Monday, March 23, 2015

My Discount Tire/America's Tire Feedback Form comment

After reading the comments received so far this morning on yesterday's post, I left a comment on the Feedback Form on Discount Tire's website.  Thank you to Dave for providing me the link. This also explains how I ended up with the wrong tires.  Yesterday's post was really rambling, not my usual style.  This is what I wrote to them:


I had a very unfortunate experience in one of your El Centro, CA stores (it's at 899 Danenberg Drive), and a VERY GOOD experience in the other El Centro store (at 2010 N. Imperial Ave).

I have an RV blog and wrote a post about the three days it took to resolve everything.  If interested, you can read about it here:

http://dewelldesigns.blogspot.com/#axzz3VEfY57Zo

There needs to be a training class for your employees regarding tire stem-valve extensions for dual rear tires.  Whether your company approves of their use or not, some of your customers are going to have them, and want to keep them.  If your techs aren't trained in their removal and how to re-install them, or if you don't want to deal with valve-stem extensions, then you should refuse to serve those people.

Some of your stores also need a seminar on how to treat women and especially older women. We are not children.  We are not senile. We have brains and can make decisions.

I purchased 4 new tires and wasn't asked once what I kind wanted. I had phoned the prior afternoon and was told they only had four tires that would fit my rims - I assumed those were the tires I was being sold.  They were rated BEST, and that's what I wanted.  I ended up with BETTER tires, less expensive, but not what I agreed to on the phone. When I told them my name at the store and that I had called the previous afternoon about four new motor home tires, I assumed a record was kept of the phone call. Apparently there was not. If my salesman was unaware of the previous afternoon's phone call, how could he sell me tires without a conversation about what I was looking for in a tire?  He went outside and checked my existing tire, went back into the office and called Michelin for a warranty discount. I was never told the tire price, just that they gave me a 40 percent discount.

When I asked to see what he wrote on the order, I was given a very brief glance at the tire write-up with my discount for a warranty issue, basically shown what I was SAVING. He quickly pointed to a couple of spots on the paper, which was not right in front of me.  I still thought I was trading up for the Michelin LTX MS2 tires in stock for $182 each, less the warranty discount, that was discussed in the previous afternoon's phone conversation. He pointed out total price of the tires with your store insurance, and without the store insurance.  Then he hustled outside into the shop with the order. 

There is something wrong with that - and I'm not blameless, for sure. As I wrote in my blog post, there are a number of things I should have done, and didn't.

This first shop where I bought the tires - the employees were not overtly rude, they just ran over me and gave me no options. I was treated like a child, or an old lady with no sense. And my technician was young and seemed inexperienced. I have no issue with him, except he needs more training - and that's not his fault, but the fault of the management. He was very polite, just didn't know enough about my set-up to correctly help me.

On the other hand, the second America's Tire on Imperial Ave in El Centro that I visited the next day, Friday, and the following Monday, did EVERYTHING right.  I can't say enough about them.  They deserve an award for outstanding customer service.  Sam, the Manager, obviously trains his staff well, and shows them by example how to provide excellent customer service.

Service, either good or bad, comes from the top. Kudos to Sam!

I hope you take this comment seriously.  I know Discount Tire/America's Tire is the "go-to" company for many, many RVers, and I'm hoping that Sam and his crew at the Imperial Ave. store are still representative of the mission of your company.



NOTE:  As I hit "Submit,"  I received the following message - I'll let you know if I receive a response.  :)

Your eMail has been Submitted

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We generally respond to emails within 1-2 business days.

13 comments:

  1. You go, girl! Many times we just sigh and accept poor service and poor merchandise, telling ourselves that's the way it is. I think it's time that we (both men and women) demand that we be treated fairly and politely, and as if we have the brains to understand what is going on.

    I think that is why I always go to Les Schwab for anything to do with tires, and they always treat me like a valued customer, and talk to me like they know I am intelligent enough to understand. I have found this to be the case no matter what city, state, or store I've been in. I hope some good comes of your experience, and I'm glad you wrote to the company as well as to let the "good guys" you recognize and appreciate them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is a good idea Barbara. If I was management I sure would want that info.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good for you. I think you succinctly told them the good and the bad. I still say they owe you compensation for this. Can't wait to hear what they say.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello!!! I am Linda from Linda's Life Journal and I just popped over to introduce myself. Thank you for visiting me! I am now your newest follower and am going to have so much fun reading about your adventures! We have a RV but it's more of one that we park some place - like our son's ranch - and use when we visit him. Right now it is in our driveway awaiting some repairs. There was a leak in the bedroom ceiling and now the walls as well as the ceiling must be replaced!
    Looking forward to getting to know you!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. In what I read about the company, I would be very surprised if you don't get a response. Last time I did a online corporate complaint was for a Chili's Restaurant.....never did get a response, and we have never been back to any Chili's again. --Dave

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great letter Barbara, They need to know what is going on if they care at all about there business. Hope you hear from them and the both stores are treated in the proper manner.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I hear you about how some companies treat women! I seem to be at the "invisible" age (I'm 63...)...I often get ignored or men talk down to me. EXCUSE ME? I usually have a smart reply to their attitude.
    Cheryl Ann

    ReplyDelete
  8. Way to go tell them like it is and it,s not acceptable.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really think Discount is a good enough company to take this seriously. If not, you should mention the number of pageviews your blog has.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for being the voice for many women who feel taken advantage of by some salespeople in a position of power over your wallet! Upper management often doesn't know what is going on the "field" unless a customer speaks up. And of course , with your glowing review of how you were treated by the other branch of the same chain, it shows you are not just a "disgruntled" customer... but a person with a very valid reason to be writing this letter!
    KarenInTheWoods and Steveio
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

    ReplyDelete
  11. Roof is really worthy thing to have and difficult to save. Maintain your roof with RV Roof Coatings to keep your investment safe.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Because RNR Tires & Wheels - Rock Hill, SC
    provides the largest selection of custom wheels and ultra high performance tires in stock, you can drive out the same day with exactly the style, finish, brand and size of wheels and tires you want. Both our 90 Days Same As Cash and rent-to-own program are designed around you! There’s no credit check, and no down payment. You can get instantly approved in seconds. Your wheels, your way!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments - we LOVE them!