Tire shop monkeys

[cbielat]

Where do they find these people that work in tire shops? Do these companies even provide training for their employees? I got a good laugh again as I left a Town Fair Tire store today. I just wanted to get a price quote on some different brand and size tires so I just swung in as I was passing by. First I just told the guy the size and make of what I am currently running as I will most likely get another set(Duratracs). He didn't even know what they were or who made them. He quoted me $1500 for five. I also inquired about the Falken Wild Peaks, and gave me a quote on those. Then I asked about tires in a size 285/75/17, and before I even finished he quickly said "They don't make those." I had to take a deep breath as I realized who I was dealing with. I asked him "They don't"? He looked at another employee who then said "Why wouldn't they?" I knew for a fact that tires do come in those sizes, also, because I see others on this site running them! He looked at me again with that look of confusion on his face like I don't know what I'm talking about. I told him I've seen them lol. Upon further computer investigation on his end, voila, a few came up in that size. Then he began telling me that I don't want to run the tires I have on there(Duratracs) and I need a highway tire. I told him I also wheel it a bit and that's why they make A/T tires. I don't even know if he knew what a 4Runner is lol. I had to get out of there and just laughed to myself as I left the store.
Thought I'd share.

 

[vipergrhd]

Planet?

Did you ask him what planet are we in now?maybe he's from Mars? Maybe it's his first day at work and first time to deal with a customer that actually know tires.you should have ask him how long has he been on the job next time.:redbrick:

 

[DEKA3]

I once was told, when I went to get a flat fixed, that my tires that had 2000 (two thousand) miles on them needed to be replaced because they had been worn down too much. I asked him to show me the wear-bars. He said he didnt know what those were... :roadkill:

 

[philsey]

Where do they find these people that work in tire shops? Do these companies even provide training for their employees? I got a good laugh again as I left a Town Fair Tire store today. I just wanted to get a price quote on some different brand and size tires so I just swung in as I was passing by. First I just told the guy the size and make of what I am currently running as I will most likely get another set(Duratracs). He didn't even know what they were or who made them. He quoted me $1500 for five. I also inquired about the Falken Wild Peaks, and gave me a quote on those. Then I asked about tires in a size 285/75/17, and before I even finished he quickly said "They don't make those." I had to take a deep breath as I realized who I was dealing with. I asked him "They don't"? He looked at another employee who then said "Why wouldn't they?" I knew for a fact that tires do come in those sizes, also, because I see others on this site running them! He looked at me again with that look of confusion on his face like I don't know what I'm talking about. I told him I've seen them lol. Upon further computer investigation on his end, voila, a few came up in that size. Then he began telling me that I don't want to run the tires I have on there(Duratracs) and I need a highway tire. I told him I also wheel it a bit and that's why they make A/T tires. I don't even know if he knew what a 4Runner is lol. I had to get out of there and just laughed to myself as I left the store.
Thought I'd share.

Funny story (well, funny/sad actually). I won't waste my time anymore with incompetent salespeople. While it used to be mildly entertaining to spar with, or eye-poke them, now I just politely (and promptly) ask for the manager.

I make it my policy to become well-informed before I buy anything more sophisticated than eggs or pork chops. My wife becomes annoyed with me because I ask so many questions.

Sorry to say "Caveat Emptor" is more important than ever.

 

[jrm]

I had this one wanker blame the

tires i bought from them as evidence of why he couldn't balance um. This is after i had to explain what "lug centric" was. Damn auto correct.

 

[vipergrhd]

Correction

tires i bought from them as evidence of why he couldn't balance um. This is after i had to explain what "hub eccentric" was.:bump2:

What you mean is "Hubcenrict" not eccentric,did you try throwing him a curve ball and ask for a lugcentrict wheel?LOL

 

[KidVermicious]

tires i bought from them as evidence of why he couldn't balance um. This is after i had to explain what "hub eccentric" was.:bump2:

Yeah, you might wanna learn what "hub eccentric" is yourself and why we're laughing at you before you go poking fun at tire shop guys.

 

[cbielat]

Funny story (well, funny/sad actually). I won't waste my time anymore with incompetent salespeople. While it used to be mildly entertaining to spar with, or eye-poke them, now I just politely (and promptly) ask for the manager.

I make it my policy to become well-informed before I buy anything more sophisticated than eggs or pork chops. My wife becomes annoyed with me because I ask so many questions.

Sorry to say "Caveat Emptor" is more important than ever.

Yes, I make sure to put in a lot of research time so I KNOW what I'm talking about before going into anything. I kind of figured it was going to be like this going in lol.

 

[rfuree11]

blah blah blah Town Fair Tire blah blah blah

Found your problem ound:


No, but really, I called the one near my house and they were wicked scummy. The dude I dealt with quoted me my Duratracs for $159 each only to cave when I prodded him some more and admitted that it was for some no name Chinese tire to get me to come in. When I finally got the actual price out of him, it was a lot more than everywhere else.

 

[cbielat]

Found your problem ound:


No, but really, I called the one near my house and they were wicked scummy. The dude I dealt with quoted me my Duratracs for $159 each only to cave when I prodded him some more and admitted that it was for some no name Chinese tire to get me to come in. When I finally got the actual price out of him, it was a lot more than everywhere else.

Yeah, I've never bought anything from them let alone have them put them on or anything else lol. I know others on here use them so I feel bad bad mouthing them but this is the experience I have dealt with anytime I find myself in there.

 

[philsey]

What you mean is "Hubcenrict" not eccentric,did you try throwing him a curve ball and ask for a lugcentrict wheel?LOL

..... and what YOU mean is

HUB CENTRIC

Definition: A wheel that is centered or located on the hub by a machined center hole-as opposed to "lug centered" wheels that are located by the position of the lug nuts alone.

 

[vipergrhd]

Webster thanks ^^^

Did you really have to look up the definition of that?:lol:

I don't like using the space bar hope your happy now.J/K

 

[hwyix]

They just do not pay enough to make an honest living at it.

 

[cbielat]

They just do not pay enough to make an honest living at it.

It's sad. You have tho think, why wouldn't you want to do your job to the best of your ability? I mean, it's YOUR JOB! You're not doing anything else but that specific thing, so why not be the best at it?

 

[hwyix]

It's sad. You have tho think, why wouldn't you want to do your job to the best of your ability? I mean, it's YOUR JOB! You're not doing anything else but that specific thing, so why not be the best at it?

I agree with your line of thinking. If he was just getting an hour wage a lot of they probably would just do the best job that he could even if it was low pay.
That industry rewords the counter guy for selling stuff ( not knowing what he is selling is not important, just selling it ). The poor guy in the back is probably working some kind of flat rate or modified flat rate meaning he is rewarded for being fast not doing it right. And if the shop is slow he is not getting paid or getting paid less even though it was not his fault.

In theory other careers pay there employees like this. Say the sales team for a major software company. The difference is in pay. The software sales guy can have a bad month or quarter because he makes sooooo much money he is still make a good living. The tire people do not have it so lucky.

 

[cbielat]

I agree with your line of thinking. If he was just getting an hour wage a lot of they probably would just do the best job that he could even if it was low pay.
That industry rewords the counter guy for selling stuff ( not knowing what he is selling is not important, just selling it ). The poor guy in the back is probably working some kind of flat rate or modified flat rate meaning he is rewarded for being fast not doing it right. And if the shop is slow he is not getting paid or getting paid less even though it was not his fault.

In theory other careers pay there employees like this. Say the sales team for a major software company. The difference is in pay. The software sales guy can have a bad month or quarter because he makes sooooo much money he is still make a good living. The tire people do not have it so lucky.

Yep, retail sucks.