I took my car in to have new tires installed on Tuesday and when i left there was white residue from the lubricant they use to put the tires on the wheel. I decided to give my car a wash to day and i cleaned the residue off of the tires and the wheels and when I did it reveal gouges in the paint along the wheels. I tried contacting my dealer today and they said they will have a service advisor call me back later. What do i need to do to get them to fix this? The pictures show the two worst spots on the front and rear drivers side wheels. There are some spots on the passanger side wheels to but they arent as bad.
A time machine would be helpful. If I'm the store owner, I'm going to investigate to see whether of not the marks match the adapter bar on their tire machine, and make you whole for the damage, but that's me. THEY have the legal right to tell you that you should have inspected the wheels before you left the store and that you're SOL. Some places actually stipulate that they do not cover certain rims, and it's always prudent to have them stipulate that they will cover any damage incurred by the installation. Be nice, and see what happens. If they tell you to go and pound sand, you can do the BBB/COC dance and take them to small claims court. If you have that route available to you, don't try to Perry Mason the claim. A few pictures, the sales receipt, and about 30 seconds will state your case adequately. Small Claims courts have a lot of latitude, but that goes both ways and brevity is your friend here. You can also be the tire store's social media nightmare.....but try nice first. If all of the above fails: Use a Sharpie Pen for a quick touch-up and get on with your life. There will be other cars and other rims. Good Luck!
I think you're already on your way to getting replacement wheels. They'll probably offer you hub caps first lol
Ill just tell them I dont want the hub caps, I still have the stock ones. I hope it doesn't have to go to small claims. I just want the problem fixed. Who should I talk to the service manager or my service adviser. I'm planning on driving the car down there in the next hour to have them look at it since no one called me back like they said they would (they told me the service adviser was with a customer and would call me back in a few minutes). I chose them because their service department is very reputable, I drive by about 7 tire shops to get there and there is a tire shop 3 miles from my house that mounts tires for $10 ea. vs $25 at the dealer. I've never had my local shop damage a wheel before (but they did damage the tpms on our tundra).
The service manager is who you want to talk with, not your adviser. I'm thinking they touch it up with black paint. If things don't work out, I have a set for sale lol
It looks like the damage is relatively shallow, and all on the outer edge which is relatively easy to touch up. In your shoes, I'd ask if they're will to get a body shop to professionally fix them. They can do work like that virtually undetectable. The dealership likely has a body shop that handles a lot of fix up work for them, so it'd be no major expense for them. If you do end up touching them up yourself, get some sorta gloss black touch up lacquer, something like this:
The service adviser isn't the Complaint Dept. and isn't in a position to help you. Talk to the boss. As mentioned, be polite, say you need help with a little problem, repeat what you posted above and state your case. If the Service Manager can't/won't help then look around for the General Manager. Taking a belligerent or accusatory stance is only going to get you out the door.
I talked to the service manager and he looked at the wheels. We then found the advisor (i was told on the phone he wasn't there). They told me they are going to send them off to wheels of America to be repaired and that they were backed up. he then asked me to drop it off tuesday and they will get me a loaner while my wheels are being repaired. Overall it seems like they were very helpful and want to make it right.
Ive had alot of luck with them too. Thats why they are the only dealer I trust. Their customer service is top notch. I hope it all works out. So far it looks like they want to take care of me. Ive read about plenty of people at their dealers having trouble with their service department.
Richardson is the place to buy though. Pat's lost their triple crown, but excellent service department.
Ya they are. My dads bought a tundra and prius there (mine came from plano). They were real easy to deal with. We tried buying from Pat's and the sales person would not budge on $26k for 2 prius 2's.
When I picked Pat's to buy the 2010, my sales person was the reason. Unfortunately sales positions tend to be transient. Bought last 3 Toys at Richardson.
I wouldn't want the tires unmounted then remounted for the fix, I'd request new tires, unless they paint as is.
If they damaged your wheels mounting tires, they also I assume stretched the bead, a lot, and now twice more.
