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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Halfords charging to fit a bulb?

62 replies

bojo7 · 19/11/2016 21:14

Quite thrilled to have an AIBU although it's not very exciting...
My car needed two new bulbs so today I drove 10 miles to the nearest Halford's store, which is a big one. I could have bought these bulbs locally but remembered the Halford's advert which said that they would fit the bulbs for free. However, at the store they wanted £8 to fit the bulbs. I just watched the advert again and the exact words were "Buy a new bulb and we'll fit it on the spot". Definitely no mention of a charge. Quite annoyed at the deception. AIBU?

OP posts:
CloudPerson · 19/11/2016 21:15

It doesn't say it's free though.

2kids2dogsnosense · 19/11/2016 21:15

No YANBU.

It's a bulb for heaven's sake, not a complete re-bore. They should do it for nothing as a courtesy.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 19/11/2016 21:16

Halfords fitted for free, for me, last week.

ilovesooty · 19/11/2016 21:16

The advert says they'll fit it immediately not without charge.

StealthPolarBear · 19/11/2016 21:16

I hAve done the same as you before but we are wrong, no mention of it being free.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 19/11/2016 21:16

Although what you've said doesn't say they fit it for free?

Glastonbury · 19/11/2016 21:17

www.halfords.com/advice/motoring/service/halfords-car-bulb-fitting-service not free according to this.

CocktailQueen · 19/11/2016 21:18

Says here www.halfords.com/advice/motoring/service/halfords-car-bulb-fitting-service what the charges are... Though I've used them to change bulbs before and I don't remember paying, though dh says I did!

dementedpixie · 19/11/2016 21:18

www.halfords.com/advice/motoring/service/halfords-car-bulb-fitting-service - gives the charges here

GoofyTheHero · 19/11/2016 21:18

But the advert doesn't say they'll fit it for free? Just that they'll fit it on the spot.

OverScentedFanjo · 19/11/2016 21:21

I thought it was for free, that's clever marketing. I had a battery fitted last week. Didn't ask, but at the time assumed it was a free fitting.

PopGoesTheWeaz · 19/11/2016 21:21

Sorry, YABU. It's a service, they charge for it. They say upfront they do. I don't think it's deception to say they offer the service but not that theres a charge for it. Most adverts a charge is implied.

topcat2014 · 19/11/2016 21:22

Asked for a headlight to be fitted once. They fucked up the fuses - (god knows why) - then I needed to call out my AA recovery to fix it. Took the AA about 10 seconds to do.

The thing is - I only nipped out of work briefly, and ended up being away for three hours!!

Never again.

harderandharder2breathe · 19/11/2016 21:23

The ad doesn't say for free. If it was free, they would be highlighting that. It's an extra service they offer and charge for.

Yabu, either pay for the service or do it yourself for free

topcat2014 · 19/11/2016 21:23

Prior to that, a few quid to make sure I got the right bulb etc and it fitted was a bargain.

Blu · 19/11/2016 21:23

"It's a bulb for heaven's sake, not a complete re-bore. They should do it for nothing as a courtesy."

I shall be putting this powerful argument to Sainsbury's when I go shopping tomorrow. The least they can do is cook my food, as a courtesy.

bojo7 · 19/11/2016 21:25

Well it does say "Buy a new bulb and we'll fit it on the spot". You could argue that I did my bit - "buy the bulb", and they failed to carry out their promise. I would say that is a reasonable interpretation.
"You do X and we'll do Y" seems like a contract. They should make clear that extra payment is associated with this.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 19/11/2016 21:27

I still think you're unreasonable. Fitting at the time does not imply free.

gillybeanz · 19/11/2016 21:28

It's free if you fit them yourself, my dh does his own at Halfords.
They don't say they fit them free, so of course YABU.
Do them yourself if you don't want to pay, you don't need a penis.

2kids2dogsnosense · 19/11/2016 21:30

I shall be putting this powerful argument to Sainsbury's when I go shopping tomorrow. The least they can do is cook my food, as a courtesy.

If it's a pot noodle they'll probably oblige Grin

MumOnTheRunCatchingUp · 19/11/2016 21:30

Jeez really?? You expect it for free?

Someone has to come off the shop floor presumably? Why shouldn't they be paid for doing it? I'm guessing they are trained and have taken time to learn about different bulbs/lights/ vehicles

WilburWeathervane · 19/11/2016 21:31

Paid £4 to have windscreen wipers fitted at Halfords today. Bargain, especially as it was pouring down with rain at the time.

ChippyMinton · 19/11/2016 21:34

YABU, it doesn't imply it's free.
I can change bulbs myself on one car but not the other. A fiver is a small price to pay to pop into M&S food hall have Halfords fix the headlamp in the rain, cold and dark.

MimiSunshine · 19/11/2016 21:39

WTF?! It's not 'clever marketing' it's just an ad which promotes a service. No mention of for free nor does it imply that it is.

You don't also think Green Giant sweet corn will turn you into an actual giant do you? 😳

wigglesrock · 19/11/2016 21:39

Yup YABU - its a service, I've never got confused over the fact that you need to pay. We buy and fit the bulbs for my car ourselves but for my husbands I pay Halfords because his is a nightmare to do.