So I dropped the Z off to get the tires balanced Wednesday at a my local tire shop. I came back about an hour later and picked it up and I didnt think anything about it at the time but when I went to pay the guy said "don't worry about it". I figured he was just being nice and I did buy two of my tires from them.

So Friday afternoon after work I decide to wash the car and notice a crack in the front right wheel. <insert explicit language here>


Needless to say I was pissed.

I keep the car clean and wash the wheels by hand so I know this wasn't there earlier that week. The wheels start turning in my head and I think about how they didn't charge me at the tire shop and how there is no way the guy putting the wheels on could have not noticed this. And they let me drive off on this wheel!!

I'm heading over there on my lunch break to show them the damage. Any advice?

 

Not sure why the photos aren't showing up?

>Edit: Photos attached

 

first mistake was "dropping it off and leaving and not keeping your eyes on it"

sucks, i hope they get you compensated to buy anther wheel, etc..

-J

 

Put them in an attachment.

 

Did you get a receipt to show that work was done? If not, I'm kinda wondering if they didn't charge you so there was no record of anything being done.
"Plausible deniability".

 

I don't have paperwork saying it was there but I did have 3 coworkers pick me up and drop me off there.

They service all of our company vehicles so I hope that will help.

 

Your first mistake was not looking over the car once it was done. Days later they're simply gonna say it either was like that or it happened afterwards and you really have no recourse. Ive learned to snap some quick pics of my car before I drop it off anywhere because thats the #1 b.s they pull it was like that. Dont waste your time those wheels are a dime a dozen just pick up a used one

 

very unfortunate
sorry to say but i think you're out of luck on this.
unless the manager or owner decides its best to help you out rather than not and resulting in you busting their ***** all over town and them losing business.
No one does anything for nothing unless they owe you, they are family or friend.
Someone says "don't worry about it" to you.
YOU WORRY ABOUT IT!

 

Damnnn that's a big crack! hope you get it repaired/reimbursed somehow.

+1 taking pics before and after the job is done is important

 

Holy COW! I wouldnt even drive on that! If they dont replace it, BBB and what not and rat them out on forums. Approach the media if it is that important to you as well. BUT, on the brighter side, a new wheel should be less than 150. THEY should pay for it but if not, its not the end of the world.

FWIW, i charge everything on American Express just in case i find something like this. They will dispute my charge whenever i want and usually credit my money back. But in this case, that doesnt quite help.

 

Wow.. Blows a$$. I agree with the jasonz....NEVER leave them alone with your car. To many people doing things they have no business doing. Hence the cracked rim. I'd be busting shop windows out. Good luck.

 

1) I can't imagine how you could break a wheel just by balancing it.

2) When OEM wheels fail, that's pretty much how and where they do it.

3) You have no proof it happened in the shop - good luck trying to prove otherwise.

Was it a well known, reputable shop? If so, I'd agree with your assertion that it's unbelievable they would let you drive off. No decent shop would do that.

 

you HAVE to inspect the car BEFORE you leave...if not - they can totally claim "they didnt do it" but I would at least try to get them to fix...

however - this DOES mean after market wheel time....hehehe..

 

I was thinking the same thing, I'm not sure that balancing could do that.

Lucky for you OP this 17" OEM wheel that you broke is pretty cheap to replace.

 

Sucks .. i had a shop damage my rim even after paying the " modified wheel" handling fee. Even if it is the OEM wheel, still sucks. See what they will do about it.

 

How do you know it didn't happen on the way back home?

 

Maybe they put too much pressure in the tires and u did it on the way back.....
It sounds impossible for them to brake the wheel that way by swapping tires.. If you have seen a tire machine you would think so also..

 

Since Dave posted what i was going to say.

The tire shop had nothing to do with it, they just handled your car at the wrong time.

 

it looks like the guy didnt take much care with his tool though, scuffed up your rim.

 

Anything is possible. Proving it is a different story. BTW I recently sold 17 inch OEM wheels with tires: $99/4.