This is a tough post to make. Been a Discount Tire Co (DTC) raving fan for over 30 years. Apologies in advance for length:
-Went to the store in Bryan off hwy 6 bypass 12.2.2022 for a tire rotation/lifetime balance
-While there a pickup truck they couldn't start was "jump-started" by the owner with a screwdriver. NO ONE WAS IN THE TRUCK. The truck crashed into my car. The manager Scott admit fault immediately and take responsibility for the matter. He was to reach out to their risk management and insurance carrier Fleet Response. Took a couple weeks to hear from them (first red flag)
-We took car to THEIR recommended shop Demontrond, was told work would be great, warranted for life.
- when asking about depreciative value due to wreck, Fred said "the car market is so hot, you could get it repaired and sell for more the day it is finished being repaired".... hmm.
-Fast forward 2.5 months, RENTAL CAR NOT PAID FOR, pick up car after MUCH DELAY, not detailed, body shop dust inside and out. Too tired to argue about it after traveling, had to go, we left.
-While on vacation, we get a letter from Fleet Response telling us car is totalled, offering 9k less than the car was paid for just days prior to coming to DTC.. I call Fleet Response to understand why they'd approve almost 11k in damage repairs to turn around and pay off our vehicle? And also to add that they are about 5-7k less than the purchase price less taxes, they if they wanted to pay it off. From this point no one at fleet response would call back. EVER.
- a few days later, washing the car, start noticing blems, body issues, clear paint runs, body panels misaligned, paint color not matching, bumpers not painted, ALL BAD!
- immediately reached out to all involved, Scott at Discount, Fred at Fleet Response (this is when I find out he is no longer w Fleet Response), his boss Mary, and her boss Stu. You think they called us back? Nope.
- Then I pushed some more and finally got a call back from DTC lawyer Jim Brandt. His position is "Evon at the body shop says all is good, what can I help you with"? I let him know the details, his position is "we paid to repair it, it is repaired, what more do you want?" "A few minor issues, they'll fix it." I explain it is not repaired, not minor, not at all.
-Jim of DTC's direction is to take back to Demontrond to "address the small issues". I let him know they are not "small issues", we do not trust the shop THEY suggested, they have ZERO incentive to make right, they've been paid, if this was their idea of quality, we don't want that work on our vehicle.
- Jim asks what we want, told him we'd take to another couple of shops to estimate the repair, but that Demontrond finishing was unacceptable all considered.
- this is where it broke down. Jim started speaking to me in a patronizing way, that my "frustrations" were understandable, but that there isn't much else they can do. we believe there is:
A. Repair the vehicle as agreed 100%
B. Pay the $1700+ in rental car invoices + arrange for another rental while in the shop being repaired again
C. Be prepared to pay the damages of depreciative loss on a wrecked car value versus unwrecked.
Or:
A. Total the car (almost 19k with taxes, etc)
B. Pay the $1700+ auto rental charges
C. $1200 for my lost time and days off work dealing with all this crap all caused due to their negligence
- Things escalated due to the calous disregard for our property, told him if they kept being unreasonable, maybe I should rent a flat bed and park it next to the shop with a billboard or sign telling all the "Customers to BEWARE!! IF YOUR CAR IS DAMAGED HERE YOU ARE LIKELY SCREWED!!!" He got annoyed, asked if I was serious, and I said "I was if thats what it would take to get what was right!" He chose to get more irritable, and again when began the talk track of "minor damage, blah blah blah" I began chiding him with "Say it again Jim, say it again so I can get it recorded". I asked him how he'd feel if it was his car? He verbally said he did not want to be recorded, and abruptly ended the call. I wonder why??
- We then received an email notice just following telling us to take it up with my insurance company and "to subrogate" them...
DO NOT TRUST DISCOUNT TIRE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR IF THEY WRECK IT. SCOTT THE MANAGER IS A NICE GUY BUT HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, CORPORATE IS SCREWING US ON OUR CAR. THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THIS, AND I HAVE BEEN VERY REASONABLE UP UNTIL SEEING OUR CAR AFTER REPAIR AND THE POOR / LACK OF REPONSE.
Pics from the day it happened through now for reference.
Discount Tire - You are better than this. I hope to hear from someone besides Jim Brandt, someone who has a little more concern. read more