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TECH NEWS

Halfords sells bike lights at VAT-free prices

Retailer cuts prices of lights for the remainder of winter

Halfords is selling bike lights at VAT-free prices for the remainder of winter. In fact, all prices are reduced by at least 20%, making them lower than they would be with just the VAT removed, with plenty of larger reductions in the range.

As well as an opportunity to sell more lights, Halfords says that it sees this new initiative as a way of encouraging more people to enjoy cycling and be safe on the roads. This follows Halfords’ pledged last autumn to sell high-visibility wear at VAT-free prices.

Lezyne’s LED Macro Drive Front and Micro Drive Rear bike light pair (main pic) is reduced in price from £89.99 to £64.79, for instance, while a Cateye EL130 and LD130 light set (below) is down from £29.99 to £21.59.

YouGov research commissioned by Halfords shows over half (53%) of UK cyclists often or always take safety precautions, with 15% answering ‘sometimes’, and 16% never taking precautions when they cycle. Halfords see this as highlighting a need to encourage safer cycling across the country.

“We want more people to feel confident cycling on the roads – whatever the time of year and whatever the weather,” said Emma Fox, commercial director for Halfords.

“We started with issuing VAT-free prices on high-vis wear and are now proud to offer bike lights at VAT-free prices for the rest of winter, helping to make it more affordable to be safe and seen.”

The offer runs until 10 March. For more info go to the lights and reflectors section of Halfords’ website.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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14 comments

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Simmo72 | 9 years ago
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Of the 3 lights I wanted to order under this offer, none were available for postal delivery and the useful collection service was only available if I drove 50 miles to a location that had one in stock.....so yes, I did order mine elsewhere online.

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SB76 | 9 years ago
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 19  19  19 HANDBAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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parksey | 9 years ago
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Yeah, big fan of the reserve and collect facility at Halfords myself. Their online range is huge and well-priced and, with their frequent flash sales, they're just as cheap as the "big" online retailers. I then just collect (and pay) the next day on my way home, rather than the ususal story with any of the online places of missing the courier and then having to wait in for a redelivery or drive miles to go and collect the parcel instead.

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Das | 9 years ago
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 37 Some people just want to complain........ If you even bothered to look you can often get huge discounts by just reserving on their website and collecting instore. Also if your a British Cycling member you'll get another 10% off too.

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horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
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I'm pleased road.cc promoted this. I'm also pleased when they let us know that ALDI and LIDL cycling gear is coming round. I see this as useful information for cyclists not just an advertisement. Most cyclists like a bargain, it goes with the territory.

But also thanks for the heads up that chainreaction and wiggle are also selling them at low prices.

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skull-collector... | 9 years ago
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Did Halfords pay for this native advertising?

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Simmo72 | 9 years ago
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Road CC should also do an article called "Wiggle, Chain Reaction and others are already selling lights cheaper than Halfords 20% discounted rate".

That is the verdict of my analysis on 3 lights that I have just looked at.

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ficklewhippet replied to Simmo72 | 9 years ago
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Simmo72 wrote:

Road CC should also do an article called "Wiggle, Chain Reaction and others are already selling lights cheaper than Halfords 20% discounted rate".

That is the verdict of my analysis on 3 lights that I have just looked at.

Perhaps it's for people that don't want to wait for delivery and are happy to pay a small (10% or so) premium for them?

i.e. like pretty much every high street store vs mail order giant model?

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828321 | 9 years ago
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Safety equipment such as helmets are already VAT exempt. Surely lights should be classified as such too... and also anything hi-vis.

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AWP | 9 years ago
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If you're fortunate enough to be able to make use of a cycle-to-work scheme at work, you can use it to buy safety equipment which includes lights. You'll save a lot of money and pay over a year.

Unfortunately Halfords have there own scheme but lights are available from other sources that use alternative schemes.

Just for info, accessories and safety equipment include:

Cycle helmets
Bells
Lights, including dynamo packs
Mirrors and mudguards
Cycle clips and dress guards
Panniers, luggage carriers and straps to allow luggage to be safely carried
Child safety seats
Locks and chains to ensure cycle can be safely secured
Pumps, puncture repair kits, cycle tool kits and tyre sealant to allow for minor repairs
Reflective clothing along with white front reflectors and spoke reflectors

Bicycle components such as Frames, etc cannot be classed as safety equipment.

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jollygoodvelo | 9 years ago
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Interesting point raised in jest however. How come lights and other equipment that is >specifically< for safety is not VAT exempt? (I wouldn't include expensive clothing etc that happens to have a reflective logo in this).

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bdsl | 9 years ago
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This is even better than vat free. The opposite of adding 20% isn't taking away 20%, it's taking away 16⅔%.

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balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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This is an advert, not news. It would only be news if the government made lights VAT exempt

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Welsh boy replied to balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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balmybaldwin wrote:

This is an advert, not news. It would only be news if the government made lights VAT exempt

No, it is news. I didnt know about this before reading the article, now i do know something new therefore it is news.

If you feel a little bit that Halfords is below you then grow up, you will get over it and no one is going to make you go in there.

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