elh0102

I bought a pair or N-spec 235/35-19 PS2's from my local dealer today; paid the same price as advertised at Tire Rack. As Damon said, dealer pricing varies, maybe I was lucky. This kind of distribution arrangement is not unusual. It's cost effective for PCNA, and the distributor makes some money for a service. If folks complain too much about it to Tire Rack, their solution could be to simply get out of the arrangement with Porsche. What would be difference? Well, during periods of tight supply, such as we are now experiencing, we could be at the mercy of Michelin supplying the dealers directly, and I hate to think what a mess that might be! So, maybe it would be in our collective best interest to cool it.

Streamlined

I've had to do this with other cars for various parts before too. Perhaps Tirerack could institute this practice (get the VIN and quickly match the Porsche owner to the buyer via Carfax or something to verify) to be sure the limited N specs are getting to real Porsche owners in need and not put on Mustang GTs

mglobe

Absolutely. Let's turn this mountain back into the molehill it really is.

mdrums

If you all really read my posts I understand what a jobber is I sell some of my products to a job whom resells them to dealers/stores. However legally the manufacture (me) of some other manufacture that happens to have a product on my product to make it complete can not tell the dealers/stores whom they can sell to.

The way it was explained to me was that Tire Rack is not a jobber but a reseller/dealer for products that they resell to the consumer/end user.

What the heck is so dang hard for some of you to understand that what is happening here is unfair illegal business practices?

Someone in a few posts said all I am pointing out is Porsche dealers charge more for tires....GEESH...you all didn't really read my posts huh? The dealer/reseller/store can legally charge what ever they want for a product howeverthe manufacter can state the miniumum advertised price (MAP) on a product. This is not the point I am making!

Bum

We may want to go after Porsche also as I believe they told the dealers not to sell the launch cars until a certain time, even though the dealers had them in stock. I smell collusion!

I agree if N-spec tires are "mandatory" for our cars or would void the warranty, there's a case here. Otherwise there is no case or issue here.

As stated, Tire Rack is part of the distribution chain for the tires. That means they probably have OE inventory and they have consumer inventory to attempt to meet the request of both.

It's been fun reading about this so far. Good luck guys.

4thporsche

If you are convinced of this then sue them. If there is a case here I am sure it wouldn't be that hard to find an attorney that would take it on a contingency basis. After all, Porsche has deep pockets and someone could make a name for themselves.

911Dave

It is you who do not understand. There is nothing illegal going on here. Your facts and assumptions are incorrect.

jhbrennan

It has been an interesting discussion. N-spec tires are OEM and recommended not "mandatory"...and I don't see what could possibly be voided warranty-wise unless PCA can show that using non N-spec tires directly caused a transmission problem or RMS problem for example. I think there's a lot of protection offered by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act...even though it may be a hassle to invoke the provisions of such.

GR997S

Geeez. I am done!!!!!!!....GR

jnx

So you are in business with PCNA? Typical Bull****.

User 4621

Wow, I'm investing in Alcoa, the tinfoil hat market is getting hot.

TireRack is a large company that does a lot more than just sell tires directly to consumers. It appears that one of TireRack's businesses is logistics for large tire orders. This makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

N-spec tires are also called OEM-spec for a reason. I'm guessing PCNA requires a minimum stock level, and Michelin is slow in getting that order delivered. As such, until it's fulfilled, all Michelin N-spec stock goes to fill the Porsche order. Once filled, additional stock can be sold elsewhere, like for example by the TireRack consumer online tire sales department.

There is nothing illegal about that. Porsche's order came before yours. Whether TireRack happens to do the logistics or not makes no difference to consumer online availability.

My .02,

GSIRM3

Maybe I was lucky, but I recently bought two new rear tires (PS2) from my dealer, and paid about the same as the Tire Rack advertised price. Since I would have had to pay for shipping if ordered from Tire Rack, I probably got them cheaper.

As long as I don't get ripped off, I like the idea of knowing I can get the tires I need at my dealer. I trust them to mount the tires without screwing up my wheels or car more than most tire shops. As I said, in my case, they were as cheap as the Tire Rack prices.

Maybe we should blame PCNA for not putting the heat on dealers to sell the tires at a resonable price if they are going to have this "program" in effect.

mdrums

OK...listen up....I have a product that I manufacture which I sell to you and you pay me for it. You are one of my dealers across the USA. You know have this product in stock and out right own this product. This product is in high demand so I call you back and tell you who you can and can not sell this product too.

Would you like that or as a consumer would you like that?

Explain to me how this is legal to do?

That is EXACTLY what Tire Rack, PCNA and the Tire manufactures except for Pirrelli are doing!

BlueJay73

mdrums,
I share your outrage regarding this issue!!
The thought of having to go to a Porsche dealership for TIRES makes me SICK.
If I want to buy tires, I want to be able to buy them from whomever I damnwell want, on the usual first come-first served basis. I have bought tires from The Tire Rack and Discount Tires Direct for years with no problems. The thought that they might withhold their stock from me in preference to PCNA is outrageous to me.
I can't believe everyone else on this board isn't outraged too!
Will we later have to buy our brake pads directly from out friendly, neighborhood P Dealer too? How about Mobile 1 oil? Wiper blades?
Maybe I don't understand business/economics, but it sure seems clear enough.
Maybe I belong in another car.

JIM

mdrums

BlueJay, glad you understand what I am getting and and what could happen in the future with other products that come on our cars.

I understand that there is a manufacturing shortage but for a company that owns it's own product (ie bought the tires from the tire company) and PCNA to be able to dictate to whom tires get sold to when PCNA does not even own these tires is what is the issue.

To those that do not "get it" what's the saying??? ha ha ha!