Halfords - Opinions From Affiliates

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 02-10-08

Are there any opinions from other affiliates on the conversion rate for Halfords, I tend to send them a lot of bike related traffic. From our experience it's been amongst an all time bottom 10 program historically for conversions. I just wondered how others expriences compared and whether tracking on deeplinking on their side is reliable or not.

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 08-10-08

Oh well to answer my own thread, there was a trumpet & fanfare email about the site redesign for Halfords. Except that product & shopwindow related links don t work, they go to "Generic Application Error" _ERR_BAD_STORE_STATE. Several sites have been checked. Isn't it amazing the last thing some merchants consider is whether affiliate links work.

**renegade** · 08-10-08

Missed your original post, here's my Halfords stats:
Imp. Clicks EPC Conv Rate
3145 1413 £0.16 1.70%

It's the lowest of the bike related merchants I checked stats for - but the traffic I sent them wasn't solely bike related so it's not a direct comparison.
One thing is for sure it hasn't been exciting so hopefully the new site will improve those stats once they have the bugs irons out.

**DannyW** · 09-10-08

Clicks 828 Sales 36 Conversion 4.35%

They seem pretty much OK to me Qui Gon Jinn, they're not amongst the highest converting merchants of mine but I'd happily say I'd rather be with the Halfords programme than not.

Are your conversions low (going by your post)?

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 09-10-08

Thanks guys. With the figures you both have I would have been satisfied.

Ours has practically been all bike related via traffic through shopwindow, so it's been specific searches. For us it has been 15494 clicks & 18 sales with an EPC of 1 pence so approximate a 0.1% conversion. Most of which via shopwindow deeplinks.

Please note links still not working.

**DannyW** · 09-10-08

I've just noticed that. I know there was a message a site redesign which said this "If you link to specific areas of the site or use graphics then these links will need to be updated. We will be putting URL redirects in place for product areas so hopefully there won't be too much for you to do."

I'd forgot to change my links - none working... Better change them over. Doh!

I'm having terrible problems with their links at the moment! Slow ....

I've checked a handful of banners which are all going 404

And the dedicated Sat Nav discount code page at Halfords? Where's that gone?

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 10-10-08

Please can you take Halfords out of the Shopwindow feed until links are working. And where is the agency for comment?

**Juliab** · 13-10-08

Hi,
Thanks for all your comments regarding the issues with the new site, we have been working on resolving these since the site went live on Thursday last week.

I can now confirm that the product feed is now working and the voucher code page is also up and running with our latest offers - you can find these in the discount vouchers section.

We apologise for any inconvienience caused during this period and genuinely hope that you find the new site much more effective.
We shall be in touch shortly with our Xmas offers and promotions

Many Thanks
Julia

**Grizzly** · 17-02-09

My main gripe with halfords is collect at store comission being 0%! I'm quite shocked to have read this when I signed up a few month ago, and it definitely did not motivate me to promote them.

I personally would always collect at store, and I have asked around 20 other people who have all but a couple said the same.

I advised someone to spend nearly £600 at Halfords via my website a few weeks ago, which they did, but they collected at store and I received not a penny!

Im currently developing a new site, and I'm contemplating not promoting halfords on there at all for this reason even though the product area is a big halfords seller.

Comet offer an increase in % for collect at store. Surely its less hassle for the retailer for someone to come and collect rather than dealing with shipping.

I own a retail company myself and we love customers collecting, saves us having to arse about with couriers, shipping problems, damaged items, lost deliveries etc, not to mention it saves us money!

I think the Halfords programme would do a lot better if they offered at least some commission for collect at store! As it stands, for me personaly its not worth the risk when the next retailer will give me 7% + for a sale!

**edchambers** · 17-02-09

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your feedback on this. Halfords are in the process of developing a facility to reward affiliates for Collect at Store which will be introduced onto the programme.

This, combined with Halfords' excellent creatives and competitive pricing on popular products such as SatNav, is going to be a real help for affiliates. You may also find it helpful to use Halfords' branded widgets to promote the products that work best for you.

Please let me know if you need any help at all with your Halfords promotions.