Is it just me???

[Rick B.]

Or does Pep Boys Auto parts constantly try to rip off ALL their customers?

Last time I got tires from them they broke one of my TPMS sensors and I watched the tech just shove it back in the tire and mount it. I notified the manager and they had to replace the sensor for free. Then they tried to charge me for replacing two valve stems which they didn't do because the wheels have sensors not valve stems!!!!

Yesterday I bought two more tires and they tried to charge me an extra $20 for rebuilding two of my TPMS sensors which they didn't do when they installed new tires. So why do I go there? Because their tire prices are good and I get a LOT of miles out of those tires. I just have to watch them every minute which I do. Friggin' thieves.

BTW, it's not just one store. These incidents happened in two different locations.

 

[captain14]

I had new tires mounted and oils change Done at Another tire chain.
They conviently places a window In the customer lounge so I watched the attendant attempt to open the hood on my Pontiac and when he could not figure
Out the latch assembly he broken the grill out.

I questioned the service writer immediately and he said the attendant reported it was broken Prior to that.

Needless to say they Ordered the new grill and The new Manager said they could have repaired The old one With double sided tape.

Haven't been back Since .

It was the techs first day On the job too.

 

[txvwnut]

It's not you pep boys is a rip off establishment. They tried to get to a customer of mine many years ago for a 2k brake job on a 3 year old Honda Accord with just 60k miles on the clock.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Why are you going to Pep Boys for tires? If there's an America's Tire or Discount Tire Company in your area go to them. Been dealing with them since 1986 and haven't had problems yet. I can't say every store is perfect but so far been happy dealing with them. Plus you get free tire rotations and flat fixes. One tip....never buy a tire without the road hazard insurance.

 

[ddawg16]

The only big box store I would consider for tires is Costco.

Otherwise, it's a mom and pop shop.

The one I go to beats Costco on price....and fixes a flat for free....even if you didn't buy the tire from there.

 

[6PTsocket]

I used to buy from Costco. They are honest and competent. They actually use a good quality torque wrench on the lug nuts and actually know how to operate their TPMS tool. The reason I switched to a local shop is Costco does not do alignments and the selection of brands is limited. A good shop will pick up on a mis alignment right away and fix it, making sure your new tires are not damaged.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[aka Larry]

I buy all my tires (and buy at least 16 per year, sometimes more) from either Tire Rack or Discount Tire on-line. I have them mounted and balanced at a local shop for $60/set. Been doing this for almost 10 years now with no problems.

 

[rlitman]

...Then they tried to charge me for replacing two valve stems which they didn't do because the wheels have sensors not valve stems!!!! ...

Sensors have replaceable valve stems. They're just not standard stems, but any decent tire shop should have an assortment of stems to use with the sensors. I recently had two cars' tires changed at Costco. One had no sensors, and they provided standard stems for free with the installation. The other had sensors, and they charged me $13 in all for the new stems.

I used to buy from Costco. They are honest and competent. They actually use a good quality torque wrench on the lug nuts and actually know how to operate their TPMS tool. The reason I switched to a local shop is Costco does not do alignments and the selection of brands is limited. A good shop will pick up on a mis alignment right away and fix it, making sure your new tires are not damaged.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

+1 for Costco. I got there way before they opened (because the wait times can get pretty bad during the day), and actually watched the first guy there check the calibration of all of the torque wrenches in the shop against a calibration tool. l watched them clean all of the rim's bead surfaces, and their awesome automatic digital inflator.

I always get concerned when a shop has to take my wheels off, but I left that place VERY impressed by the quality of their work (and teamwork).

Yes, the brand selection is limited, but they had what I wanted. And I'd already gone around my tires with a tread gauge, so I was pretty confident in the alignment of one car, and had the other's alignment done shortly afterwards (since it was not that far off to begin with).

 

[Lassen Forge]

I've shared my experiences with Scammy, Hoe, and Flack when they sold me one set of tires, put on another (cheapey set) in place of them, sold (allegedly) my usable used ones (they were going on a trailer) to another customer when I went to get them back... I haven't darkened their doorstep since that fun and games, what, 30 years ago?

I see nothing's changed since then.

I had a similar problem with Goodyear - used to go to their store to buy tires, that ended when the kid torqued up the spare carrier with an air wrench on my old RX3, broke the mechanism in half, and they then tried to bailing wire it up... all while I'm watching... and the manager had the cajones to tell me "it was like that". He only changed his mind when I started copying down their "customer satisfaction phone number" and ended up fixing the kids damage, after this big "dog and pony show" firing the kid.

I told the manager he should fire himself for lying to me. That's another brand I won't put on anything of mine.

For Tires, I've gone to Big O for years now - they've always been great with whatever I bring in, their store brand tires (which are rebranded Coopers) have NEVER given me a lick of pain, and if I want something, they'll not only order them, but give me a hell of a price on them. I kid you not, if they ever went the way of Plop Boys, I'd be at a loss...

 

[3baygarage]

Here's my funny story.

My old car needed an alignment badly. My girlfriend knew this, and bless her, thought it would be nice to buy me the alignment as a birthday gift.

She went to the Pep Boys and they sold her a gift card in the exact amount including tax (Im completey making up a number), say 83 dollars and 67 cents.

Well one day I said I'll make an appointment and go to the shop nice and early, to see what they say. We all know there is a lot involved in an alignment outside of the actual adjustments. Suspension, tires, etc..

I should have known better than to waste my time and theirs, but thought maybe they would do it.

The service guy calls me over and says "Sir, we can't do the alignment. You need three tires, shocks, oh yeah and a tie rod end. Blah blah blah."

I acted a bit surprised (as my 13 yr old rot box sat in the shop). I said whats the damage going to be for all that?

Oh, a grand (or insert whatever $$$$$ number he said).

Then he says to me, "Yeah, Im not sure who did the (New York State) inspection on this car but......".

Just then, two of the techs walked out of the shop to grab some coffee and stood near us at the desk.

I told the service guy, "Well, I'm sorry. I'll have to just get the refund on this gift car. Here's the receipt."



So I took my money and as I'm walking out the door I hear the service guy almost pouting to the two techs "He wouldn't even tell me who did the inspection!"

(So he could go and blow them in)

I thought you bum, thats what you get for selling an alignment to a girl who didn't know any better in the first place.

The moral of the story is it was the thought that counted. She was a bit upset because you kind of have to understand cars. The money ended up going towards something we needed.

Just a funny story. Could have happened at any shop though.