Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 75TS on April 03, 2019, 02:40:43 PM

Title: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: 75TS on April 03, 2019, 02:40:43 PM
Hi All, just giving everyone a heads up, I finally got the coin together to restore my Simmons wheels and took them directly to get a set of RE003's fitted. Came home with the wheels in the boot and went to put them on and noticed 3 wheels were damaged and they don't want to take responsibility even though I explained that they were just refurbished.

Don't bother calling bridgestone as they have employed a service to receive calls and commented on being happy to pass on my complaint.

I have posted on their Facebook site but they obviously they vet the comments. I have also left feedback on their facebook site which so far looks like it hasnt been looked at. A few have made comments though so hopefully they may sit up and take notice....

Now my 2.5 will have to sit and wait, gutted :-(
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: Pseudonym on April 03, 2019, 02:52:41 PM
I had a similar lip mark on my SSRs from a Bridgestone outlet once, I think there must be a special way to pry tires off and on that style of rime that the bigger places don't really know. I didn't really give it much further thought but being brand new I can see the frustration, I went to a Yokohama independent recommended around race circles years ago and never had an issue.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: carlo rossi on April 03, 2019, 03:10:56 PM
They are all tarred with the same brush I regularly get scorned at for having old tyres
on my cars and in particular bikes, and the main reason is
the less those idiots touch the rims the better
sadly there is only one way to do it
tell them you want to watch as they are difficult to replace!
then you find the senior guy come out to do it and the junior goes back to pushing brooms 
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: Citroënbender on April 03, 2019, 03:16:44 PM
I'd be disappointed too. Had a similar experience with an independent place fifteen years back, freshly painted steelies and they badly chipped the rims prying the tyres on.
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: lombardi on April 03, 2019, 03:19:46 PM
Service ,What service !!!   A reputable alfa factory service centre lost my service record book , of course denyed it , $ 140 for a newy ,, NEXT !
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: 75TS on April 03, 2019, 03:42:15 PM
Yep, I had a local bob jane that always treated my cars extremely well, would occasionally fix a tyre for free etc, the owner sold up last week and THE FIRST bloody place I go to stuffs the rims up.

What ever happened to customer service!
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: Garibaldi on April 03, 2019, 06:39:32 PM
I don't get why workshops have so little regard at times for customers cars.  :o

I bet if they were working on their own car this would never had happened.
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: rowan_bris on April 03, 2019, 08:01:24 PM
Not sure about that.  I think you either get it or you don't and a lot don't
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: Pseudonym on April 03, 2019, 08:12:24 PM
I should mention to be fair that particular Bridgestone did hunt through their trash can to retrieve my original branded valve caps - so their attitude was good, just not the know how

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: 105gta on April 03, 2019, 09:23:13 PM
Sadly it's a side effect of economy. We all shop around for the cheapest price then wonder why we get the cheapest 'customer service' , 'care' etc... Good, experienced workers come at a higher price for the business and that filters down to the customer, dollar wise.
If it's your pride and joy, pay that little extra for someone with a good reputation.
Mistakes will always happen. That's inevitable. But the better of the crop just make less of them and deserve to be rewarded for it.
If you're ever in doubt. Ask your local Alfa specialist that you get your car serviced at for their opinion on who to get your other work done.
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: GTVeloce on April 03, 2019, 10:02:42 PM
I just replaced my RE003's with some Neova Advan's and while I didn't get a noticeable damage to my rims, I noticed the four metal caps were replaced with plastic. A small thing but it still irritated me.
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: 75TS on April 03, 2019, 10:30:08 PM
perhaps there should be a place on the forum for recommended specialists, e.g tyres, batteries, A/C?
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: Citroënbender on April 03, 2019, 10:45:24 PM
It can still run hot and cold. I dropped $550 on a business recommended by an active forum member and the work was average at best, certainly nowhere near my expectations for the price.
Title: Some Tyre Centers are exemplary!
Post by: ACE on April 04, 2019, 08:48:46 AM
I'm in Narooma for a couple of days with "the family", Ms A and three JRTs.
Yesterday morning we went into town (sans dogs) for breakfast at a small café - The View (granola and coffee were excellent!) on the way back to collect said JRTs, I noticed the car was "pulling" slightly to the left - due to a slowly deflating tyre. Googled "tyre service" and went straight there - Narooma Tyre Service (aka Two Brothers). The place was busy and they really didn't need another customer at short notice - but he said OK. But two new front tyres were needed :-( Yes, he had them in stock and yes it could be done today - leave it and he'll call me. We did not discuss price at all. I left it and walked the 3 km back to where I was staying. No sooner arrived, than I got a call: the car is ready! I wasn't expecting it before the end of the day. Went back to collect the car. The cost was LESS THAN HALF of what I was expecting!
I drove back to collect the "family" for the day's outing, but then noticed a large screw in the tread of a REAR tyre. Back to the tyre shop. My reappearance was of concern, but I reassured him the new tyres felt good but I now have a problem with a rear tyre! He said, "Leave and I'll have a look." 15 minutes later and only a small cost, we were on our way again exploring more beaches and yet more cafes.

Some places DO provide good service, so a shout out to Two Brothers in Narooma!
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: rowan_bris on April 04, 2019, 09:50:17 AM
Quote from: 105gta on April 03, 2019, 09:23:13 PM
Sadly it's a side effect of economy. We all shop around for the cheapest price then wonder why we get the cheapest 'customer service' , 'care' etc... Good, experienced workers come at a higher price for the business and that filters down to the customer, dollar wise.
If it's your pride and joy, pay that little extra for someone with a good reputation.
Mistakes will always happen. That's inevitable. But the better of the crop just make less of them and deserve to be rewarded for it.
If you're ever in doubt. Ask your local Alfa specialist that you get your car serviced at for their opinion on who to get your other work done.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I have used the same tyre guy since 1988 and wouldn't consider shopping around for a cheaper price
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: As the day goes on April 10, 2019, 03:31:01 PM
Stuckeys for me
Title: Re: WARNING-Bridgestone Tyre center damaged my wheels & are denying responsibility
Post by: Repco Lad on April 10, 2019, 09:18:02 PM
The reason service has gone to s**t is because 'we' accept it.

Don't stand for it 75. Don't bother with facebook, get creative and get hold of some-one in their state office. Something along the lines of being insistent that you want to talk to a territory manager to pass on a compliment usually works- then you can give it to him

These outlets are predominantly franchised, but more often than not, they will fix your problem at one of the company stores.

I had an issue with the Bridgestone in Vermont, but persisted, and finally managed to get onto one of the territory managers. They are all aware of their 'problem' franchisees- you can bet you are not the first one to complain

Ended up getting sorted through a store in Moorabbin. First thing the guy asked me was what store I went to before coming to him

It may also be worth contacting the store and speaking directly with the owner, rather than the manager if you can. Quite often in franchising, the actual owner may not work in the store.

Push it onto consumer affairs if you have to- it's pretty straight forward- so long as you have your facts right