Due to Wal-mart's superior slow service for low prices policy, when I need my tire changed I always drop the tire off and pick it up hour's later or the following morning. This has worked really well for the past three years.
This last friday my tire / rim was dropped off and we where insured "we'll take care of it" . (Most have been an inside joke) I came back Saturday morning with my receipt ready for my tire / rim to take it and go to work.
The service desk cashed me out and sent me to get my tire / rim. I gave the receipt to the staff in the tire area. He looked for the tire, did not see it. Walked around a little, nothing, asked another mechanic, they both looked for it. Went and side and got the clerk.
She came out and said it's over here. umm. It was here last night.... They looked around a little longer and the clerk said to me "I'm going to get you a manager"
Within 5 min. a manager came but not to help me but to help another consumer. Took no longer than 15 min. then that manager left.[?]
I waited another 45 min. then decided to call 1800walmart. And was told within 5-10 min. someone will be with you.
I received a call from a manager so that she could I'm guessing hear if I was at the boiling point before I came out. Which I wasn't offended just had no idea what was going on.
She came out and was very friendly and I informed her that no one has informed me what has happened. Is the rim lost, misplaced, destroyed?[?]
She went with the clerk who showed her where the "rim was last seen"
The manager informed me that she would go and check the video tape, came back with not knowing where the rim was.
I was then told go get a quote and we will replace the tire.
How does this happen? Gas is free and time is replaceable right? There went me working someone else picked up my shift due to me being late. Low prices are all that you can afford if we can keep you from work......
You are getting your tire changed at walmart where mechanics and staff are paid the minimum to survive if that...take it to a local shop next time might be the lesson learned...I worked at a tire and lube express in College and let me tell you the last thing that anyone is thinking about is customer service at walmart...someone saw a rim they could sell online perhaps or at a pawn shop..or perhaps it was thrown in the back of a trunk thinking that it was someone Else's by the minimum wage working clerks....
I wouldn't take any car I have owned to Wal-Mart for anything. For tires I always went to U-Needham, or MasterCraft at I-44 and Sheridan or Robertson Tire. I see that Discount Tire (//%22http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/home.do%22) is opening stores in OKC hopefully they will in Tulsa. I have been doing business with them for 10 years and by far they have the best service I have ever had. They do tires and wheels only, they offer free rotaion and balance, free flat repair, and low cost free replacement warranty. I went in not long ago with a car that I own to have the tires rotated and balanced although I did not purchase the tires from them. They said it would be $30 to do the work, or for $40 I could purchase free rotation and balance for the remaining life of the tires.
UpDate!!!!
They have contacted me to inform me that I am going to have to wait for the claims department to call me. Fax the estimate of a new rim and then write me a check which may take a week or so to be completed.
How much better is gas riding on a spare tire?
I always just buy a used tire along Admiral from the little independent tire shops. Most charge around $15 to $20 bucks for a decent used hoop. They take the wheel and tire off your ride, dismount your existing tire, mount and balance the new/used tire on your rim, and re-install the tire and rim back on your vehicle. Cheap and easy, and most times it only takes 5 to 10 minutes. Kinda like a NASCAR pit stop.
Due to the condition of the streets here, even a brand new tire from Pep Boys at around $60-$70 appears very used after a days driving over pot holes, bumps and sharp edges of protruding asphalt.
I will stick with the $20 used tires for now. Besides, I like to watch the dudes that change the tires trying to beat the clock to Get R Dun. A true slice of American Red Neck heaven.
Never get service work at a WalMart. Never. They can't do anything right, they are loaded with inane policies based on fear of lawsuits (they wouldn't fix a flat on my car because there was slight weather cracking)and service is just by accident.
Hibdon at 51st west of Lewis put brand new tires on my old crate for under $200 including valves, mounting, balancing, & disposing old tires. It was on the 4th of July and they got me in and out in an hour.
quote:
Originally posted by AMP
I always just buy a used tire along Admiral from the little independent tire shops. Most charge around $15 to $20 bucks for a decent used hoop. They take the wheel and tire off your ride, dismount your existing tire, mount and balance the new/used tire on your rim, and re-install the tire and rim back on your vehicle. Cheap and easy, and most times it only takes 5 to 10 minutes. Kinda like a NASCAR pit stop.
Due to the condition of the streets here, even a brand new tire from Pep Boys at around $60-$70 appears very used after a days driving over pot holes, bumps and sharp edges of protruding asphalt.
I will stick with the $20 used tires for now. Besides, I like to watch the dudes that change the tires trying to beat the clock to Get R Dun. A true slice of American Red Neck heaven.
Mmm.. used tires. I think I'll pass.