deliver it free of charge 8)

Also, although their small shop is a tenth of the size of most Halfords outlets, they seem to have at least twice the amount of spares & accesories that Halfords do :)

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by dogma on Jul 25^th, 2007, 7:22pm

Jommycab, you should try the at lakeside, you get the same bad service but theres an elderly women there that when you ask her for something, she looks at you as if you asked her to walk around the world twice. If you want anything for a scorpio they have never heard off it and nor has the halfords there, its not listed in there books for many parts
jim (AKA dogma)

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by dave82506 on Jul 25^th, 2007, 9:22pm

I, like Jonnycab, am lucky enough to have a very competent local motor factors. One member of staff (the owner) his shop is tiny, but its really a Tardis!! he never ceases to amaze me with his depth of knowledge.
Nothing is too much trouble. If he doesn't know, he finds out within minutes. And if he has not got it in stock, he will get it in a few hours.
Open 7 days a week, closes for liquid lunch between 12 & 1 (slurrs a bit in the afternoon ;D) PRICELESS
The kind of store that the likes of Halfords will probably kill off eventually :'(

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by jonnycab on Jul 26^th, 2007, 12:09am

I'm not sure that Halfords will kill off the local motor factor, in fact I think the opposite may be the case ;)

Halfords seem to branching out more in the direction of ICE, car customisation & cycles etc & their spares departments seem to be getting smaller.

My local spares shop don't just sell to the public but also to alot, if not most of the independant garages/mechanics in the area & because they are very competative with their prices & offer discounts to regular customers, then Halfords could never compete :)

I even get discounts because I'm in there so often...I wonder why ? ::) ......5 litres of AC Delco 5W/30 fully synthetic for 15 nuggets :o ....bargain ;)

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by taliban aka Cheekyboy2 on Jul 26^th, 2007, 12:52pm

quite agree jonny, i've got a small shop near me indian owned, great shop and service........

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by john.n on Jul 26^th, 2007, 6:13pm

I think we are all missing the point here as to my mind halfords arent really a motor factors,as someone else said more for the boy racer-dress up faction. john.n ::)

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by mr._floppy on Jul 26^th, 2007, 6:49pm

Halfords is fine for sourcing brake fluid, a 13mm socket or an air filter for a Mondeo on a Sunday, but don't ask 'em for a head gasket, 3 foot of brake pipe or a wheel bearing kit.

Horses for courses. ;D

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by Spannerdemon on Jul 28^th, 2007, 8:41am

I'm with Jonnycab. The guys and girls who run our local factors are extremely friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Nothing is ever unobtainable, and the shop is an absolute aladdins cave of parts, rather than one of these useless places all full of spotty hoodies and dustbin sized speakers.

They still sell loads of older bits and pieces, which most of these other places take off the shelves because of 'company image' or some such other nonsense.

Top marks for our factors. There's not a cat in hells chance that Halfords would ever kill off a shop like this, because basically they sell everything for cars..........which Halfords don't. They are used by every decent garage in the area, and they are always very busy as a result.

Halfords have become extremely Motorist unfriendly in my opinion. I've virtually stopped using them at all.

It all seems to be too much trouble for them to make any effort for customers these days. All they are interested in is quick fit radios/sat navs. Geeky mountain bike extras, roof carriers, blister packed poor quality (and pricey) tools, and all sorts of stuff which is about as much use as a chocolate barbecue on the day that you actually need car parts .

You can't beat a proper Motor factors in my book. ;)

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by jonnycab on Jul 29^th, 2007, 12:46am

[]...spot on Spanners ;)

Long live the good independant motor factors....they provide a service that Halfords & the like could never do :)

If you want glitter, then go to Halfords....if you want parts, then go to your local motor factor ;)

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by Grumpyg1t on Jul 29^th, 2007, 11:25am

This is down to bad customer service, people will always remember the bad stuff.

When was the last time you had good service? how many people did you tell? now think again the Zombie who served you in Halfords you have told probably double the amount of people in fact you'll probably tell anyone who will listen. This is where Halfords are falling down not enough customer service training for their staff. The stock levels are for main stream customers, which unfortunately we are not we are a bit of a niche market, with little or no profit margins therefore they see it as not being worth their while :-/.

Title: Re: Aren't our Motor Factors wonderful - NOT
Post by TRACEYS_LIMO on Jul 29^th, 2007, 9:55pm

hi no probs with my local branch, you just need to get up early on a saturday to get anything from our local factors who also have to order anything scorpio. but halfords are fine for batteries and nothing to in depth and before that gets you all going ive had three batteries from halfords all bought on a sunday and had no problems, yes all my batteries seem to give up on sunday ??? you try getting in most local factors on a sunday.