Online Tire Shoppers...Fair Warning!!!

[itbgti]

I have been purchasing non-race tires online for about 5 years (Tire Rack) and have had great success...however, times are-a-changin.

I just purchased snows, and went to have them mounted...FIVE places would not even touch the tires...most were effective August 30, 2004 (No Tires Purchased elsewhere will be mounted/balanced, etc). Two additional places wanted to charge north of $200. I finally lucked out and called a distant contact and had them done for $100.

I don't know if this is something widespread, but I thought some would like a fair warning...check local tire shops first, armed with online prices, and some may match it now.

Regards,
Alan

[Greg Amy]

It's becoming a more common ploy, Alan: they don't want you buying tires from anyone else and bringing to them for mounting. Sure, they'll *claim* it's a liability and insurance issue, but it's not; it's really a non-competitive way of trying to force you to buy tires from them.

Each time I'm faced with such an attitude I make it clear to the shop that they are removing any possibility of doing business with me in the future. It even happened to me at my tractor supply company! The guy could not supply the tires I wanted for my lawn tractor, but when I brought him tires that I bought mail order he refused to mount them. I let him know he'd lost all future service, repair, and parts business from me; he was non-plussed (even rude) despite our long relationship. <shrug>

The best tactic is to use the on-track facilities available at your races. I make it a point of buying my Hoosiers from the track guys, and of course I'll never have any mountingproblems. If, for whatever reason, I need other tires mounted, my ongoing business with them assures me good service.

An alternative tactic is to deal exclusively with installers listed on Tire Rack's web site. Those dealers have pledged to accept shipments of tires from The Rack and to install them; should one of those dealers choose to over-charge you, you can leave your feedback online to keep it from happening to others.

This issue will continue to grow unless customers demand otherwise...

[Joe Harlan]

Now for the flip side of this. As a small business owner I have to make some sort of profit to keep my doors open. When I sell a tire I may make 10 to 30% depending on what tire. I had to purchase the tire equipment that will mount your custom mags and have them updated every year. I pay for the electricity for the lights and compressor and then I have to pay the high cost of business insurance because if the tire you bought at or below my cost fails you will most likely name me in the law suit. So even if i charged 200 bucks to mount that one set of tires I would likely be loosing money on the deal....Getting a discount is not always what saves you money and if you ask how many of my customers the benefits of buying local and the number of free hours of service they end up with in return I think you would find it is a bonus to do business close to home.

[ddewhurst]

***So even if i charged 200 bucks to mount that one set of tires I would likely be loosing money on the deal....***

Someone that met Joe at the Runoffs this year asked me if Joe has a serious bone in his body & my response was, NO.

Have Fun
David

[dtheracer]

I have to agree with Joe on this one. Like a lot of grassroots racers,I've had to get and have received a lot of "help" from local people who do things for racers because they like racers and like racing. I've been charged $300 for a job that the public would pay $600 for. I've had a simple formula-they say $300 and I give them $350-they are schocked and happy and I don't have to worry about them rolling their eyes when I show up needing a favor. And I support them on my street purchases and I send people to them
Price isn't everything. We live in a time when everyone wants "the best price" or 'the best deal" yet we complain about job outsourcing to foreign countries. When a $2 better price on a pair of jeans is more important than an American job or the welfare of a local dedicated merchant we are in trouble.

Dave Piasecki
#2 ITA (totally wrecked at the ARRC/Pro-IT

[lateapex911]

Around these parts, nobody gives a rats ass about racing...just pay up sucker!

That said, I have a guy who is very convenient and does great work who will accept my race tires. It costs me, but at least he does them.

My trackside experience has been mixed. The guy up north could hardly care, and has even moved all my stuff so he could use my paddock spot when I was on track instructing for the club. A lot of "B%^ls he has. He told me he needed the spot, he's trying to make money. jolly good...but it's not like he was performing charity work!

So, no business to him ever again from me. Not that he impressed me before that incident.

The guys from Tenn..Appalachian Tire..Hoosier Tire South..WOW! What a difference! Talk about wanting to do business with someone again! I learned a lot from them, they were TOTALLY helpful, on time, friendly and easy going. Made me want to move South! (Interestingly, he knew of the Northern guy and admited the reputation wasn't favorable)

I buy my tires from tire rack, as they heat cycle, and I don't have a lot of wheels nor track time. It seemed like an expediant way to me, but it was explained that the cycling Tire Rack uses really doesn't duplicate a proper heat cycle....

So, next year is a question....I hear the Manchester guys are good, and mount for free....

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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[Diane]

Originally posted by lateapex911:

That said, I have a guy who is very convenient and does great work who will accept my race tires. It costs me, but at least he does them.

We have a local guy as well. We buy all our snow tires from him and we both send him multiple leads. I'll buy my next set of summer tires from him too.

That said, he can't get any of the tires we race on (he actually tells us to go to Tire Rack etc as that's where he'd buy them) but he will mount and balance anything we bring him. Sometimes we pay full price, sometimes he says "it's all set". Either way I'm glad he's around.

Is there a local garage you can deal with as well? I'd think they'd be a little more willing to work with you rather than a "Town Faire Tire"-type shop and maybe you can slip them some other business (or referrals) as well.

Doesn't everyone you know think you know everything about cars and always asks you where you get things done or buy them?

Oh! BTW a friend had told me that they have found out that people won't install less than 4 snows on a car anymore, and they put the best pair of them on the rears (no matter what the drive wheels are). I believe this was at a large tire chain.


Diane

[dtheracer]

The guys from APP Tire are great and they treat you the same (good) whether they are mounting their Hoosiers or your Kumhos from Vilven or TR. We are lucky to have them here in the SE!

Dave Piasecki

[Joe Harlan]

<font face=\"Verdana, Arial\" size=\"2\">Someone that met Joe at the Runoffs this year asked me if Joe has a serious bone in his body & my response was, NO.</font>

Hahaha Dewhurst, At least I don't feed the crew boxed pizza and make them sleep in sani cans......lol

The other thing about doing business with the little local guy is this. When it comes time to clear out dome inventory every year. the guys that have been loyal and helped me survive always get first shot at what ever discounts I can offer and there is always hot coffee in the coach.....even for Dewhurst and his Honda pals.

[racer-025]

I have my own tire machine in my garage. Us racers have to stick together. If you all were closer to me - I'd mount them for free....

I've been racing for well over a decade. Over the years myself and my racing buddies have been trading off services with each other. It has obviously kept costs down and we have been able to race those early years on shoesting budgets. I'll mount your tires for a favour sometime...

[This message has been edited by racer-025 (edited November 17, 2004).]

[apr67]

I took my tires to Walmart and got them mounted, no problem.

I support the local guy if the local guy is worth supporting. I support the track side vendor if they are worth supporting.

I never support suck a$$ companies, regardless of location, if I can help it!

As for mounting. I the less rich sections of town are often tire stores that only sell used tires. They will generally mount just about anything!

[Diane]

Originally posted by apr67:
I took my tires to Walmart and got them mounted, no problem.

I wouldn't consider Walmart a "local guy".

[This message has been edited by Diane (edited November 17, 2004).]

[JohnRW]

Question: Do their employees commute in from Arkansas every day ?

I think not.

[This message has been edited by JohnRW (edited November 17, 2004).]

[lateapex911]

Are you saying something bad about the fine folks from AK?

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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[Greg Amy]

<font face=\"Verdana, Arial\" size=\"2\">Are you saying something bad about the fine folks from AK?</font>

What's Alaska got to do with this?

(grin, duck, run)

[lateapex911]

hmmmmm...ok GA, don't make me go look up st. abbrvs, eh?

isn't eerrr, uh oh...yea...what IS Arkansas? Alaska=AK, Alabama=AL, Arizona =AR...right?

well, you get the idea

LOL

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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[x-ring]

Um, actually Arizona is AZ. I think Arkansas is AR.



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Ty Till
#16 ITS
Rocky Mountain Division

[JohnRW]

Originally posted by lateapex911:
Are you saying something bad about the fine folks from AK?

Actually, no...I was trying to make a point that Diane's comment about Walmart not being 'local' misses the fact that the people working there are 'local'. It's quite fashionable these days to bash large companies for all sorts of 'sins' that seem to be overlooked when committed by some small local schmoe.

Enough social commentary. Isn't this supposed to be about racing ?

I made 'friends' with a local repair shop. They get my street tire purchases, they service the vehicles where I work, their staff borrow my beater open trailer when they need to bring home a new toy...and I get to use their tire mounting stuff. It's all about relationships, kids...smile and be friendly...and vote with your wallet.

[whenry]

When I can I use the local guy ie tow vehicle, wife's vehicle, trailer tires, but he cannot usually get me the performance tire that I want on my street Miata, Maxima or racecar. So he doesnt get upset when I show up with something to be mounted that he didnt sell me. He knows the deal. His guys dont like the 17"s that went on the Maxima and really cuss when you show up with any R tire due to the stiff sidewalls(you should have seen them strain on RE-71S's)that slow them down but they do like to talk racing so long as you are respectful of their style of racing. As I tell folk, dont be afraid of Bubba; he can help you out if he wants to.
YMMV

[racer_tim]

You should watch the local tire guys try to mount / un-mount my slicks?

Talk about the line in "Days of Thunder"

"You guys looked like a Monkey phucking a football"

I'll NEVER let them do that to my wheels / tires again.




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Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html