I recently bought tires from TireRack.com. I wanted to change to the non-run-flat version of the W rated tire to have a better, softer ride. Including shipping, the cost was about $600 as opposed to $1,200 for the Goodyear F1 tires.
Early Saturday morning, I took the tires and Vette to a local Firestone to have them mounted for $120. So far I'm way ahead of the usual $1,350 total cost of the Goodyear tires. When I dropped the car off, I talked to a lady behind the counter about how much I like the car, and the store manager (a guy), who seemed very knowledgeable about the Vette wheels, tires and air pressure sensors in the wheel. It costs $10 extra per tire to mount because they must take extra precautions not to damage the sensor.
Conversation went like this:
ME: You guys are NOT going to put any weights on the outside of my bright, polished aluminum wheels, right? STORE MANAGER: "Oh, we would never do that! We are a REAL TIRE STORE! We know tires!! We're NOT A Jiffy Lube or K-MART!!!". (actual quote) ME: "GREAT!"
I left the car... When they called later in the day and said it was ready, my expectations were so high, I didn't carefully look at the wheels... Sunday I got it out to wash it, and HOLY COW! There were at LEAST 2 weights on the outside of each wheel...
I took it back Monday morning, and the lady I had talked to (The GENERAL MANAGER) was in the office. When I walked in, she did not expect to see me back again so soon...
GENERAL MANAGER: "Is there a problem?" ME: "yes, you guys have ruined a $2,000 set of wheels".
GENERAL MANAGER: "Oh, that can't be, I had my store manager do it personally, so that there'd be no problems!!!" ME: "You mean that the guy who I stood RIGHT HERE ON THIS SPOT and told not to put weights on the front is the one who did this!????"
GENERAL MANAGER: "Yes it was him... Oh, yes, I remember you saying that about the weights..." ME: "Let's get him in here and see what he has to say for himself..."
-------------------------------------AND NOW THE PUNCH LINE -------------------------------------
GENERAL MANAGER: "Oh, Saturday was his last day. He's moved to another city!" ME: "Well you better call him up and let him know he owes you some money."
GENERAL MANAGER: "Oh, I'm so sorry. you can have the scratches repaired" ME: "No I can't! YOU can!"
We walked out to the car. She took pictures with her digital phone camera. She said to contact someone to repair the damage, and let her know how much it is... She was very nice about the whole thing...
But, the damage is now done! The clear coat is scratched and torn, the wheel is scratched....
DAMN!