Shops That Negotiate Prices On Service?

[The Critic]

A local Goodyear is a Tire Rack recommended installer. I called them this morning to get a price on tire installation. The conversation goes like this:

Me: Hi, how much do you charge to install four tires?
Shop: Okay, how much do you want to pay?
Me: $15-20/tire, how does that sound?
Shop: Hmm...I'll meet you in the middle then. $17/tire.
Me: Does that include disposal?
Shop: Sure. That includes, mounting, balancing and disposal. Actually I'll even do it for $15/tire.
Me: So what about rotations after installation? How much do you charge for those? Or lifetime balance?
Shop: Hmm...well we usually charge $16/tire for lifetime balance. Tell you what, how about when you come over I'll just write it up as lifetime balance for $16/tire so that you'll be covered. Do you have the tires yet?
Me: Nope. But I'll give you a call when I'm ready.
Shop: Sounds good.

Either the shop is really hurting for business, or they are just plain sketchy. What do you guys think?

 

[SZR48207]

Those prices seem pretty average to me in OK. Not sure about CA since it seems like a lot of stuff is generally more expensive there.

I recently had tires installed at a local place and I think I paid around $17/tire for installation. I get lifetime balance and rotation. Just take it in and ask to check the balance and rotate and walk out 30 mins later without paying anything.

I don't think you're getting jipped, but I wonder if you could negotiate them down to $13 or $14 per tire. Even better would be $10/tire.

Also see if the shop's prices are dependent upon you buying tires from them. Some shops here give you a better deal if you buy from their stock instead of getting online, and most I've talked to will gladly match online prices (for example, TireRack's price + shipping), but you'll still pay sales tax on the tires.

 

[01rangerxl]

The prices seem fair, but it is very strange that they wanted to bargain with you. I have never had a shop do that. All of the ones around here, even indy shops, have set prices for most jobs.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
Those prices seem pretty average to me in OK. Not sure about CA since it seems like a lot of stuff is generally more expensive there.

It's a Goodyear shop that I called.

In the Bay Area, the average price for tire installation is between 25-30/tire. Anything under $20/tire is suspiciously low.

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Reddy45
Those prices seem pretty average to me in OK. Not sure about CA since it seems like a lot of stuff is generally more expensive there.

It's a Goodyear shop that I called.

In the Bay Area, the average price for tire installation is between 25-30/tire. Anything under $20/tire is suspiciously low.


Times are tough, and contrary to the propaganda that the Ivory tower elite like to spew today the ordinary consumer is having a very hard time, add that to the horrid UE rates (actual) and you have small business trying all kinds of different tactics to drum up business.

Perhaps they figure that if you give you a lower price it will bring you back for repeat business. I am always surprised at the lack of foresight with consumer oriented businesses today.

You can gain a customer for life (and their referrals) or lose him after just one visit. Even a moron knows which is more profitable in the end.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
The prices seem fair, but it is very strange that they wanted to bargain with you. I have never had a shop do that. All of the ones around here, even indy shops, have set prices for most jobs.


Same here for the most part.

The Ford dealer will match any price for tires though..They did match the Costco price for me for Michelins..The dealer wanted 90 bucks more per tire before the match.

 

[daves87rs]

Ow....

 

[jeepman]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Times are tough, and contrary to the propaganda that the Ivory tower elite like to spew today the ordinary consumer is having a very hard time, add that to the horrid UE rates (actual) and you have small business trying all kinds of different tactics to drum up business.

Perhaps they figure that if you give you a lower price it will bring you back for repeat business. I am always surprised at the lack of foresight with consumer oriented businesses today.

You can gain a customer for life (and their referrals) or lose him after just one visit. Even a moron knows which is more profitable in the end.


I agree completely. I think one of the few good things about this economic downturn, is that small to medium businesses are returning to a more customer service based model, instead of being so profit driven.

I took a nail in the wife's Saturn a couple of months ago, and went to Tire Discounters to get it fixed. Came back a couple of hours later, and guy explained it was halfway between the sidewall and tread, and he didn't know how long it would hold. (Here is where I figured the hard sell for "you need new tires now" would start). Asked him how much I owed for the plug, he says "Don't worry about it, you'll be back to see me at some point".

Two months later when it was time to buy, guess who I went back to see for tires. I did research to make sure they had what I wanted, but they got my business based on the earlier transaction.

I just hope once the economy really stats to heat back up, this type of service doesn't stop. I like the handshake model, as it is a more honest way to do business.

 

[eljefino]

I wonder what success you'd find, driving around with four unmounted tires in the back seat, and a $50 bill.

 

[Trav]

Wallys charged my daughter $50 to mount and balance 4 tires on aluminum rims that she brought in.Surprisingly they did a good job,no vibration at any speed and they used stick on weights inside the rim (yep they even cleaned the rim first).

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Probably doing it as a loss-leader. Once it's in they will check the brakes and suspension and find something that 'needs' to be replaced. Ask them how many "H2O restriction your air filter has when they tell you it needs to be replaced!