Tire store suckage

[Dave0523]

The wife and I took our car into the shop to get a couple of new tires put on. Being 5PM, the place was full. While waiting in line, we witnessed the following:

SC: College age girl
TSD: Tire store dude behind the counter.

TSD: Can I help who's next, please?
SC: Hi, I need to get my oil changed.
TSD: OK, but you realize it'll be about 3 hours before we can even look at it. (I believe that; judging by the full parking lot and all 4 bays being worked on)
SC: What? I can't wait that long! I have to go to school.
TSD: I'm sorry, ma'am, but as you can see, we're packed full tonight.
SC: Then I was LIED to! I called this morning and was told that you could squeeze me in.
TSD: I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do right now. Would you like to make an appointment for tomorrow?
SC: NO, I don't have time for this tomorrow? How can you say it'll take 3 hours when you close in only 2? I called THIS MORNING and was told I could be squeeze in! THIS IS BAD SERVICE!!!!!
TSD: I'm sorry, but it wouldn't be fair to everyone else to put you in before them. The best I can do is look at it when we can or make an appointment for tomorrow morning.
SC: WHATEVER! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! <flounces out the door>

The wife and I started laughing at this display, and were quickly joined by the rest of the waiting room. Later, we get to the counter:

Us: Hi, we need a couple of new tires put on.
TSD: OK, but it'll be about 3 hours before we can even look at it.
Us: No problem; we're just dropping it off and will pick it up tomorrow night. We know better that to expect instant service.
TSD: Yeah, we were pretty dead all morning, but once the temp. rose above freezing, everyone came in here.

--Dave

[RecoveringKinkoid]

As someone who, just last week, got strung along for four days by Jacobs Heating and Air (who can suck it) in a freezing cold house with no heat, all becuase they could not be straight with me about how long the wait would be, I can see why the SC in this story might be pissed off.

Her issue, like my issue, was not the wait. It was the fact that she'd been told something that was not true. She drove down there under the idea that she'd be worked in. I sat at home for nearly an entire week (and I didn't even have any groceries in the house, either) with a four year old, unable to leave or even talk on the phone. Why? They kept telling me they were coming soon. Which was not true.

I'm afraid I was sucky, too. It was the only way to get them to finally come out. It's a long story, I'll post it in another thread. I dont mean to hijack yours. I'm just saying that techs and mechanics (and anyone else) telling customers that they'll get worked in when they won't, kind of CREATES sucky customers.

[bainsidhe]

I'm just saying that techs and mechanics (and anyone else) telling customers that they'll get worked in when they won't, kind of CREATES sucky customers.

True. But in SC's case, she called that morning, yet didn't show up until 3pm. Sounds like the shop was slow that morning and they could've fit her in when she called. My guess is she assumed this meant all day. It's unfortunate for her, but this is still poor planning on SC's part.

[Andara Bledin]

Her issue, like my issue, was not the wait. It was the fact that she'd been told something that was not true. She drove down there under the idea that she'd be worked in.

Actually, I suspect that isn't the case.

She called in the morning and asked if the work could be done. At the time when she called, the schedule was wide open and it could have been done right away. I'm also willing to bet the clerk gave her a caveat about that possibly changing since he has no crystal ball to tell him how many people will show up later. From the description given, she sounds like the type to not listen to things like that.

^-.-^

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

SC: Then I was LIED to! I called this morning and was told that you could squeeze me in.
TSD: I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do right now. Would you like to make an appointment for tomorrow?
SC: NO, I don't have time for this tomorrow? How can you say it'll take 3 hours when you close in only 2? I called THIS MORNING and was told I could be squeeze in! THIS IS BAD SERVICE!!!!!

And, (assuming SC was telling the truth and not lying, as SCs often do) they probably could've squeezed her in--that morning. When she called, and when they had an opening in their schedule.

But then business picked up as the day went on, SC didn't roll in until 5 pm, they couldn't get to her right away, and it isn't fair to bump everybody who planned ahead back to drop everything and work on SC's car.

No suck on the tire shop's part. If I call the hair stylist, ask them what the wait is for a haircut, get told I can get my hair cut right away, wait a couple hours, show up at the hair stylist, and get told there's now a thirty minute wait before they can get to me, it wouldn't be right for me to complain I had been lied to, wouldn't it?

[protege]

I don't see the suck on the shop's part either.

The only way there could have been any suck...is if the shop was completely empty, and they were taking their good old time.

Locally, the NTB shop near me is like that. No matter when I've been down there, an oil change takes a *long* time. We're talking well over an hour. I could understand if they were busy, but I was the only customer there! Curious, I'd look into the shop, see the car on the lift...and nobody was around Seems they were busy alright...busy standing around and talking about the party the night before! Needless to say, I no longer go there.

[PepperElf]

SC: Then I was LIED to! I called this morning and was told that you could squeeze me in.

it doesn't sound like she actually made an appointment

and it sounds like she actually thinks the place didn't pick up more customers between the time she called and the time she actually showed up

[Andara Bledin]

Locally, the NTB shop near me is like that. No matter when I've been down there, an oil change takes a *long* time. We're talking well over an hour. I could understand if they were busy, but I was the only customer there! Curious, I'd look into the shop, see the car on the lift...and nobody was around Seems they were busy alright...busy standing around and talking about the party the night before! Needless to say, I no longer go there.

Yikes, that's bad.

The last time I got my oil changed, I tried the shop around the corner from where I live. They quoted a half hour, but I was barely home before they called to say it was done.

^-.-^