Halfords won't sell car seat without child present

Scaredycat259 · 2023-08-11T17:05:00+00:00

My dad has been to look at a car seat for use in his car for my 1 year old. The guy in the shop said that he wouldn't be able to sell him one without seeing the child that will be using it. He also said that he needs see the car seat that I am currently using, which is brand new for birth to 12m Joie Everystage. I just don't understand why he needs to see the child and my carseat. Dozens of companies sell them online without any visual evidence of the child who will be using it.

Chowtime · 11/08/2023 18:06

Is your dad just purchasing the seat or is he asking them to fit it too?

Sirzy · 11/08/2023 18:08

I can understand why they want to check the seat is the right fit for the child at their current stage and that in the car it’s intended for they are sat correctly.

if you don’t want to do that then as you said you can order online

Original poster

Scaredycat259 · 11/08/2023 18:09

Chowtime · 11/08/2023 18:06

Is your dad just purchasing the seat or is he asking them to fit it too?

I'm not sure, I told him it needs to be rear facing until a certain age/weight etc.
I'll find out more on Sunday when I see him, I have to take him and baby to Halfords on Monday.

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Gnomegnomegnome · 11/08/2023 18:09

I purchased one online from Halfords for my dgc.

YourNameGoesHere · 11/08/2023 18:10

How odd we brought a new seat from Halfords last year after a small ding and DH just went to their store brought it and they fit it no issue at all.

GoodChat · 11/08/2023 18:11

Just order it online

DPotter · 11/08/2023 18:14

So how are you supposed to buy a seat for a newborn, who hasn't been born yet, but you will need a seat for, so you can take the newborn home from hospital ?

suitcasecoveredincathair · 11/08/2023 18:16

DPotter · 11/08/2023 18:14

So how are you supposed to buy a seat for a newborn, who hasn't been born yet, but you will need a seat for, so you can take the newborn home from hospital ?

Exactly, or for DGCs who are coming to visit from abroad/another county etc!

Original poster

Scaredycat259 · 11/08/2023 18:19

suitcasecoveredincathair · 11/08/2023 18:16

Exactly, or for DGCs who are coming to visit from abroad/another county etc!

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This is what in finding absolutely batshit about it all.
My dad can be a bit vague as my mum put it sometimes, and gets things wrong sometimes, but I'm wondering if it's how he's come across in store that's made them ask to see the child.

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CastleTower · 11/08/2023 18:20

I bought a car seat and had it fitted at Halfords. They filled in a form with the child's name and date of birth, and had me sign something to say I understood that the appropriateness of the seat was my responsibility. Maybe they asked about her height/weight? Can't remember. She was definitely not with me, though.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/08/2023 18:20

Since when? I once bought from Halfords an ‘emergency’ car seat for a Gdc, when dd was flying back earlier than planned with from a hol - to a different airport from the one where she’d left the car. Had to buy and fit the seat and meet her and Gdc all within a few hours.

Halfords' were v helpful.

AvengedQuince · 11/08/2023 18:21

I bought one to pick a child up from the airport (and to use going forward). Not sure how I would have produced the child?

YourNameGoesHere · 11/08/2023 18:23

Scaredycat259 · 11/08/2023 18:19

This is what in finding absolutely batshit about it all.
My dad can be a bit vague as my mum put it sometimes, and gets things wrong sometimes, but I'm wondering if it's how he's come across in store that's made them ask to see the child.

Show quote history

Unless he was very clueless at all e.g didn't know her age then I can't see how it would have made much difference.

Surely a rear facing seat for a 1 year old is plenty enough information to buy an appropriate seat.

mnahmnah · 11/08/2023 18:29

I wonder if he came across vague or uncertain and they suggested coming in with the child, rather than saying he ‘had’ to?

PurpleSteak · 11/08/2023 18:30

I suspect he's asked for advice that they can't give without seeing the baby

Pontiouspilate · 11/08/2023 18:31

Maybe they worried he was a paedo

DuploTrain · 11/08/2023 18:33

Maybe your dad just said he wants “a car seat” and didn’t specify what kind/ what group of car seat.

So the guy won’t be able to tell him what kind is suitable without knowing age/height/weight of the child. Guy might have been trying to be helpful by suggesting he could bring the child if your dad wasn’t able to give these details.

BungleandGeorge · 11/08/2023 18:33

Are you sure they didn’t say to your dad that they couldn’t recommend a car seat without the child being there, rather than he couldn’t purchase it. Did he ask for a specific seat?

HidingFromDD · 11/08/2023 18:36

If he’s anything like my dad was they’d have asked some basic age/height/weight questions and he wouldn’t have been able to answer. Hence the request to come in with the child

Lavender2021 · 11/08/2023 18:42

You can get better rear facing seat than buying from halfords but they are more specialist sellers and require more effort to buy. Axkid, besafe, Avionaut and britax all make seats that are better than the one's halfords sell.
Watch they fit the seat correctly as they are are experts at doing it wrong! Poorly trained normally and will say a 1 year old can forward face.

Original poster

Scaredycat259 · 11/08/2023 18:45

BungleandGeorge · 11/08/2023 18:33

Are you sure they didn’t say to your dad that they couldn’t recommend a car seat without the child being there, rather than he couldn’t purchase it. Did he ask for a specific seat?

He wants one that is easy to remove as it will not be used often, maybe every few weeks.
The joie one we have is not something I'd want to keep removing until its forward facing.

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Original poster

Scaredycat259 · 11/08/2023 18:46

Lavender2021 · 11/08/2023 18:42

You can get better rear facing seat than buying from halfords but they are more specialist sellers and require more effort to buy. Axkid, besafe, Avionaut and britax all make seats that are better than the one's halfords sell.
Watch they fit the seat correctly as they are are experts at doing it wrong! Poorly trained normally and will say a 1 year old can forward face.

My partner will more than likely fit it for him.

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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 11/08/2023 18:48

Maybe just call the store. Have a polite chat to check in with them about the conversation as he was buying it on your request and could you just clarify the details with them. Its possible he came across to them as not really knowing what he needed, or age or weight, so they've recommended he bring in the child.

I imagine had he just went to the shelf and picked up the box and took it to the checkout they would have sold it.

Darkmodal · 11/08/2023 18:54

I would call the store in question and ask.

BertieBotts · 12/08/2023 14:56

It's best practice to fit the car seat to the child, but this is pretty laughable given the absolute state of some of Halfords' info.

Go for a Graco Extend LX R129.