jacal128

My daughter took the 86.5 to the tire shop to have the tires balanced today with a note for the mechanic to not use an impact wrench on the lug nuts and to torque to 90ft pounds. The mechanic or tire guy who was also the owner said he wasen't going to do the job if he couldn't use an impact, he said they were his life blood and asking him to not use them was like telling him to come cut my grass but not to use a lawn mower. My daughter called me and I called him to find out if this was true, now bear in mind I buy about $5000.00 dollars worth of tires from him in any given year, he said he wouldn't do it. I asked him if it was worth losing my business and he said he guessed so, now no mention of price ever came into the conversation and I can see if he normally charged $40.00 to do the job and maybe it cost an additional amount to do the job with hand tools but he never mentioned it. My daughter took the car to a different shop in town, he followed the instructions and did the job in no time and only charged $35.00, he now has all my company and referral work, might be a bad question but does that make me the *** or him ?

Jerry Feather

He is an ***!!!!!! I suggest that you write him a letter and tell him so in softer terms. In the letter you need to explain how he has lost your business and that of your company and that you will pass the word on about how poor the customer service is at his place of business. Good for you in taking the business away.

Jerry Feather

EspritS4s

If you are willing to pay for it, the shop should do what you ask for something this simple. His response doesn't really make much sense if you do that much business with him each year.

Which shop was it (I know Griffin pretty well)?

gbgastowers

I usually just take my wheels off myself and take them to the tire place in our truck so I don't have to worry about impact wrench,grease on carpets, jack points,paint scratching, etc. The thought of some of these guys having too much access to my car and it's many frailties makes me uncomfortable so I do what I can to avoid it. I had a Lexus SC400 I took to the dealership to have something done and a 400lb, dirty bubba hopped in to take it for a test drive and then into the shop. I about threw up from anxiety. Gunar

bronto

One man show and he has back issues?

Ish993

Find a new shop......he's a douche.

He should have just offered to charge you a stupid amount, and leave it up to you.

blown 87

I heard some weird dude was trying to talk to your women today Jack.

I would tell the guy at the shop that he is a idiot.

Barry Chan

he must have way too much business!

Dave928S

The correct answer was ... 'I'd be happy to, but I'll have to charge you a little more because it will take longer'.

Some business people just don't understand that such a poor response can have a massive spin off in lost future business, and that the right response can generate referrals without spending a buck in advertising. When times get tough for him it won't be his fault ... it'll be the 'economic downturn', or some other BS. At that time the shop around the corner will be thriving.

You are not an *** ... you did what any savvy consumer would do ... you voted with your feet, and your check book, on his poor service.

joejoe

Around here most shops use the 'torque bars' on impact wrench. They swear by them, needless to say they do none of my tires. Shop owner definetly an *** and does not deserve your business.

Landseer

Him.

Nicole

You did the right thing.

We had a similar situation a few years ago with the new garage door. There are 52 units in my homeowners association, and I was one of the first ones to get a new garage door. The installer used cheap, untreated pine wood on the inside.

Within a few weeks, black mold had formed on it. I called him, and he said he could not afford to treat the wood before installing it. However, he offered to replace it for $180.

I asked him to send a quote to the Association, which quickly found a different company for the remaining 40+ garage doors. Basically, the guy lost the business of 40+ garage doors over $180.

Your tire guy did not lose as much, but still...

Bill Ball

I agree with you. The impact beats the crap out of the finish on the aluminum lug nuts, whether anodized or chromed. I even use a "soft" socket.

SeanR

I know my area Discount Tire smiles when I pull up, it means they are making money and they also pull their best two guys off whatever job they are doing, and they are the ones doing whatever car I bring in. It's a great relationship.

You should send this thread to the mechanic and have him read it. You weren't the ***, he was.

jacal128

The killer part was he said he has a race care and wouldn't use impacts on it so he understood where I was coming from. The other shop was a little nervous but checked the torque, no scratches, no grease and everything looks good. Yea Greg, wife and daughters said it was Paul from Brooks.