I am pissed. Local Big 10 Tire shop must have the biggest pack of idiots on the planet.


Day starts out bad. I go to get in the truck for work and I have major flat tire. I drag out the air line from the shop and pump it up. Do a quick roll check and I have a friggin nail in the tire. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif


It looks like a slow leaker so I drive to the tire shop mentioned above that is just a few minutes from work. The guy behind the counter says there are quite a few jobs ahead of me and I gotta get to work ASAP to resolve some issues so I have one of my guys meet me there for a ride to work. (That little voice in my head was saying "Don't leave the truck, you gotta watch their every move!" was going off too.) I should have known better to leave it unsupervised but what are you gonna do?


When I go to pickup the truck during lunch the fracas ensues. The dumbazz lug monkey did not bother to use an extension on the impact wrench so he chewed the center cap on my Weld Evo to pieces. They then lost the chrome valve stem sleeve and the chrome valve stem cap. When I asked what they did with those the idiot had the gall to tell me they were never on the wheel in the first place!!!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif


Why must everything be a fight these days? Just a few minutes of extra care, some respect for other peoples property and some common sense and everybody would be happy. They will at least pay for the replacement parts. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


They will never get a dime of my tire business for sure.

This is the problem these days, they only want to pay $5 an hour and for that you only get $5/hr capable workers who just aren't paid to think! Plus no body respects other people's property anymore or that we like to keep things looking like NEW!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

I had a similar experience with my BMW and "Big O" or BIG ZERO in my case. bunch of jerky's

I had to make sure you were not from florida, the big ten in pensacola first installed the back tires with the whitewalls facing out, then put on my acorn lugnuts backwards, tearing the heck out of the aluminum wheels, this was on my F250..it was the techs first day and noone was watching him.

That sucks and your making the drop it off for end of warranty service tomorrow dreadful ....More so then I already know ...


I didn't intend on removing my wheels and it's raining ,so it ain't gonna happen ... I'll just set the ground rules when I arrive as there coming off to fix the E-brake once and for or suffer the wrath ...


I take it in the end they still refused to correct their mistake ... That sucks if so ...


Mac

I have tire shop problems to but not with the intellect of the people. Discount Tire rotated my wheels about three weeks ago and a hub cap came off later. The replacement hub cap finally showed up yesterday and I went to pick it up only to find it was for a six lug wheel instead of eight.

that's why I have a spare just like the others. I do all the work myself and let the tire company "fix" the flat. ......step away from the truck, no don't do it...I'll fix it "correctly" myself.


sorry ya had to learn the hard way. Hey, at least it wasn't the GN.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


I bet they didn't hit the 140 ft lb mark, probably hit 200! With all that power and 200 ft lbs, you'll be snapping lug bolts in 1,000 miles. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif


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Stupidity and Incompetence should be PAINFULL!!!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ouch.gif

that's why I have a spare just like the others. I do all the work myself and let the tire company "fix" the flat. ......step away from the truck, no don't do it...I'll fix it "correctly" myself.


sorry ya had to learn the hard way. Hey, at least it wasn't the GN.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


I bet they didn't hit the 140 ft lb mark, probably hit 200! With all that power and 200 ft lbs, you'll be snapping lug bolts in 1,000 miles. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif


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I hear ya! Like I said, I knew better but I was in a jam with work. I did not have time to put on the spare or to wait around to supervise. Bad timing as always and I knew the "flat tire" excuse was not going to fly at work! At least I have the damage to prove it now. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


I do 99% of the work on the truck, I just have seen to many poorly done jobs. It has never even seen a dealer shop.


I did have them put on the work order to hand torque to 140 ft/lbs and amazingly they were. I could not believe it even after I checked them with my own wrench. They were inflated to the proper pressure too. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif How do you get those things right but screw up the others so bad????


If it had been the GN then I prolly would be still thinking about in the local lockup. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

That is terrible, I work at a tire store and that just shows you the laziness and lack of respect of the guy that worked on it. Total BS, every vehicle we work on goes out the same or better than it came in.

After the breakage


I did have them put on the work order to hand torque to 140 ft/lbs and amazingly they were. I could not believe it even after I checked them with my own wrench. They were inflated to the proper pressure too. http://mail.wackywack.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif How do you get those things right but screw up the others so bad????





They started to pay attention ...


Mac

Recently I have started carrying my digital camera with me and when showing a problem to someone, I take a picture of the truck. I did this with My wife's Murano before it went in to the Nissan Dealer. I stood there and with the service writer looking took pictures from all angle sof the car. Took about 3 minutes or so. When I picked up the car after the service, there was a scratch running the entire passenger side door. they tried the "it was there" and I pulled out the camera with the date and time stamp and said, "here's the pictures of what it lookied like when I dropped it off 4 hours ago, see no sctratch". Service writer freaked out and accused me of trying to get somethign for free as pictures could be doctored and I reminded him that the camera was in the car the whole time.


Finally called the manager out told him the tale and got the $500 service free and the door repaired and a $250 service credit for the annoyance.


Now I carry it everywhere, car wash, tire place, where ever I leave it.

I can better all that! Took my boat and trailer to have tires changed, they stripped the threads on 2 (out of 5) lugs, I noticed the 2 lugs missing and went to pay. They were going to let me drive into the sunset that way. I asked the service manager why my oil cost so much to dispose of. He said the EPA mandates this fee, HAHA. I called the local news station advocate (pretending) and had a conversation about a shop that charges $7.95 to dispose of oil (that costs $4.00 wholesale) as a disposal fee, when you can bring it to checker for $0.00.


Didn't have to pay for that service.


If some family had been wiped out after my boat went thru thier windshield, they would be out of business. Penny wise (the casual cover-up) and pound foolish.

Man, I cannot believe some of these shops. On the torque thing, we use torque sticks for impacts, they are great! If we ever break or strip a stud it is always replaced before it leaves the shop, that is dangerous letting it go that way, glad you caught it. Mackin is right, if you tell them stuff specifically to put on the ticket, the better chance you have of it getting done.

ITS NOT JUST THE LUG MONKEYS ITS ALSO THE MEN ON THE INSIDE PRICING TIRES..... I WENT FOR THE HUGE TIRE SALE THEY HAD LAST WEEK FOR SOME BFG'S AND THEY TOLD ME 248 PER TIRE FOR 285/75/16 MUD TIRES. OH YEAH PLUS TAX......THATS 1071.00.... WENT DOWN THE ROAD AND GOT SOME FOR 708 OUT THE DOOR.....SAME TIRE.....BIG 10 IS A RIP OFF

rickles,


I just bought a set of 285/75/16's (that's 5 for me) for 624.62 with tax. Had them mounted and a 4-wheel allienment for 90.00, making the total 714.62. ........ Nitto Terra Grappler 8-ply, rated @ 3305 lbs, just like the BFG's.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif So yeah, I'd say Big 10 is a bit high.


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I can get 5 Toyo Open Country M-55 265/75/16E tires mounted, balanced, tax, etc. for $650 at a little local shop. Anyone have experience with these tires? It seems like a really good price for tires that are guaranteed for 50K miles. My previous favorite were Pirelli Scorpion ATs, but I think I need better performance in the mud and these Toyos have a longer (supposedly) tread life.


Edited to change to the correct model of Open Country tire.Edited by: Kartattack

These are some scarey stories for sure. It is a sad that this is the quality of work to be expected from shops now a days. I agree that no one can care as much about you vehicle then yourself. I do as much if the work as I can on my truck because I have a hard time trusting some of these places. The dealer has serviced my truck a few time and I have had no problems. Except the fact that their prices can be quite high. I easily saved my self a couple hundred bucks doing the front and rear diff service along with the transfer case fluid change over what the dealer would have charged me. Taking pictures of your vehicle before you have service work done is a good idea. It is sad that you have to, but it is better to be safe than sorry...

Oh and to get somewhat back on topic, this little local shop has good prices and does good work. They balanced and rotated the tires (4) on my truck for $25. This place is always busy, but their guys bust butt all day (no smoking and joking while I stew in the waiting area like at Discount Tire).


I guess what I am trying to say is that not all national chains are good (paying low wages in an attempt to increase profits, I guess), so don't overlook the little local shop that has been around for years. There's a reason they survived in this day of chain stores. Besides, better service and equal prices, I'm contributing more to the local economy.

I'll pay the "extra" to my local tire shop. I'll check their prices with NTB, Big 10 and the like just to see the difference. If it costs me 5% more at there shop.... it's no big deal, it's peace of mind and no Corporate Bullchit. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif ....... well, that and a 20 spot. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


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Warped Rotors


I'm not sure if it was mentioned before, but another tire shop issue is the lug nut tightening sequence. Over the years I've had dealers and tire shops tighten lug nuts out of sequence and I ended up with several warped rotors.


I don't allow anyone (GM dealer or tire shop) to touch the lug nuts on my vehicles with anything but a torque wrench. They must also be able to tell me in advance what the tightening sequence is. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

Or worse can happen. You can be out to lunch with friends because you dropped yours off at the tire shop to get rotated and balanced and see your own truck at the McDonald's drive thru with 4 other people in it. Nice huh http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif. Knew it was mine from the sticker on back window and personalized plates I use to have. I went straight to the shop, in hurry might I add to pick it up. They stuttered and then told me what was going on. Got 4 free tires, and alignments and balances, rotations etc for a long time for that one.

Ok boys you can rag all you want on those shops but I better not hear a negetive comment about PepGirls http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif I say you get what you pay for. More importantly if your friends with the boss it makes all of the difference. I probably have 10 cars in Big10's computer from over the years. Managers do come an go. Big10 corporate drives them off. Some work 7 days a week and have to justify taking days off bases on how profitible thier store is. Most of the good managers quit within a few years. Oh well. Here is the short of it. I usually only deal with the manager. I usually let him know the first time that I was a customer of the previous managers and he always treated me right and I hope we get along just as well. We shoo the sh*t for a few and when I pick up my vehicle it is almost always right. Now my siste on the other hand can not get anything right unless I take her car their for her. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif You just have to know how to deal with high volume shops and build a report with the boss.

At one time in my life, I thought I had a handle on the meaning of the word "service." "The act of doing things for other people."


Then I heard the terms:


Internal Revenue Service, Postal Service, Telephone Service, City/County Public Service, Customer Service, Service Stations. I became confused about the word "service." This is not what I
thought "service" meant.


Today, I overheard two farmers talking and one of them mentioned that he was having a bull over to "service" a few of his cows.


SHAZAM! It all came into perspective. Now I understand what all those "service" agencies are doing to us.

I can get 5 Toyo Open Country M-55 265/75/16E tires mounted, balanced, tax, etc. for $650 at a little local shop. Anyone have experience with these tires? It seems like a really good price for tires that are guaranteed for 50K miles. My previous favorite were Pirelli Scorpion ATs, but I think I need better performance in the mud and these Toyos have a longer (supposedly) tread life.


Edited to change to the correct model of Open Country tire.





I have had them on one of my trucks for over year and have no problems with them

Thanks Turfmower. Have you done any off road/mudding with them? I don't get into it often or really on purpose, but sometimes mud and crud is a byproduct of going hunting.

One reason to find a good small local shop. Many years ago I found a small "do it all" garage a few towns away. For years they serviced my cars and trucks. These are true mechanics that do quality repairs and maintenance. They also do tires. They order any tire you want. And they were the same price for the tires as a big place.


When I bring in a vehicle for an oil change they go over the vehicle while it's on the lift for no charge. Once in a while they'll notice something is wearing and they give me a heads up that I should bring it in soon to get serviced.


Some times they even fix things for me and don't even bother to charge me.


I don't go to the "big" shops; They can never take care of my vehicles like this small shop.Edited by: JohnnyO

I am fortunate to have a local GMC dealer that can get a wide variety of tires at fair prices, particularly when you factor in that the prices it charges for tires includes mounting and balancing.


And the service people are, by definition, experienced with GMC trucks.

I mount and balance all my own tires.....Those shops scare me.

Kartattack


They are one of my maintenance trucks. It pull 5,000 lbs trailer every day and plows snow in winter. The only time it goes off road is to pick up trees at the nursery. Tires are 235/85 -16

Thanks again, turfmower. I'm debating between th Toyo Open Country and Cooper Discovery ST (I think that's what they are). Your input is helpful and appreciated.