What should I do?

[anthonyl9]

Went to get gas last night at a local full serve station. (I get many repairs done here, and its a nice friendly station with good service). So my TPMS showed a tire needed air, I asked the kid pumping gas to check the left rear, as it looked low. Sure enough it was down to 20psi. He proceeds to air it up, stops, check the pressure again and determines more air is required. He tries to mount the air hose on the valve, and all I hear is PSSSSSSSSS....FLAT. He snapped the alumiunum valve off the wheel. 7pm, garage is closed so he mounts my spare, I leave the tire there with my number, and tell him to have the boss call me tomorrow. I get a call today from one of the techs saying that the total repair would be 95bucks; 75 for the TPMS. I informed him of my discontent that I was being charged for something that his employee did, and he proceeded to tell me that if he was liable for all items similar that he would have to stop offering services like this to gas customers. He said he would call me back when he spoke with the kid to get his side of the story; I'm still waiting to hear.

My dilemma: I like this station, and I like the service I get there when I bring in my vehicles. He charges wholesale for tires for customers and its just too convinient for me to boycott. Not sure what he is going to offer, but anything short of full repair for free is wrong in my opinion. Should I give them the chane to make it right? What if they refuse to pay for it? Should I pick up the wheel and get it fixed at the dealer? I want to give him the opportunity to fix it, but I also want to preserve my ability to get service there in the future but if he offers anything less than full repair, I cant imagine myself not blowing up and refusing to go there again...I wan to avoid that. Advice?

[Mean_Green_95]

Do not settle for anything less than a full, free repair. This problem should have never occurred, but it did due to his employee's mistake. If they refuse, threaten to bring in a lawyer. I know you wouldn't want to lose this nice convenience, but $95 for something you didn't do is outrageous.

[s5belford]

ouch, that sucks, and a bummer it happened in the first place but there is no way you should have to pay anything, if he doesn't offer to fix it for free, I'd go pick it up and take it somewhere else to get fixed while making sure to let him know you'll never be back and that you're getting it fixed somewhere else because if you have to pay to have it fixed he shouldn't be getting the money!

[zubbiez]

hate to rain on the make him pay parade, but Its a free service that they gave out of kindness this is why you cant stop and help the family whos stranded by the side of the road beacuase your afraid if there jack falls theyll sue you for the damage to there car. Im sure others wont see it that way so only my opinion.. I just think the whole something for nothing but you better do it right or Ill sue u thing is whats wrong with our society.

[Mean_Green_95]

true it is a free service, but if the guy doesn't know how to air up a tire properly then he shouldn't be doing it. And I never said to go straight out and sue, I said to threaten to sue, b/c there is no way it would be profitable to hire a lawyer at a minimum of $75/hr for something that costs $95.

[zubbiez]

true it is a free service, but if the guy doesn't know how to air up a tire properly then he shouldn't be doing it. And I never said to go straight out and sue, I said to threaten to sue, b/c there is no way it would be profitable to hire a lawyer at a minimum of $75/hr for something that costs $95.

I stand corrected you never said sue, I personally just dont feel its right to bill someone for being a good person, Imagine being out on a trail and you run into someone whos stuck so you offer to help them out seeing you have a tow strap handy, in the process of getting him unstuck his bumper gets ripped off his truck what is your reaction when he says you owe me a new bumper and if you dont do it im calling my lawyer? its ninty five bucks just ask the guy to fix it and treat you right because of the situation,

[chevygurl]

I wouldn't threaten to sue, but I would definitley express your feelings on both the service you normally receive and this specific situation. And honestly, if he doesn't do th right thing here, you probably don't need to be going there for repairs anyways.

Most businessmen know that you do something wrong 20 people will hear about it by the end of the day, and they don't like unhappy customers. I understand his point to a degree, but $95 is just ridiculous to pay for his employee's mistake. Any decent businessman will see the importance of keeping a good and loyal customer by absorbing the $95. He'll lose alot more than that by losing your business, and he should if he doesn't make this right. It won't cost him the $95 anyways...

[bob13]

I don't think you should pay either but, I would be really disappointed that you are a regular customer and even if he offered to do the labor for free it would mean SOMETHING. That sounds like a really raw deal and I am suprised his reputation is that good with you and he wont even do the labor for free. It would be a shame to lose the conveince you have and him to lose a customer, if it means that much to you ......stick by your guns, but maybe a 50/50 split would be possible. Again I do not agree with him....they should do the entire repair for free, but its an option. Just my opinion.....Good Luck

[TRPLXL2]

If he won't fix it, then I would take it somewhere else and have it fixed. But I would still go back to him later on, just give yourself some time to cool off. I had a similar instance in my Silverado, I have taken my stuff to NTB for 10 years and never had problems with anything. One day I took it in for an oil change and alignment, and the kid stripped the threads on the oil pan plug and it fell out on my way home. I had to pay for a tow back to his shop which was $125 because it had to be put on a flat bed, I took it back to them and they rethreaded the hole and put a new plug in. It kept leaking horribly, so I took it to the Chevy dealer and had them put a whole new pan in and that cost me out of pocket too. Today I still go to NTB because that was just a freak thing, now If you get screwed again there then I would stop going.

[vncj96]

Sueing is not the answer thats just small claims court and they dont enforce them to pay you. Depending on his final answer say you will pay for the TPMS but he has to take of the tire, meet him half way. Good service is not something you want to throw away and for a place that charges only $75 an hour labor it will be wirth it instead of paying up $120 for the dealership. He made the first offer and you said no wait for him to come backe but I say meet him halfway. You cant blame the kid, you could have just as easily done that yourself.