10-22-2024, 09:52 PM
(10-22-2024, 05:29 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: I pay to have my wheels done. Don't have or have room in my garage for a lift and tire changer, not going to kneel or bend for that long (I'm too old) and for me it's just a pain to do. For most people it's not even a once a year thing. For me it's probably 3 times a year between the two bikes. I make an appt, ride them in, wait an hour and both wheels are done, mounted and balanced (spun balanced at that) and reinstalled. Plus you get a free chain adjustment out of the deal.
One time I got a bad front tire, took the bike back in, test rode it and agreed, mounted a new tire out of their stock and balanced it for nothing.
I'd rather pay someone to do it, honestly.
I think you've got a pretty uncommon experience there in reality Ferret. If it were that convenient and well oiled and as cheap as I remember you posting in another thread....i might say that your way is definitely the best way, despite some extra cost. I'll give you a run down of how it works for me though.
So the dealer's shop hours are Tuesday-Friday 9 am to 4pm. the dealer is open longer hours than this and will take in bikes during their showroom open hours, but no work is actually done outside the stated hours. I work Monday-Friday 6am to 3pm. So right there I cannot bring my bike to the shop for a tire change without taking a day off work, unless I bring the bike during off hours and leave it with them overnight. The same is true for bringing them wheels btw. So if i bring them the bike and leave it with them I need an Uber or a ride from my a friend in order to get home. Most likely that's going to be an Uber, both dropping off and picking up the bike. So the cost of my tire change just went up 60 bucks and still takes over 24 hours.
Speaking of cost: they will expect me to pay no less than $55 per wheel if I bring them in, or just about $275 in labor if I bring the whole bike in. You might say..."how do they have any customers?" If you go to any other dealer in Charleston you will find that they charge roughly the same amount of money. This is what is considered "competitive" here.
Assuming I pay all that money ($335 at this point, not counting the tires themselves), and inconvenience myself two consecutive days after work, and one of my tires has a high spot or is otherwise defective, I will have to do it ALL OVER AGAIN at my own expense, because the dealer takes zero responsibility for the tires themselves, and will not cover extra labor to replace them, even if they provided the tire. they will warranty the tire itself, but the labor is on you.
so all in all.....it's a markedly different experience down here, and i don't have alternatives. peace of mind is nice but this is a stone cold hassle. i have always hated it, and I, like you, am changing tires maybe 3 times a year. possibly more when my wife's bike enters into it.