Tire shop shenanigans?

This is to follow up on a post of mine from November 11, 2022. (I wanted to edit the post, but I didn't see the edit button anymore.) I got some great advice from fellow members here, and bought some tire sensors on Amazon. Thank you to all who commented. I took the sensors to another tire shop. (Prior to my November 11 post, I had visited a tire shop that wanted to charge me $500 to replace all the sensors, and they claimed 3/4 were bad. They also said I had 10K miles left on my tires.) At the new tire shop which promised to replace the sensors for $30, I was told that I misunderstood them on the phone, and what they meant was $30 per tire, not for the full job. I then called around and the $30/tire was a good deal for my neighborhood. So, I said, ok, do the job. They said they need two hours. I was first person there that day, and another customer (guy) pulled in in front of me. I went home, and quickly got a call from them saying that the tire sensors are all fine, and that it's the two front tires that need to be replaced, but not necessarily right away. I return to the shop, and they show me a slit in the front drivers side tire. (Is this slit intentional? There is a lot of crime in my neighborhood, including catalytic converter. I installed a cage - thanks to this forum.) I don't see anything wrong with the passenger side tire. They say they will charge me $250 for the whole job (2 tires and install). They reset the yellow tire sensor light. I walk away not having paid anything and with the sensors from Amazon. The light has not come on again since that day (November 17, Thursday).

If anybody is still with me here, I would very much appreciate it if you take a look at the photos I took of the front two tires. Prius 2008. I watch prepper channels on YouTube, and I am hearing tires are in short supply, and it's best to buy them now before their price spikes even more. Same with filters (oil, fuel, and air). Buying supplies now in anticipation for more inflation spikes or shortages may be worth another thread. Thank you in advance.

 

Thank you for this great response. Very good information.

The car has been parked outside in the sun. LA has so much road debris, and the roads are in horrible shape.

I wonder if I could get that slit patched.

 

Thank you, Kris! Great thoughts on all this. I'm rarely driving nowadays - for the past three years. Less than 500 miles a year. Car is parked on a sunny flat driveway. I'm wondering if the $250 for two front tires is a good price, and what questions I should be asking the 2nd tire shop.

Thank you! Yes, how nuts is that. $500. And you can probably guess I'm female. That tire shop has amazing reviews, and lots of them. When I showed up that day at open, there were a few females already waiting. I guess the guys at the shop are very nice and polite, and make females feel comfortable paying for things they don't need. But also interesting how the shop told me I had 10K miles left in the tires.

I don't know! The world is so nuts right now, even prepper channels are starting to sound sane. lol!

Thanks! 2nd recommendation on this thread to go to Costco. Noted!

--Ok, Costco it is (per this thread)

 

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I don't know who might find this update as of February 26, 2023 useful, or if this will be seen, but funny news: the tire light turned off on its own. We are having historic storms in Southern California. My car is safe. But when I started my car yesterday morning, the light was off! No money spent to fix this. Unlike what the tire shop wanted to charge me ($500). Thank you again to all who responded to my posts about this! Jenny