Firestone tires

[Mikealiasmike]

If you all have some time to blow, got an interesting story to tell. Fair warning, it's time consuming OK here goes. Bought a 1982 vehicle from my volunteer fire department. It was our utility van that carries the jaws, extra air pacs, chain saw etc... Vehicle only has 17000 miles on it so I was pretty psyched about getting it. Tires that are on it are Firestone LT 235 75R 15. Tons of tread left but as you can figure original. Sidewalls have very little cracking and in overall decent shape to get by with until I buy new when I'm done designing inside of it . Now comes the good stuff. I went looking for a spare with same tread. Come to find out tires were recalled in 1991. Ya'll remember that news story back then? Well, called Firestone to verify these were the tires. Lady on other end whom I'll call "Cathy" tells me after I give her all the information she ask for "Yes, bring it in and we'll give you a free set" OK, now I'm REALLY happy. Tires worth more then I paid for Van. I call local Firestone dealership, give them the info and he verifies with Corporate that in deed they were to be replaced. I make an appointment to have tires exchanged. Now comes the interesting part. I show up on time and drop off van and walk across street for some breakfast with my bride and I get a phone call from store. After rechecking tires, they were NOT the ones to be replaced. Ones that were had a P in front of it or something. I call corporate and get "Cathy" again and ask her politely what was going on. She says "I'm sorry but I was wrong, it's my mistake" Now these tires I'm supposed to have gotten were approx 169.00 each then install15.00 each. 184.00 total. I tell her I just took a day off work, drove 70 miles, wasted half a tank of gas and I get "I'm wrong" Can you do something with the price at least? Her response, "Nope, theres nothing I can do" I ask to speak to her supervisor and was told "He won't help you with this either" I ask again and again to speak to supervisor and get same response until the last time and she says "I'll let you talk to a co-worker" Now I'm pretty PO'ed and tell her I don't want her co-worker I want her supervisor. She says "Hang on" Then proceeds to send my call to "Terry" her co-worker. I ask him if he was her supervisor and nothing, I ask again and he responds "I'm in the office with her and supervising whats she's doing" I'm furious by now and said I'll call back. Now back to dealership, he offers to sell me the tires at his cost 109.00 x 4 =436 plus tax and free install if I get nothing from calling a different numbers main office. I said OK let me call. No answer there after 5 tries. Manager in store is apologizing constantly and saying "I hope your not holding our store at blame, I was only going by corporate" Told him it wasn't his fault and I wasn't blaming him. I said go ahead and have new tires put on and figure I would call back on Monday after the Holiday week. Fast forward to Monday. Finally get ahold of supervisor and explain the whole thing with heavy accent on the treatment from his subordinates. He said he would call back after checking into it. 15 minutes go by and phone call. "Cathy" admits to everything and he offers to give me 50% off on tires. I agree and hang up.

 

736 plus tax original price

248 plus tax paid when all said and done

 

Told ya it was a long story but my point is, don't give up even when you think it's a lost cause. My local Firestone dealer will continue to get my business and I hope "Cathy" and "Terry" got a good yelling at for not being honest and deceiving.

[XV1100SE]

I find if I ask for a supervisor I get the same sort of response - "they aren't available". Being persistent helps and money in your pocket is always a good thing.

So... for getting 50% off... I assume you already paid the dealer the full price? Firestone is probably sending you a cheque for the difference in 6-8 weeks? If so... doubt that your battle is over yet !

[bill in mn]

My Dad always said "If you don't ask , you don't get" they can't read your mind.

[Mikealiasmike]

I find if I ask for a supervisor I get the same sort of response - "they aren't available". Being persistent helps and money in your pocket is always a good thing.

So... for getting 50% off... I assume you already paid the dealer the full price? Firestone is probably sending you a cheque for the difference in 6-8 weeks? If so... doubt that your battle is over yet !

 

 

I paid dealer 109 per tire. He discounted them for me since I couldn't get a response from corporate and went through all the trouble. So full price would have been 736 installed, discounted from dealer and paid 436 installed. Discount from corporate 50% of that will have paid 218.00 w/o tax. Clear as mud for ya? lol

[Yammer Dan]

Sometimes it pays to be a B****!! I've learnt this on several occasions when I just had all I could take.

[Yamamike]

It's the old squeaky wheel thing! Glad you came away with a good deal!

[Mikealiasmike]

Now to see if it is the 6-8 weeks for check or if at all I'll keep ya informed

[Mikealiasmike]

Long overdue update. Received check from corporate for 218.00 as they promised. I do like these tires and the ride is fantastic. Local Firestone dealer will get more business from me due to their willingness to offset customer supports mental deficiencies.

[Solodadof2]

I worked at the bridgestone/firestone Factory in Decatur Illiniois that got shut down. Partly due to the Ford Explorer role over. Our facility did not actually make those tires. I was dissappointed that the leaders in the company did not stand up to Ford, but they were a huge customer. Ford got the jump on firestone and thus created a need for the company to do something. I still run on Firestone Tires and always will because I know how they are built and the types of people that build them. I might feel the same way about another brand had I worked for them.

[Pegasus1300]

Glad it all worked out for you. My standard reply to"they will tell you the same thing"is "well ok let's give them a chance to do that". That alwayss get me to somebody else.