Tires were getting old on my Genesis GT Coupe so I decided to get some new ones. I shopped all around and the cheapest prices I could find for the tires and having them installed was at Sams. I had to special order them because they didn't have the ones I wanted in stock. They phoned me a few days later when they got them in and I drove over there to have them installed. I had an appointment and they started on the tires as soon as I got there. I went inside to wait and it took them 2 hours which I found exceedingly long before they called me and said they were ready.
I paid the $900 for the tires and got my key, got in and drove off. It didn't feel right at first and as soon as I got up to 30 mph the steering wheel shook back and forth violently and I slowed down and drove back to Sams. I told them it felt like my rim was bent on front. They jacked it up, turned the tire and it was easy to see the wheel wobbling back and forth. After 5 minutes of "discussion" they admitted that they had probably bent my factory aluminum wheel during the tire change. The mechanic told me to go to the dealer and buy a new rim and they would put it on for me and reimburse me for the rim. Untrusting as I am, I asked him to write that on my receipt which he did. I ordered the rim and went back to Sams a couple days later when it came in. After they installed it and I gave them the receipt for over $600 for the rim, the store manager came out and said that it was impossible for their machine to bend my aluminum rim and they aren't paying for it. After several more minutes of "discussion" they offered to pay me half for the rim if I paid the other half. They said they would turn the matter over to their insurance company but they were sure the company would phone me to deny payment. I went home and have been waiting for the phone call before I know if I have to file with small claims court to get relief. I will let you know the outcome as soon as I hear anything.
1 - Start a simple Google and Yelp review of the company. Post what you've written here. When writing a negative online review, keep it simple but with all the points noted. You did a good job right here on this forum, I'd just copy and past it and give them 0 stars.
Keep in mind, Google can be paid for by the customer, so watch your review over time. Make certain they don't delete it. As far as I know, Yelp isn't paid for by advertising customers.
2 - Start a complaint with your local better business business bureau. The BBB really can't do anything but document their response and give them a failing grade.
I did steps 1 and 2 above, and after the owner realized that I was indeed going to go to small claims court per this issue (which was the 3rd step), he finally said "all right, here is your money".
Please note, I went online AFTER I gave them the option to pay me back my money, and they told me to pound sand.
The reason why I would go online is we do live in an electronic age. People do read reviews, and people do look up businesses even with the BBB.
I have little doubt that you will get your money back in small claims court (as well as I'm certain Sam's understands this as well), but if they are going to be jackasses about it, let other people know about your experience. You may actually hurt them more in the pocketbook after they have to give you your money back.
Sam's club was kind of stupid about it. If you're going to state your going to cover the cost of your customer buying a product elsewhere and they will reimburse you for it, they have to realize that when you go get a OEM part, it's NOT going to be the same price as getting a aftermarket part at a "box store". That said, still probably cheaper than buying 4 new wheels even at Sam's. The issue is you took a "nice car" there, not a junker
How do you like that car? My parents were pretty simple when it came to cars, but after mom died, I finally convinced my dad to spend his money on himself. He ended up with 3 variants of the Honda Accord coupe, V6 and loved the car (so much, he was on his 3rd one). I didn't realize they stopped making them, and found one local in NC with all the bells and whistles, and he came down to trade his second on the 3rd. He saw a newer one one time when he came down to visit, and this newer one he saw was a really nice blue color he liked (his previous 2 were silver). When I saw it was that exact color, latest and LAST model made by Honda, I told him he had to have it and he agreed (he drove 8 hours one way to buy it LOL). Sorry off tangent, but the reason why I asked about your car is he also saw that Genesis coupe and was interested in it as well when he decided to buy a new car, but never test rode it after he tried the Honda first (when he came down on a visit) and never got to try the Genesis and like himself, once he found something he liked, he stuck with it.
