Another dealer rip off story

[NyackRob79]

Well, one way to lose a repeat customer is to just plain screw them.

Been taking my Plati to the White Plains Lincoln for the past few years. Last fall they mounted-and-balanced four winter tires for a flat fee of $95.

Yesterday, I get a flat. I pull over, swap out the wheel for the spare, and bring them the tire with nail to patch. Thinking it's going to be around $20-$40 (from experience, having dealt with punctures about a half dozen times).

When I get the bill ($120), I try to politely and calmly get them to explain to me the logic behind charging $120 for a patch/mount/balance for a single wheel, when they charged me a $95 to mount-and-balance four tires last time I was there.

The logic? Are you ready? Here it comes: The four wheel mount-and-balance is a package. The single wheel mount-and-balance is a-la-carte. Then the manager (along with his two advisors) proceed to gang-bang me with their collective "logic" by telling me how this is comparable to ordering a "Value Meal" at a fast food restaurant vs. trying to build the same meal a-la-carte.

Nice try.

Point is, the logic and common sense fails you. Your tech shouldn't take 1.0 hours to patch and balance a single wheel. Smells like a service advisor mark-up.

The kicker is, everytime I've been there for service, they always tell me to give them 5-star rating with Lincoln corporate calls with a survey.

You know exactly what kind of rating they'll be getting this time.

Thanks for reading. /rant

 

[stamp11127]

Guess this is one of the differences between generations. We ol'timers have tire plugging tools and plugs......

 

[Flexpedition]

It might sound like I talk a big game online, but I'd certainly told them to remove their $&@(! patch and reinstall the nail. Pun intended, $120 is a flat-out rip off. Most tire places (Firestone, Goodyear, etc) do it as a courtesy hoping to secure future business.

Please do post your survey here for all to see.

 

[Grey ghost]

Precisely why I don't go to the stealership. I have 3 leaking shocks but next week I'm having 4 Bilstein shocks ,why? Because I'm not convinced the new Ford units would be an improved design. They saw you coming and made plans. Next time plan accordingly.

 

[Deadman]

Dealers aren't your friend....

 

[Retiredusps]

I think you just purchased HAPPY MEALS for the whole shop.

 

[AAOO]

Discount tire would have been free or $25 if you didn’t buy the tires there. There is this new place called tire link that does it free but they have a small footprint. Not sure what options you have in your area.

Only time I go to the dealer is for covered warranty items.

 

[MonkeyBrains]

Meh... Dealerships are the last place I go to for anything related to tires. It’s always like this.

I also recommend Discount Tire. They usually patch or plug a nail puncture or similar for free, even if I didn’t buy the tire there, just because I’m in the system as a customer.

 

[TheDoug]

Discount tire would have been free or $25 if you didn’t buy the tires there. There is this new place called tire link that does it free but they have a small footprint. Not sure what options you have in your area.

Only time I go to the dealer is for covered warranty items.

I took one of my vehicles that had factory tires on it still that had a flat and discount did it for free. I go to the dealership as little as possible...

 

[Deadman]

My wife just had a nail hole patched in her Hyundai Sedan at Hyundai dealership. They charged her $19 which I thought was absolutely fair since she had the car their for other work already!

 

[Artie]

Guess this is one of the differences between generations. We ol'timers have tire plugging tools and plugs......

Non ol’timer chiming in here. I carry those in my tool bag and use if needed but prefer to have it the plugs replaced with a patch as soon as I can. I see the plug as a temp fix vs the patch being a more permanent solution.

 

[joethefordguy]

I never leave my truck anywhere without asking for a quote up front, with a call if they’re going to exceed the quote.

 

[Artie]

I never leave my truck anywhere without asking for a quote up front, with a call if they’re going to exceed the quote.

This is SOP for any repair shop with a shred of decency IMHO.

 

[st381183]

This is SOP for any repair shop with a shred of decency IMHO.

I never leave my truck anywhere without asking for a quote up front, with a call if they’re going to exceed the quote.

My thoughts exactly. No surprises if you know the cost up front.

 

[NyackRob79]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the insightful thoughts. I’ve been to enough shops to ask for a quote beforehand. It just didn’t occur to me to do it for a 10 minute flat fix. It’s like picking up a gallon of milk at the store. You expect it to be within a certain reasonable price range, not $15/gallon.

 

[Rossue]

Did you get a written estimate? If not I would dispute the charge with credit card company. Let them run interference for you.

 

[guspech750]

Discount tire would have been free or $25 if you didn’t buy the tires there. There is this new place called tire link that does it free but they have a small footprint. Not sure what options you have in your area.

Only time I go to the dealer is for covered warranty items.

Yep. Discount tire is my first and only choice for tires. Good service, friendly and don’t charge anything for a tire repair if the tire was bought through them. I’ve had a few tires repaired free of charge.


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[Tocapet]

The plug is just a temporary repair until the tire can be replaced. Reputable tire shops do not use plugs at all. The correct way to fix a flat is to dismount the tire, remove the nail, patch the tire from the inside, remount and balance. Discount tire does that for free.

 

[rjdelp7]

In my High School days, my friends father, took the family car in for wiper blades. They charged him $30 to install(in 1986). He didn't realize the local auto part store, puts them on for free(or you can just do it yourself). The dealer probably just plugged it and re-filled with air. I had one mechanic tell me, he marks the rim/tire with chalk and mounts the tire in the same spot(to avoid balancing). My local Mavis Tire plugged my slow leak for free. I was amazed, the guy spent almost 15min working on it. I tipped him a $10-spot.

 

[scottdm]

In my High School days, my friends father, took the family car in for wiper blades. They charged him $30 to install(in 1986). He didn't realize the local auto part store, puts them on for free(or you can just do it yourself). The dealer probably just plugged it and re-filled with air. I had one mechanic tell me, he marks the rim/tire with chalk and mounts the tire in the same spot(to avoid balancing). My local Mavis Tire plugged my slow leak for free. I was amazed, the guy spent almost 15min working on it. I tipped him a $10-spot.

PA requires state inspection, and I had my vehicle at a new shop. There was nothing that needed work to pass inspection, but the shop said it needed new wiper blades or they wouldn't pass it (wiper blades were fine). When the guy told me, I decided to call his bluff and I told him I refused to buy new wipers from him, but I'd have a buddy run me to the auto parts store and I'd buy new wiper blades and I'd install them so he could pass the vehicle for inspection. Wouldn't ya know it, the guy decided to pass it without new wiper blades! I hate dishonest shops and have never been back since.