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New tyres - why so difficult?


PCC

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Posted

My camper was due for an MOT the other day and as the tyres were 11 years old I thought it might be a good idea to replace them. I wanted premium new tyres that would have good ratings and be quiet.

 

Looked at the internet and found that Kwik Fit had Hankook Vantras for £75 each. I thought it was a reasonable deal if not brilliant so I phoned them to see if they were in stock. No problem, so I said I'd call round. I was then asked if I would like a price. I think they're £75 I said; no they're £100, the cheaper price is only available if pre-booked on the internet. I said no thanks.

 

I had the MOT then went back to looking for tyres. Thought about medium quality tyres, but there seems to be a view in many places that premium tyres are worth the small extra outlay.

 

I then looked at Continental VanContact 200s which have slightly better economy and braking performance but are a bit noisier. Another view seems to be that these ratings are fine for the laboratory but make little difference on the road. I don't know if this is true but I decided that any premium tyre with ratings of C or better would do.

 

I looked at tyre brokers (I didn't know that there were such things) and the price I liked best was £69 for the Hankooks that I was originally considering. I booked them and, low and behold, they were supplied by the same branch of Kwik Fit. So after hours of research I've ended up exactly where I started but saved £124. I'm happy, but it seems a crazy situation that Kwik Fit would rather sell them for much less through a broker than do a deal with someone who walks into their garage!

 

Anyway, while I was there with the camper up on the jacks I thought I might put a cheap tyre on the spare wheel. Asked for a price and they told me to check the size when I got home and order it on the internet. What? It was there in front of them and they had the chance to make an extra sale (perhaps they were upset that I turned down their kind offer of paying extra for laser alignment).

 

Strange way to run a business.

 

The good thing is that the Hankook tyres are much quieter than the Continentals that they replaced so perhaps there is something in the retings.

 

Peter

Posted

It's nice to see and hear someone else is confused when buying Tyres.

 

I want a couple of tyres for my MH and getting a tyre sorted and priced is an art form in itself.

 

Through an online supplier I could have one type of tyre delivered to a nationwide name and then fitted for £71 – when I went in person and enquired about ordering the same tyres at the national firm (200 yards from where I live) they quoted £115 fitted – WTF?

 

A couple of local Tyre firms, small independents, suggested that if I bought online and delivered to my home they would fit each tyre for £15.

 

The problem with home delivery is that the tyres can be delivered anytime within the next four working days and that would mean, in my situation and address, having to be at home for up to the full four days – which isn't very practical.

 

Eventually I've settled with having a couple of Hankooks supplied and fitted by a local firm who I have used before – early next week – which suits me fine.

 

Good to hear you're happy with the Hankooks.

Posted
Solomongrundy - 2017-06-22 8:11 PM

 

Through an online supplier I could have one type of tyre delivered to a nationwide name and then fitted for £71 – when I went in person and enquired about ordering the same tyres at the national firm (200 yards from where I live) they quoted £115 fitted – WTF?

 

.

 

My assessment of the situation is ... The difference is around £40 which is what the various 'digital handlers' would gain if the tyre was ordered through the digital system.

 

Whether the tyre fitter company you enquired to would pass the various monetary shares to 'all those who would have gained' is not known !!

 

In other words its a conspiracy for all parties involved to gain a payment and is not an open commercial market as its portrayed to be.

 

Until there is legislation preventing such acts of dishonesty all buyers are caught.

 

Posted

One reminder is enough I think but it could be illegal trading and certainly worth investigating if anyone is legally minded and has the time to investigate.

 

Maybe one of the TV programmes are worth contacting.

 

 

Posted
Will86 - 2017-06-22 8:45 PM

 

One reminder is enough I think but it could be illegal trading and certainly worth investigating if anyone is legally minded and has the time to investigate.

 

Maybe one of the TV programmes are worth contacting.

 

just been on a tread about the truth, honesty etc on TV on another thread :D
Posted

I doubt it's anything sinister.

 

More likely different cost centres with part of the company moving towards fitting only (except when there's the chance to really rip someone off because they are in desperate need of tyres or are unable to use technology). Who knows what the impact on the company will be in the long term.

 

I remember when I used to go to my local independent tyre specialist, select from the tyres in stock, and be confident that I was getting a very competitive price.

 

Of course, that was before we were empowered by the internet; and the internet gave us greater choice and made life much simpler. But you can't turn back progress.

 

Peter

 

Posted

Yes buying via the internet is certainly a wonderful system. Recently my only source of some brass tubing was the US and prior to that an alloy material from Germany. These were individual specialised materials and sources.

 

Tyres are everywhere and most people will search for a cost reduction.

 

To overcome a price war, why not fix it so everyone has a share ... and that's exactly what they do.

 

Make no mistake PCC its as sinister as possible. What else ?

Posted
PCC - 2017-06-22 5:10 PM

Looked at the internet and found that Kwik Fit had Hankook Vantras for £75 each. I thought it was a reasonable deal if not brilliant so I phoned them to see if they were in stock. No problem, so I said I'd call round. I was then asked if I would like a price. I think they're £75 I said; no they're £100, the cheaper price is only available if pre-booked on the internet.

Peter

 

This is called 'Discriminatory Pricing' and is very common.

Simply designed to get the maximun price each customer is prepared to pay.

Someone looking for tyres / ferry crossings / whatever on the internet is more likely to shop around and find the cheapest deal than someone who has just turned up at your premises and wants the product now.

Posted
PCC - 2017-06-22 5:10 PM

Asked for a price and they told me to check the size when I got home and order it on the internet. What? It was there in front of them and they had the chance to make an extra sale (perhaps they were upset that I turned down their kind offer of paying extra for laser alignment).

Peter

Nope - local staff are unlikely to have the authority to give you the internet price.

Otherwise they might do that for everybody - in anticipation of a tip ;-)

Posted

I ordered two Michelin Agilis Camping tyres today. Local Kwik fit price was £160 each. Black Circle would do them for £134 each. I went back to Kwik fit and they beat the Black Circle price at £130 each.

 

I might have saved a couple of quid by searching longer but I would rather support my local tyre place anyway, they will do a free brake check at the same time.

 

H

Posted
hallii - 2017-06-23 4:06 PM

 

I ordered two Michelin Agilis Camping tyres today. Local Kwik fit price was £160 each. Black Circle would do them for £134 each. I went back to Kwik fit and they beat the Black Circle price at £130 each.

 

I might have saved a couple of quid by searching longer but I would rather support my local tyre place anyway, they will do a free brake check at the same time.

 

H

 

I remember reading the 'Which' report based on mystery shoppers.

Headline was 'You Can (Sic) get better than a Kwik Fit fitter'

Basically they were using their free checks to recommend work that did not need doing, then making a hash of it and overcharging.

I Would rather support the business that offered me a fair deal to begin with, than the one that only offered me a fair deal when they had to.

Posted

Hi

 

Being computer savvy, I do a lot of research before buying most things.

 

We needed new tyres - I finally selected what would suit our vehicle being a small one.

 

Then checked the online suppliers in nearby town.

 

Rolled up at a local tyre centre (now part of much larger organisation). Waited and waited as they are so busy. Asked for their price for the tyres. £10 each higher than my best price.

 

I pointed out that I could get them at ..... for £...... fitted. He gasped and said he could not see how as they supplied the tyres to that firm. Pressed by me agreed to meet the price.

 

I couldn't haggle in a souk (never been) but on firm ground I am determined to get a good price.

 

Joyce

Posted
The last time I bought tyres the price quoted by my local garage was cheaper than the internet prices I had found for the same tyres. And they fitted them 10min later.

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