Road Side Service or Screwing

[si Banker]

I was on my way to Parade {950 miles trip} last Thursday morning and was about 125 miles outside of Chicago on I-39 when I had a rear tire go down. The tire was damaged beyond repair. A nail was the cause and with in an hour the other rear also went down from a nail.

I got on the my cell phone and contacted a Porsche Dealer in the Chicago area who promised to have two 245-45-16 tires ready to install by 10:30am the next day. I had explained that my car was going to be in the concurs and would need to get the tire mounted asap so I could get the car preped.

Here is the question. The bill for the two tires was $300. The cost to mount and balance the two tires was $195. That's $100 a wheel. I know it was a "last minute thing" and they did get them in one day; however it took them all day to get them mounted and balanced. I did not get the car back till 4:00 pm.

I do not want to seam ungratefully for the additional trouble and effort the dealer went to but $100 a wheel is high in my world.

[mspirito]

Screwed

[Joe Bob]

No kiss, no reach around.....

[daleflesburg]

$195 seems very high, but how did you get the car to him.

125 miles south of Chicago on I39 is probably in the area just north of LaSalle or? and a long way from ANY 245/24 16s.

[Noah930]

Wow, they found 245/45/16s on such short notice? I'm impressed.

But yeah, $195 for mounting 2 tires is a bit of a ripoff. As in about double what it should have been.

[NoLift911]

For those that have bought tires and had them installed at a dealer (usually high end dealers) this is about right price wise.

They are not making any money on the tires - its made on the service of mounting them. They will get you one way or another - you also paid for convenience. In the Chicago area - that sounds about right price wise.

In any event if you want to save money on tires - buy from TireRack or other wholesaler and have a local wrench mount and balance.

Sh$t happens - it seems like your trip went well - two nails in two tires could have been a real PIA that far from home. And finding those sizes, with one phone call on your end, they did you right - $100 per wheel or otherwise.

In other words I think you made out ok.

[widgeon13]

For a Porsche dealer, it's what I'd expect.

[Canada Kev]

Well, THIS is not what I expected from the title...

However, the mount/balance seems rather excessive, and I'm in Canada where everything is more than what you folks pay. Perhaps this is what one would expect from the dealer?

On a brighter note, how did you do in the concours?

[si Banker]

I was just north of Bloomington on I-39

The dealer got the from Tire Rack and they came from Indy. They deliver them via Fed-X Ground and if they are ordered before 4:00pm over-night is gar rented.

I had a flat bed deliver the car to the dealer and it was 139 miles

I must say; when I was stranded along side the road and someone told me that for $200 they would make my troubles go away, I would jump on it.

Even with that said it still seams high but that is life in the big city

[teenerted1]

if they didnt have the tires in stock...which it sounds like they didnt, since they wouldnt be ready for you till 1030am they probably had to pay overnight freight. that alone could be $100 each.

dealers are not in the tire business and you would be paying dealer labor rates... not the same as a tire specialist that cuts a deal on mounting if you buy 4. how did you get 2 tires in that size for $52.50 each. there is where you made a killing.
sounds like the price you paid is backwards to what a tire dealer would charge.

[Joe Bob]

$150 each for the tires......my local tire guy woulda done the mount and balance for $30 each.

[si Banker]

To answer your question...............I did not make the concurs which was my choice because I only had friday to prepare the can after a 900 mile trip, minus 130 miles for the flat bed.

II would like to thank the Chicago region for their hospitality and their invitation to put my car in their "historic display" and for the polo shirt. I had a great time.

[bourgeois911]

When I saw the title, I assumed it was going to be a poll. I'll take option "B"

[porschenut]

You'll pay a lot more for ANYTHING at a dealer. Frankly I would have expected it to cost more than that. My car never goes anywhere near a dealer.

Most big tire chains offer free mounting/balancing with any tire purchase. Next time have your car towed to Discount Tire or Big O. They most likely get their tires from the same local distributors that the dealers do.

[80-911SC]

you took it to the dealer ... enough said ....... you got what you paid for (and not that bad in my opinion) but you can order a fan belt here and get it to your house for around ten bucks, you can get it at your local store may be under ten bucks or your can go to your local Porsche Dealer and expect to pay upward of fifteen dollars ........ 50 percent higher at the dealer , getting screwed ???? maybe - maybe not they probably sell hundreds of belts here a year, your local parts house probably more than that ...... the dealership probably a lot less and it runs a bit of money to keep that bright red sign glowing ...........

Just a rant , but they did take care of you and you paid for it .... as you should have .... you were in a position of need and have ..... you asked ... they got ... you paid

[canamfan]

Well... luckily you didn't get scre... I mean stranded in Ontario Canada, where you'd have paid at least double for those same tires plus HST (Harmonized Sales Tax of13%) plus ECO FEE (a varying recycling fee) plus the disposable fee(s) for your old tire(s). Next day service is not bad, they'd have scheduled for the following Mon. here. So it was just a nail, luckily it wasn't a microwave or refrigerator or ladder or?? some of the things I've seen here lately on the highways. Hope the show went well.

[brads911sc]

High price, but premium service comes at a premium price and you were stranded on the side of the road in an unknown area. Not many places would order tires and make guarantees with a phone call if they didnt even have the tires in stock... Lucky you were close to a Porsche dealer...

[scoe911]

I think you made out just fine all things considered.What dealership if you don't mind me asking?

[80-911SC]

Originally Posted by scoe911

I think you made out just fine all things considered.What dealership if you don't mind me asking?

yea , and send them a thank you note the more I think about it

sounds like they didn't do you wrong .................

[Zeke]

I think a lot of dealers send wheels out for mount and balance. They can't be selling enough tires to warrant owning today's expensive equipment. If so, factor in the delivery and return of the wheels plus shop rack time.