Merchant's Tire experience
09-03-2005, 09:12 AM
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WhizzBomb
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Merchant's Tire experience
First of, I certainly don't do to Merchant's for any kind of service. I know better. They did run a special on a set of Falken's and included in the price of install was free life time rotation and balance.
So I go in for a rotation and balance and their free brake check (boo boo #1). They told me that all four tires needed to be replaced (which was true, I knew they were on their last legs but wanted to see if the time to replace had come). Fine.
Now's where it gets fun. They told me I needed to replace my front pads WITHIN 24 HOURS or my rotors would be damaged and need to be replaced. He helpfully added that front rotors for my car (03 TLS) START at $210 each. (Last I checked Brembo blanks were $65 at TireRack).
I asked what the measurement of the pads were. "Very thin, sir." So I said screw this put my wheels on, I'm outta here. I knew the pads were also coming close to needing replacement but I sure as hell wasn't taking his word for it.
Got a set of 4 Sumi HTR+ and front Akebono pads for $361 INCLUDING S&H from TireRack. I have an Acura Tech at a dealership that does work on the side do all the work. He measured the pads on the car and they were both at 8/32. For reference, MD state inspection will pass a car at 2/32 and Acura reccomends replacement at 5/32.
I called up Merchant's corp HQ and filed a complaint. The manager called back and stood by his story. I asked they measured the pads. He said yes. My car was in the bay closest to the window and I KNOW they didn't. He was kind enough to offer me 10% off a new set of pads ($169.99).
Called back corp HQ and asked for the number to the Regional supervisor. They wouldn't give me his number but they took mine for him to call me back. Amazingly he called within 5 minutes. We ended up talking for about 30 minutes. With the end result being Merchant's is going to reimburse me for the price of the pads and installation.
Moral? If you get screwed make as much noise as possible. You never know what can happen
Joe
So I go in for a rotation and balance and their free brake check (boo boo #1). They told me that all four tires needed to be replaced (which was true, I knew they were on their last legs but wanted to see if the time to replace had come). Fine.
Now's where it gets fun. They told me I needed to replace my front pads WITHIN 24 HOURS or my rotors would be damaged and need to be replaced. He helpfully added that front rotors for my car (03 TLS) START at $210 each. (Last I checked Brembo blanks were $65 at TireRack).
I asked what the measurement of the pads were. "Very thin, sir." So I said screw this put my wheels on, I'm outta here. I knew the pads were also coming close to needing replacement but I sure as hell wasn't taking his word for it.
Got a set of 4 Sumi HTR+ and front Akebono pads for $361 INCLUDING S&H from TireRack. I have an Acura Tech at a dealership that does work on the side do all the work. He measured the pads on the car and they were both at 8/32. For reference, MD state inspection will pass a car at 2/32 and Acura reccomends replacement at 5/32.
I called up Merchant's corp HQ and filed a complaint. The manager called back and stood by his story. I asked they measured the pads. He said yes. My car was in the bay closest to the window and I KNOW they didn't. He was kind enough to offer me 10% off a new set of pads ($169.99).
Called back corp HQ and asked for the number to the Regional supervisor. They wouldn't give me his number but they took mine for him to call me back. Amazingly he called within 5 minutes. We ended up talking for about 30 minutes. With the end result being Merchant's is going to reimburse me for the price of the pads and installation.
Moral? If you get screwed make as much noise as possible. You never know what can happen
Joe
09-03-2005, 12:00 PM
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WhizzBomb
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Originally Posted by te3point5
Who's Merchants?
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