Pep Boys
Repair or Destroy Punctured Tire resulting in new tire, two new studs, possible new brake drums. Ripoff

Sunday afternoon. Ice cream stop. Coming out of the shop, I realize the tire must be flat. Pull into delta sonic, which is about 100 yards from the ice cream shop.

I find a metallic piece in my rear drive side tire. After re-inflating the tire, I can hear air noises. An obvious puncture.

I realize Pepboys may be the only place open on Sunday, and decide to take it there for a routine fix of a punctured tire.

I don't have my tools to just drop off the wheel. So I leave my number and my car. They tell me 1.5hrs wait, and 30 more mins to finish the job. I come back 2hrs later. They have a problem. The sidewalls have been scratched up. Maybe when I drove it to get it reinflated. Or they could have scratched it up, (car waiting in the parking lot for 1.5hrs, may have left the tires flat again) and they may have drove it in on a flat. I can't know.

Anyhow, they suggest a new tire. So I just ask for the cheapest one. They suggest Future Super Sport. Around $40 for tire, $10 balance, $5 for stem, etc etc = $67.

Now they tell me 15-20 mins. Yeah right, I come back in 30min, well, I was just walking around the shop back and forth. I see that no one is working on my car. The wheel is just sitting on the ground. But I just thought, they are doing something somewhere. So I walk outside and sit in the sun staring at my lifted car with no technicians.

Finally a technician, and then someone looking like a manager. After they look at my car, the manager walks to me. Drops a pen while coming. Anyways, he says, a stud broke while they were installing. They won't charge me for the labor. (What???) But the stud will cost me. (What???) I shouted reactively "But you broke it!" He replies, with the salt and rust, its bound to break. I am speechless and too tired to argue. Its getting close to 6pm now. So I ask how much will it cost extra. He says $5. So I tell him go ahead.

After another 1-1.5hr. The shop is to close. I am still walking around staring at my lifted car. And not a whole lot of activity. Finally, another manager looking man comes to me and says. They broke another stud. (WHAT???) They don't have time to fix it now so come back another time. *SIGH*

That's all fine, I can at least drive me car. But as they pull out my car. I hear a rattling noise from the wheel they worked on. Sound of loose metal parts. The 2nd manager tells me its normal for it to make noises after the brake covers are removed. And that the noise will be gone after I drive it for like 1 mile.

Fine. I drive home about 5-10miles. Everytime another car passes by on the opposite direction. I can here the rattle. Even against a pavement, I can hear the rattle. When I et home I visually inspect the brakes. It looks as if it has been pryed with. The back parts are deformed. I look at the passenger side, and its so different. I wish I can upload a photo right now.

Well, its been 2 days now. I can't tell if the sound is gone. Because its colder now, and I don't drive with my windows down.

Well, I reschedule this coming Saturday.

I will update on what this different manager might say.

(summary)
Start: Punctured Tire
1.) Scratched sidewall = need new tire
2.) Install tire = break stud.
3.) Replace stud = remove brake cover = bend and deform back side of brake. (not sure what its called)
4.) Pay $80
5.) Unfinished job, another broken stud, more time to be wasted.
All because Pepboys is open on Sunday.

Sigh*

Company: Pep Boys
Country: USA
State: New York
City: Henrietta
Address: 1375 Market Place Dr
Phone: 5852727080

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