Not heard anything but I guess they're in the same trouble as everywhere else, suffering from a significant drop in sales revenue.

 

Notice any price drops on cleaning gear Mike?

 

I know people can be critical of them but I'd hate the thought if they weren't around.

Great deals in the interim although prices are still not close to Northern Ireland branches.

 

QUOTE (Mike @ Apr 13 2009, 06:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Just back from local Halfords looking for a kids bike and aside from bikes there are some substancial price drops on tool sets (professional range) and storage racks.

I cant see how they are making the turnover to stay open. I would guess that most of the stores are run at a loss, the over heads on the big units thye have must massive. I bought tone of their pro line socket sets and have to say its not too bad.

 

They have cut the hours up here in a few branches , as said could just be trying to pull footfall etc

I can never walk into Halfords for an item without buying something else lol

 

For me they are handy for welding bits' not necessarily cheap, but at least the stuff is stocked...

Apart from bikes, they make a lot of money selling 'tat' like lexus lights sunstrips, stereos, and cheap alloys, and obviously in a recession people's lack of disposable income, mean that they will no longer buy the 'tat', as they can no longer justify it any more (...how they before is anyone's guess)...
If they organised their 'parts desk' and trained the staff to be more helpful, and teach them another word other than 'no', they'd proberly do more business, as lets face it what other motor factors is open Sunday when you are stuck for something....

 

hope they don't go out of business very handy store.

 

Very under-trained staff in my experience.

 

they only opened in castlebar last week!! mustn't be doing too bad then..

 

Still cant see how they are making the turnover i was just ball parking some figures they need to be making a grand a day just to open the doors. I wowuld hazarda guess that the rent on some of the units like liffey valley could 2 or 3 times higher than what i have stuck in. I cant see it.

Rent 120000
Wages 150000
Utilities 50000
Rates 10000
insurance 5000

Per year 335000
Per month 27916.66667
Per week 6442.307692
Per day 957.1428571

 

QUOTE (PaulC @ Apr 14 2009, 05:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Rent 120000
Wages 150000
Utilities 50000
Rates 10000
insurance 5000

They look like very conservative yearly figures above Paul.

They'd hardly be able to fully load a store with staff for only 150k ?

 

QUOTE (Mike @ Apr 14 2009, 06:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>They look like very conservative yearly figures above Paul.

They'd hardly be able to fully load a store with staff for only 150k ?

I know it was really just to let people see what a few figures add up to you could probably add a 100 k to rent and wages each for some stores. and the there is probably other stuff I have not included. Stock depreciation and loss. I am convinced thye are not making money.

Did you ever fit the sub I found the box for it in the attic yesterday.

 

They've gone mad with the price cuts alright

 

Rofl !

THey are 3 for 2 on cleaning stuff though

 

Satnav's half price this weekend too aparrently.

Very dear on oil though. Usually a tenner cheaper in local motor factors for 4litres.

 

There very pricey on batteries too...

 

This came up on another UK forum recently (cant remember where) and seemingly the likes of the Liffey Valley type store is actually doing very well indeed over there

 

I don't like them but as said. I would hate to see them leave. Handy for a nose around to kill time when herself is shopping. And I always come out with something that I had no intention of buying but I will use anyway.

Also if they pull out it's more jobs lost which I would hate to see.

 

Funny, that I would never consider them for parts be that for engine or items like oil unless it was on special. I have bought bulbs and small items if stuck.

I tend to do what Paul (plane) does, just drop in look at the specials, tools, polishes/waxes and maybe to see what sat nav or electronics they may have. Handy for kids bikes and accessories too. Likewise as Paul said, people are buying stuff and I'm sure mark ups are substancial. If they weren't around though I would miss them too as on the other side of scale you can't really browse most motor factors and kill some time and motor factors tend to be in places slightly off the beaten track.

 

I thought this would be about the email from the alloy wheel supplier that was sent out. Motorsport Wheels (Fox and RS branded) no longer stocked or sold there, seemingly pulled out by the supplier to better supply "independant stores".

 

They are handy if you live near one as they are open all weekend!! Always go for a browse on a Sunday if i need something to clean the car!!! Thats about it though...

 

As an aside, does anyone know if there's a branch in either Limerick or Cork? I'm travelling from Galway to Cork next weekend, and might drop into one of these places for some bits and bobs... Galway is hopeless for this type of thing.

 

QUOTE (JoeGTI5 @ Apr 16 2009, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>As an aside, does anyone know if there's a branch in either Limerick or Cork? I'm travelling from Galway to Cork next weekend, and might drop into one of these places for some bits and bobs... Galway is hopeless for this type of thing.

Ballysimon Road, Limerick i.e follow the signs for Waterford/Tipperary should get you there from town.

 

QUOTE (KEV GTI TDI 150 @ Apr 16 2009, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Ballysimon Road, Limerick i.e follow the signs for Waterford/Tipperary should get you there from town.

Thats the one I usually go to; it doesnt have as much stock as say the Cork branch, and I have noticed some price differences between the branches...
...its hard to know if they make any money; presumably they make a lot of money from the 'car ignorant' mondeo driver who pops in for matts and an airfreshener... I'd say some of their ';offers' would be 'loss leaders' to get you in the store and they make their few quid off you on oil/batteries/tat etc; like others on here I wander about picking up small things that I never went in for, and havent left the place yet without spending E50+, so I sometimes 'bar myself' from going near the place at all....

 

They must have a huge profit margin on most items, I get 20% with my job and thats on top of special offer prices (well unless the teenager who served me last time I went in didnt realise and gave it anyhow)