First off...
DO NOT GET A FLAT WHICH REQUIRES REPLACING A TIRE!!!
EDIT: For the pix below, I stuck the knife back in the tire just BARELY to show how it went in. The knife was all the way in the tire when they pulled it out.
Here's the story.
I wanted to add my JL 12" W3 sub in my car and my JL 250x1 amp. I ran over to Custom Sounds in San Antonio to get an estimate and found it was going to be $450 all inclusive....to buy the amp kit, the inline amp adapter, wire the system, build a custom box, and install everything. The carpet was to match as well. It was going to be a ported 12" box behind the rear seat that would be louder than my 10 and 12 combined with sealed boxes.
So, after the installer checks it out, he says he's going to put the box on the side and make it an enclosed box. Well, I kinda wanted enclosed, but now it was not going to be as loud....grrr. Then, I'm told the carpet won't be an exact match, but it will be damn close. Ok...strike 2. Then, I'm told the install will be even more difficult so it will be another $75. Strike 3! I was boiling over and let one of the guys know I was pissed...as the manager ran back and forth twice from the back to check w/ the installer.
I said screw it...I'm not going to put up with the 3 strikes and i"m outta here. I got two calls over the next 10 minutes trying to get me back. A deal was made and I went back...original price and let's hear the 12 before making any decisions.
I drop off the car. It's fine. I get the manager. He comes out with me and drives my car around the back. It drives fine. He parks it. My wife says I left on the headlights. I drive around to check and make sure they are off. My car is parked...the wheel is fine and the lights are off.
About 2 hours later, I'm called with, "I've got some bad news. You have a flat." It's no problem for me...I can just run to get it fixed. He offers to have a bud fix it. I say no as I want to help out and see what happened. Well, I get there and the thing that punctured it??? It was a freaking broken knife!!! I take it to Discount tire and proceed to wait an HOUR before someone even looks at it for not more than 10 seconds when they look back and say the tire is toast. They can try to fix it, but it won't work. It'll take 3 to 4 plugs to fix it and that might still come out.
It gets better.
They say it will be a week to get another tire. The closest one is in Dallas, TX. You GOT to be kidding me.........
I call Custom Sounds. They say to bring it back and talk. I show up and am basically told that they REFUSED to fix the tire...even though it went flat while in THEIR possession by a knife that could have been easily used by an installer who...say...cuts carpet, wires, etc. Well, they refused to fix the tire and said I could not prove that it was them. They say I must have picked it up while on the way to the store and it just "didn't go flat until later." Bullshit. Complete....
I was supposed to have the car back Monday. However, no tire equals no car. Tuesday rolls around and the manger is supposed to call me in the morning. NO call. I order another tire from GM knowing that this dude isn't going to follow through like he should to make the situation right. GM says it's on the way and would be there at 5pm or so. Well, I have to be to work by then so that means I'm out of my car for ANOTHER day. Meanwhile, I'm FUMING thinking that maybe someone knew I was pissed, knew I was an officer, and MAYBE they decided to do this to my car on purpose...and what ELSE could they be doing. Oh boy....I got concerned.
Wed morning rolls around and I have all my plans to get my tire from GM and get this done. Alarm goes off....time to take the boys to their swim class. DANG!!! I forgot about that! So, off to class we go and now I'm stressing thinking we won't get it done before I have to go to work. I stay w/ the boys and mamma goes to get the rim from the stereo shop to take to Ancira. I get a call.
"Hon...they ordered you the wrong tire. The guy didn't order from the computer screen....he went up to the car on display and checked the front right tire on that car." I said, "WHAT?!?!?!?!" I mean...how difficult is it to look up the right tire on the computer. CRAZY. So, they order another one and now I won't be able to get it until later....when I'm supposed to be at work again!
They send someone to get the tire asap. They get the tire 3 hours later, mount and balance it....meanwhile, I'm in court testifying over a DWI....and the manager from Custom Sounds is cool enough to go pick up the tire and put it back on the car for me. I get out of court and go pick up my car after having just paid $532 for a new 20" Pirelli PZero tire. Holy Jeeeeez.....
I spend another $489 for the install.....which sounds GREAT, I might add....(I'll put up pix later of that).....
I am getting insurance involved. Maybe THEY can get the insurance company of the shop to pay. It was fine when I parked it and when he drove it. What the hell happened???
I know that if it were in my possession when the tire went flat, I would have EASILY taken responsibility. But, it wasn't. I don't feel I"m responsible.
None the less....
I paid for the tire and we'll see how insurance figures all this mess out.
How freaking stressful....
