Costco Tire - Rant

[FASTFJR]

After spending 4.5 hours at Costco last Saturday, they said the truck would be done in 2 hours I drive 15 miles home and all four tires are about 10lbs low. I fill them up and really think nothing of it. Monday morning, warning light comes on, two front tires low by 8lbs. Today the light comes on but its the two rear tires which are about 10lbs low again. Called them up and the guy says "It looks like you got some bad stem's he,he. If I would have been their I would have knocked him out. So, Friday morning I get to spend another 2 hours waiting for them to replace the valve stem. Never again,

[Daddy'O]

You know, when you get new tires, new valve stems should be part of the deal. I worked at a Texaco station when in High School. We always replaced the valve stems when installing new tires.

The tire shop I've been doing business with do install new stems. I guess I'll make a mental note that not all shops automatically replace the valve stems along with the new tires.

Wayne

[FASTFJR]

The bad stems came from Costco. They replaced them alright but they received a box of bad one's

[Daddy'O]

Sorry, didn't understand - I thought they didn't replace your old ones & possibly damaged them when replacing your tires.

Too bad about the faulty stems. Your 4.5 hour wait was bad enough in my opinion.

Wayne

[Kern O]

I've got a different take on valve stems. I don't replace them unless there's something wrong with them. I think the "replace them every time" thing came as another sales gimmick/profit point for the tire folks. My 1970 El Camino has been just fine with the same set of valve stems for the 15 years the current wheels have been on it. They can get old and crack, but it takes many years. Even then, the cracking begins on the outside surfaces that are exposed to sun and ozone. The area in contact with the rim is the last to go.

[Blue Water Runner]

I called Costco once for a set of Michelins. They told me that they had them in stock and told me to come on down and get them installed. I made the 30 mile journey in about 45 minutes. Walked in and waited for some in tires to acknowledge my existence for about 35 minutes. After finally getting a person to wait on me the guy tells me that they can't install the tires because its now too close to quitting time. I explained that I called and drove 30 miles to get this done. They could have cared less. Needless to say I got my membership fee back that day after a discussion with the store manager that was not very accommodating either and I have yet to darken their door again.

[FASTFJR]

Most of the folks that work their (and their are 3 near me) are a bunch of azz wipes. Don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. I should have listened to my car mechanic and bought them from him. But nooooooo I wanted to save the $150.00. You can't put a price on great service.

[Daddy'O]

Originally Posted by Kern O

I've got a different take on valve stems. I don't replace them unless there's something wrong with them. I think the "replace them every time" thing came as another sales gimmick/profit point for the tire folks. My 1970 El Camino has been just fine with the same set of valve stems for the 15 years the current wheels have been on it. They can get old and crack, but it takes many years. Even then, the cracking begins on the outside surfaces that are exposed to sun and ozone. The area in contact with the rim is the last to go.

Well everyone has their own theory about routine maintenance.

Mine is, if I wait for the failure, then the failure will occur at the most inconvenient time possible. For me this is always away from home, in a cold snowy rain, in the dark.

Wayne

[FASTFJR]

Oh come on, how much cold snowy rain can you guys really get in Texas You want to be miserable for 2 months come to damp, snowy Philly in Jan & Feb I can't wait to my son goes off to college to get the heck out of here

[Kern O]

Originally Posted by Daddy'O

Well everyone has their own theory about routine maintenance. Wayne

I am very diligent about the routine stuff. At the same time, I thing the valve stem swap thing is nothing but hype. Valve stems simply don't fail anymore. Yeah, you could argue that the don't because they are replaced frequently, but there's just not a lot to go wrong with them. They are a simple rubber piece with a brass insert in them to hold the schraeder valve. Obviously, you can make them wrong, which is what happened here. But have you ever had one just up and fail?

But I have also known people who take the car to the dealer just before they take a long trip. The frequent result is that something that the dealer did fails on the trip. Taking it is afterward is generally better. That way, when the newly replaced radiator hose comes off, you are somewhere near home.

I guess it comes from a deep distrust of letting anybody but me work on my stuff. I know my work and I do it right because I have to bear the consequences if it is wrong. I've seen too many sloppy jobs done by the flat rate folks that just don't care. The sooner it is out of the service bay, the more they make. How many times have you taken something in for warranty work and had to take it back because it was done improperly.