Tire shop hacks, gotta vent!

themightytimmah · 04-29-08, 04:29

Has anyone else had problems with mechanics/tire shops making totally unacceptable mistakes on their car?

I took mine in today to get 4 new tires and swap out the tie rods, and they lost two of my lug nut covers, lied about it, then the assistant manager told me "oh it's no big deal, they probably lost them or stepped on them". He then expected *me* to find replacements and send them the bill. They also used snap-on weights when I specifically requested tape weights (last time a shop used snap-ons, it took the clear off on those spots).

He claimed that the cleaner wasn't safe for my wheels so they couldn't use tape weights (funny, they left acid burns on a part of one rim too). They did a poor job of removing the last set of tape weights (funny that another shop got them to work just fine on my rims).

I'm going back tomorrow to give them another chance, but I'm pretty close to calling VISA and disputing the entire bill ($900+). Does anyone have any advice on what to do in this situation (short of what I want to do to the manager, which is a little outside the scope of this forum)?

Am I within my rights to demand that they refinish the wheels if the snap on weights damaged the clear? The wheels are in far from perfect shape, but this sort of thing is still totally unacceptable to me.

weekendwarrior · 04-29-08, 04:35

Well, seems to me if you don't specifically have a written estimate (from before the work started) specifying the tape weights, that will be a hard thing to dispute.

I feel your pain...when I was in high school I had a Mustang with a chrome set of wheels. The tire shop I went to beat the heck out of my chrome center caps when they installed my new tires, and used mismatched valve stems (chrome on some tires, black on others). The sad thing is that if you are anal about your car, it is frustrating anytime you go to a shop - simply because the average garage worker no longer gives a crap.

BigAl3 · 04-29-08, 04:40

my dad had a tire replaced a few months back and his hubcap on the one they took off, was scratched on the outside. not a big deal but still...

weekendwarrior · 04-29-08, 04:47

Man, the other thing that ticks me off, is I can't even get my oil changed anymore without that turning into an ordeal. The last 3 out of 4 visits to my Honda dealer has resulted in me having to take the car back.

2 trips ago, the automatic oil filler slipped out of the filler hole, and about 4 quarts of oil ran down my engine. Of course after the tech saw this, he just made sure to fill the engine with oil (thank God), but didn't bother to tell me what had happen, or to even clean it up. The next morning, I had over a quart of oil on my garage floor.

The last trip, they left the aluminum drain pan under the car (it is a magnetic channel that sticks to the egine block, snakes around the skid plate, and ends in a pan at the end to catch all the oil. Well, I get home, look under the car to make sure oil isn't pouring out like the last time, and I saw the pan still under there.

Sorry to thread jack, but I am just making the point that the quality of work you experienced seems to be the norm now days.

bumoftheday · 04-29-08, 04:50

Tire Kingdom broke my TPMS sensor last time I went. The light would come on as a malfunction after ~20 miles at speed. I went to the Mazda dealer to get an estimate to give to Tire Kingdom and they said nothing was wrong. I went back a couple months later with the same issue and they said I needed a new sensor and that the tire shop should pay for it. What would you say if a customer came back with a complaint saying you broke something months later? They eventually covered it under warranty.

JonP · 04-29-08, 04:51

Well as far as I know, if you made a payment to them then you accepted the work that was completed. I'm not sure how it works in your state, might check and see. Other than that, get with the district attorney office and BBB for help. But at least give the shop a chance to fix their mistakes then let them know of your actions if they refuse to. Some tire shop here tried to convince me to have my rear axle bearings replaced when all I asked for to to check the tire since it had a bubble in the sidewall. They squirted some brake fluid on that axle and showed me where it was "leaking". I laughed and told them no and never been back to that place again. If all else fails, call your credit card company and tell them about it and let them handle the issue.

jnmttu · 04-29-08, 07:13

You know, I have to generally agree with the quality of work declining these days. That is why I was so pleasantly surprised a few months back. I had a tire on my Accord replaced at Discount Tire. As I was leaving, apparently one of the center caps fell off. I knew this cap already had one broken clip and they must have just finished it off. When I saw it missing at the next stop I went back, and they told me they had already ordered the part after they saw it fall off and were going to call me about where to send it. I picked it up the next day and all was good again. All of this for an 18 year old Honda that most shops would likely just tell me it broke because it was old. A little good service goes a long way.

2000firebird · 04-30-08, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekendwarrior

Well, seems to me if you don't specifically have a written estimate (from before the work started) specifying the tape weights, that will be a hard thing to dispute.

I feel your pain...when I was in high school I had a Mustang with a chrome set of wheels. The tire shop I went to beat the heck out of my chrome center caps when they installed my new tires, and used mismatched valve stems (chrome on some tires, black on others). The sad thing is that if you are anal about your car, it is frustrating anytime you go to a shop - simply because the average garage worker no longer gives a crap.

my tire shop did that as well.. i liked the black ones better. i'll have to remember to request that this time.

i usually let the **** go if its something im able to fix myself.. because id rather just have the competent person do it (yourself)

Setec Astronomy · 04-30-08, 07:31

I deal with one place only, that used to cater specifically to high-end cars. They have kind of lost that niche, but the owner is a Porsche club member...they are not exactly Autopian in their wheel care, but the best I have found, I drive 45 minutes to get a flat fixed.

I realize this is not helping you with your current situation, but Tire Rack has a list of installers. I have perused it thinking about going somewhere closer. It might be worth studying that list, looking at the descriptions and services, and customer feedback. Not a guarantee, but it might result in you finding someplace a bit better next time.

The other thing of course, looking down the road, is with all the exotics there in FL, and plenty of members from that area, perhaps someone has a recommendation...I'm sure some of TH0001's customers would NOT put up with poor service.

Macruz19 · 04-30-08, 09:19

Had my new tires installed at a good year last year. They ended up scratching, and chipping one of my rims. I gave the 2 chances to respray the wheel. They never matched the OEM paint. So I decided to have them either buy me a new rim, or cut me a check so i can buy one. I ended up getting a check and getting a new rim having it installed at a different good year. Pissed me off. This was goin on for about 2 months or so lastyear.

David Fermani · 04-30-08, 09:58

Who was it Tim? Call their corporate headquarters and pitch a fit. The squeeky wheel gets the grease (no pun intended).

charlesaferg · 04-30-08, 10:17

Les Schwab on 158th & Walker Rd. in Beaverton, OR broke my windshield right in front of my face as they lifted up the wiper arm to remove the wiper and left it up... You get what happened afterwards. First month of owning my own car...
rofl

Took three months for them to agree to actually order an OEM spec SECURIT windshield for the car and not the cheapo one they wanted to buy. Pathetic.

No free beef either.