The Pros at Costco Tire Shop

Got Michelin X-Ice3 from Costco today, installed on loose rims, for another vehicle. A few quibbles:

1. They always have ONE counterperson. Invariably when you go in there's "members" stacking up, and the member at the counter is discussing the merits of different tire types, trying to remember what their car is, the phases of the moon, and so on. And the counterperson lets them run on, interspersed with answering the phone. Bottom line, it takes a LONG time.

2. Today they told me it'd be done in 2 hours, they'd call. So we ran around, did some chores, went to an exercise park, and came back 3 hours later, listened to the "member" ahead of me go on for 10~15 minutes, finally to be told it'd be done in 15 minutes. Grumpy me, I assume that means they started just then.

3. They will not exceed the air pressure (uh, nitrogen). Got a lecture regarding the immenent peril of 40 psi... That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After getting out of there, down the road a few kilometers at Chevron to air them up, I layed all four tires out. The X-Ice are directional, and yup: I was looking at 3 rights and 1 left. Groan!

Back to Costco. Listen patiently while the "member" at the counter discusses the merits (etc, etc) for about 15 minutes. My turn: let them know the good news. They walk out to our car where I've got them all arranged. Yup. Grab the one that needs to be replaced, not a word of apology.

Asked if they could bend the rules this once, save me yet another trip to Chevron, put 40 psi. They caved, but just this once, hah! And I had to endure another lecture, the perils, and so on.

It'd had been a long day, up at 3:30 am to drive someone to the airport. Then an oil change. Then about 5 hours dealing with Costco. But it's over, I can rest.

 

The car's in a body shop, albeit just for a day or two. Also, yesterday it was 24 degrees, super hot for this time of year, not prime time for X-Ice3. It was the first day of their sale, I just wanted to get it done before the rush, and while stock was good.

I'm set up with a garage, floor jack etc., doing snow tire install/removal on two vehicles right now. The only time I'm in Costco's tire shop is for new rubber.

Can you picture the more typical Costco "member"? They'd likely haven driven years on those tires, with the wrong rotation direction.

 

My strategy this time around was to go in after the wave. Walked in around 10:45 am. It was 3:30 pm before they finally handed back the tire they'd screwed up.

Guess they got me steamed. I had a nice headache for the rest of the day. I'm in recovery now, lol

Addendum, just now (good timing) doing a little comparison shopping, to Canadian Tire, and Kal Tire. All their prices are about the same, some a bit higher, some a bit lower. The one monetary advantage: Costco takes off rebates at the till, vs mail-in. That's worth something, but...

 

I know Kal Tire repairs any tire for free. Obviously they want you to come back, but just saying. I guess if the money difference are minor, then it's the "tire buying experience" that's gonna pull them in or drive them away.

The 2 flats I've had with this car I plugged myself, and I'm doing my own tire rotations, basically switching between snows and all-seasons. So the extras aren't that much of interest. I might need to use road hazard, if I couldn't find a leak, something like that.