Halfords cycle to work scheme, wifes got the opertunity to get into it, thing is she quit fancied a specialised hardrock or something similar. reaquainting with bikes after a very long time ! Not on halfords website as an available brand, but her employer got halfords guy in and he said they can supply any brand . Is this true ? does anybody know if this is a genuine attempt at helping or just flannel to get your pounds ?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
cycle to work ?
(15 posts)- Started 13 years ago by splitshift
- Latest reply from Smudge
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Posted 13 years ago #
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"Is this true"
Certainly used to be the case.
If C2W customer wanted (for instance) a Brompton - which are only sold in a small number of shops - Halfords would 'buy retail'.
Clearly H expect most people to be happy with normal stock (inc. Boardman).
Posted 13 years ago # -
Thank you, might mean a quick visit to them this weekend then.Wish that smaller retailers were on the scheme ! just to keep it all local.
Off to callander on sunday, going to ride up the old railway to killin. Done it years ago, when the surface was just old railway ballast ! it was like riding through glue !Posted 13 years ago # -
^ What chdot says. They used to be able (at least they were 3 years ago when I last used the scheme) to order pretty much anything out of trade catalogues that the manufacturers would let them.
Hidden away at the bottom of the halfords' cycle to work scheme are the "other" brands they offer (i.e. not the ones they have exclusive distribution "rights" on). There's a couple in there that you'd be hard pushed to order under the voucher value though.
Anyway, why not give it a go. Nothing to lose - although get a quote first, if the can't supply at trade price you may be able to get a 2010 model cheaper in the sales!
Off to callander on sunday, going to ride up the old railway to killin.
Sounds great, a beautiful setting and one on my "to do" list for the Spring. Pack your snow tyres though - if CEC can't get a mini-plow down the innocent 4 weeks after the last snow fell I wouldn't hold out for the old Callander & Oban route having been cleared.
Posted 13 years ago # -
It's really worth reading the small print of your wife's C2W scheme carefully. The general C2W scheme Halfords offer does cover this, and bizarrely places like Alpine Bikes will accept a Halfords C2W voucher if you want to buy a Trek bike, for example. However, some employers (for example mine, a used-to-be large Scottish Bank) have a special deal with Halfords which restricts you to only the bikes you can order 'in store'. This gives you a much more limited range that includes things like Raleigh and (I think) Giant, but not the extensive list above, and Alpine Bikes won't accept this kind of voucher if you wanted a Trek bike.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The special RBS deal has now ended and smaller shops - like The Bike Chain and Alpine - can now accept their vouchers again. They were the only employer in this situation anyway.
Be a bit careful with buying Specialized (and a few others) through Halfords as there an issue with warranties. As Halfords buy them "retail", they are effectively the original purchaser and you may find that Specialized will not play ball in the event of any problems.
Have a VERY, VERY good read of all the T&Cs as the new clarification on end-of-agreement costs is putting a lot of people off taking it up again. If you want to discuss this further, call TheBikeChain and ask for Mark or Colin.
Posted 13 years ago # -
SWMBO recently went through Cyclescheme despite the recent clarification. At the end of the day if all that was ever offered was an interest-free loan on a bike and equipment we'd all have been singing it to the high heavens. Not being able to get a new toy completely tax free is annoying but not the end of the world IMO.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@ Druidh
The final purchase price depends (partly) on who administers the scheme. My last employer administered the scheme themselves, i.e. my employer paid for the bike and I owed my employer at the end of the scheme. I left their employ in Sept 10 (paying the second 6 months 'post' tax) and having given them my new address I've yet to hear from them. I don't think they actually seek the final purchase price. Either that or I'm very luck and they have forgotten to get in touch to ask for the cash.
Posted 13 years ago # -
agree with all coments, have heard of complications via a similar scheme via my employer ! Will keep you posted, thanks again !
Posted 13 years ago # -
One of my colleagues was going to get a non-stocked bike from halfords. He was told they can supply it, but would not provide and form of warranty etc. Basically acting as a middle man brtween the purchaser and manufactuter. The bike would still be under warranty but you'd have to get it sent back to origonal manufacturer.
Posted 13 years ago # -
thamks again people, was in hlfords today and swmbo seemed rather taken by a pair of Carerra bikes,one was a vengence race, the other a vengance ultimate. Race was within our first estimated budget, no point in wasting money on an out and out downhiller if its just to ride the canal and local byways ! And to the station en rout to work !Any reviews of these bikes, especially the race, gratefully received. I know that female specific bikes are available but she just likes the "feel" !
in advance, thanks again !Posted 13 years ago # -
"Tax Simplification Office recommends Government retains Cycle to Work"
http://www.bikebiz.com//news/read/cycle-to-work-to-be-retained
Posted 13 years ago # -
My employer doesn't (and wont) do the cycle to work scheme, but will offer a "tax free loan" to buy... actually what that means is that they advance you the cash then you "only" pay the tax on each payment as you earn/pay it. (not at all clear in the blurb of course).
I decided I could get a much nicer bike, cheaper, by just upgrading/building one myself than buying off the shelf that way, and I'm not tied to the "no further bike until 5 years have passed" if I change my mind!Posted 13 years ago # -
Smudge - you can't buy the kind of quality fettling that your chosen course has brought you - tax or no tax! :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
lol, and I know it'll be better built than an off the shelf one and actually have the parts I want on it not what the marketing budget allowed/is trendy this season ;-)
Posted 13 years ago #
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