Kwik-Fit Nitrogen ?

[Fastpedeller]

It would seem (from watching my recording of the most recent 'Watchdog' on BBC1 - Yeah I know!) that our friend as Kwik-Fit are charging most customers for Nitrogen in their new tyres without asking them if they require it, but also more often than not just putting air in. Their response is that customers this has happened to should drop in for refund and £5 voucher.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but in my book this amounts to fraud - Why aren't the authorities coming down in these people (I'm thinking Trading Standards rather than Police). If I paid them with dud £20 notes there would be many questions asked (and rightly so). Are they allowed to get away with this sort of practice just because they happen to be a High Street 'Name'?
"Sorry I stole Office, I'll just give a refund and a sweetener"

[HustleRussell]

They are putting nitrogen in every tyre they inflate.

[Fastpedeller]

HustleRussell said:

They are putting nitrogen in every tyre they inflate.

In most they are putting AIR in (yes I know it's 79% Nitrogen)

[Vaud]

It's hardly the next PPI scandal, and I guess they are applying a "pragmatic" remedy...

[HustleRussell]

I'm a horrible know-it-all but you got me.

No, Kwik fit shouldn't be allowed to get off so lightly

In my experience, though, going in to kwik fit is just asking for trouble and there are a million and one more honest mechanics and fitters out there who'd get my business first.

That said, they don't because I DIY absolutely everything except the MOT test

[Vaud]

My local mini chain are good on price, pretty flexible and normally do ok. I visit them at least twice a year for winter tyre swap so I see some of the staff come and go.

The last visit is worthy of a mention.

Him: "there you are mate and we filled the tyres with nitrogen for free"

Me: "Great. What pressure did you set them to?" (my car has quiet a spread of pressures that are shown inside the filler flap)

Him: "Dunno. 'ere BAZZZ what pressure did you set?"

Bazzz: "45 all round"

Me: "FFS. the highest possible is 38... and never the same all round"

Rubbish story, I know.

[Riley Blue]

What use is a £5 Kwik-Fit voucher to someone who has just been swindled by them?

[Hugo a Gogo]

Fastpedeller said:

HustleRussell said:

They are putting nitrogen in every tyre they inflate.

In most they are putting AIR in (yes I know it's 79% Nitrogen)

they should only get a pound back, for the 20% that's not nitrogen

[HustleRussell]

Riley Blue said:

What use is a £5 Kwik-Fit voucher to someone who has just been swindled by them?

It'll get the mugs back through the door for a great deal on new brakes and shock absorbers all 'round.

[anonymous-user]

Riley Blue said:

What use is a £5 Kwik-Fit voucher to someone who has just been swindled by them?

What could you get for £5? Some nitrogen in the tyres?

[V8LM]

"On production of their receipt we will refill their tyres to ensure they contain the correct level of nitrogen and also provide them with a £5 voucher by way of apology."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2fl1W11YJ...

Correct level?

[Evanivitch]

Vaud said:

My local mini chain are good on price, pretty flexible and normally do ok. I visit them at least twice a year for winter tyre swap so I see some of the staff come and go.

The last visit is worthy of a mention.

Him: "there you are mate and we filled the tyres with nitrogen for free"

Me: "Great. What pressure did you set them to?" (my car has quiet a spread of pressures that are shown inside the filler flap)

Him: "Dunno. 'ere BAZZZ what pressure did you set?"

Bazzz: "45 all round"

Me: "FFS. the highest possible is 38... and never the same all round"

Rubbish story, I know.

At least you left with more Nitrogen than you went in.

I usually run 45 but they "filled" to 35 and then tried to charge more for Nirtrogen (not kwikfit).

[eldar]

I prefer helium, it reduces unsprung weight, so handling is better, and the tyre squeal is more melodic.

[55palfers]

Costco use nitrogen as a matter of course. No extra charge.

[Slidingpillar]

eldar said:

I prefer helium, it reduces unsprung weight, so handling is better, and the tyre squeal is more melodic.

You'll have fun keeping the tyres inflated, small molecules you see.

[sealtt]

eldar said:

I prefer helium, it reduces unsprung weight, so handling is better, and the tyre squeal is more melodic.

[jmorgan]

What benefit is it to ordinary drivers? See,ed to have managed so far on the planets supply of free stuff.

[JonV8V]

55palfers said:

Costco use nitrogen as a matter of course. No extra charge.

I was told years ago that kwikfit did the same except they try and charge. I wouldn't believe watchdog any more than I'd trust kwikfit to be fair, their journalism is pretty bad at times. At least Ann patronising 'I made a mint doing weakest link' Robinson asking CEOs of pretty large companies why they deserved their salary has gone.

[eatcustard]

I was once charged for Nitrogen from Kwik Krap, I told them to get stuffed, so they took it off the bill.

Bunch of cowboys.


Nitrogen should mean you lose less than normal air, so the tyre stays inflated for longer

[john2443]

eatcustard said:

Nitrogen should mean you lose less than normal air, so the tyre stays inflated for longer

In which case <devil's advocate, numpty at physics question!> when you put normal air in shouldn't the oxygen and other gases leak out first so that the concentration of nitrogen gradually increases until it approaches 100%.

Discuss