Tires Discussion Board

Bridgestone Tire Issue

GardenTractorMan — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:22:03 GMT

I had a really difficult time with Sears auto centers many years ago and I cannot remember ever going back since. They were billing for work they did not perform and doing some really dangerous things. I think the news did a report about some of the other Sears auto centers doing similar things.

Bridgestone Tire Issue

JonJon1978 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:43:24 GMT

Yes They wanted me to go back to sears and get the tire tread depth. They also said that Sears should be the ones to contact them since they sold the tires and the warranty.

Bridgestone Tire Issue

GardenTractorMan — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:12:34 GMT

Have you tried calling the manufacturer and asking them if they can help you?

Bridgestone Tire Issue

JonJon1978 — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:45:53 GMT

I bought a new set of 4 tires from sears have had an aligment done on my suv every 10,000 - 12,000 miles and had the tires rotated and ballanced ever 7,000 - 8,000 miles. The tires are 60,000 mile tires and are worn bald on the inside at just 25,000 miles. I go into the sears store and ask about the issue and was told they are no longer a supplier of bridgestone tires however they have them hanging everywhere. They have been verry rude and unhelpfull to say the least. Have not even given me a option to buy new tires or anything.

Road Hazard Warranty Question

BlueOne1 — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:06:16 GMT

I purchased Continental Tires through TireRack.com 2 months ago but didn't have them installed through Sears. Now I need a tire replaced due to a nail in it. My Road Hazard warranty provided by Continental is still good. Could I get this tire replaced for free through Sears?

MIchelin $70 rebate (Dec 2011)

TiresForFlex — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:13:46 GMT

Sears website advertises $70 MIR for Michelin tires but I do not see the form anywhere, I wanted to make sure if this offer is valid before I pull trigger on ny $700 tire purchase :)

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

BigMike4511 — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:29:51 GMT

jeffprime said…

My friends call me a "cheapskate". I prefer the term "fiscally responsible".

Don't feel bad, I have friends who make comments about me too. Usually it is something along the lines of a nickle, the Indian and the buffalo, and some inapprorate for a family site action. LOL

Cheap is good.

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

jeffprime — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:21:42 GMT

Well, you're doing the right thing in doing your homework ahead of time. A well-informed customer is our best friend, as we can often cut straight to the chase. And if a local retailer is offering an identical tire for a lower price...by all means, bring in the documentation (or have us look it up for you) and we'll BEAT that deal!!

Michelin have been the best tires on the market for ages now, and there's no denying their quality. But many competing brands, especially Goodyear, are offering tires of good quality as well, with often substantially lower prices. I'm a value-oriented shopper, so I'm very aware of what I'm getting for my hard-earned dollars. If the most expensive item is the best VALUE, then I'll save my pennies and dimes until I can afford it. But if someone wants twice the price for something only marginally better, I'll stick with the cheaper product.

My friends call me a "cheapskate". I prefer the term "fiscally responsible".

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

spaarkmanttx — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:14:35 GMT

Thanks for the feedback. Based on the market to market comments I looked again at pricing differences in both markets I was dealing with. It is true that Michelin is priced higher in the WIchita area by all the vendors that I called but Goodyear Eagle GT and many others in my size are the same in both markets, both at Sears and their competition. That would lead me to believe it might be Michelin that is the culprit and must control pricing with their dealers. I have alwasy been a fan of Michelin tires but I believe I will probably have to change brands for now. I still like the Sears availability nationwide but I will be a smarter and more frugal shopper in the future. Thanks to all and feel free to add and further feedback.

Poor Customer Service in Dayton, OH; Bad Goodyear Tire Quality

jeffprime — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:09 GMT

First off, apologies for the defective tires. Occasionally a few do slip past the quality-control process and end up on the road. This is a very rare event, but when it does happen we do our best to fix it in the quickest amount of time possible. Considering these were WeatherHandler FuelMax tires, which are exclusive to Sears, I don't see why replacements weren't ordered for you right away. Worst-case scenario (presuming replacements were not called for), we just put them into stock and sell them to another customer later on. Otherwise we can have them there and ready to go. This should have been handled more promptly.

Second, I suspect there are some techs and CSA's who need to be better educated and coached in the Require/Suggest element of the MAP (Motorist Assurance Program) process. To begin with, the only way a tie rod can be a "Required" replacement is if it is broken or missing (in which case you wouldn't have been able to drive the vehicle into the shop to begin with). I get into a lot of arguments with a lot of techs over this process, but a loose tie rod does NOT "Require" replacement, as there is no specified range of movement for a tie rod--meaning there's no dividing line between what is "only a little loose" or "too loose". A loose tie rod can ONLY be a "Suggested" replacement, to help an alignment hold its toe-settings properly and prevent excessive tire wear.

What SHOULD have happened in this scenario, is that we advise you of what we found, and inform you about the SUGGESTED repairs, including the features and benefits. Then, presuming you decline all or part of them, then we proceed to perform the repairs you authorize. In that case, we merely document on the invoice that other repairs were suggested, and you have declined them. There's absolutely no reason to get into a finger-pointing match with an outside garage or dealership.

I do apologize for your bad experience. I'm sure Jeff (no relation) has had a little "chat" with his crew to coach them up to proper MAP standards. Because this is something we all need to be on the same page with.

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

jeffprime — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:23:38 GMT

Good point. Every state has its own local taxes and regulations that can affect the final price of darn near anything. There are so many hidden costs that affect the selling price of almost anything a retailer offers, that the consumer is often completely unaware of. But with the actual retail pricing, it's still a matter of what you can get for something versus what people will actually pay. Set your price too high, and you won't sell anything. Set your price too low, and you won't make a profit, or even wind up losing money. Go too far in either direction, and you won't stay in business terribly long.

Poor Customer Service in Dayton, OH; Bad Goodyear Tire Quality

sharrodfamily — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:36:49 GMT

I had a very negative experience this recent "Black Friday", 2011. I took advantage of an early morning special to obtain what I thought was a very good price on a full set of 4 Goodyear Weatherhandler Fuelmax tires. My sales agent was Robert "Bob" Stephens, at the Dayton Mall store. The vehicle is a 1999 Toyota Sienna.

We waited in line and purchased our tires with promotion benefits by 1 pm. We went shopping in the mall while they were installed. On return, Bob told us that the mechanic said the van "required" driver and passenger side inner tie rods, and that outer tie rods were "suggested". The quoted price for these repairs was approximately $500+ (in addition to the tire purchase). We have a strong relationship with the Toyota dealer, and the dealer asked us to bring the van over right away for an inspection. The dealer mechanic put the vehicle up on the rack, and agreed that the driver inner tie rod needed replacement, but said the passenger tie rod did not need replacement. Unfortunately, the dealer also found that two of the four newly installed tires were defective! He marked with chalk bulges on the sidewalls.

I returned to Sears, but Bob was no longer on duty. I spoke to agent Kent and mechanic Andrew. They apologized and said the tires were not in stock and a special trip would be made to retrieve the tires that night. They also said they could limit the repair to the driver's side. I was to return Saturday about 9 am for priority repair.

Later that evening I received a call from Bob saying that Sears policy was that they had to replace both driver and passenger side, regardless of what the Toyota dealer diagnostic was. I replied that we would have the work done at the Toyota dealer, but would return Saturday for the tire replacement.

I returned Saturday at 9:30 am and the manager Jeff asked to speak with me. He offered to inspect the car again, but the replacement tires had not been delivered, and he had to verify the defective tires before new tires would be ordered. Although we viewed the car together and the bulges were visible, he required that the tires be removed and inspected before he allowed that they were defective. I went to a nearby coffee shop and waited for his call.

I received a call about 11 am from Jeff saying that he agreed the passenger tie rods were serviceable and did not require replacement, and that the two tires were defective and would be replaced. In spite of repeated later statements that the repair would be complete "shortly", the repair was not actually finished until 3 pm. Part of the delay was because the tires were not ordered until after the inspection, and the tire installation did not begin until 1 pm.

I am disappointed that:

a) Sears installed 2 of 4 visibly defective tires on my vehicle

b) Sears inflated the required repairs to my suspension

c) That I had to visit my Toyota dealer to discover this

d) Sears resisted acceptance of their error

and

e) in spite of my request, no compensation was offered for my inconvenience, such as a free alignment.

A less knowledgeable customer would have driven away with two defective tires and have paid for unnecessary repairs to their vehicle.

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

Kevin-Pace — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:03:53 GMT

One other thing to consider is that often times, mandatory state issued old tire disposal fees are included in the price of new tires. Those fees can vary greatly from state to state. The actual difference from the lowest state to the highest is $63.78 in fees per tire! Some of that is calculated into the price of the tire as well.

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

jeffprime — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:26:37 GMT

It's not a matter of small town vs large town, but market vs market. Different parts of the country have different costs of living, and this in turn affects the costs of purchasing almost everything in a given area. Prices can vary greatly between, say, Los Angeles, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Dallas or New York City.

Most markets set their prices by what the competitor down the road is selling for. While we (as a profit-driven retailer) might want to sell that Michelin tire for $170 dollars nation-wide, the buyers in Frisco or Florida would balk at paying that when the guy down the road is selling it for $140, and we wouldn't sell any in those markets. And if the guy down the road in Wichita is selling it for $190, wouldn't us selling it at $170 still be the best deal in town??

So we check out what the competition is selling things for (just like they check us) and price ourselves to be as competitive as we can be, while still maximizing our profits. It's a balancing act, and what works in New York City won't work in Houston, Texas. It's a pretty common practice throughout the retail industry, and has been going on for decades. Almost every major retailer's website will ask you for your zip code at some point so they can index the prices they give you to that local market.

But as always, feel free to shop the local competition for the best deal in your area. Then take what you find and come see us. We'll price match any deal in town, and give you the best deal possible. For that area.

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

Hello777 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:34:03 GMT

"I just checked internet prices and they are different by location also. I guess the small town stores have less competition and get away with higher pricing."

You're are absolutely right about that. I bought 4 of the exact same tires at a Sears in South FL at $129.99 per tire. And they were running a $70 rebate promo on four tires at the same time as well. Sorry. Well I'm sure they can be found even cheaper than this too. :(

Tire pricing not same at different Sears stores or on-line

spaarkmanttx — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:58:02 GMT

I have an issue with Sears tire pricing policy. I stopped in a Sear Auto center in Frisco, TX while enroute to Wichita, KS to get tires on my 2005 GT PT Cruiser Convertible. The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S 205/50R/17 were priced at 151.99 but were not in stock. They could have been ordered from the Michelin factory but would take 3-5 business days to deliver and that conflicted with my travel commitments. So I thought I would go to the West Sears outlet in WIchita, KS thinking I would get the same price. Not hardly, they were priced at 170.99 on sale. I have been a dedicated Sears customer for years on my tire purchases because of the national presence but I have never had this experience, or maybe I was just dumb, fat, and happy by not checking other Sears markets for pricing before buying in the past. WIth this experience I may just have to find a local dealer that might match that price. Oh yes, the installation fees differed by a few $ also. I just checked internet prices and they are different by location also. I guess the small town stores have less competition and get away with higher pricing.

Current $70 Michelin Rebate Apply to Sears?

idahoguru — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 17:10:06 GMT

Hello there. I got four Michelin tires installed at sears and submitted my rebate to Michelin only to get a card back from Michelin that sears is not a participating store in the $70 rebate. This was on the weekly add plus i got the form from the salesman. Went back to the store and they were surprised and made a copy and told me the manager will check and get back to me. I have not heard back so what should i do next. I guess i will have to shop for new tires again and tell Michelin to take their tires back. Any recommendations.

Road hazard warranty at sears

BigMike4511 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:25:32 GMT

Tire road hazard damage plans all are based on the amount of useable tread on the tire, and are prorated based on the wear. For example, if you have 60% of the usable tread left, you pay 40% of the cost of the replacement tire. and the road hazard coverage pays for 60%.

This is done so that people do not take tires that are well worn, and purposely damage them (trust me, they would) in order to get new replacements for free.

Without knowing how much tread was left on the tire, I can not tell you if you were given the right information as to price.

Road hazard warranty at sears

Kaos4321 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 08:56:22 GMT

What this warranty covers because I have it and I still had to pay for the cost of a tire that had no way to repair. Please explain how much this warranty covers and if it is equal in all 50 states.

Expired Road Hazard Warranty

autorep84 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:55:45 GMT

Unfortunately, we currently don't have a extention program for our Road Hazard Protection Agreement.