Used to be a big Discount Tire fan, but they're losing me little by little

[RickLightning]

Started in 1978 at one of their original locations. Moved away for 25 years, started again 18 years ago. 4 or so years ago, as the pandemic was finishing, they put new tires on my 2013 F-150. Dented one wheel with the sledge trying to free it up from the truck, scratched all 4 mounting the new tires. I got 4 new wheels from them.

Every time I go, I tell them to go slow, and take their time, I don't want damage. I also ask them to make sure they jack in the proper place. Got a nail in a tire, should have just plugged it. Today we had a small debate over jacking, got that resolved. Wheels had grease on them, I thought they were scratched, floor manager said "not, that will clean off".

Got home, washed them. Nope, not cleaned off. Guess they'll be buying me another wheel, at least these are available.

Why post this? To urge people to stay on top of your dealers and tire places, because damaging your vehicle is not ok. And push for the senior people to do the work, not the new guy. Even then, this can happen.

Edit - store called, new wheel ordered. They're scratching their heads trying to figure out how this could have happened.

 

[duncanmclain]

Sucks that happened to you, hopefully they make it right.

 

[Stalemate]

I have a Discount story;

I was a customer of theirs for about 20 years, ever since I first started driving. That's where my dad would go so that's where I went, too.

In 2016 I bought a very used 2007 F150 for going up to the mountains, etc. One of the tires had a really slow leak where I would have to put air in it every couple of months. After a year or so of that I finally decided to get it looked at so I brought it to Discount to have them look at it. They told me there was rust on the rim so it wasn't getting a good seal. Hmm.. ok I thought about it for awhile. The whole truck was rusty so that wasn't too surprising. A few days later I brought the tire/wheel in to them to have them demount it, which they were able to do. I brought them home and hand sanded all the rough/rusty areas off of the rim.

When I went back to have it remounted they said "oh you have to make an appointment a week ahead of time for that". I was like ??? I didn't make an appointment when you demounted it for me a few days ago? Can't I just leave it and have you guys get to it whenever? No. The next appointment was like a week out. Well there is another shop walking distance from my house, Les Schwab, so I brought it over there and they were able to mount it for me at the end of the day.

However the tire STILL leaked. I started thinking, what if it's just the valve stem?? So I got some soapy water and sprayed it and sure enough bubbles started coming out. So those fucks at Discount never even checked it, they just made something up to try and sell me new rims. I swore right then that I would NEVER do business with them again.

I took the wheel back to Schwab and they were kind enough to put a new, *chrome* valve stem in FOR FREE. I later went back and paid them to do the other three as well, and have been going to them ever since. My Lightning replaced the '07 but I never had leaky tires the rest of the time I owned it!

 

[Gerstein1989]

Started in 1978 at one of their original locations. Moved away for 25 years, started again 18 years ago. 4 or so years ago, as the pandemic was finishing, they put new tires on my 2013 F-150. Dented one wheel with the sledge trying to free it up from the truck, scratched all 4 mounting the new tires. I got 4 new wheels from them.

Every time I go, I tell them to go slow, and take their time, I don't want damage. I also ask them to make sure they jack in the proper place. Got a nail in a tire, should have just plugged it. Today we had a small debate over jacking, got that resolved. Wheels had grease on them, I thought they were scratched, floor manager said "not, that will clean off".

Got home, washed them. Nope, not cleaned off. Guess they'll be buying me another wheel, at least these are available.

Why post this? To urge people to stay on top of your dealers and tire places, because damaging your vehicle is not ok. And push for the senior people to do the work, not the new guy. Even then, this can happen.

Edit - store called, new wheel ordered. They're scratching their heads trying to figure out how this could have happened.

i feel your pain. Went last week to a ford dealership (not going to name the dealership as they made it right) as they ordered me a set of the Toyo open country ev tires for a very good price. Decided to get them installed there. They called me saying it was ready. Picked the truck up. On wheel had a scratch on it. Mentioned it to them. They said manger would call me tomorrow. Went to the car wash. When I got out to check to see if it cleaned the car properly I noticed all 4 wheels were scratched in the exact same spot. Went back to the dealership so they could document them. The dealership figured out the tech used the wrong anchor for the tire balancing machine. Wait was too long for new rims so they took them right off a brand new truck on the lot. These younger techs are careless and don’t respect our trucks. They try to get the job done as fast as possible, that’s when all the problems start. Yes most of the time the dealership will make it right but now a 2 hour job turns into multiple trips to the dealership.

 

[N87]

The push comes from the top. Do more with fewer techs, so, they have to work faster and the quality of work suffers. I had a conversation with a kid working in one of those oil change places. He said, sometimes the techs would skip replacing the oil filter and only change oil, in order to keep up with the flow of customers. Unfortunately, that is how customer service is nowadays.

These younger techs are careless and don’t respect our trucks. They try to get the job done as fast as possible, that’s when all the problems start.

 

[Henry Ford]

@RickLightning, which location?

I'm scratching my head too. It looks like the wheel was laid painted side down on concrete.

 

[RickLightning]

@RickLightning, which location?

I'm scratching my head too. It looks like the wheel was laid painted side down on concrete.

I think it was the tech using a tool working on the bead, while the tire was leaning next to the equipment. I couldn't see the exact thing he was using.

I will know more this week when I get the new wheel and the floor manager and I talk.

 

[Henry Ford]

I think it was the tech using a tool working on the bead, while the tire was leaning next to the equipment. I couldn't see the exact thing he was using.

I will know more this week when I get the new wheel and the floor manager and I talk.

I meant which Discount Tire.

I had a tire replaced in Ann Arbor and despite telling the sales person exactly how to lift the truck the tech was in the process of lifting it by the battery skid plate before I intervened.

 

[Gerstein1989]

I meant which Discount Tire.

I had a tire replaced in Ann Arbor and despite telling the sales person exactly how to lift the truck the tech was in the process of lifting it by the battery skid plate before I intervened.

Thats the reason I always go to the ford dealership because at least if they damage anything they will fix the issue and at least at a dealership they are trained to work on ev’s. these tire shops I don’t think so.

 

[RickLightning]

Thats the reason I always go to the ford dealership because at least if they damage anything they will fix the issue and at least at a dealership they are trained to work on ev’s. these tire shops I don’t think so.

If you think the tire changing / rotation guy is EV trained, I think you would be surprised.

 

[Gerstein1989]

But at least they will rectify the problem. They pulled rims off a brand new lightning to fix the issue. Tire shops will try their hardest to get away with it. Most the time the dealership will make it right.

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