A tire shop rant or How not to sell tires in meatspace

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I've been going to a local tire shop for several years now; they're less than a mile from my house, so it's uber-convenient; I can drop off the car and walk back to my house. For track tires and specialty tires (ie vintage bias ply tires) I would buy online, and have the local shop mount them. For my daily-driver tires, I'd shop tire rack to figure out what I wanted, and get a baseline price, and then the local tire shop would get reasonably close to that. I've gone there to get flats fixed and other little stuff, even a couple alignments. I've been doing this for a number of years and it seemed to be working well (for me, at least).

I went in yesterday ready to buy a new set of tires for the stock wheels while I figure out what to do about my other wheels. There's a different guy working the counter. Hmm. I explain my situation and that I'm ready to buy some tires right now. I already had my sizes figured out (printed out a page from TireRack), and I knew what tire I wanted, and alternate brand just in case. First thing out of his mouth is "We can't get those" Whaaa? I just bought some right here 4 months ago, and I have a quote in my hot little hand. Then he tries to sell my on various other brands - not interested, and I don't even know if I these other brands have both the F&R I need. I tell him I have the tire info right here but he's not interested. He sits down at the computer and starts banging away. The very first quote he comes up with is for one of his apparent favorite brands (Nexen - which I had never heard of before). No, how about the Hankooks or Sumitomos? The next quote he cranks out is for a set of Bridgestone something or others. How about the Hankooks or Sumis? The facking 3rd quote he cranks out is for Michelins! Fuuuhhhhhhh! Finally I lean over the counter and look at his screen; right there near the top are the Hankooks, and down at the bottom are the Sumitomos. "Can you quote me on those?" He grudgingly works up what could only be considered a GTFO quote. TireRack has the Hankooks for $177/$195 F/R. He quotes me $265/$285 F/R; similar deltas for the Sumis. Shipping is $48.

Could he not want my business that bad, or is there really that much of a margin difference? In the past, I figure $10-$25 per tire delta was acceptable, figuring retail vs wholesale, shipping, etc.

Zeke · 04-29-2011, 07:18 AM

The tire business is changing due to online sales. I think distributors are narrowing inventory and factors honor volume. My neighborhood store, which BTW has an online division working out of a backroom, is getting a little that way.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Is he the new owner or a new employee? I'd go to the boss, if the old one is still there. I've had this stuff happen before too. It's insane for businesses to treat locals like this. It's one thing to blow off a high-maint. person you'll probably never see again anyway. But a repeat and informed customer? That's nuts. I prefer informed customers. I may have to be more competitive on price for them but I know they speak my language and will value the advice I give them.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

From what I can tell, this shop carries zero tire inventory; not like the olden days when you'd go to a tire shop and saw row after row of fresh tires waiting in the back.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I've usually made appointments well in advance for having tires installed. Last time was when I got a flat on the 4th of July in the middle of the desert and had to have my 993 towed to some podunk, closed tire shop, let it sit there and call them first thing Monday morning. They were able to get my tires shipped from Vegas that day for the same price as Tire Rack. Around here I go to Discount Tire. But I always check with them a week before I really need something. I don't show up and hope they have what I need, because they never do.

bpu699 · 04-29-2011, 07:36 AM

I suspect that the shop has more profitable customers they can see, rather than trying to match tire racks slim margins. They just don't want to directly tell you that.

I had a flat once out in the boonies. Went to the local tire shop, and asked to have the flat fixed. The guy looked at me, and said he has 5-10 customers who are coming in to have all of their tires replaced. He isn't putting me, ahead of them, to fix a flat for $25. If I wanted, new tires, he would add me on...

Pissed me off, but thats how business operates, and he knew I was from out of town so he didn't care about losing "repeat business"...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpu699

Pissed me off, but thats how business operates, and he knew I was from out of town so he didn't care about losing "repeat business"...

I told the guy who got my 993 tires right away that I'd go on City Data Forum and sing his praises and I did. Not that he has a lot of competition in the middle of nowhere, but I would consider going back to him if I could time it with another trip to Vegas.

chuckr · 04-29-2011, 08:32 AM

I just put two new tires on my 911...Falken FK-452's ordered from Discount tire Direct
delivered to my work, for FREE ! Called a local tire store that I know and for 25.00 a tire
got them mounted and balanced and new stems, no problemo !

A930Rocket · 04-29-2011, 08:42 AM

I've gotten to the point where I order my tires on-line and have them mounted locally. The price difference is usually a couple hundred dollars every time. I'm all for supporting my local business, but you have to draw the line some where.

masraum · 04-29-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Is he the new owner or a new employee? I'd go to the boss, if the old one is still there. But a repeat and informed customer? That's nuts. I prefer informed customers. I may have to be more competitive on price for them but I know they speak my language and will value the advice I give them.

+1

Was there someone else that you could talk to?

It sounds like I'd stop going to them if they made a permanent change.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

There was just the one grumpy old guy and some tweaker tech guy - I'm guessing he was on something because only 6 year-olds exiting an ice cream store should bounce off the walls in that manner.

notmytarga · notmytarga's Garage

Hasn't the Japan devastation affected the tire imports form there? I know NASA is changing some of the required YOKO race tires because they are not available. Maybe the Sumos etc are also unavailable. BUT - he could have told you that!