Discout Tire Fiasco

[paul cass]

Hey guys
It seems that customer service today isn't anywhere close to what it used to be. A while back I went to my local Discount Tire center to get new tires for the FIA. Having 15 inch wheels limited my choice of tires. Seems that BF Goodrich and Cooper were my only choices. I had Goodrich but the store didn't have any my size. It did have some in Cooper. Tried a set and they ran great but once mounted were smaller than the Goodrich. The store ordered the next size up and when they came in they were too big. Grrrrrrrrr. To keep the Cooper's I would have to change the sizes all the way around. Turns out that Austin had two of the sizes I needed. So I had the local store call Austin to see if they were still in stock. Yes. I talked to one of the managers and said that I needed them and that I would be there to make an exchange that weekend. I stopped by the store on the way into Austin. They looked at my tires and I set an appt. for the next day. Got there with car on trailer 15 minutes early. Checked in and they told me to park around corner and would come get me to unload. 30 minutes later no one has shown up. Get this "manager" who says he got tied up but says unload the Cobra and park in front of the store for the tire change. Another 30 minutes or so go by and nothing. I ask about my appt. and get the comment that they need to finish with one car and will then get to mine. A few minutes later I see the "manager" meeting with 2 or 3 other guys and then they want to question the exchange. I told him to call my store in CC. After another 15 minutes or so they finally start on my Cobra. Two hours after I arrive they finally finish with the FIA. My wife left with the truck and trailer so I take of on the expressway and can't even get over 30 without the car vibrating something terrible. I go back to Discount and pull up and tell them something is wrong with the balance. They don't seem real concerned and I stand there for 30 minutes with nothing happening. Fed up I go to who I think is the guy in charge and tell him what is going on. Says they will get to it after one more car. Then the 'manager' tells me that he thought I would have a problem with one of the tires. I couldn't believe what he said. I jumped on him for not saying anything before they orginally sent me on my way. I went back and watched as they "balanced" the tires and saw nothing wrong with the rotation. Finally, after almost 4 hours at this shop I leave. And the vibration is just as bad. Long, long story shorter. I get back to CC and have the Discount store balance the tires. I watch and can't believe when all total for 4 wheels the balance is off almost 28 ounces! Apparently Austin used the wrong adapter for my wheels. The CC store was able to balance them out just fine. Not being abel to cruise around the hill country was a real bummer. But worse yet is when I complained to various managers and regional managers about my ordeal no one did anything. One guy did call saying that the Austin store would get back to me. Nothing. Not even a refund for the overcharge on the bigger tires. I've bought thousands and thousands of dollars of tires from Discount. I've had little problems in the past but most times things worked out. Wish there was another company to compete against these guys. Maybe I should have stayed with Goodrich, can't say that I'm that happy with the Coopers.
Paul