I’ve been using a local Firestone shop — # 029319 — for around 15 years now.  I had Bridgestone G019’s and they were about worn out.  And I have been getting their lifetime alignment service on each car, so I stopped in and didn’t get much help on finding a new tire…

So I stopped in store #029300 — they had been friendly to my grandmother and I appreciate that.  Turns out the G019’s were discontinued and didn’t have a direct replacement so I had them balance the G019’s and align the car The manager said they would install anything I brought in, and since he was helpful and they did a great job of balancing the tires and aligning the car, I  went ahead and ordered tires and then called back.  Of course he was out and the service advisor wasn’t so helpful….

So Back to #029319  on 12/10 to let them mount the tires.  On the way home I could tell the car was horribly wrong.  Air pressures varied from 30 (low) to 50psi –and a center cap was missing — and lugs overtightened…  (Always check, it isn’t fun to have a flat and discover this!)   Since this is the 3rd center cap they lost on this one car, I went right back up there and complained about it all.  The manager acted like I was crazy at first but said buy a new one and he’d pay me back.  Then I got the car out on the freeway — and found a horrible vibration….

The next weekend (12/17)  I took the car back over to #029300 and they rebalanced the tires. Turns out the vibration is still there, just relatively minor…. Then I went back to #029319  get reimbursed for the center cap and explained how bad it was and I had to go to another store to fix it.  He looked up records, refunded the money, and assured me the problem was “taken care of” and I “won’t ever have that problem again” and to ask for him next time I come in and it will be right.  Great, I think…

A few weeks later, I found myself helping taking apart a Kia to replace a stud that #029319   ruined….  This put me in a great mood, too!  And a co-worker had his lugs way overtightened at yet another Firestone…

I then put new struts and shocks on my Legacy, and went back to #029319   on 2/19/2012.  The manager helped me when I stopped in, but they didn’t bother calling me back to let me know the car was ready.  Instead of the number I gave them, they dug out a cell phone number from about 10 years ago  — and when I finally get the car back it is worse than before…. Great…This was the last straw here…

So maybe I found the 2 bad locations; I’m just a lucky consumer after all.  So lets go try shop #009954.  I walk in and tried to explain I had tires put on at the other store I’ve been using 15 years and took it back and it wasn’t right.  I was hoping they could straighten it out so my whole family could bring their cars there instead of looking for another shop.  I guess I was interrupting their morning coffee or something because they were grumpy.  I get the car back and guess what?  Tire pressures way off — which I found out when the car started to slide on a freeway junction….. So I fixed that; at least the lugs weren’t over tightened.  But the alignment still isn’t right — and I found a nice grease spot on my carpet….

That same day we took the Forester to a local Goodyear shop.  It drives smooth and tracks great!