I take back all the good stuff I've said about Les Schwabs!

[Grit_dog]

Sooo, in my 8 years up here in the PNW, generally had pretty good luck with Schwabs. Lots of fleet vehicles, so plenty of truck tires, brakes, patch a loader tire at 1am stuff.

Last night I drop off my company pickup AFTER calling earlier in the day to confirm they could do what I needed. Shocks, brake pads (maybe rotors but likely not), oil change, balance and rotate tires (Schwab Toyos).
Guy calls me this morning to go thru the work needed. Shocks/struts, 1 blown 1 leaking, check. Brakes, pads low on both axles, check.
Rotate and balance, check. We don't do oil changes! WTF? Guy yesterday said no problem....ok whatever.
How much? Shocks/struts, $900 something, ok good. Brakes? $2100!
Again WTF? Sir we only replace ALL components. Pads, caliper and we will see if it needs rotors...
Huh? It's a 3 year old truck, no need for calipers. Sorry that's our policy.....

Gd@mmit. Now I gotta make like 3 separate service appointments. 1 for the shocks 1 for the brakes and probably 1 for the oil change separate.
And to boot, drove my personal truck to work and clipped a limb that was sagging and cut off protruding into the shoulder, smashed my passenger side mirror at 6am in the fog.....

Les Schwabs can kiss my @ss.
Anyone know who else sipes tires in the Seattle area? That's the only need I'd have to go back there. Since they now won't mount non Schwab tires either.

[Cummins12V98]

mapguy wrote:
stopped using LS about 1987 due to repeated issues with poor workmanship and out right dishonesty to cover up.

SIMPLY NOT the same Company that it was when Les Owned it!!!

[mapguy]

stopped using LS about 1987 due to repeated issues with poor workmanship and out right dishonesty to cover up.

[Cummins12V98]

Ok sorry for misunderstanding. Thanks for letting me know!

[toedtoes]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"its not L/S FALT"

Now that's funny! He works for LS and LS is the one responsible for the vehicle.




"When I got home, I realized they ordered load C tires instead of load D."

How many others did they do this too?

You misread my post. The guy who took the tires OFF was not an LS employee. He was the guy who bought my truck. However, he had been an auto mechanic for over 40 years and knew what he was doing. He did not screw it up - LS screwed up by overtightening in the first place.

I have family in the auto repair business - if they overtighten, they take responsibilty for that.

And it was NOT LS who ordered me the load C tires by accident. It was Americas Tires. I mentioned that because when I realized the wrong tires were ordered Americas Tires fixed it within moments - no denying blame, no accusing me of trying to rip them off to avoid blame. They just fixed the error as quickly as possible.

[toedtoes]

badsix wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I went to LS once. Got two new tires on a truck. They "recommended" brake work (I'm female and I knew I didn't need brake work). Sold the truck the next day. Guy went to switch new tires to the front (old school) and the bolts broke. I went in to LS the next week with the broken bolts and repair bill. They accused me of lying and trying to rip them off. Insisted I bring the truck in for an inspection - um I don't own it anymore... It was a bill for about $12.

When I called corporate, the "customer service" executive answered my call with "yeah, I know all about you. I'm not doing anything for you."

In all my years, I have never been so badly treated right out the gate by any business.

For years I went to Winston tires and they would bend over backwards doing right for me. They never tried to upsell me, they stood behind their work, and they always treated me like they would any male customer.

Now I go to Americas Tire for tires and my independent mechanic shop for brakes, etc. Both have always been great and have never treated me like some sort of thief. And neither has ever tried to upsell me. I took my clipper in to Americas tire for a tire inspection and they happily installed cat eyes on the rear duallies for me at no extra charge (I had not bought the tires or the cat eyes from them).

Just the other day, I ordered new tires for the trailer. When I got home, I realized they ordered load C tires instead of load D. I went back in and five minutes later had the correct tires ordered with nothing but "oh, let's fix that".

sounds like the guy that broke the bolts off (he's the one that broke them) didn't know what he was doing. its not L/S FALT probably had a hi powered impact gun set to high.
Jay D.

The guy had been an auto mechanic for over 40 years. He knew what he was doing - the bolts were seriously over tightened. LS had screwed up and refused to acknowledge it. And they didn't simply deny that they messed up, instead they accused me of ripping them off.

[Cummins12V98]

"its not L/S FALT"

Now that's funny! He works for LS and LS is the one responsible for the vehicle.




"When I got home, I realized they ordered load C tires instead of load D."

How many others did they do this too?



A friend with a SB 350 went to LS and had them put fatty Open country tires and wheels. They knew EXACTLY what he was towing, a 40' Alfa Toy Hauler. BTW the tires were load range "D". I was concerned for their safety, I told him to go back and have them put "E" tires on. His response was "Ron you just hate LS, they said the bigger "D" tires have as much load carrying capacity as the OE "E" tires they took off".

He left in a huff! They left the next day from NW WA to SoCal. Once there they drove around for a few thousand miles then returned. He came over and apologized! He said "it was the most horrible bouncy ride and it got very scary at times". He went to LS and ripped them up and down. They put on a brand new set of "E" tires.

Some will say good service they took care of him, I say they took advantage and stepped up when caught!!!

[badsix]

toedtoes wrote:
I went to LS once. Got two new tires on a truck. They "recommended" brake work (I'm female and I knew I didn't need brake work). Sold the truck the next day. Guy went to switch new tires to the front (old school) and the bolts broke. I went in to LS the next week with the broken bolts and repair bill. They accused me of lying and trying to rip them off. Insisted I bring the truck in for an inspection - um I don't own it anymore... It was a bill for about $12.

When I called corporate, the "customer service" executive answered my call with "yeah, I know all about you. I'm not doing anything for you."

In all my years, I have never been so badly treated right out the gate by any business.

For years I went to Winston tires and they would bend over backwards doing right for me. They never tried to upsell me, they stood behind their work, and they always treated me like they would any male customer.

Now I go to Americas Tire for tires and my independent mechanic shop for brakes, etc. Both have always been great and have never treated me like some sort of thief. And neither has ever tried to upsell me. I took my clipper in to Americas tire for a tire inspection and they happily installed cat eyes on the rear duallies for me at no extra charge (I had not bought the tires or the cat eyes from them).

Just the other day, I ordered new tires for the trailer. When I got home, I realized they ordered load C tires instead of load D. I went back in and five minutes later had the correct tires ordered with nothing but "oh, let's fix that".

sounds like the guy that broke the bolts off (he's the one that broke them) didn't know what he was doing. its not L/S FALT probably had a hi powered impact gun set to high.
Jay D.

[badsix]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I have a couple family members that no matter how many issues they have they still keep going back to LS. They always say no matter how many issues “they took care of me”.

Yep great SERVICE, how bout great service with quality parts and labor without all the issues.

I have driven around two million miles, NEVER have I lost a tire weight.

I guess your just lucky, I believe my weights were the stick on type and I suppose one could have come off. it really makes no difference what I got was excilent service. they didn't try and short cut the job by doing one wheel they did all four just to make sure it was good. and there was NO charge.
Jay D.

[Cummins12V98]

I have a couple family members that no matter how many issues they have they still keep going back to LS. They always say no matter how many issues “they took care of me”.

Yep great SERVICE, how bout great service with quality parts and labor without all the issues.

I have driven around two million miles, NEVER have I lost a tire weight.

[toedtoes]

From the posts, it appears that LS' "great service" is not always there. I know they didn't provide it to me.

No matter how many other satisfied customers tell me about LS' great customer service, I will never go back there. They did not provide me with customer service - they treated me with aggression and rudeness at both the local store level and the main office level. They don't get a second chance after that.

But that's why we have choices. If others like LS, great. I don't - so I'll go to Americas Tire and have a positive experience.

[badsix]

ksg5000 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ksg5000 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Manager got red faced pizzed with me when I would not accept the repair for free.

I bet LS was glad that you no longer do business with them. Fixing stuff for free is generally considered a "good thing".

Guess you don’t understand my point. Simply put I don’t take advantage of people.

Oh I got your point with your first anti LS post - the other 13 were just exclamation points. Yeah we get it - you don't like LS. I have been doing business with LS for around 20 years - they don't do everything perfect but every time I have had a complaint I have had a reasonable conversation with the manager and he has made a reasonable accommodation which has always resulted in fixing the problem and often a reduction in price acknowledging their mistake. Can't say the same about any of their competitors.

2x, I've been a customer for over 50 years. I don't have service work done there (I do it myself). but I do by tires and recently bought 4 shocks ive never had a problem. the one thing I really like is there is a L/S store in almost every city on the pacific north west if you have a problem its fixed at any store. we were on the freeway and had a vibration about 55-60 mph. there was a L/S store just off the road so I pulled in they looked real busy told the counter guy I think my right front tire is out of balance. he showed us the lounge room and said they would look at it . in less than 20min. the car was done and waiting no charge he said they rebalanced all for wheels and that it looked like I had lost a weight. one thing for sure that's where I buy my tires they my not be the cheapest but you can't beat the service.
Jay D.

[ksg5000]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ksg5000 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Manager got red faced pizzed with me when I would not accept the repair for free.

I bet LS was glad that you no longer do business with them. Fixing stuff for free is generally considered a "good thing".

Guess you don’t understand my point. Simply put I don’t take advantage of people.

Oh I got your point with your first anti LS post - the other 13 were just exclamation points. Yeah we get it - you don't like LS. I have been doing business with LS for around 20 years - they don't do everything perfect but every time I have had a complaint I have had a reasonable conversation with the manager and he has made a reasonable accommodation which has always resulted in fixing the problem and often a reduction in price acknowledging their mistake. Can't say the same about any of their competitors.

[Grit_dog]

FishOnOne wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Sooo, in my 8 years up here in the PNW, generally had pretty good luck with Schwabs. Lots of fleet vehicles, so plenty of truck tires, brakes, patch a loader tire at 1am stuff.

Last night I drop off my company pickup AFTER calling earlier in the day to confirm they could do what I needed. Shocks, brake pads (maybe rotors but likely not), oil change, balance and rotate tires (Schwab Toyos).
Guy calls me this morning to go thru the work needed. Shocks/struts, 1 blown 1 leaking, check. Brakes, pads low on both axles, check.
Rotate and balance, check. We don't do oil changes! WTF? Guy yesterday said no problem....ok whatever.
How much? Shocks/struts, $900 something, ok good. Brakes? $2100!
Again WTF? Sir we only replace ALL components. Pads, caliper and we will see if it needs rotors...
Huh? It's a 3 year old truck, no need for calipers. Sorry that's our policy.....

Gd@mmit. Now I gotta make like 3 separate service appointments. 1 for the shocks 1 for the brakes and probably 1 for the oil change separate.
And to boot, drove my personal truck to work and clipped a limb that was sagging and cut off protruding into the shoulder, smashed my passenger side mirror at 6am in the fog.....

Les Schwabs can kiss my @ss.
Anyone know who else sipes tires in the Seattle area? That's the only need I'd have to go back there. Since they now won't mount non Schwab tires either.

You could of had all that done at a GM dealer. Not sure about the siping part since we don't have that service here.

Just an fyi for a cost comparison I had a brake service performed on my truck today which included brake pads, clean and lubricate calipers, rotors turned and brake fluid flushed for $1,200 at a Ford dealer. I also purchase tires from this same dealer as they will price match Discount Tire. One stop shopping is the best way to go.

Yup, except I’m not in TX. I have dealers do some work too, lots of fleet trucks.
Last quote I got for the shocks from the dealer while my truck was there 8 weeks for a new trans was , wait for it, $1400! Different dealer got me $700+ for oil change, trans service and dump n fill on the axles and t case. That was after the $100 “ we bent you over and did ya dry” discount! I think they had a different term for it but that’s what I recalled hearing,lol!
Around seattle here, oil changes on a gas pickup truck at the Jippo lube places are $130-140. Hard to get a fair deal around here except at private shops that you know. But they’re not usually convenient. Especially for the company trucks.

[Grit_dog]

mich800 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

wnjj wrote:
Discount Tire sipes down here. You could check with them there.

I'm calling them. Kid's car needs to go under the knife before winter.
The hi po tires on it will be like riding a greased cookie sheet if 3 snowflakes hit the road!

If they are true summer or 3 season performance tires you may be wasting your money on sipes. The compound probably will be working against you under 40 degrees.

Yes you’re correct. However it will help and it doesn’t get below freezing much here. If there’s snow and he needs to go somewhere, there’s 4 - 4wd vehicles in the shop he can choose from 3 of them.
Kids a good driver but the tires are a little slickery in this cooler wet weather. And he’s 16 so not into the winter tire swap stuff. He’s going to have sticker shock soon if he does too many more burnouts! Lol

[Grit_dog]

All I could afford wrote:
I like this part:

WTF? Sir we only replace ALL components. Pads, caliper and we will see if it needs rotors...
Huh? It's a 3 year old truck, no need for calipers. Sorry that's our policy.....

“We only replace ALL components” (And we will see if it needs rotors)?
Rotors aren’t part of “all components”?

Yup fo sho! That’s eggzactly wut he said!
At that point no sense in arguing. Prolly the same tool bag that said they did oil changes the day before.