mpire
05-28-2002, 05:35 PM
Get this, I was at the tire shop today, and I just needed a tire patched and remounted. Not a big deal, small hole, whatever. So I go in, and they are kinda busy. No problem, I called ahead and made an appointment. I had called ahead to make sure they had a "touchless" tire mounting system. So, I waited patiently for an hour past my appointment for them to get to me. I rolled the wheel in to the shop, handed it to the tech, and he got to work after about 15 minutes of wasting time. He assured me that he could mount this tire without any trouble. He "had mounted 19's and 20's on this machine" and it was no thang.
Now there was another tech using a machine and he was whipping through a set of 18 inch rims for a mustang. Did an amazing fast job, impressed me. He didnt use a crow bar or anything, just his hands and the machine. So I knew they had the capability to do a fine job.
WELL, this guy farts around uses the old machine because he is not trained to use the new machine. He assures me that he is good at it, no problem I say. I am watching as he gets his buddy to come over and hold another crow bar on the wheel to remount the tire. He says not to worry, I say ok, I am just worried about my NEW rim. So he cant get the tire mounted on the old machine. Well, after a few tries and slips with the crow bar, he says he will have to use the other machine, and then picks up the wheel and tire half mounted and walks over to the other machine, which he clearly has no clue how to use. Then he pops it down on the system and tried to mount the tire for about 3 minutes. Drops the machine on the rim, scores the rim half way around the wheel. Drops the machine guide on it again. I am patient, thinking its probably ok. So he gets it mounted finally and fills it up with air. So then I take it back out to the car and wipe it down to get a good look at the rim. Its scratch all hell and back. So I take it back in, and ask for the manager.
They tell me that this happens all the time and they will buff out the scratches. I am like, ok. When will you be done. They dont have the buffing compound. No problem. I made the guy initial the invoice that he was going to buff out the scratches (important!). So I get back to the office, and I am exhausted. Wheel is scratched up and I am just pissed.
My attorney friend asks me whats wrong, and I tell her a short summation of the story, and she is like, when are they getting you a replacement wheel? I was like, why do they have to do that? And she is like, they HAVE to make you whole. So if I went in with a new wheel, I should have a new wheel when I go out. They are professionals, and they didnt do a professional job. Long story short, one call later, and I got a new wheel. Life is cool.
Attorneys arent all bad I suppose. Just corperate attorneys.
Mpire... (Not quite whole!)
Now there was another tech using a machine and he was whipping through a set of 18 inch rims for a mustang. Did an amazing fast job, impressed me. He didnt use a crow bar or anything, just his hands and the machine. So I knew they had the capability to do a fine job.
WELL, this guy farts around uses the old machine because he is not trained to use the new machine. He assures me that he is good at it, no problem I say. I am watching as he gets his buddy to come over and hold another crow bar on the wheel to remount the tire. He says not to worry, I say ok, I am just worried about my NEW rim. So he cant get the tire mounted on the old machine. Well, after a few tries and slips with the crow bar, he says he will have to use the other machine, and then picks up the wheel and tire half mounted and walks over to the other machine, which he clearly has no clue how to use. Then he pops it down on the system and tried to mount the tire for about 3 minutes. Drops the machine on the rim, scores the rim half way around the wheel. Drops the machine guide on it again. I am patient, thinking its probably ok. So he gets it mounted finally and fills it up with air. So then I take it back out to the car and wipe it down to get a good look at the rim. Its scratch all hell and back. So I take it back in, and ask for the manager.
They tell me that this happens all the time and they will buff out the scratches. I am like, ok. When will you be done. They dont have the buffing compound. No problem. I made the guy initial the invoice that he was going to buff out the scratches (important!). So I get back to the office, and I am exhausted. Wheel is scratched up and I am just pissed.
My attorney friend asks me whats wrong, and I tell her a short summation of the story, and she is like, when are they getting you a replacement wheel? I was like, why do they have to do that? And she is like, they HAVE to make you whole. So if I went in with a new wheel, I should have a new wheel when I go out. They are professionals, and they didnt do a professional job. Long story short, one call later, and I got a new wheel. Life is cool.
Attorneys arent all bad I suppose. Just corperate attorneys.
Mpire... (Not quite whole!)