18 replies to this topic

[TimS]

ok now heres there facts:

CAD doesnt have stores all aroudn the country and so doesnt have the expenses that halfords has!

CAD are going to have alot more accurate information about the prodcuts they sell due to the fact that just a handfull of experts in ICE can give out information where as country wide for Halford you are going to need over 1500 experts that work on ripspeed.

The training at halfords is rubbish so unless u only want to know the basics or your talking to someone thats passionate about their work/ hobbie then your not going to get anywhere near the knolege or in formation that u will be able to recieve at CAD


conclusion, if u have nio idea about car audio then go to halford iof you know what you want then look online eg. CAD

[Guess-Works.com]

Don't understand the point of the thread but....

You can't play, touch or listen to a speaker / head unit etc on the web, you need a shop for that.... Halfords stock a good range of affordable stock units, and have the advantage that they are a country wide company, and can therefore buy in larger quanties and hence probably sell lower than Billies-Hifi down the road...

So for you everyday.. listen to radio 5 live... squark box, there's absolutely nothwing wrong with Halfords..

But, for all you audiophiles out there, most of you know what you want, therefore can better judge the quality vs price of items without physical hands on.. and are probably after something which is more esoteric.

[Kustom]

I agree with Guessworks on this the same applies to there tools aswell, If you want a pro set of tools because you use them every day then go to a specialist e.g. snap on but if you doing it for a hobby then there is nothing wrong with there tools, i have a few of them and only one has broken and that was probably my fault, even then they still gave me a new one. People moan about the quality of Halfords tool and there other services but look at what your paying and your getting the convienience of a nationwide store.

[Madmax]

i dont entirely understand the point of the thread either

as for tools, they come out of the same factory as Snap On and Kamasa

as for audio, you can actually look and see the unit physically before u buy...

but i like mail order because its cheap

[Purple Tom]

I'm a specialist at halfords, the training is excellent, the problem is that a lot of the part time staff are only there to 'earn money' they are not at all bothered about learning about the product, or trying to better themselves. Hence Halfords gets a bad reputation, and many of the skilled people who would go far at Halfords tend to go to the independent shops to work.

I've worked at two Halfords stores, and both of the Audio/Ripspeed specialists there have been fantastic. They know the product, they know about installation, set-up, troubleshooting etc, and can give advice about everything. And like has been said, the audio is there to view. And they have a HUGE range of special order audio/performance tuning that can be ordered, its just not common knowledge it can be obtained. For example, I can get a Kent 310 scatter cam for the Mini or a BETD CNC machined rear swingarm for my Specialized mtb, you just have to ask for things like that.

Also, when you walk into a Halfords store, you get served, and asked about what you want. You don't get the same intimidating atmosphere that you get at a smaller independent, and I don't think you get the impression that they're only interested if you're spending over 2 grand on an install. You get the same amount of assistance and service on a £79.99 JVC unit as you would on a £3000 sat nav install. At least that's what its like at my store, hence the reason I guess we have the same customers returning, and an excellent reputation in the local area. So for audio advice, speak to Adam and store 575 Chilwell, Nottingham, or Pete at store 709 Wyvern, Derby!!! (shameless plug, sorry :fear: )

Or if you want a bike, come upstairs and see me :wink:

[Kustom]

" they come out of the same factory as Snap On and Kamasa" Really!!!!! i didnt know that, right then halfords tools for christmas then please dad.

" You don't get the same intimidating atmosphere that you get at a smaller independent " Totally agree with that.

I worked for Halfords for a while and I learnt so much from the specialists in that store. I still pop in now to see some of them and ask a bit of advice.

Matt

p.s. how did this thread start?

[Madmax]

just flappyplastic being a bit random.

as for the tools yeh its true, hold a halfords wrench in one hand, snap on in the other, they are absolutely identical

[Dan]

This is off topic slightly and so will probably be deleted under the current PC regime, but I'll go ahead anyway.
I think Halfords tools are fantastic for quality and value (except the pliers and cutters which are junk, buy Knipex). I don't think they are made by SnapOn though. SnapOn don't make tools for other people (unless they are a SnapOn brand like BluePoint). I think they are made by Sealy Power, the pearhead ratchets, pliers, cutters and torque wrenches are nearly identical. And the tool cabinets are made by Waterloo in America I think.

But why can't I buy individual imperial sockets? I have lost my 11/16" 1/2" drive plain socket and can only get another by buying a rail of eight or so sockets. And it does wind me up a little that they call imperial tools "AF", because metric tools are "AF" too!

[Guess-Works.com]

Dan, that's what ebay's for...

Quick tip, go to the US site, ebay.com and most will trade over the pond, and the best bit at the moment, is because the dollar is soooo week and feable you get an absolute bargain...

[Dan]

I didn't know they had Halfords accross the pond.

[Guess-Works.com]

lol, they dont, but you get snap-on / MAC gear for just about the same

[Madmax]

MAC tools are mint, but snap on are the daddies

[TimS]

I personally prefer facom to snap on looking at thire ranges

[Dan]

Yeah, Facom are good too. I have some of their stuff, but they are French which leaves something of a nasty taste in the mouth .

(That was a nasty Citroen related joke by the way, nothing else intended)

[TimS]

true but the finish on their tools is amazing and thier tool kit i think is the most expensive thing that halfods say... i cant remember exactly how much it is but it was around £12k