squirtspop
06-18-2006, 01:25 AM
Took the wife's car in for 2 tires as she was heading out to go to Texas to get the grandkids and bring back for a couple of weeks.
First off, I worked in TLE for 2 and a half years after retirement so they can't BS a ex-employee.
Anyhow, I told them what I wanted, tires and sizes and road hazard. Now comes the changes. Road hazard USED to give you 2 new valve stems when they mounted the new tires, lifetime FREE rotate and balance every 6000 miles, free flat repair and regular road hazard if you should happen to puncture a side wall, blowout or any other problem as long as it was not caused by the vehicle itself. Such as out of round rims, wreck, wheels out of alignment, etc.
So I go to pick up the car. New changes now in force. Road hazard is still 9.67 but does not include the valve stems, balance, rotation. Basically all it does cover now is flat repair.
They charge 1.75 per valve stem. You can buy them inside for 1.98 for 2 on a prepacked card. The balance will cost you 5 bucks per tire for a one time balance or 7.50 for life time balance but the rotation is not included any longer. 2.00 per tire for tire removal of the old tires. Doesn't matter if you take the old tires or not, you will be charged. Don't know if it's federal or state law.
Didn't check into the price for flat repair, but most places it is usually 5 bucks or less. So basically you are paying them about 10.00 for insurance to fix a 5 dollar flat.
On occassion you would actually have to replace a tire under the old "road hazard coverage". In the 2+ years I worked I probably actually did maybe about 5 or 6. Most were from the farmers driving their trucks thru the fields and running over a stob where they had previously bush hogged.
All in all, I think I got ripped and even the guys I worked with says it sucks but it's the new Wally World way and they have to charge the way they do.
Okay guys, I've vented but can't say I feel much better. Send a e-mail to the home office too and told them what they can do with their tires from now on too.
First off, I worked in TLE for 2 and a half years after retirement so they can't BS a ex-employee.
Anyhow, I told them what I wanted, tires and sizes and road hazard. Now comes the changes. Road hazard USED to give you 2 new valve stems when they mounted the new tires, lifetime FREE rotate and balance every 6000 miles, free flat repair and regular road hazard if you should happen to puncture a side wall, blowout or any other problem as long as it was not caused by the vehicle itself. Such as out of round rims, wreck, wheels out of alignment, etc.
So I go to pick up the car. New changes now in force. Road hazard is still 9.67 but does not include the valve stems, balance, rotation. Basically all it does cover now is flat repair.
They charge 1.75 per valve stem. You can buy them inside for 1.98 for 2 on a prepacked card. The balance will cost you 5 bucks per tire for a one time balance or 7.50 for life time balance but the rotation is not included any longer. 2.00 per tire for tire removal of the old tires. Doesn't matter if you take the old tires or not, you will be charged. Don't know if it's federal or state law.
Didn't check into the price for flat repair, but most places it is usually 5 bucks or less. So basically you are paying them about 10.00 for insurance to fix a 5 dollar flat.
On occassion you would actually have to replace a tire under the old "road hazard coverage". In the 2+ years I worked I probably actually did maybe about 5 or 6. Most were from the farmers driving their trucks thru the fields and running over a stob where they had previously bush hogged.
All in all, I think I got ripped and even the guys I worked with says it sucks but it's the new Wally World way and they have to charge the way they do.
Okay guys, I've vented but can't say I feel much better. Send a e-mail to the home office too and told them what they can do with their tires from now on too.