Reflecting on my experiences with Northampton Firestone last year:
Last April I got a set of four tires for my son's 09 Honda. The car was dirty with greasy fingerprints and all all tires needed air pressure adjusted. One bead leaked... I broke, cleaned and resealed it. It was just easier to fix it, and clean it myself... but I got my new tires...
I should have known better... in the summer I bought another set of tires for my other son's 07 Volvo. After first trying to sell me tires I did not want. I finally got my tires mounted and balanced. Again, I got it back with dirty prints and incorrect pressure. I scrubbed the wheels and adjusted air pressure at home. I find a broken centercap, which the 'tech' clearly knew he just cracked. Should have asked them to replace, but did it myself for $20. ... I had my new tires...
I was a service tech for over a decade... ASE certified in suspension, steering, brakes. (Which I never mentioned to NFS) I've mounted and balanced countless sets of tires. I'm in another business now. I don't have the necessary equipment in my own garage, so I am forced to find a shop to trust for a simple set of tires mounted when I need them. Northampton Firestone is NOT that shop. I will spare you all of the more petty details about how I was treated and spoken to.
In November, I really should have known better....... D Hamlett is a slick liar. Again, I simply wanted four tires mounted and balanced. This time On my super clean Ram pickup with 45k or so on it...
First, Hamlett spent 25 minutes trying to talk me out of the tires I chose. He tried to steer me into a promotion by telling me my choice was not available. He persisted, and actually tried to conspire with me to rip off his own company by buying a promotional set of tires, and then agreeing to give me the set I want within 30 days, after I received $100. rebate, under the satisfaction guarantee! Slimy... (no, I don't really believe he ever intended to do the swap)
I should have walked out then, but I wanted a new set of Bridgestone Duelers. Finally, magically, the tires I wanted were available. I returned the next morning to get them mounted and balanced, and an inspection.
I'll also note that every single time I was painfully pressured to pay for an alignment, which I did not want, or need. When I told Hamlett I did not need an alignment on my truck, he smugly asked, 'How do you know?"
I waited four hours. First, Ugh... Hamlett tried to convince me that I almost did not pass inspection because of a worn ball joint. Ha! (Lie!) I kept a straight face and said I should bring to the dealer under warranty then? He replied that they prob wouldn't replace it cuz it's 'not that bad yet'. The slimy just seems automatic at this point.
Next, Hamlett tried to charge me 150, or so, for road hazard, which we never discussed, and I did not want or agree to. I always decline road hazard protection, when offered. After making dumb excuses, he finally removed the charge.
Once again, my fenders, wheels, etc were all greasy. Blue still on my raised white letters. As I drove away my TPS sensor was blinking. Once again, these incompetents can't even handle proper tire pressure! I went home, adjusted my tire pressure and scrubbed my truck. I had my new tires...
It was then that I noticed the Frest Ugly DENT in my wheel. (See image) NOTE: my wheels are super clean and in new condition. I went back. Hamlett was not there. I spoke to a pleasant fellow who apologized that this happened, noted that I was there, and asked me to return to see D Hamlett on Tues. In the meantime, I drove to work on 91 and it was vibrating like mad at highway speed. (It was indisputably incompetent balancing, and was later easily corrected at another shop)
Hamlett turned into a smug fool, defiantly refusing to acknowledge responsibility and negotiate satisfaction. He flat out refused to replace my wheel (in new condition) with a new one ...three times. He finally drove me to threaten a small claim and walk. He finally agreed to provide a new oem wheel. I wouldn't allow FS to work on my vehicle any further. In a sarcastic and hostile tone D Hamlett suggested I go to the Town Fair Tire ship across the street, and see how I'm treated there.
The dealer went out of their way to get the new wheel Hamlet provided to me swapped for another, because that new Mopar wheel turned out to be damaged in the box... so, in the end, I got my damaged wheel replace with a new one, which Hamlett should have done in the first place.
Hamlett made one comment that was inadvertently revealing when he picked an argument with me. He said, "I've been dealing with angry customers for years." I believe that Dan.
When I picked up my new wheel Hamlett had written a snide note on the recpt. Look at attached image and see that the dent clearly could not be farther away from 'half way up the spoke'... and what is 'typical' tire mounting damage, Dan? Slimy liar. read more