Thrifty Tire Service Center

Review: I had came in to thrifty tire May 7,2013. It was my sister and I and I had to have a tire put on the right front side of the drivers side. My sister and I sat and waited for them for about fourty-five minutes, almost closing time for them. It was raining and storming hard that day and the road was very wet. As I had paid the front desk and headed back to South Boston, VA, where I live fifty minutes away. The whole way home my vehicle was continuously pulling to the left, it was making a really loud noise and my sister and I both felt like the wheel was coming off. The next morning I woke up, my tire was completely flat on the ground. I was highly upset being I just spent 78.90 for a new tire as well as I was in Danville and it was going to be out the way to have to come back up there, plus find a ride. I called the business, the guy told me to bring the tire back to see what was wrong with it. Before I went I got another mechanic to look at it in South Boston, VA, he said it was not sealed properly on the rim and it wasnt even the right tire. I have 18" rims and they are low-prfile tires, I have been driving with low-profile tires for six years now and never had a problem like this, nor did it ever drive like it did the day they had put it on.Overall it was just dangerous, especially on wet roads driving 60mph for almost an hour. My sister and I drove back up to Thrifty Tire, the manager was very rude to us and trying to downsize, I guess because we were women and said that one of his guys had put the wrong tire on and he was sorry. He did give me the right tire, but only because I said that Im not keeping a tire that had already been damaged and wasnt put on the vehichle right. I had been there several times and never gave them a problem, and I thought it was very un-professional how the manager handled the situation like it was no big deal and he couldnt make me happy.Desired Settlement: I would like for the busniess to refund my money back for the tire,because of the fact that they did not do their job right the first time as well as rushing to get a job done right at their closing time and I had to take time off work to drive fifty minutes back with just the tire, and have to bring it all the way back and put the tire back on myself. Also, I still have my recipt on purchase and when the purchase was made, as well as what type of tire was suppose to go on the vehicle.

Business

Response:

Response:To start with I would like to clear up a few of your comments. I am the guy you spoke with, my name is Justin I am the Owner of the business. I was very polite an not the least bit rude, you asked for gas money, money for time off work, and your money back on your purchase. The tire that we originally installed there was nothing wrong with that tire at the time of purchase. It was the correct size, what you are referring to is we had two brands in stock and it was not the brand I intended for you to receive because it broke my set instead of you getting one of the two tires that were a different brand which would not have broken a set I had there. As you heard me discussing with my technician. But the two brands are comperable in quality, as well as the same price, and you did not specify any brand that you preferred on the install date . Secondly, I assume the tire & wheel had a small leak which occurs occasionally with aftermarket wheels when they age. Often times the new tire will have a problem sealing the uneven surface of a 6 year old wheel. As for the 2nd mechanics opinion I would assume he has not changed very many tires. It is impossible for you to leave our tire store with a tire that is not popped out on the bead! Because, #1 it would have shaken vilolentaly on the balancer, #2 it would have shaken vilolentaly on the vehicle as you exited our driveway and drove down the highway, #3 Air would have been pouring out of it and you never would have made it out of Danville! Any tire that is completely flat is not going to be inflated out to the bead, and your second opinion mechanic only saw the tire the next morning after it was completely flat! I understand it was leaking as you say it was pulling to the left that all makes sense. It is not standard procedure to submerge new tires in water and check for leaks that is why your SLOW air leak between the tire and wheel was not discovered. The tire you brought back to me was damaged on the side wall from being run low on air. It was not run flat or it would have damaged your wheel, it obviously went completely flat overnight. It was not until we started putting air in the tire could we tell that the side wall was damaged so badly that it was not safe for you to continue to drive on. That is when I made the decision to put a new tire on for you for FREE. Keep in mind I did not have to do that, I could have just said sorry your out of luck but that is not the way I operate. I greatly appreciate your business, and would love to retain it. Although I thank you for it, it is not my fault that you chose to do business so far from your residence which caused you to drive further an use more gas when you had a problem. I fixed your problem free of charge to you, your sister cussed and made a scene blaming me from the minute you both walked through the door. I apologize you had an issue, we do a high volume of tires and you were in an out in 45 min the first day, we jumped right to it when you had your problem and had you out in 15 min the second day free of charge to you. As far as your desired settlement....I am not refunding you for the tire you are currently using and riding on (UNLESS YOU WANT TO RETURN THE TIRE TO ME I WILL REFUND YOU), and if you check your receipt it is the exact size and brand tire you paid for and currently have on your vehicle. So what are you disputing there as far as your receipt goes? I apologize for the inconvenience of you doing business 50 miles from your residence. I am sorry you missed work as well due to the problem but it seems to me, that you would have put your spare on, went to work, and let me fix your problem at your convenience. Thank you for your past business we will be here for you in the future if you give us the opportunity, sorry for your inconvenience. Thank You! [redacted] Johnson Thrifty Tire

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved. Regards, [redacted] First off, My sister and I did not cuss at the owner, he was getting big with my sister and I, making us feel like we didn't know what we were talking about. Second we did not ask you for money missing work, we ask for gas being it was your fault as well as the young workers you have working in there that hardly know any English and look they are still in High School. Thirdly, the mechanic that I had look at it has changed tires for over 30 years. Also, the tire was wrong all around, I have never, in my SIX years of RIDING with rims, has it ever felt like that. Bottom line, the workers that look young and unprofessional hurried to do their job to get off of work. Fourthly, my rims are not six years old, they are only FOUR years old, need to get your facts straight, have the receipt to prove it. Fifthly, when my brother and I took the wheel off it was completely ruined, because one: wasn't the right tire, two: wasn't put on properly. The whole inside had rubber peeling off from where it was rubbing the inside of the tire, I have pictures to prove it. No I did not come all the way to Danville, VA just to get a tire put on from thrifty tire, I was already up there that day because I previously graduated from Averett University and on the way home needed a new tire, being you guys had it in stock unfortunately I went there. I can promise you this though, my Lord Jesus Christ did protect my sister and I that day we drove it home in the hard rain. In case you didn't know guy, miracles happen everyday, and that was a miracle. Bottom line I will never give you my business again and will spread the word of mouf. You are very rude and know little than you think. Mechanic shops are wheel and dealers, meaning they will say anything to get a buck, especially to young women.