Auto Service & Repair Shops Reviews

Review: I drove to the Tire Outlet in Gainsville Florida on Friday, 5/18/18. I had called them earlier and found out that they did have my tire size. They said, "We have your tire size in either a $39 or $49 tire, depending on the quality you want.&q...

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Review: I drove to the Tire Outlet in Gainsville Florida on Friday, 5/18/18. I had called them earlier and found out that they did have my tire size. They said, "We have your tire size in either a $39 or $49 tire, depending on the quality you want."

So when I got there, I explained I needed one $39 or $49 tire for the left front tire. I told the female receptionist/manager that it had been previously patched and that it was leaking and that the whole tire was just inspected by another used tire store, who said that it had a separated band. I told the receptionist that it wobbled badly when it leaked and the pressure went down. She said with a smile, "Well, we'll check that out," and I said, "I know it's bad and that it needs changing."

After about 15 minutes wait, the female employee said she needed my keys - that they needed to drive it to put car up in rack, so they could get under and 'insect' the tire or something. (I have never seen this before when changing a tire, because to get a tire off, you can't put it on a rack as the tire is still supporting the car?)

After about 40 minutes, a guy next to the female employee in the waiting room, who I think also acted as manager, said to me, "Ok, you're all ready." I asked him, "By ready, do you mean that you've checked out the tire?" He said, "No, the tire has been changed."

I asked, "You mean you put the tire on, without letting me inspect the tire or check the tread?!" He merely answered, "We only had one tire that would fit."

In a later email to the BBB, this guy said, "This customer was all over his car and the work being performed." This was a complete lie as I never left the waiting room and even saw my car, on the rack or on the ground. So, not only did I not have the ability to check the tire out, I didn't have a choice for a $39 or $49 tire, which they had told me over the phone.

So then the female manager and I went out to my car, where a worker was filling up the left front tire with air. He turned to both of us and said, "This tire is low, I had to put 10 lbs in it."

"Hmm," I wondered, "Why didn't they fill up the tire to specs before putting it on?" I then bent over and looked at the (supposedly newly installed) tire, for tread, etc. The tire was complete dry, by-the-way, and I have never seen a used tire not checked for leaks by putting in a tub of water.

That alone should have been enough for me to look closer at the tire, but I just asked her, "Do you have a guarantee?" She assuredly said, "Yes, a 30-day guarantee. If there's any problem, just bring it back." I said, "Well, I'm driving to Mobile, Alabama today. Is there a Tire Outlet there that I can bring it to if I have any problem?" She said, "Yes, of course."

So, I make the 2-hour drive to Mobile, and the tire seemed OK and didn't wobble, because it was filled up with air. I parked the car overnight, and in the morning, the tire was almost flat.

I call the female manager, tell her about it, and ask if they have a Tire Outlet there in Mobile. She checks the computer and tells me, "No." And then he says, "My 'GUY' is not here right now. Being this is Friday, if you could call me Monday morning, we could resolve this."

After I hang up, I inspect the tire further, and that's when I discover for sure that IT'S THE SAME TIRE I'VE HAD ON THAT CAR FOR
MONTHS, THAT THEY NEVER CHANGED IT! That's because I have a black magic marker mark on the rim that marks where a previous patch plug is on the tire and also where the indentation where the belt is separating, that you can easily feel with your hand. And both the
plug and separation are exactly where they were! I had been checking these two places at least once every two days for the past month, as I had to fill the tire up with air every 2 or 3 days, because it was leaking.

So, I call her Monday morning like she asked, and after I tell her that that's the same tire that was on there, and they never changed it, she continually insists that it was probably a simple mistake, THAT THEY DID PUT A NEW TIRE ON THE CAR, IT WAS PROBABLY ON A DIFFERENT WHEEL!! And she says "We try to help people here!" (I looked just after we hung up and none of the other 3 tires had been changed, and if what she said was true, why was the worker working on and filling up the left-front tire?)

After we argue for 3 more minutes, and she finally says, "Give me your name and phone # and when my 'GUY' gets back in 45 minutes, we can resolve this, and we will call you."

So, I wait all afternoon, 4 hours, and she doesn't call me back. In fact, I never here from them again, except through the BBB later (and have never received a refund).

I am 100% certain that these 2 people at the Tire Outlet consciously were out to scam me. I am good reader peoples' integrity and these 2 people remind me of con men. I only wonder how many others they had victimized.

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Review: Great mechanic!