Now i know why its called tires "plus"
I usually buy my tires at SAMS CLUB naqd have never paid more than $75 -$90 for a tire, inluding mounted balanced and with road hazard ($5-7 ea).
I have a bad tire (tread peeled off, but tire didn't deflate) so I stop at the local service station to pick up a good used tire $25-30 mounted balanced and installed. They don't have a "good" (50% tread) tire in my size so I leave and continue down State Road 7.
I spot a sign at TIRES PLUS "Tire Clearance", its December and I figure maybe I can get a cheap end of year "Clearance Tire". I go in and ask RICH (the counter guy) about a Cheap Clearance tire in my size, he shows me a $125 tire and I tell him I said "Cheap", he quickly builds a reporewith me telling me he is a "motor head" and has had these $65 tires on his truck for 2 yrs and they really wear good, tada tada, and wants to sell me a set of them, but they are at another store in my size (how convienient) I tell him I just need (1) tire so he switches me to this $75 tire and he has them in stock in my size, I never heard of the brand and tell him I don't want any Chineese tires, he says their made in America. Rich is so friendly andwe talk about all the different tire companies, and who owns them now, by now he is my ol buddy. OK, I decide I'll get (2) so their matched.
Rich pulls my car up to the front door and quickly upsells me on replacing my windshield wipers because one of them is ripped (I hadn't noticed that before) special price $10 ea, OK! Then he upsells me on a $69 tire alignment (I decline the $179 lifetime alignment).
They start putting on the tires, RICH goes out to the garage and comes back in. My Ol BUDDY RICH tells me I have some "Serious Brake Problems."
Now I know I have had a Brake light on for a couple days but the brakes aren't making any unusual noises and I figure the brake fluid resevoir is probably low, no big deal, I'll check it when I have some time. I just replaced the front pads 3-4 months ago, and checked the rear shoes and their only about 1/2 wore down probably good for atleast another 6 months or more.
I haven't disclosed any of this to my O'l Buddy RICH, I just tell him to give me and estimate, I think if it's the back shoes and its not to much ($125 with labor) I'll just have them do it. (I know shoes are about $19 - $29 at autozone and advance discount auto)
So O'l Buddy RICH chit chats a little then goes out in the shop and is standing by the rear tires awhile and sits down at a desk in the shop with a computer for awhile, they get the tires done and he has the hood up and is looking under the hood for awhile, and goes back to the desk. The mechanic road tests the car and then puts it on the alignment rack.
Now I have done some quick math in my head and figure my Bill is going to be around $200 - $250 (a lot more than the $30 tire I was looking for, but I have 2 new tires and an alignment so I should be good for awhile the 2 front tires were almost new.
Ol buddy rich comes back in and I ask him about the Estimate, again he tells me "I have som SERIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS, the rear cylinders are leaking the shoes are down to the rivots, the Master Cylinder is leaking, etc, etc, also the belts are all creacked and weatherchecked. He says he'll ge it for me, comes back and hands it to me, I am Flabbergasted $1066.00
O'l Buddy RICH is basicly replacing the entire braking system including a break line Flush ($69.99) Front Rotors & Pads, Master Cylinder, Rear Cylinders, Rear Shoes. Total about $900.00 PLUS another $150 to replace the Serpintine Belt and Powersteering Belt.
I tell him I am surprised, that we just replaced the front Pads 3-4 months ago. I don't tell him I also replaced the Serpintine Belt within the last 6 mo also.
I ask him for my Bill, he gets it $350.00 (not the $250 I was thinking). Now I know why its called Tires... PLUS, PLUS the Balancing, PLUS the Weights, PLUS the Mounting, PLUS a 5.00 misc shop charge, PLUS $15 Road Hazard, PLUS tire Disposal fee, PLUS PLUS.
As I am Peeling out the $350 Cash from my wallet (I just went to the bank to get $500 of walking around money) I tell RICH "he just took most of my cash", I'll let him know. I think to myself..."I'll let EVERYONE KNOW - not to go there because they'll get RIPPED OFF!
Ttsguy
Margate, Florida
U.S.A.
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