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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
BobbieDog · 19/11/2016 21:39

I dont think the advert implies its for free. Nothings free and if car maintainence labour was free then all their time would be taken up doing that.

I wouldnt trust halfords to touch my car anyway

Original poster
bojo7 · 19/11/2016 21:41

Well maybe IABU (sulks).
And Gilly, you have shamed me as it was actually EXH who took car to Halfords for me and he is going to fit the bulbs in daylight tomorrow. But I am going to watch and do it myself next time.

OP posts:
Meadows76 · 19/11/2016 21:42

Halfords have charged for their fitting service for YEARS

Rosieposy4 · 19/11/2016 21:45

YABU
Have used them several times over the years, changing the headlamp bulb on most cars is a complete pain in the arse and well worth the fiver or so they charge. All the radio ads include a cost from.

engineersthumb · 19/11/2016 21:49

I just don't think I could trust a teenager in halfords to fit anything on my vehicle... and I drive old wrecks!
Agree many cars have awkward to access bulbs though.

gillybeanz · 19/11/2016 21:49

bojo

Very glad to hear it.
I don't drive myself, but also admit to watching various men do jobs so I can learn.
There's no shame in that, the shame is standing there not learning and always looking for a man to do the job Grin
I've watched plasterers, landscape gardeners, decorators, builders and of course plumbers.
I can't do it all, but have helped over the years.
Good luck to you. Maybe you'll get really good and then you can charge your mates £8 Thanks

EweAreHere · 19/11/2016 21:50

My car is a total faff to get bulbs in/out of. Small price to pay, really.

Sparlklesilverglitter · 19/11/2016 21:51

well i wouldn't expect them to do it for free

Changing bulbs is sooooo easy, anyone can do it so no need to pay

Same goes for window wiper blades when they offer to fit them for £ and I just think to myself seriously? It's the worlds easiest job

MsJudgemental · 19/11/2016 21:51

I thought it was free, but they don't actually say that when you come to think of it. Changing headlight bulbs is nigh-on impossible for the average person with modern cars, so I suppose they must charge for the labour. When I last had one done they had to take the battery out first :-(.

supersop60 · 19/11/2016 21:51

I have a small car and fitting a new bulb is extremely fiddly. I was more than happy to pay for Halfords to fit it, rather than ask my DP, and suffer the ensuing swearing / bleeding fingers etc.
In a previous car I could do it easily myself. I'm delighted they offer this service.

BolivarAtasco · 19/11/2016 21:54

FFS, how is it a deception? Do you expect a company to provide work for nothing?

Are people really this thick and entitled?

abigamarone · 19/11/2016 21:56

Changing car bulbs is not necessarily easy.
I'll have a go at most things but after previous attempts I'll happily pay to have headlight bulbs fitted

MsJudgemental · 19/11/2016 21:56

Just to clarify, not being a girly snowflake. I used to be able to change the bulbs on my old Golf no problem and with my old Saab I used to change the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder myself and bang out any dents in the bodywork and bumpers. Modern cars are designed to be a PITA so you HAVE to pay someone to change the bulbs.

Theoretician · 19/11/2016 21:59

Changing bulbs is sooooo easy, anyone can do it so no need to pay

This is highly variable from one car to another. On my last car, changing a bulb meant I had to point the wheels to one side, kneel in the mud next to the wheel, open a flap in the front wheel arch, insert arm some distance past dirty/oily engine interior, then by feel (as can't see my hand) remove cap and twist out bulb, before inserting new one.

I think I have heard of cars where the whole light assembly needs to be removed to change the bulb.

Theoretician · 19/11/2016 22:01

I agree that "Buy a new bulb and we'll fit it on the spot" does imply that they will fit it if you buy it.

Northernlurker · 19/11/2016 22:02

I haven't needed to change anything on my new car but on the old one the rear lights were easy and the headlights a nightmare. Dh always dit it himself but when he was away once a bulb went and I joyfully paid Halfords, poor lad struggled just as much as dh did.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 19/11/2016 22:02

it took two mechanics about 20 minutes to change the bulb on my car the other day...up on the lifty thing and all sorts of palaver with pointy pliers

so i am with theoretician here.

EatTheCake · 19/11/2016 22:04

They are a business so it wouldn't be free would it.

Changing a bulb is very easy, even on mine and dh modern cars it's a 15 minute job for me less for DH.
Even DD (16) can change a bulb/wheel and window wiper

Meadows76 · 19/11/2016 22:06

I agree that "Buy a new bulb and we'll fit it on the spot" does imply that they will fit it if you buy it.. Well that's true, if you buy it they WILL fit it. It doesn't say for free. I have yet to come across any type of labour work that comes for free Confused

Imisscheese · 19/11/2016 22:06

I bought a bulb from Halfords when I was younger and rather than charge for fitting it he taught me how to and didn't charge me as I was doing it myself. Great service. X

Pinkheart5915 · 19/11/2016 22:07

It wouldn't be free they are a business out to make money.

I can change the bulb on any of our cars (all of which are very modern) in 15 minutes at the very most, I'm not paying someone to do that. Super easy

BolivarAtasco · 19/11/2016 22:10

I'm sorry, but if you believe that the words 'Buy a new bulb and we'll fit it on the spot' imply that it's free, then you are an idiot.

It does nothing of the sort.

It says that if you buy a new bulb, they will fit it. Nothing else. I am actually embarrassed for people pitching up there bleating that it should be free when there is literally nothing to suggest a company will do a piece of work for free to anyone who turns up.

SmokingGun · 19/11/2016 22:19

Last time I tried to get a bulb changed at Halfords it took 2 1/2hrs before I quite insistently had to say enough is enough. In that time they had fucked up aloas of wiring which cost a lovely £120 to fix 😡 - will not make that mistake again!

Original poster
bojo7 · 19/11/2016 22:22

Thank you for the flowers Gilly!
And thank you for your opinions, 2kids and Theoretician (I knew I was right).

OP posts:
user1471439240 · 19/11/2016 22:25

Some cars require the bumper taken off and things removed, this csn take hours.
Some cars take one minute.
I hazard a guess that they average the cost over every fitment.
Moral of the story - if your car is simple then learn youself and save £8 - if your car is difficult then pay £8 to save £60 labour.