A gentle rant.

[JDog]

The title may be an oxymoron but never mind.

The target of my rant is Halfords. I have changed cars and I need my dash cam to be fitted in the new one. Halfords Evesham is the closest. Four times I have called the store, each time being redirected to South Africa. The Agent then has to call the store and never gets an answer so no progress is made.

Today I held on for as long as my mental health could hold out (fifteen minutes) only to be told that I had to visit the store personally to make an appointment for some time in the future.

I just don't get their system. Alternative fitters may also be available but maybe not so close and possibly more expensive.

[Eyefor]

Evesham Halfords online dash cam fit booking (£55) here

https://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cams/garmin-dash-cam-47-with-16gb-micro-sd-card-464030.html?_gl=1*11vfj4a*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU2Nzk2Mjk4Mi4xNzIwNzc2OTIw*_ga_EG1MQMYCLS*MTcyMDc3NjkyMC4xLjEuMTcyMDc3NzAxOS4wLjAuMA..*_ga_VK44BRER97*MTcyMDc3NjkyMC4xLjEuMTcyMDc3NzAxOS4wLjAuMA..

Book & turn up with your existing dash cam?

Other stores are available.

Good luck!

Edited July 12 by Eyefor

[Minky]

So why do you need Halfords to fit it.?  It isn't a very difficult to do, and all you've got to do is look at the existing setup.  Save £55 and go shooting.

[Miserableolgit]

2 minutes ago, Minky said:

So why do you need Halfords to fit it.?  It isn't a very difficult to do, and all you've got to do is look at the existing setup.  Save £55 and go shooting.

This.

Just stick it on the screen, route the cable and plug it in. If it's hardwired it's not that onerous.

[Minky]

The main thing is to find a permanent live so the camera is always powered up in standby mode so when another vehicle backs into yours the camera reacts and takes footage of the vehicle that bumped yours.  I have fitted two cameras.  one front and the other on the back.  To a degree the back one is more important because the front one will only show if an incident is your fault. and in the event of said incident plod will immediately take the chip and use it in evidence.!  I fitted them when a mate was driving along and someone going the other way dropped something in their car and wasn't looking where they were going and ploughed straight into the from of my mates car, writing it off and injuring him in the process.  Matey blamed my mate and made up a fairy story and then disappeared off to Spain to work out there.  It took a long time to get to the truth and resolve the issue.  you always loose out on any claim.

[marsh man]

Failing to fit it yourself , would it had been easier if you were going past , or very close to Halfords just to pop in and make an appointment when it suit you ? , save all that messing about being directed half way around the world 

[Flyboy1950]

I have recently read an article, (Motoring in the DM, l think) that insures are increasingly refusing motor policy claims where Dash Cams have been fitted as they consider this to be a modification. Windscreen cameras are okey. Do inform your insurer just in case.  You would have thought that common sense would prevail in the event of a no fault claim but as we know common sense is a thing of the past.

I had my insurer contact me after a claim as I had a tow bar fitted retrospectively. As it happened the other driver admitted liability and their insurer paid all the bills and compensation.

 

[Old Boggy]

As with all large companies that have several branches, their telephone booking/call system is often dealt with by a central office/call station, whether abroad (India) or whatever. There`s nothing worse than speaking to an automated answering service with several options and not necessarily the which you want and never getting through to a real person.

In contrast, I have found Halfords extremely helpful but have always visited the branch directly (fortunately only 6 miles away) and have never phoned, so I just cannot comment on JDog`s frustration in the matter, but he has my sympathy.

OB

[Rewulf]

Personally, I wouldnt have Halfords staff fitting anything to my cars, they are largely incompetent, improperly trained, and completely absolving of any wrong doing or damage on their part.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

32 minutes ago, Rewulf said:

Personally, I wouldnt have Halfords staff fitting anything to my cars, they are largely incompetent, improperly trained, and completely absolving of any wrong doing or damage on their part.

Absolutely, on a level with the bloody awful Kwikfit.

[mossy835]

i would never go to any of them.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

6 or 7 years ago, Halfords were the cheapest for new batteries.

My Citroen needed one so after checking prices within 15 miles, I went to Halfords.

I was quite happy to buy it and fit it, but one of the young male members of staff offered to do it for me.

He did and forgot to set the car up correctly before disconnection.

Result, one locked car!

It took 20 minutes to settle down and let me in.

The young chap looked mortified.

I hope he learned from the experience.....................

[ph5172]

You will probably fine that most modern cars will have a fuse slot specifically for a dash cam. You can buy a pre wired cable that clips in the fuse. Route that up the pillar and push it snug with a credit card and same along the roof lining. 
save yourself 40£ odd

[Minky]

12 hours ago, Flyboy1950 said:

I have recently read an article, (Motoring in the DM, l think) that insures are increasingly refusing motor policy claims where Dash Cams have been fitted as they consider this to be a modification. Windscreen cameras are okey. Do inform your insurer just in case.  You would have thought that common sense would prevail in the event of a no fault claim but as we know common sense is a thing of the past.

 

Now this is an angle that hadn't crossed my mind.  I am aware that in the event of any sort of accident that plod gets involved with, that they just remove the camera chip and tie a label on the camera that the chip has been taken for evidence .??  This is why I previously stated about either not having a front dash cam or removing it before someone else does.  My camera supports vehicle speed, acceleration , deceleration and yaw and side slip.  Now if some bright spark looks at. the data on your chip and you've been doing 31 mph in a 30 limit when the accident happened, you might find that you are charged with speeding when it had got nothing to do with a vehicle ramming you off the road from the side. everyone thinks that the dash cam is their friend but this may not always be the case. Insurance companies will use anything like unauthorised modification to avoid paying a claim.  Even though it has nothing to do with an accident.

[BobbyH]

I have fitted numerous dash cams, if you need a hand PM me!

[steve s×s]

On 12/07/2024 at 15:33, Rewulf said:

Personally, I wouldnt have Halfords staff fitting anything to my cars, they are largely incompetent, improperly trained, and completely absolving of any wrong doing or damage on their part.

The other thing is don't give your email, I did to apparently get a discount and for weeks I got allsorts of crape form god knows who 

[wymberley]

On 12/07/2024 at 15:33, Rewulf said:

Personally, I wouldnt have Halfords staff fitting anything to my cars, they are largely incompetent, improperly trained, and completely absolving of any wrong doing or damage on their part.

Simply to be fair, Exmouth branch did a competent job fitting a front and rear dash cam and similarly, Exeter did likewise with a reversing camera. 

[Dave at kelton]

I disagree with the critics of Halfords. I have had three fitted in my cars by them. All well done and efficient. The cost also includes the fitting kit so in my experience good value for money. I booked in store by the way!