Tyre fitting companies not wanting to fit your tyres?

SO, here's a business model...

Open a tyre shop to make money selling and fitting tyres. To increase revenue add value adding options like MOT, servicing etc but remain a tyre selling and fitting operation, make money and profit. Simple isn't it?

This morning I drive into Oxford to visit National Tyres & Autocare. I see the tyre fitter chap and ask him if he has time to fit my winters, "we don't fit customer's own tyres". I ask why not?
"Not our policy" then he added, "you'll be hard pushed to find anyone to fit them". I'm sure he was smirking...

I ring Kwikfit, he responds with the same message. I'm a litte worried, so I try one more garage, Formula One Autocentre who, thankfully, say not a problem.

So if you want a summer to winter tyre swap, despite what some tyre fitters say, they won't fit tyres, not yours anyway.

Not unusual for the larger chains.
I always use a local small company. Better service than the large chains and cheaper too in my experience.

Strange. I just had four tyres fitted that I sourced myself. I phoned about six companies from local places to specialist garages to big chain tyre places and not one said they wouldn't fit them. I just got fairly high quotes, imo for them. Cheapest was £15 per tyre.

avoid chains, local smaller tyre retailer should be happy to fit, and then you will go back to him for other stuff in future

Tyre shops are ten a penny as its not a very skilled job so there will always be plenty of places to do it. Not surprised the big chains won't do it.

Same price I pay for 4 tyres swapped and balanced.

£20?

For four?

Yes. £5 each.
We have 4 cars so see them quite regularly.
Been using them for a while so I think he gives me a good rate.
My other half likes baking so on occasion drops off a few cup cakes for them as a thank you for them.

I have a mate who runs a small garage. We had this convorsation a while ago (when I was disputing a price he was quoting me for a wheel bearing xD). He says he makes it a personal policy to not fit parts provided by customers. Its not an issue of warranty/legality, he just says its usually a pain in the arse for him with folk bringing in the wrong bits and dodgy used parts. Although with his being a small place he makes exceptions for people he knows... and knows they wont piss him about with dodgy bits . Folk walking in off the street though, no chance.

KF told me that fitting and pricing was at their branch managers discretion. I asked because the Stratford upon Avon garage quoted a brilliant price, but my local branch in Sheffield wanted 2.5x as much for exactly the same job.