Halfords, credit where it's due.

Shock horror,
I had cause to go into Halfords in Elgin this afternoon to exchange an Impact Driver and Ratchet under their Lifetime Warranty deal.
No problems at all. No quibble, argument, not anything but a friendly yep, there you go, have a nice day.
I know Halfords aren't people's favourite retailer but I can't fault their professional range of tools and today, their customer service was spot on

Yep, same experience many times. I've got a couple of flat bladed screwdrivers that I've used as chisels I keep forgetting to return

I've a trade card for Halfords to make thing a bit cheaper too (not cycles), you'll be suprised at how many other 'trades' than the motor trade can apply.

potus said:

I've a trade card for Halfords to make thing a bit cheaper too (not cycles), you'll be suprised at how many other 'trades' than the motor trade can apply.

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I work in the healthcare ‘trade’ - I wonder if they will let me have a card

I can't fault them either

Whilst I agree with the comments regarding service it has to be said that with their prices they can afford to smile when you take things back.
Browsing in there last week I found a plastic grill designed to be placed at the bottom of a bucket for (allegedly) trapping the grit when hand-washing a car ... 16 bloody quid
They are not nicknamed Halfrauds for nothing

flat said:

I work in the healthcare ‘trade’ - I wonder if they will let me have a card

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Probably. They have targets for how many people they get to sign up. In my experience they couldn't care less what you actually do.

Tenebreaux said:

Probably. They have targets for how many people they get to sign up. In my experience they couldn't care less what you actually do.

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will blag it as working on ‘organic facilities management’

Yeah I agree no problems with Halfords exchange policy at all. Used it many times myself and straight swap much easy than snap on.

Halfords...their lifetime guarantee on their Pro range is superb. I have two large/200 socket sets and one mid-sized set that's kept in the house for odd jobs. The first large set I bought when they first came to market in 1998/1999, the second ~10 years ago. Have built endless classic cars with these sets, they've taken a real hammering and have never failed. Only time I had an issue was the loss of a grub screw from the oldest mid-sized ratchet. Took ratchet into Halfords for another grub screw...the assistant said Halfords can't provide a grub screw, but can replace the complete ratchet.

So, I walked in with a ratchet that's worked on/built at least 20+ classic/rally cars and is ~16-17years old, and they simply gave me a new ratchet. It's impeccable service and must go some way to support their socket set reputation.

+1 on the returns policy. I bust the flutes on the tip of a phillips bit on an impact driver, thought there was no chance of a replacement, but there you go, full exchange. Brilliant.

stoney424 said:

Shock horror,
I had cause to go into Halfords in Elgin this afternoon to exchange an Impact Driver and Ratchet under their Lifetime Warranty deal.
No problems at all. No quibble, argument, not anything but a friendly yep, there you go, have a nice day.
I know Halfords aren't people's favourite retailer but I can't fault their professional range of tools and today, their customer service was spot on

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Done that many times. It's why almost all my hand tools are Halfords professional - often on a deal and you can abuse the life out of them and get a replacement

Good points raised, I guess if you are regular spanner wielder, either professional or even a competent home mechanic, they probably offer a good service. For the average motorist however there are many cheaper outlets for identical products found on Halfords shelves.

Halfords regularly have sales and promotions where their products are on offer. The larger socket sets can be half price, which makes them a good buy. I bought one of their large sets and a couple of the smaller ones some years ago when they were on offer and they are still going strong! They have offers on their website on tools which often aren’t in store too. Well worth a look. (I don’t have any connections with the company, I just have some of their products amongst others!)

I have the 200 piece set and a couple of the Advanced screwdriver sets too. Plus the odd weird sized impact socket. Quality is great and I've yet to have one fail.

Therustbucket said:

Yeah I agree no problems with Halfords exchange policy at all. Used it many times myself and straight swap much easy than snap on.

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I bought an old Snap-On 3/8 ratchet many years ago that has sat in the bottom of my tool box mostly unused due to the teeth being buggered and it undoes until you get to the bit with no teeth and it annoys me. I was talking to my cousin(a mechanic) about it being the only Snap-On tool i owned. He said to bring it in and he'd have a word with his rep. I got a text a few days later saying he showed it to Ian(Rep) and he only carries one service kit for those in his van and unfortunately used it but he'd repair it the following week.
When it was fixed i went to collect it and my cousin asked me how old i thought it was? I guessed 1970s. He said no. MUCH older. He said it was part of the standard tool kit in the WW2 Sherman Tank!
Ian repaired it for free too!

I can't comment on Halford's tools, but i wouldn't take a car of mine for an MOT.
I took mine in for a discount price. It failed on one headlight out of alignment, a trackrod end and they couldn't lock the rear seat upright, it was an estate car.
I'd just replaced the one trackrod end as that was what the seller told me needing fixing for the MOT. After waiting for the promised telephone call from Halfords regarding the result, and not getting one, i called them again. He told me what it failed on. I asked for a quote. Stupidly asked...
It was about eight years ago but i remember it was just under £300 to do the headlight and trackrod and they suggested welding the back seat back in the upright position! WTF???
They wanted about £50 for the headlight adjustment and a full four wheel tracking!
I went to collect it. Got the headlight done for nothing at a garage that then got my MOT business for the next few years until the two guys that MOTed my cars left and set up on their own and now they have it. The trackrod took me another twenty minutes and £8 from Euro and i discovered that the plastic piece inside the seat back had moved because the two screws that held it in place had come out. About five minutes poking with a screwdriver moved it back near the hole so let me get first one screw and then another into it and it too was back in the car and locked upright.
My mechanic has had a few cars come in for welsing work that Halfords has said needs doing and they couldn't see it and sent it around the corner where it either passed, or just passed on the non existing rust and failed on something else.