Halfords Retail receives a mixed response from customers, with a significant portion expressing dissatisfaction. While some reviewers highlight the helpfulness of staff members like Denis and Mohammed, who provide excellent service and product advice, many others report negative experiences.
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Complaints frequently mention unreliable service, such as receiving incorrect items through the click & collect system and poor customer support when issues arise. Customers also criticize the store atmosphere, citing unhelpful and rude staff interactions. Additionally, issues with product quality and misleading information on the website contribute to frustration. Overall, while there are commendable staff members and positive service moments, the prevailing sentiment reflects a struggle with consistency and customer care, leading to a predominantly negative impression.
1,711 customer reviewsLatest review over a year ago
Where the score comes from
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
Why sources differ: Sources agree: every scored source rates this company within 0.1 of the others.
Rating, volume, share of the score, six-month trend and fake-review risk for each source
Source
Rating
Reviews
Weight
6-mo
Fake risk
★
Trustpilot
Imported Trustpilot reviews
2.4
1,411
82%
2.4 / 5 overall
=
1,711 reviews across 2 scored sources
How fake risk works ⓘ
Reputation trend
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Sep 2025.
Last 3 months
2.4
12-month avg
2.4
All-time
2.4
Category avg
4.2
Monthly averageCategory average
Monthly average rating and review count
Month
Average
Reviews
Apr 25
2.4
269
May 25
2.5
302
Jun 25
2.3
692
Jul 25
2.4
367
Aug 25
2.5
80
Sep 25
5.0
1
What people praise & complain about
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 500 most recent reviews.
Top praiseof 166 positive reviews
Customer service63%
104 mentions
Helpful support42%
69 mentions
Friendly staff25%
42 mentions
Fast & efficient15%
25 mentions
“Visited Halfords in Talbot Green, Llantrisant today to purchase a car seat”
On “Customer service” · Aug 30, 2025
Top complaintsof 330 negative reviews
Customer service52%
171 mentions
Payment issues21%
68 mentions
Refund19%
62 mentions
Cancellation15%
51 mentions
“managers on holiday, short staffed etc all I can say every time I have been into store there is never more than 2 or...”
On “Customer service” · Aug 31, 2025
How it compares
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Vehicles & Transportation.
Overall rating and review count for this company and similar companies
Following up on my previous review of this useless company in 2014, when I said I would never use this company again, it would appear that my experience has been reciprocated by a great many others. So many, in fact, that I am delighted to note that the entire operation has closed down in my area (Airdrie). They couldn’t even get a painter to carry out a proper job of painting over the Halfords sign properly. This is an absolute mess and unfortunately reflects badly once again on the management of this woeful company.
In a world currently full of bad news, it’s so good to hear some good news for a change, that Halfords are failing rapidly and will soon be gone forever.
Incorrect information from customer service deptk if…
Called customer service to check if item was available before travelling to store. Difficult to understand member of staff but told me yes. When I got to the store it was not there, it was actually a discontinued product
Avoid chadwell heath Romford essex RM6 4BW garage at all cost If you love your car and time, this garage will take your time and never fix ths issues you have with your car. To top it, the receptionist are very rude with 0 empathy. Never visiting this garage again
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3 months after two new back tyre purchased and fitted by Halfords, tyre went flat. Mobile tyre fitter did wheel nuts so tight it took over two weeks to find someone able to remove them. Unpaid time off work to try and sort. Couldn’t get a refund for failed fitting due to not being able to undo the wheel nuts.
Partner unable to speak to them on the phone himself and they refused to speak with me, told us to use online chat even though I’d explained we’d tried numerous times and it kept saying no one was available. Tried again after the manager on the phone said it was open…guess what.. no one available. Broke the car and couldn’t get a refund. Terrible service, terrible customer service. Still no refund
Went to Halfords yesterday for a simple on the shelf part & nothing there!! All I wanted was an inner tube for my mountain bike and they didn't have any in stock or close by unbelievable for a bike shop. Get a grip and start looking more at stocking your selves for customers. I will never use Halfords ever again useless bunch of........
I purchased AC Pro from Halfords with an advertisement that it can 'repair' 2-3 average vehicles. There was a lot of data, much arguable, but it did not give a 'quantity' of refrigerant provided. Pages of data, volumes of capacities on 'average' cars, but no quantity on the AC Pro.
Once I received the item, it was very clearly marked 508g(e), about 3/4 of the amount I need to fill my vehicle. I would not have paid anywhere near the £80+ for that volume under any circumstance, it is 24.5 times the going rate at COSCO for the same refrigerant in bulk. There is something to be said about the convenience of a simple pressurized can of ez use refrigerant, but the system also needs a supply line and fitting, so almost £100 to still be short of needed supply.
AC Pro very clearly marks their product with weight, and instructions to not use it for a system that has no current pressure... but Halfords misrepresents the product in a purposefully misleading manner.
Yes, 2-3 repairs would have been close to the value looked for; and, with great review, I found that the product could, in theory, 'top up' three healthy systems - so can 3x £10 canisters sold all day long on the internet.
At this point, I could drive to a local halfords and return the item, in theory, but I bought online as I don't actually drive due to medications for an injury. So, I utilized the online complaint centre and returned the item to the authorized return centre, at an expense of yet £6.08 more.
The product has been returned, I have a nice Everi confirmation with a picture of the shipped box (original box sent to me) on the receiver's desk, but I have had no contact from Halfords on the item, even though assured that my complaint is escalated.
So, because I complained about false advertising and misrepresentation, along with the charging of 24.5 times the commercial rate of the product, I have been fobbed off to no end. My complaint was more than one week ago and not even a call back. The item was returned almost one week ago, and not even acknowledgement.
Now, I am out two weeks time, £90+, frustrated, and I have no refrigerant for my repair.
Tried to order a dash cam online. Indicated that in stock but after trying on 3 occasions, payment taken each time and every time immediately refunded to my PayPal account. Stock control or payment system an utter shambles in my view.
Will no longer use Halfords, just a waste of time and effort..
I’ve been a loyal customer for many years and never thought I’d have to leave a review like this. After a routine bike service (gears/brakes adjusted, chain cleaned and oiled), I was told the bike was in great condition. A few days later, the chain slipped and I was thrown off — causing damage to the bike, my helmet, and minor injury.
When I returned to the store to raise concerns, I wasn’t treated with the care or respect you’d expect — especially after a fall. I was dismissed, redirected, and ultimately told the next day that my bike needed £285 worth of repairs — none of which were raised at the time of service. It felt like the focus was on deflecting responsibility rather than helping a customer in a genuine situation.
I’ve now raised a formal complaint with Head Office and submitted a Data Subject Access Request. I’ll share more as appropriate.
I’m holding back on naming staff or going into more detail out of respect for the company — but this experience has genuinely shaken my confidence.
To be continued…
After checking Halfords Bletchley site for stock of a car tow relay drove to the store to buy. It turned out that the didn't have the one showing in stock. I was told it must have been stollen. So I checked the website for other branches with stock and I set off for their Milton Keynes shop. Here there was one shown in stock but after 10mins of staff stock checking I was told that it was not there.
What a waste of a Sunday morning. Halfords used to be THE place to get your car gear but sadly no longer the case.
Terrible instore queues and indifference to customers
Went for headlight bulb replacement (Leics, Abbey Park). Terrible queues. Waited in a queue for 15 mins to register I was there. That process in itself (him entering my order number) took over 5 mins because he kept getting involved in a conversation with a colleague about something else - how rude.. Guy did replacement in about 2 minutes (which I have done myself in the past but it was raining and I was on my way somewhere). That bit was ok. But I needed a different bulb to the one paid for and had to wait another 20 mins to update payment. People had been waiting for ages eg one guy was waiting for dash cam fitting only to be told it had been done 20 mins ago! Blinking joke!
Terrible website I now have a monthly direct debit set up with the finance company but no bikes and when you try to speak to the customer service advisors about this they are unable to help and I am now left unable to complete the order and the only option available to me is to cancel the finance. I now have a very upset little boy who it seems isn't going to be able to get the bike he was promised and now I'm going to have to spend time and money speaking to the finance company to cancel the direct debit because even the people who work for Halfords seem unable to process an order for us on their own system.
Terrible - I ordered a set of ratchet spanners from their professional range with a lifetime guarantee(£91), they arrived broken and in pieces, and were obviously poor quality if a metal spanner couldnt make it through the delivery process without falling to bits. Halfords customer service were terrible, no one called back, no offer of a replacement, after 2 weeks of waiting I ended up driving miles to a store to get a refund. I'm now selling my other Halford tools and will never use the brand again - if you need decent tools go to a specialist
Ridiculous that you buy a bike in store for £435 only to find it on Halfords website for £348 1 hour after purchase.
I went back into store and one store assistant said we can do price match only for manager to dismiss this so I cancelled the order all together.
Please note: there a numerous products cheaper on their website than in store, what's the point?
Will be taking my business elsewhere.
Went today to collect a brake and clutch bleeding kit
Was asked for a order number witch I didnt have as I was coming from my sons house with baby in car so explained unless I brought my laptop sorry can you search buy name or email NO NO SHE SAID YOU NEED ORDER NUMBER i asked to speak to another member of staff as i said she was rude NO IM NOT SHE REPLYED another member off staff came said can you not look it up buy name no she said again 5mins later told her what i cam for and buy magic it was in cage behind her then she asked me for phone number i dont know it i said she then trough the itam on the desk saying HO CARNT BE BOTHERD HERE i asked if she needs card or i'd to show i paid she said i can see its paid for carnt be bottherd i called her rude she shouldnt be on till if she carnt act appropriately descsting behavior wakefield store will never go or purchase from halfords ever again ease to percuse online no its a joke discussed and outraged
Use the web site to check for an item.
It does not say if in stock or not.
Phoned the store after 2 mins of options.
Select the option to check store stock. It then says check this on our web site and good bye.
Rubbish
Awful experience with mobile tyre fitting. Only fitted one of the two tyres I paid for. Came 30 minutes before my time slot and all he kept saying was how much of a rush he was in and that he didn’t have the right tools with him. Customer service number absolutely useless! Will never use again .
Dreadful experience at Farnham Common Auto-centre today. Was asked to move car by reception which was fair enough, but then barked at by technician after returning for not parking the way he thought best (and for parking where reception indicated!) Mentioned about my booking and leaving car where it could be taken and was curtly informed booking times are indicative.
Reception asked for keys and wasn’t able to explain how the process worked so I asked about how long it’s expected to take and was told 2-3 hours with nothing about giving call after analysis etc. When I mentioned the experience wasn’t very good I got a shrug of shoulders, so decided to take car elsewhere.
