Halfords - Why Do You Do It?

I go to Halfords every so often. I like to see what is new in, talk to staff who are knowledgeable about cars and see the stupid motors that people have parked outside. But, referring to the eponymous question, why do you do it? Do what I hear you shout from the back! Very simple, have the most annoying, self serving, unhelpful till staff I have come across?

Most of the people working in the Halfords branch I visit are guys. That is not a sexist statement, it's simply fact. Every time I have walked to the till however, I've seen the face of a rather pretty girl. A girl though who has seemingly no idea of customer service. I've originally started this blog with the intention of covering marketing and cars... so let me have more of that here.

Good marketing is a combination of things, but it can be described as thus:

"it consists of the social and managerial processes by which products (goods or services) and value are exchanged in order to fulfill the needs and wants of individuals or groups"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing)

Now bear that in mind. Processes by which goods are valued. I'm quite interested in this process, and I'll soon have chartered status I hope. That's by the by. What is very relevant however is the fact that if at any stage in this two way process of valuation of goods, you're going to automatically devalue your own product if you do not serve me well.

Every other part in the process of marketing was quite well done. From the reasonably well put together website (you don't get a free link because of the service) to the other staff - it was all great. So why did you cock it up at the end of the process? I would quite happily make an official complaint, but much like most consumers I am not willing to put in the effort for the negligible return. So what I'll do instead is go to a specialist or shop using your online store.

Maybe I'll make a complaint in the future if I have to go back. In the meantime, get it sorted out. Consumers will react very quickly to bad service, which in turn tells us something indirectly about the company, if not the product. So Halfords, please get it right next time. Once a mistake can happen, twice - everyone has an off day. Three times though? Well I start shouting about it elsewhere...