In October I took my Toyota RAV4 to Big O Tires to have the tires rotated and the oil changed. Before I brought the car in I marked all of the tires except the spare with an LF, LR, RF, and RR to let me know if they were rotated properly. I told the clerk that I wanted the spare rotated in since it is full size. My wife and I then took a walk while the work was being done. We came back in time to watch the oil change being done and got our car. We paid for the oil change and tipped $20 dollars for the free tire rotation (We always tip when something is free in Las Vegas).
Then I checked for my markings. They had swapped the left side tires, switched the right front with the spare, and left the right rear in the same place. Any high school auto shop student will tell you this isn't even close to right. There's even a diagram in my owner's manual if they had needed help on how to do it properly.
I was furious and decided to leave and not go in to the shop screaming. I went home and e-mailed Big O tires to let them know what had happened. They informed me that all of the shops are indepently owned and operated but, they would contact the owner and I would be receiving a coupon for a free oil change.
A month has passed and I havn't received my coupon (which will go in the trash since I won't be going back). I was also never contacted by the owner of the shop I had the problem with. The part that irks me the most is the next time I take my car to have the tires rotated I have to watch them every step of the way to be sure it's done right.
This situation could apply to any auto shop. The next time you take your car in for a rotation, mark the tires and see where they end up. The only variables, if I recall correctly, that change tire rotations is whether your car is front drive, rear drive, 4 wheel drive, and if you have a full size spare.
Chris
Las Vegas, Nevada
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