Pauls Rants & Revelations

Is there any business nowadays that is interested in helping you out rather than making a buck?

We are needing a new tire for the car. We just need the one tire. Thats all. However, when I shopped around for a deal I was at the very least disappointed with the service I would be getting from the major tire chains.

For instance, Company A (whom I will not mention because their name makes we angry enough to turn into the Hulk) said that they could replace it for $84.95. I though “great” until they told me that that was the price per tire installed. I told them I just need one tire and they said they cant do that; that they would only replace all 4 tires. Bullshit, I told them. I’ll go somewhere else.

So I call Company B (same reason as the company above) and they say they can do it for $60 installed. They also said they only do all four tires. I asked to speak to the manager to ask the obvious question, “WTF?”, and he said that it was their company poilicy to only do all 4 tires.

Well, that company won’t be getting my business thats for sure.

So now I take it to the local Saturn dealership. They said that can do just the one tire (bonus) and I even has time for an oil change thats needed. The price though, will be $138 for the tire and mounting/balancing. With the oil change, that will be $165 total. A somewhat shocking price at the tire thats been sitting in a warehouse for ages and is for a 2 year old vehicle. But as the price is less than what I would be charged everywhere else, I have to accept it. But I don’t have to like it.

At the time of this writing I am sitting in the dealership waiting room waiting for the tire to be brought from the warehouse (at least they have free wifi). I expressed my gripes to the service tech who checked in the car but I can see that he has been doing this for a long time as he took the rather lofty position of “this is how it is, take it or leave is”. Well, I have to respect a man who knows his business.

To get back to the point of all of this ranting, I am wondering where in the world is a business that will give you just what you need and not charge you an arm and a leg for it? Tire companies will give you a deal only if you buy 4 tires; Software companies will sell you a “package” that contains crap you would never buy but have to install anyway to make the desired software function; you can get a 4 piece chicken nugget pack only if you buy a happy meal; its starting to wear on me truth be told.

I think that only place that I go to that gives me exactly what I want is the coffee shop. I tell them I want a half cup of espresso with caramel, raisins, milk, and 2 pepper mints ground in, and I get it. That is the only business that I can think of where I get what I want (or need) exactly.

Any other examples of this? Am I wrong (or right)?