A friend of mine owns a 2010 Boardman Team FS, he has had it for almost 2 years now. A few days ago he found a cracked on the frame so he took it back to Halfords and they offered him a full replacement bike or a full refund. He chose the refund and purchased a nice shiny new 2011 Trek EX 8 in the sale. Almost two years riding for free, and a nice upgrade at the end of it. Result!

Excellent…try getting that out of Orange or Pace.

Or anyone else!

Fair play to them.. Lack of knowledge though, or just poor (from their point of view) warranty policy?

Lack of knowledge though, or just poor (from their point of view) warranty policy?

No, just bloody good customer service.

So who did he buy the Trek from? If I’d had that from a shop I’d have stuck with them and gone for the replacement.

From a local Trek dealer, I think he fancied a change.

No, just bloody good customer service.

So who did he buy the Trek from? If I’d had that from a shop I’d have stuck with them and gone for the replacement.

From a local Trek dealer, I think he fancied a change.

😆 😀

Just proves how much good customer service is valued….

Shame he couldn’t respond to outstanding service with loyalty.

They had to warranty it no matter what, whether it had been just a frame or a whole bike. In this case they also offered him a full refund so he took it. It would be slightly strange getting a refund and buying another when they just offered him a replacement. Just because he got decent service doesn’t mean he should forever own a Boardman.

skywalker was about to respond but then realised he’d left his girlfriend alone with his mate. 🙂

Don’t think so, his mate was servicing your girlfriend in the rear 😉

hey had to warranty it no matter what, whether it had been just a frame or a whole bike. In this case they also offered him a full refund so he took it. It would be slightly strange getting a refund and buying another when they just offered him a replacement.

firstly, never heard of a cash refund being offered in such a situation before so halfords were either mad or generous in offering it, and second as avdave is possibly suggesting, I might have considered getting another (non Boardman) bike through Halfords given the exemplary service they provided him (out of confidence in their support as much as any moralistic sense of loyalty).

The fact your mate took the money and ran shows how little customer service is sometimes valued, and is interesting to read in the context of various recent threads on here (Hope, Orange and Nicolai all had their varying degrees of support and the effect that has on brand loyalty debated).

Don’t think so, his mate was servicing your girlfriend

Saves me a job.

They don’t really do many brands though 😕

avdave2 – Member
Don’t think so, his mate was servicing your girlfriend
Saves me a job.

LOL, spat my tea everywhere then 🙂

firstly, never heard of a cash refund being offered in such a situation before so halfords were either mad or generous in offering it, and second as avdave is possibly suggesting, I might have considered getting another (non Boardman) bike through Halfords given the exemplary service they provided him (out of confidence in their support as much as any moralistic sense of loyalty).

The fact your mate took the money and ran shows how little customer service is sometimes valued, and is interesting to read in the context of various recent threads on here (Hope, Orange and Nicolai all had their varying degrees of support and the effect that has on brand loyalty debated).

He already owned and broke the best bike they do, why would he want to buy a cheaper one when he can buy something else? Its not got anything to do with loyalty, more lack of choice. I’m sure if they stocked Trek he wouldn’t have hesitated to buy his EX8 off them.

I’m pretty sure Halfords will order in a fair few different brands if asked. I think you need to know exactley what you want though.

Great service goes unrewarded shame, must be the only bike that has more than a one year warranty on the frame I thought most were 12months then it was down to the good will of the manufacturer.

Halfords can order in most makes a guy I work with has just had a Cube from them (via Evans).

Not unless it’s on cycle to work they don’t. FACT 8) None of their bikes have a one year warranty on the frame either.

I am sure Halfords can take the snub..

Its owners, CVC Capital Partners, allegedly has a net worth of some $46 billion.. with links to Citigroup… there’s bound to have been lots of norty ness in their shenanabang.

I wouldn’t lose any sleep about taking your money elsewhere.. fact is, a two year old bike shouldn’t break.

^ yay some-one with some sense!

I love how people try and turn a positive experience into something negative. Nice try but you all failed miserably (except van cough cough)

Skywalker not criticising your mate just found people’s different attitudes interesting. The other threads suggest a lot if brand loyalty (possibly more aspirational brands than boardman!) Can be encouraged by good customer support, and similarly lost by negative experience regardless of how good the product had been.
Not turning anything into a negative its called conversation!

Merry xmas!

It is a positive experience, from a negative experience, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep about loyalty or lack therof to a huge private equity firm.

An offshore global mega private equity firm could never command the love that Hope and other British manufacturing companies deserve.

It is a positive experience, from a negative experience, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep about loyalty to a huge private equity firm.

Thats probably what he was thinking when they offered him the cash 😉

So when the Trek breaks after 2 years, and they won’t even do a warranty replacement, how silly will he feel?

To conclude the conversation, most people on here are argumentative **** 😀

I love how people try and turn a positive experience into something negative.

We didn’t your mate did, ruined the whole spirit of Christmas for me. 😉

We’re not really having a go at him it’s just that you didn’t seem to see the irony in you original post. Anyway whatever he’s decided at least you’ve come forward and told us all a positive story about Halfords.

Halfords can order a shedload of different brands, and not just on C2W. You aren’t limited to what is instore, you will need to know exactly what you want though.

Wow, this is the first STW thread EVER sticking up for Halfords.
For me the local halfords (Killingbeck) are a good bunch, soing a solid job. Hope if the evil venture capitalists read this they are convinced that having a good “returns” policy pays back in loyalty, even if not from the OP, most on here would.

hounslow – Member
Halfords can order a shedload of different brands, and not just on C2W. You aren’t limited to what is instore, you will need to know exactly what you want though.

POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

Not that many, I worked there for 15 years 😆

So when the Trek breaks after 2 years, and they won’t even do a warranty replacement, how silly will he feel?

That won’t happen, Trek warranty is very good, speaking from experience.