[dkan]

Took my car to get some rear tyres replaced today from a reputable tyre center (Protyre). I've used them before and have been please with the quality and service. But to my horror, found one alloy wheels badly damaged. There are scratch marks and indentations around 1/2 the outer wheel, it defintately not done by kerbing, as the indentations/scatches are a constant length, size and every 1 cm. (i suspect it done by the machine which removes the tyre from the wheel). I've only noticed after i got home and tried to call the tyre centre, but they were closed. What are my rights and what can i expect the tyre center to do ? The wheel was previously kerbed...but definately not as bad as it is now.

Any advice most welcomed.

[Gibbo]

I would go there first thing tomorrow morning and be polite, explain the issue and see what they say as a first stage. They must have insurance and ask to speak to the manager it won't be the first time.

Good luck.

[dxb335d]

as per gibbo's response.

Be polite etc and you might get somewhere.

Good luck tho mate.

[Steve A]

Or if that fails go all Gansta on them and dangle the manager out of the window while frothing at the mouth.......seems to always work for me

[creepy coupe]

I had the same thing with Tyre Web in Ashford on my E46, when I returned the same day the Manager couldn't be more apologetic and asked me to come back the next day Monday.

Upon my return the I had to deal with the owner son who was a complete Twat and tried to say I had done it, even though he wasn't there on the Sunday and his manager had already admitted fault by one of his staff members.

Anyway there was a lot of shouting, and threats were made, which wasn't my best move, the long and short of it was I was asked to leave and deal with another of their branches, who sorted a repair, and a voucher for a the value of a new tyre, to be spent at my convenience.

My advice is to stick to your guns NEVER back down, and threaten them with trading standards, take photo's of the wheel and then names of people you deal with. If they don’t play ball.

Good luck.

[threethirty]

Whenever I leave my car with a garage I take photos of the alloys before leaving home. I am paranoid about my alloys being damaged.

[Flea7]

I always inspect any work done on my car when I am still there at the shop.
Always!

[dxb335d]

any news?

[jjbirch]

when i had my tyres fitted last month runflat tyres are a real pain to get on as they have tougher side walls.they had a round clamp thingy to go round the alloy then he can use a metal bar to lever against to get the tyre off.

[SDRX]

As others have said, in the first instance, approach the situation with calm and assess the reaction you get tomorrow. Insist that the damage done to the wheel is not typical of scuffs with roadside kerbs. There are 2 fundmental problems here:

Firstly, you are conceding the wheel was damaged already and therefore it makes it difficult to distinguish between the different causes of damage. And secondly, it is very difficult to actually prove who damaged the tyrewithout evidence. Goodwill can settle this dispute, but the best way to avoid this in the future is to perhaps take photographs of your wheels.

[dkan]

Well the update is not so good , but considering i had no proof it was the tyre center that did the damage it was a fair option to take . Firstly, i spoke to the manager, who was very calm and polite. He looked at the damage and made a convincing case it was not caused by the fitter as he would have expected to see a continous score around the rim instead of damage every 1/2 cm. He also said there was road dirt in the damage which suggest it's been there a long time....anyway he offer me a big discount on my next set of tyres. I've used them many time before, and i think they are a reputable place so took the offer.


Anyways, lesson learnt...take photos of your wheels before taking it for ANY garage work . Can anyone recommmend a good place to get alloys refurb...in the Bristol area ?

[jjbirch]

not to be a pain but could u show us some pics of this wheel

[ShereKhan]

Originally Posted by dkan

Anyways, lesson learnt...take photos of your wheels before taking it for ANY garage work . Can anyone recommmend a good place to get alloys refurb...in the Bristol area ?

Didn't realise you were referring to Protyre in Bristol. I've used them before thought they were better than most of the people in East Bristol.

I know of a company in Wolves - heard they are quite good through another web site I frequent.

A1 Wheel renovations of 345 Bilston Road, Wolverhampton (01902 871422)

[ChrisMWard]

Originally Posted by dkan

....anyway he offer me a big discount on my next set of tyres.

This doesn't surprise me.

I was talking to the husband of one of the girls in my office the other day who runs his own tyre business.

When he told me the cost price of tyres it's easy to see how companys can offer large discounts and it accounts for the large variance in pricing.

Regards

Chris