[theminiv]

Hi, i recommended halfords for fitting new mobile handsfree kits. I was told bad stories about them. I diddnt believe it.

I ordered a mobile phone kit for my car, they insisted that they fitted it.

This is what happened.

I turned up at the arranged time 9 30, when i got there they said that the technician did not turn up. So i would have to return at 2pm,

At 2 i turned up, they said it would be an hour in the workshop. During this time they took my mobile phone, so they could not contact me.

An hour went by, the man said, i have some good news and some bad news.

The bad news was that the thing would not fit.

The good news was that i could get my money back. I should think so.

But when i got into my car they had scuffed, the plastic around the gaiter of the gear stick.

But to be fair they said to get a quote and they will replace it for me.

Thinking it is going to be an expensive bit of kit???, it is only a fiver. So i wont bother!!!!

Well it HAD to happen eventually - you have posted something that I agree with!!!!

Which piece of plastic did they damage? Was it one of the silver legs down the side of the stereo/centre concols? I only ask because I have a scratch on one of mine and if it is only a fiver I'll get a new one oerdered.

J.


Edited: Becasse I missed out smiley faces

Quote: Originally Posted by marriedblonde

Well it HAD to happen eventually - you have posted something that I agree with!!!!

Which piece of plastic did they damage? Was it one of the silver legs down the side of the stereo/centre concols? I only ask because I have a scratch on one of mine and if it is only a fiver I'll get a new one oerdered.

J.


Edited: Because I missed out smiley faces

Edited the second time because my spelling was aweful

[Grings]

aweful - hahahahahahahahahaha

was that a freudian slip J????

[Speedd]

What’s wrong with them ?? surely they all can't be bad? I rang for them to put Neon’s on and they Declined so the good fellows from here gave me some tips .

My mates mate whose mates mate had their Nova SRi fitted with full Nokia kit and previously had a full Sony ICE System fitted and he raves about Halfords.

It just happens that you get some engineer who hasn't worked on the particular Range/Model of car. But now they have experimented on yours Miniv i am sure they will be ok with the next.??

Thanks for the info and what branch did you use?..

Can you not try and install your self? Those boys in the ICE forum really know what they are talking about it seems….

Let us know how you get on

[brett]

What do you mean it wouldn't fit? I have fitted my nokia car kit which has 3 parts to it. I have fitted it using a interface from Mikethemini's company so when the phone rings it automaticly mutes the radio, automaticly answers, speaker is through the factory stereo speakers and automaticly hangs up and turns the radio back up the photo (wires) is the only cable you see in the entire car kit install. and driver can't see it and the passenger has to look down to see it.

[Speedd]

Nice install Brett

[brett]

Thanks This weekend I'm going to work out a way to hid the cables to make it a bit neater, but I'm still happy with how it worked out

[dietcokeplease]

Oh dear miniv.

Halfords is OK for buying polishes and stuff and servicing basic cars etc but that's about it.

I think from other threads other M2ers have low opinions of Halfords.

[richhamer]

Quote: Originally Posted by marriedblonde

Well it HAD to happen eventually - you have posted something that I agree with!!!!

Which piece of plastic did they damage? Was it one of the silver legs down the side of the stereo/centre concols? I only ask because I have a scratch on one of mine and if it is only a fiver I'll get a new one oerdered.

J.


Edited: Becasse I missed out smiley faces

They are about £20. I've changed one of mine due to a scratch.

Cheers RichHammer, I can live with that

[SioCommunications]

Hi Brett, seen your install, strange place to put the mic, I usually locate them up by the interior light pod and use a tax disc antenna for neatness. The Autolead for going through the stereo is the best option as you have used.

I Dont like the Smartclip mounting bracket much, I usually use a Dashmount bracket or leather pod for my installs and the cable can be hidden even more if you are careful, and route it behind the left hand silver trim, i notice some cables on yours when it goes behind the glovebox, these should not be visable. Not a bad job though for a DIY apart from the mic posistion.

If I can figure out how to post pics on this I will do some of the brackets I use, i thought I had a picture of the mic location but I haven't sorry..

Interested to hear the price of those trims as they are very easily marked when removing them to get the stereo out, i don't think the silver paint is very durable on the two console trims or the mirroe sswitch either as it seems to wear off in use.

Regards

Terry

[brett]

Beleive it or not the microhone works extreamly well were it is positioned.
1) I fitted it there because it is out of the way and nearly hidden( last thing I want is a black thing on my white roof lining
2) my phone is a CDMA which suppresses all the background noise ie road noise. It would be useless on a GSM Phone.

Cheers
Brett

[punkeyfunky]

Quote: Originally Posted by dietcokeplease

Oh dear miniv.

Halfords is OK for buying polishes and stuff and servicing basic cars etc but that's about it.

I think from other threads other M2ers have low opinions of Halfords.

Thing to remember is that the new "we'll fit ot service" was introduced without staff that are 'used' to it. As far as I can tell, these guys are regular joes that can do basic work. That means that the level of service/professionality (is that a word?) you get depends on the person at your local branch.

If you want the 'proper' install service, you can get it from numerous auto-electricians but obviously, you'll pay for it... (1)

Lee

(1) And even then it might not be good. I had a car kit installed when I worked for 3com. I had a brand new (two week old) Honda, and the guy doing the fitting scratched trim. I wasn't happy...

[SioCommunications]

Quote: Originally Posted by punkeyfunky

And even then it might not be good. I had a car kit installed when I worked for 3com. I had a brand new (two week old) Honda, and the guy doing the fitting scratched trim. I wasn't happy...

Every man to his own trade i say, My experience was 17 years as a vehicle technician before switching to the cellular side which i have been successfully been running for 3 and a half years.

The transistion was easy for me as being a mechanic/technician , I was used to taking vehicle trims apart which is the bulk of cellular installs. Although I would say that I had been doing it for about a year before I was totally confident of what I was doing.

Auto electricians have the advantage of knowing vehicle wiring inside out but perhaps are not so adept at removing trims (this obviously does not apply to them all but is a generalisation)

People like myself who have been professionally fitting kits for a few years will make a better job than a mechanic or an electrician as we know all the little tricks for hiding cables etc as we do it all the time but they should be able to do a decent job if they take their time.

Had I been working on your Honda and accidentally Scratched your trim (happens sometimes but I have never personally damaged a customers car) Then I cover £1 million pounds worth of Public liability insurance which covers me working on the cars as well. I would either make a claim through my insurance if it was a costly repair or offer to purcahse and replace the damaged trim free of charge. It's all about customer service.

I dont think that the £45.00 I charge for an installation is expensive but it is worthwhile getting someone else to do it for you so you have a guarantee and comeback should anything go wrong. If you do the job yourself and scratch a trim you have no one to balame but yourself but if you paid someone to do it for you and they damaged your car they are liable to get it fixed for you free of charge.

Regards

Terry

[punkeyfunky]

Quote: Originally Posted by SioCommunications

Had I been working on your Honda and accidentally Scratched your trim (happens sometimes but I have never personally damaged a customers car) Then I cover £1 million pounds worth of Public liability insurance which covers me working on the cars as well. I would either make a claim through my insurance if it was a costly repair or offer to purcahse and replace the damaged trim free of charge. It's all about customer service.

I dont think that the £45.00 I charge for an installation is expensive but it is worthwhile getting someone else to do it for you so you have a guarantee and comeback should anything go wrong. If you do the job yourself and scratch a trim you have no one to balame but yourself but if you paid someone to do it for you and they damaged your car they are liable to get it fixed for you free of charge.

Regards

Terry

Hey Terry - I didn't make it very clear in my previous post, so I'll clarify now. When referring to professional fitters I was trying to say that if you want a good job, pay a fitter as it's usually worth it. Occasionally a pro fitter will get something wrong, but as you state, he/she will make things good (replace/repair/whatever).
The person that let me down didn't repair the damage, but then, the work from 3com dried up...


Believe it or not, I was trying to say 'pay the money, and get a good job done'

Lee

[SioCommunications]

Hi Lee,

That's a shame he didn't fix the scratch, very unprofessional.

A case of once bitten twice shy.

It is people like that that give us a bad name.

Regards

Terry