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Bugger, so much for those decent spec'd bike from Boardman then.. hello more BSO's 😈
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27692605 (live updates on the right)
Don't imagine it will make much difference to be honest. 😕
Well I can't imagine they'd buy Boardman and run it into the ground. They already manage to keep Carrera pretty good so this just adds a higher range. So it'll go:
Apollo -> Carrera -> Boardman
Wonder if it'll change how they're marketing and selling their high end bikes as they don;t go through Halfords currently but can't see a major difference for the stuff they already stock.
a good step for Halfords, a sign of their commitment to better customer service and quality products.
maybe they'll put directional arrows on the forks so the assembly staff know which way up they go.
maybe they'll put directional arrows on the forks so the assembly staff know which way up they go
If they can't work out which is top and which is bottom I don't know what good arrows will do 😉
Interesting. CB himself is opening a (not exclusive) Boardman dealer in Harrogate on Friday...
Well I can't imagine they'd buy Boardman and run it into the ground. They already manage to keep Carrera pretty good so this just adds a higher range. So it'll go:
Ur Bik iS [s]Saracin[/s] [b][i]BrDmaN[/b][/i]
I always thought Boardman was just the posh Carrera ie it was already a Halfords' own brand. 😕
Looks like independent shop sales remain:
Mr Boardman said: "We look forward to building on the success we have had to date with independent retailers, in international markets and with Halfords.
(from http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/leads-deals/halfords-acquires-chris-boardmans-cycle-7214993)
I always thought they had at least a significant share.
Some lovely Boardman bikes out there, mostly not in this country.
What you mean chunky?
I think he means that Boardman overseas is usually frame-only and the builds can be quite nice whereas in the UK there are loads of off the shelf bikes so the blinged up ones go unnoticed.
Interesting. CB himself is opening a (not exclusive) Boardman dealer in Harrogate on Friday...
Is that the new Chevin shop on Ripon Road? Thought that was a Trek 'Concept Store' like the new one in Skipton?
Do Halfrauds still sell Voodoo?
Boardman does a range of high end carbon stuff, road and CX. You won't see them in Halfords, most are available overseas - particularly the States (there isn't the Halfords stigma there - which is why Raleigh also make some lovely stuff you will never see here).
A few high end specialist shops will stock the high end Boardmans in the UK, Velo in Putney have a few. The carbon CX is nice in the flesh.
I suspect Boardmans own shop will stock the nice stuff.
Interesting. When I was in the market for a CX bike I considered the Boardmans but ultimately decided against it because:
A) Halfords don't allow you to test ride. Not even once round the car park. (I've heard they can get snitty about you just putting your leg over the bike in the shop)
B) None of the Halfords I went to had the mid-level CX Team in stock to look at (never mind the higher end [i]elite[/i] range).
C) Halfords.
a) Yes they do, I would always insist people test rode the bikes - we had display bikes for a reason, as long as they wore a helmet and didn't mind leaving some collateral in the office, most people obliged. If someone doesn't let you, speak to a manager. Simple as that.
b) Halfords deal primarily with the performance range, not the elite as standard although under special circumstances, boardman will let you order one Also some shops dont stock all the bikes, only select ones.
c) Standard generalisation of a company based on some shoddy experiences. Some of them are pretty good, rare albeit, but unfortunately once you have a bad rep its hard to lose it.
The boardman cx bikes are pretty good for the prices.
Yes they do, I would always insist people test rode the bikes
Has that policy changed recently then jolmes?
If so then they need to work harder on getting the message out - Google suggests it is something that comes up often in the discussion of Halfords. e.g.
"I went to Halfords to buy a bike- asked to test ride one "You can ride it round the shop" !!!!!! They wouldn't let me ride it out in the carpark"
-- http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/test-riding-a-boardman-at-halfords.42148/"I was in the same position but not being able to test ride a bike was a deal breaker for going through Halfords so I didn't use the C2W scheme in the end."
-- http://road.cc/content/forum/77013-halfords"So I popped into my local Halfords tonight to have a look at the Boardman Pro. I enquired if there was a demo available. No chance was the answer. It would be ok to take it round the car park.
I pointed out that I didn't really want to spend £1k on a bike I couldn't test ride, but to no avail. "
-- http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/halfords-boardman-demo-forget-it
Halfords deal primarily with the performance range
Yep it was the performance range CX Team I wanted to look at. Tried three stores and none had it in (one said they had it in when I called, but when I turned up it was actually the CX Comp)
The boardman cx bikes are pretty good for the prices.
I agree! Especially if you knock off a[url= http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/halfords-discounts ]nother 10% with a British Cycling voucher[/url]!
It wasn't the case when I worked there, I only left 2 months ago, unless its something very new. Its a travesty if they are stopping people test ride bikes. I know for one my old bikehut manager will call bs on it and non adhere to it. Was encouraged for people to give em a blast behind the back of the shop. But each shop is run differently as I found out.
Seems some of the bike staff still don't know the range...not even surprised in that. I may defend Halfords as a brand sometimes but my god do they need better recruitment strategies and vetting.
Its even better if you get BC discount and a weekend with another 10% on 🙂
On another note, there is another brand of decent bikes moving back with Halfords. Probably similar to the GT era when GT sold a certain bike and it was renamed for Halfords selling.
a good step for Halfords, a sign of their commitment to better customer service and quality products.
maybe they'll put directional arrows on the forks so the assembly staff know which way up they go.
As I've said before, if they want to be serious then they'll have to start laying decent money to the sales staff and mechanics. I was offered minimum wage plus 51p/hr by one of the busiest Halfords in the country as an experienced and qualified mechanic. That's shit. I turned it down for 50%+ more plus bonus at a real LBS.
When they're paying mechanics a minimum of £18k, and have properly equipped workshops, then they'll get a better rep.
Is that the new Chevin shop on Ripon Road? Thought that was a Trek 'Concept Store' like the new one in Skipton?
Yep. And nope, they will sell Trek, but other confirmed brands are top end Boardmans (like the Otley shop) and Bianchi acording to their FB feed. Mot much word on MTBs though.
Jolmes, Pinarello?
B) None of the Halfords I went to had the mid-level CX Team in stock to look at (never mind the higher end elite range).
werent they all recalled for cracking at the headtube (weld filler and cosmetic not structural)?
Pinarello have no issue with Halfords tarnishing their brand
They won't get a penny of my money. I only use my lbs. In fact I try to buy everything I can locally. That way my money goes directly into my local community rather than lining the pockets of some fat shareholders.
Pinarello have no issue with Halfords tarnishing their brand
They seem to be assisting them with the specs of that bike!
Weight of a Carbon Pinarello, RRP of £2350?
10.2kg according to that link!!! 😯
Right on Bikeneil! No shareholders or foreign suppliers of bike parts!
Regarding a comment further up the page..... Isn't the Raleigh USA a totally separate company from thr European arm with only a historical link?
Makes sense for Boardman I guess, if everyone thought they were owned by Halfords anyway and it's not like you see many of the non Halfords models.
The Sunderland branch will let you sling a leg over a bike but no chance of a test ride. I went off to Cycle World, left my wallet, had a test run and paid cash.
That bike got stolen and the insurance sent me a bloody Halfords voucher. Gah. I now have a Boardman Pro. It does the job (after a few sideways-grades) but it really is fugly
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Right on Bikeneil! No shareholders or foreign suppliers of bike parts!
I can't choose where stuff is made but I can choose who/where I buy it from.
(missed edit time)
discussion on recalled CX Teams here.
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/2014-boardman-cxs/page/2
Shame as they looked loverly and I would have bought one.
That way my money goes directly into my local community
My local halfords ships in all their staff from Romania* rather than employ locally based people.
*This may not be true.
rather than lining the pockets of some fat shareholders.
Got a pension?
Earlier BBC and Birmingham post links didn't work for me, so here's Reuters
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/04/uk-halfords-boardman-idUKKBN0EF13420140604
rather than lining the pockets of some fat shareholders.Got a pension?
Or mortgage?
Yep. And nope, they will sell Trek, but other confirmed brands are top end Boardmans (like the Otley shop) and Bianchi acording to their FB feed. Mot much word on MTBs though.Jolmes, Pinarello?
Typical, the only Trek exclusive shop is the one where I live and the one that was the reason my favourite lbs closed. I don't want a bloody Trek. 👿
Biketreks in Ambleside are gonna be selling boardman apparently
Well there you go - I thought Halfords already owned it.