I need to vent...Sorry for the long length...

Ok, So I go out to the Z yesterday morning for its first drive in awhile since I just installed a new intake and my 06' taillights that I got for Christmas. I hear that ever recognizable thud thud thud that can only come from a deflated tire. I get out and notice that the right rear isnt holding air. Lucky for me my 275/30's were strong enough to hold the car up so it didnt damage my wheels.
So, I go back home and pull the wheel off hoping and praying it is just a nail that can be plugged since I am so short on cash right now from gift buying. Sadly enough there is a 5 inch long gash on the inner sidewall actually seperating where the tread and sidewall meet. Ive never seen anything like this, maybe it should be covered by a warranty as some kind of defect...it couldnt be vandalism as it would be nearly impossible to get a knife into the inside wall like that. So I look up a local Kumho warranty dealer One of them happens to be the NTB (national tire and battery) right up the street in Alexandria. Im thinking...sweet...this is the same place that gave me an awesome deal on getting this exact set of tires mounted a few months back. I throw the tire in the back of my pathfinder while my poor Z is sitting on crutches in my garage, and drive to the shop. I see the same guy there who gave me a good deal last time and we talk for a few. He says, no luck on getting that covered by warranty and they dont stock that size tire but to come see him once I order a set and he'll get them put on for me again. *Sigh*...So Im backing out of the parking spot and I get approached by this guy who had come out of the NTB wearing a mechanics uniform. He says "hey man, I am the distributor for the NTB here as well as the Koons dealerships in the area, I can get that size tire from my warehouse in Rockville" "I can also give you a great deal since you know ******** here at NTB" I ask what kind of tires and how much it would run, he goes inside the NTB while I sit in my truck and comes back out a few minutes later and says he can get some pilot sports for my rears for $300 total, and we can go get them from Rockville right now if I want and we will drive right back to get them put on. I ask if this is a legit deal or if this is something "under our hats", he replies oh no, this is legit, you will get a receipt and all. Im like SWEET. Im getting a new set and saving myself some much needed money that I dont really have right now. So we jump in my truck and drive up to rockville...it only takes about 30 minutes to get there and the whole time we are talking away...hes telling me all kinds of stories about his job, family, blah blah blah...We get to a service shop, which I later see is Koons Ford in Rockville...drive to the back service bays and I back up while he raises my back hatch of the pathfinder. I give him the $300. He waves to one of the guys inside and walks in the garage like he owns the place. As I turn around I see him running off out a side door never to be seen again........................F**K, I AM SO STUPID. I go inside the dealership to the service / Parts manager and explain what had just happened and they look at me like Im crazy. They all say that nobody saw the guy im talking about and no one that works there matches his description. I call the guy I kinda sorta knew from NTB and asked about this S**THEAD....he replies, "huh? That guy works for Koons and was just a customer here". Was he lying as a big scheme to this organized scam, or did he really not know anything? I dont know. So I call the cops and they, as well look at me like Im a thief trying to do this deal under the table,...they were nice, but, Otherwise very unhelpful. They also say I need to go back to VA where the crime orginated and call the police there. SO, I drive my now broke self with my slashed tire in rush hour traffic back to the NTB and call the police there. This guy I know there has, of course, already gone home. Alexandria cops take over an hour and 10 minutes to get to me, but I understand, I am of low importance at this point. I patiently wait, while I have all this time to reflect on what happened and what a fool I was to go for this. I notice as I sit there that there is a Koons collision and preowned center there next to the NTB that I hadnt noticed before...hmmmmm....coincidence??? An Alexandria cop gets there finally. He was extremely helpful, but honest as well, and tells me Im kinda SOL. He also says, that since the money changed hands in Montogomery County, that is IS a MD police issue. OMG. So now Im stuck with a lesson learned the hard way, $300 broker, and still flat tires. I did call the Koons collision center this morning where I was told that guy worked and spoke with the manger, and he said....The Koons name is huge is this area, and that could never happen at a place like this, I dont care to hear your story, take it up with the police".......WHAT?!?!?!?!?! Thanks for the help my man..........Thats my story, *sigh* Anybody have 19'' tires for a really good deal? haha


Thanks for reading!!!

 

That sucks....

But I dont understand.... If the guy wearing the mechanics uniform came out of the shop, obviously someone there knows him????? Still all of this dosent make much sence....

 

I know it sounds crazy. It does to me as well now that I play all this out in my head. I KNOW that someone at the NTB must know him there.....but , as Im sure you know, these are the type of guys that "stick together". I was told..."I dont know nothing" today on the phone .....

 

OMFG. That is NOT cool at all.

let me be the first to offer my services... my evil gnome death sqaud is at your command.

 

My eyes are about to explode trying to read that one huge paragraph.

Sorry to hear about the bad luck. Obviously you learned not to trust anyone that just walks up to you like that. I would replace both of the rears at the same time if the good tire has considerable wear on it.

 

WTF-I wouldnt of even given a stranger a ride so far. $300 for 2 Pilot sports!? If it sounds to good to be true it ....well you know the saying. Id be at Koons tomorrow looking for this guy with a baseball bat.

 

Yeah, I know I know. I ultimately only blame myself. I got caught up in the "im gonna get an awesome deal" syndrome. I thought Id get to bypass the middle man locally instad of having to go online like I usually do to get a good deal. And I only trusted the guy at the time because everything added up that he worked there at the NTB, where I had had a previously good experience. Yeah, I would love to go to the whole street justice route, because I know I wont get any support from the police, but I just dont know a time efficient effective way to go about it without possibly getting myself into more trouble.

 

haha, thanks!! Where on earth did you find an entire squad of Gnomes???

 

hey you know what your in luck!! I just happen to have 2 pilot sports for $250.... I'll wire you a cashiers check for $1,000,000... send me back $500,000 and hell I even give you the tires for the trouble.

 

Let me guess. This wire transfer is coming from Nigeria? If so, Ill take two

 

Bummer, sorry to hear this dude! This sounds like some sort of inside job or something, especially if the dude was wearing a uniform? I would think a call/letter to the GM or RM would solve this. Sounds like you had every reason to believe the dude worked there, and you're a previous customer. Sorry to pick apart your post but I think you can get 2 tires out of NTB on this.

 

That is an incredible story. LONG but incredible.

 

it doesn't add up, like the was there in uniform so he had to have known someone and really if he was outside of the shop in uniform and he didn't work there the owners or even workers woulda kick him out he can't stand there and prey on the victums the store let him stand there they are in on it, i'd swallow the loss go back with a few boys and create hell
hopefully there are no cameras there =/

 

Thats exactly what I want to do, only problem now is....I've told you all about it. haha

BTW, I just purchased rear set of tires from a company I have done business with on ebay multiple times ( Wish I had gone this route in the first place ) Rediculously good deal...he has more sets if any of you are looking. Link below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/285-3...QQcmdZViewItem