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Tyre fitters!


patently
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Really annoyed at this.  As you might imagine, I have a fairly constant need for tyre fitters to move tyres around and fit new ones.  I had been using an independent bunch that were about 15 minutes from my office; they're a good bunch of lads but a half hour round trip takes quite a chunk out of a lunchtime.  So I was quite pleased that a new independent firm had opened up just down the road from my office -  a couple of minutes away at most. 

 

However, they seem to think it is acceptable to take a pristine-condition wheel off a customer and return it, with air audibly hissing out, in this condition:

 

photo(4) copy.jpg

 

I took it up with him and, apparently, the gouges in the inside surface are perfectly ok because it's the inside of the wheel so it doesn't matter, does it?

 

Err, yes it does?

 

Also, this kind of damage is apparently inevitable because the wheel is so tiny, 13" diameter, so it doesn't fit on the machines properly.

 

Err, no-one else has any difficulty whatsoever with them?

 

We discussed the hissing air, and to his credit he said he was happy to have another go at fitting the tyre.  Ummm, no thanks.

 

It's fair to say I won't be going back there :ffs:

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Edited by patently
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I know some very good lawyers, but the value of the wheel will only pay for about half an hour's work. Cost of as refurb is maybe 15 mins of time. That's not worthwhile; I will be walking away from this one.

His machine had plastic grabbers on them, but they only help if he knows how to use them properly. Trust me, he didn't. I've never seen anyone make such a meal of getting a tyre off a rim. If there had been more than one wheel then I'd have told him to stop and left on the spot. With just the one, the damage is done already.

Looking at the tyre again, I can see where it's not seated on the bead, which is why it was hissing and losing air. Clearly there was no attention to detail or care for the final product :ffs:

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I know some very good lawyers, but the value of the wheel will only pay for about half an hour's work. Cost of as refurb is maybe 15 mins of time. That's not worthwhile; I will be walking away from this one.

His machine had plastic grabbers on them, but they only help if he knows how to use them properly. Trust me, he didn't. I've never seen anyone make such a meal of getting a tyre off a rim. If there had been more than one wheel then I'd have told him to stop and left on the spot. With just the one, the damage is done already.

Looking at the tyre again, I can see where it's not seated on the bead, which is why it was hissing and losing air. Clearly there was no attention to detail or care for the final product :ffs:

I know what you're saying, but you've now got a damged wheel and a tyre that doesn't seal. Did thy refund the money?

I'd still call them and demand a new wheel.

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Waste of time, Luke.  He's not interested or willing, and the money (£10) is trivial.

 

I'm wondering about a call to Trading Standards though, they might be interested in the unsafe state of the wheel when it was returned to me.

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If you're not taking it further then fair enough, at least name and shame so others can avoid these halfwits!

 

By all means.  It is Gravel Hill Tyres, of Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 9QP.  They come up if you search for "tyre fitters gerrards cross" and the like.  

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Bucks Trading Standards = Not Interested.  

 

Am amazed, frankly.  A local trader has left a wheel in an unsafe state.  A local resident draws this to TS's attention with a detailed explanation of why it was unsafe, which trader it was, and offers to show them the wheel in question. Not interested, though; all it generates is an autoresponse saying "we don't do complaints, talk to the CAB if you want advice on complaining".

 

 

:rolleyes:

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Exactly, which is why I was amazed.  My plan was to phone Trading Standards first thing this morning, I seriously thought that they'd be along to look at the tyre and would take this seriously.  But no.  They don't even publish their phone number, just a helpline number run by the CAB who can advise you on how to pursue your complaint.  Their email address generates a standard reply saying, basically, "we can't be bothered, we've got better stuff to do".

 

And no, they don't do MOTs or anything else like that. Good idea though, I like your thinking!

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I also can't believe the machine can't do 13" wheels, given that it was probably the most common size of wheel fitted to cars until relatively recently.

They can. I've seen it done time after time on the same machines without any difficulty. It's just that he can't, that's all.

VOSA's successor doesn't seem to have the same emphasis on checking vehicles, from looking at their website. I sent them an enquiry this afternoon, but no reply as yet.

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The problem isn't the tyre fitter. The problem isn't VOSA (or whatever they are called now), the problem isn't even a Trading Standards although it should be their problem.

The problem is that no one gives a flying fück anymore about anything. Case in point is that Patently can't even speak to someone to report this idiot that is prepared to let cars go on the road in an unsafe condition.

I can't speak to anyone at my previous broadband supplier about the incorrect bill they have sent me. I can't speak to anyone ever at Santander about the constant mistakes they make with my clients' payments. Footballers playing for their country; the highest accolade in their industry: Couldn't give a fûck. Too busy thinking about a new Lambo.

Honestly, I feel like Michael Douglas in Falling Down more and more each day

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Fair point.  I've added this wheel to the pile of wheels waiting for refurb just as soon as I can persuade a wheel refurb company to reply to an enquiry with a firm price.  Everyone is "Yes we do that, no problem, can you send some photos of the damage so that we can give you a price..." and then silence.  I think I'm on company no. 4 now... it's as if they don't want the money :ffs:

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Same with the bloke that we spent over £15k with on wooden windows four years ago. Great product, great fitters, we want to change some more. Rang him three weeks ago last Friday. Said he would call round the following Tuesday at 5.30. Never heard from him since! Wtf??? You have a proven client that wants to spend more money with you and you don't turn up to quote??? Jesus, I would be there early!!!

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