Overcharged by garage - not happy!
Discussion
At the weekend I foolishly managed to bump a kerb and damage one of my tyres, scraping the sidewall. As the tyre was looking dangerous I immediately went to the nearest tyre `specialist` (not a major), and asked them to replace the tyre. As my other front tyre was low I decided that it would be best if I got that done at the same time.
Now the mechanic was reeling off the tyres, and I plumped for two £150 AVON tyres (have had them before and was happy to pay that for what I assumed were performance tyres) - these are on a Focus ST, not the fastest thing in the world but they need decent tyres, and I am safety minded.
Having paid just over £300 pounds I was feeling confident that the garage had done what was best for me at the price. Now I have been looking at prices for s
ts and giggles and assumed that they put Avon ZZ3 tyres on, and I had paid slightly over budget.
This is where it gets mind blowingly frustrating (for me). have looked on my car and the garage have put Avon ZV5 tyres on. Last years performance tyres, I thought, not too bad. I googled these and they are available for as low as £80!
Now I think I have been majorly overcharged, what would fellow ph'ers do?
I know I'll probably have to suck it up and put it down to experience, but I now wish I'd driven the extra mile or so to Kwik Fit.
Now the mechanic was reeling off the tyres, and I plumped for two £150 AVON tyres (have had them before and was happy to pay that for what I assumed were performance tyres) - these are on a Focus ST, not the fastest thing in the world but they need decent tyres, and I am safety minded.
Having paid just over £300 pounds I was feeling confident that the garage had done what was best for me at the price. Now I have been looking at prices for s
ts and giggles and assumed that they put Avon ZZ3 tyres on, and I had paid slightly over budget.This is where it gets mind blowingly frustrating (for me). have looked on my car and the garage have put Avon ZV5 tyres on. Last years performance tyres, I thought, not too bad. I googled these and they are available for as low as £80!
Now I think I have been majorly overcharged, what would fellow ph'ers do?
I know I'll probably have to suck it up and put it down to experience, but I now wish I'd driven the extra mile or so to Kwik Fit.
Deerfoot said:
ben_h100 said:
I know I'll probably have to suck it up and put it down to experience,
This.Research prior to purchase, not after.
The side of the tyre was partially shredded and my main priority was to get it changed ASAP.
So frustrating!
As for the overcharging point - perhaps technically I haven't, as I paid the price they were selling them at - I just assumed I was getting a top notch tyre of that brand.
I find this happens quite a bit, especially my parents. If they ever go out to get tyres, I'll tell them to let me have a look before they buy. They'll often come back and say "They're going to do 4 Bridgestone (or Dunlop etc) for £X.XX" sounded quite chuffed with the brand name, yet they have no idea what the model even is or what sort of price they are elsewhere.
I'm not saying this is the same thing, as you obviously know what you were looking for.
I'm not saying this is the same thing, as you obviously know what you were looking for.
Why not call up (being someone else) and ask them the cost of the tyres you got and the tyres you thought you were getting and see what that results in.
I doubt much will change though!
Just a thought - maybe they had the tyres in stock for a fair while since the prices were higher and didn't wanna lose the cost??
Cheers
The Moose
I doubt much will change though!
Just a thought - maybe they had the tyres in stock for a fair while since the prices were higher and didn't wanna lose the cost??
Cheers
The Moose
Everyone gets stung from time to time mate, the key is not to dwell on it. Things like this happen everyday and the only reason it does is because people are too lasy, or desperate, to do their research. You were unfortunate enough to fall into the desperate box. It happened to me once after a little accident in an MR2. I had it taken to the nearest garage (Toyota main dealer!!) and got charged double what i would have if i took it to my independant garage but i was desperate and in a rush.
People being lazy shoppers really pisses me off though, it sets us all up to pay more for things because retailers know they can get away with it. The baguette shop across the road from my work is a prime example. They charge rediculous prices for a sandwich yet 100 yards up the road you can save a quid at least, but the girls in the office still insist on going across the road because it is closer.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People being lazy shoppers really pisses me off though, it sets us all up to pay more for things because retailers know they can get away with it. The baguette shop across the road from my work is a prime example. They charge rediculous prices for a sandwich yet 100 yards up the road you can save a quid at least, but the girls in the office still insist on going across the road because it is closer.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Conor D said:
I find this happens quite a bit, especially my parents. If they ever go out to get tyres, I'll tell them to let me have a look before they buy. They'll often come back and say "They're going to do 4 Bridgestone (or Dunlop etc) for £X.XX" sounded quite chuffed with the brand name, yet they have no idea what the model even is or what sort of price they are elsewhere.
My parents - well, my dad, to be precise - always cocks-up with tyres. He'll go along and be assured that he's getting (eg) Goodyears and will come back with some dreadful ditchfinders fitted (at the same cost) and will say "Ah yes, but they told me that they're made by Goodyear" 
Luckily using Event Tyres has solved this problem
Too lazy to get the tyres yourself. What do you expect?
and Oh noes, last years tyres?!?!?! IIRC all cars with last years tyres on crashed, exploded and killed everyone in the vehicle immeditately after leaving the garage...
Next time do the sensible thing, go online buy the correct tyres for a hell of alot cheaper, then take them down to your local garage you trust to fit, etc... if your garage is any good, £20 is the most you will ever have to pay, though I would only pay a fiver.
and Oh noes, last years tyres?!?!?! IIRC all cars with last years tyres on crashed, exploded and killed everyone in the vehicle immeditately after leaving the garage...
Next time do the sensible thing, go online buy the correct tyres for a hell of alot cheaper, then take them down to your local garage you trust to fit, etc... if your garage is any good, £20 is the most you will ever have to pay, though I would only pay a fiver.
Evil.soup said:
....but the girls in the office still insist on going across the road because it is closer.....
That's the thing that makes me laugh about threads like this - if the OPs missus/mother/sister had had to buy the tyres they have taken the first things offered and wouldn't have given a toss about how much they cost.Whereas as a bloke will spend hours trying to find the best possible deal.
cmackay81 said:
Too lazy to get the tyres yourself. What do you expect?
and Oh noes, last years tyres?!?!?! IIRC all cars with last years tyres on crashed, exploded and killed everyone in the vehicle immeditately after leaving the garage...
Next time do the sensible thing, go online buy the correct tyres for a hell of alot cheaper, then take them down to your local garage you trust to fit, etc... if your garage is any good, £20 is the most you will ever have to pay, though I would only pay a fiver.
Thanks for the advice - if you had bothered to read my OP you would have realised that I didn't have a few days to wait for tyres; the sidewall was fand Oh noes, last years tyres?!?!?! IIRC all cars with last years tyres on crashed, exploded and killed everyone in the vehicle immeditately after leaving the garage...
Next time do the sensible thing, go online buy the correct tyres for a hell of alot cheaper, then take them down to your local garage you trust to fit, etc... if your garage is any good, £20 is the most you will ever have to pay, though I would only pay a fiver.
ked and I had to get home. Not laziness, more naivety. Coupled with the fact that I was in an unfamiliar town, I avoided kwik fit on previous experience and thought that a local tyre garage would be trustworthy.I bow down to your superior tyre buying knowledge..!
Similar thing for me - I've got a Leased car so I have to go where the Lease company tells me. It's Kwik Fit.
Now, I don't have a problem with Kwik Fit as I've never been screwed over by them (they've always been good to/for me....) but the price of the tyres genuinely shocked me - four 225/40/18 (reinforced), Continental Sport Contacts for £745 (I would have walked away laughing at that point) - they've not got them in anyway, so I'm back in today to get them fitted.
Out of general curiosity, I looked on the Black Circle website and the same tyres, fitted, came to about £580.
So it does pay to shop around in this case - I'll challenge Kwik Fit later, but there's something at the back of my mind saying "you're paying the lease price that covers this, why bother saving them any money" though.
Now, I don't have a problem with Kwik Fit as I've never been screwed over by them (they've always been good to/for me....) but the price of the tyres genuinely shocked me - four 225/40/18 (reinforced), Continental Sport Contacts for £745 (I would have walked away laughing at that point) - they've not got them in anyway, so I'm back in today to get them fitted.
Out of general curiosity, I looked on the Black Circle website and the same tyres, fitted, came to about £580.
So it does pay to shop around in this case - I'll challenge Kwik Fit later, but there's something at the back of my mind saying "you're paying the lease price that covers this, why bother saving them any money" though.
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