Costco gouged my wheels today...now what??

[FADEC]

Took my Avalanche LTZ to Costco to get some new Michelin tires on it. Drove it home after the install and inspected the wheels/tires. First one I looked at, the LH front had a nasty chunk of metal gouged out of one of the spokes, with the chrome plating peeled off and missing. It's probably the size of a cigarette diameter. Had to file an incident report and supposedly Costco management will contact me sometime next week. I'm very careful with my vehicles. The wheels were in mint condition and were the high end chrome plated ones. Any idea what Costco will say or do about this?? As far as I know chrome cannot be put back, "touched up" on a damaged wheel.

I've always had good service with Costco so we will see how they handle this.

Just seems like in the past year or so, everytime I take a vehicle in for service or work, there's and incident or damage due to careless techs/mechanics. Tom

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: daddi
Took my Avalanche LTZ to Costco to get some new Michelin tires on it. Drove it home after the install and inspected the wheels/tires. First one I looked at, the LH front had a nasty chunk of metal gouged out of one of the spokes, with the chrome plating peeled off and missing. It's probably the size of a cigarette diameter. Had to file an incident report and supposedly Costco management will contact me sometime next week. I'm very careful with my vehicles. The wheels were in mint condition and were the high end chrome plated ones. Any idea what Costco will say or do about this?? As far as I know chrome cannot be put back, "touched up" on a damaged wheel.

I've always had good service with Costco so we will see how they handle this.

Just seems like in the past year or so, everytime I take a vehicle in for service or work, there's and incident or damage due to careless techs/mechanics. Tom



That sucks. If the wheel must be replaced hopefully they will work something out. Unfortunately, the way many places provide lower prices is by using cheap labor. Walmart tire and lube is one example. After a few bad experiences, my dad only goes to the local mom and pop tire shop. You pay a little more, but the service is top notch. Accidents happen, but carelessness can be avoided.

 

[jjjxlr8]

The wheel can be repaired, but I think it has to be stripped and re-plated. Is it aluminum or steel?

 

[FADEC]

Aluminum.

 

[bdcardinal]

Let Costco make the next move at this point. If you are not satisfied with it, then go another management level higher until you are satisfied.

The problem with any chain tire place is they generally pay very poorly, provide the most basic training, and have under-maintained equpiment. Costco from what I have seen seems to treat their people a little better than most, and their shop always looks nice. Plus mistakes do happen to the best of technicians, they are human after-all.

 

[hypervish]

Make Costco buy you a new wheel. Don't settle till you are happy.

 

[demarpaint]

I had a problem with the sub-par help Mavis Tire uses. I never pay cash at a tire center, I use a credit card. I called the credit card company, and disputed the charges, saying they damaged my chrome center caps. Funny how cooperative Mavis became when the full cost of the tires and installation was in dispute. They paid for the center caps and then some.

As a side note I let the manager know I wasn't happy with the job showed him the damage and listened to his cock and bull story. I told him I wasn't happy with his offer, handed him the credit card and told him I was disputing the charges. I didn't have the time to waste with him, and did better handling with the CC company.

 

[stephen9666]

Can you provide any pictures of the damage? Did you inspect all the wheels right before having the tires installed?

If it's a chunk of metal gouged out of the wheel, I find it sort of hard to believe they caused it.

 

[johnachak]

There are places that refinish / repair wheels. they do an amazing job of replacing missing metal and restoring the original finish. Aluminum can be welded. Good luck.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: johnachak
There are places that refinish / repair wheels. they do an amazing job of replacing missing metal and restoring the original finish. Aluminum can be welded. Good luck.


You are correct on the repair. I have repaired many small blemishes and gouges. $50 a pop.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Can you provide any pictures of the damage? Did you inspect all the wheels right before having the tires installed?

If it's a chunk of metal gouged out of the wheel, I find it sort of hard to believe they caused it.



what makes you say that? I find it entirely believable. only takes one tard with a bead breaker.

due to oxidation you should be able to tell if its fresh or not also.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Can you provide any pictures of the damage? Did you inspect all the wheels right before having the tires installed?

If it's a chunk of metal gouged out of the wheel, I find it sort of hard to believe they caused it.



what makes you say that? I find it entirely believable. only takes one tard with a bead breaker.

due to oxidation you should be able to tell if its fresh or not also.


The OP seems to indicate that there's a chunk of metal gouged out. If that's the case, then I find it hard to believe they did it.

Now, if it's just a large scratch, then it's believable.

And I worked in a tire shop for four years, so I am familiar with the equipment.

 

[johnachak]

You never heard of someone dropping a wheel onto the bead breaker? That tends to gouge a piece of aluminum for sure.

 

[brelandt]

As a guy that has changed loads of tires it possible to do this. We are human beings. We drop things or bump things just like anyone else does. I have broken 2 TPMS sensors. I would like to think I treat peoples car with care but when you do 15 cars a day and they have 4 wheels each things happen.
They'll take care of you and I'm sure the guy feels bad about it.

 

[daves87rs]

Hope they fix it up for ya...

 

[morris]

DRUGS

 

[tbm3fan]

This is why I stopped buying tires locally. I get them online, bring the old wheels/tires or new wheels if that is the case, into a shop to install. Then take them home to place on the car myself. The three cars with aluminum wheels have a photo of each taken before giving them to the shop and they see me do it. As a result no more broken studs and no subtle or not so subtle damage to wheels.

 

[CapriRacer]

Just a thought:

The location of the damage is unusual. It's not where the machines used would be expected to contact the wheel. I'm NOT saying they didn't do it. I'm saying, I wonder.

 

[FADEC]

I agree it does seem to be in an unusual spot. Its about in the middle of the spokes half way between the hub and the edge. It looks like some one smacked it with the end of a claw hammer and took out a chunk of metal. Also the wheel might have tipped over during maintenance falling down on a jack, piece of equipment, etc.

Still pretty upset about this. Yes accidents do happen. We will see what Costco does about this.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
Just a thought:

The location of the damage is unusual. It's not where the machines used would be expected to contact the wheel. I'm NOT saying they didn't do it. I'm saying, I wonder.


This was my thinking as well. The common spot for damage would usually be around the lip of the rim.

I'm still interested in seeings pics of the damage. That could help determine what happened.