I talked to Lee about a tire, I wanted something great in all weather as I ride in the rain often, and hate tires that can't keep up with the flow of traffic, it's dangerous. I was looking at a Michelin Road 5/6 but would consider a cheaper tire that didn't last as long, if it had siping for wet grip. I told him my bike model and size 06 Kawasaki meanstreak, 170/60(z)R17. He kept flipping the width and aspect ratio, but it wasn't a big deal. He had great knowledge and service. He recommend a Shinko 009 Raven stating he had great experiences with it personally but would have to order it. Then said he had a different tire in stock, a Shinko 777, it was $60 more but he had it so I took it. When I got to the car, I checked the tire date code and realized, he flipped the number and gave me a 160/70R17. Once again he recommended another tire, said he had one in the back a different size if I wanted to see. This was a Shinko 016 Verge. GREAT looking tire with some decent siping. He said he would match the $180 and it would be $70 to install if I brought the bike or $40 if I brought the rim. He said it was a 50:50 chance it would be delivered Friday or Tuesday but no later than Tuesday 4/30/24. He said they usually get UPS by early afternoon. So i paid the $180 and ordered it. At 3pm Tuesday I still hadn't heard anything, so I called to check in. This time I got Collin, I asked for Lee but was told he was busy and Collin offers to help. I give him my info and ask about the tire, he said it's not in yet but he expects it Thursday or Friday. Being in the industry and knowing it's coming ups, I know there's at least one tracking number, so I ask him to find out, because I told them if I had to wait over a week, I'd just order a tire online and have it shipped and do it all myself. He put me on hold then told me the manager was the only one who could check but he was on lunch. I said ok, can you call me when you find out and he said sure. Then I asked him to verify the tire ordered, because after leaving I wanted to see if it did as good as it looked but couldn't find the 016 in my size. He said "oh, he ordered the 011 let me talk to my manager" (who magically is now not at lunch) at which point I realized my worries were confirmed. The 016 doesn't come in my size, the 011 doesn't have siping. He offers me another tire, Roadmaster 4 at $310. Ya know what, mistakes happen, do you have it? He puts me on hold and checks then tells me it would take a week to get. "To clarify, you guys made a mistake and ordered an incorrect tire, your solution is to charge me double and make me wait another week?" He chuckles and says yeah. I ask if he can give me my money back or does it have to be the manager, because now I'm annoyed. Then I ask, can you have him check when the other tire will be here, because if it's today, I might just take it. He puts me on hold, literally a minute later I get a text my order has been completed. He gets back after another few minutes and says "I have it beside me, it JUST got dropped off" I replied "more like it was dropped off this morning and wasn't checked in. He laughed, he actually laughed and said "yeah, probably". Ya know, stuff happens. I tell him ok, if I take the tire, can you take some off the price or install it for free? Otherwise it's an odd tire size, it either sits on your shelf or you pay the return shipping and stocking fees. As a manager in their position if had to make it right and install a tire free of charge many times. He puts me on hold for 10 minutes then asks if I'm bring the bike or just the wheel? What ever is easiest at this point man. If I bring the wheel can you just throw it on for free? He comes back a minute later asking if it has bags on, and I tell him no. Then he comes back and says they'll do it for $50/$60 if I bring the bike, it's normally $75/80. What!? He told me the price was higher than normal so I'd feel like I was getting a deal, BIG industry sale technique. I let him know the quote I was given last week, told him I'd just bring the wheel if they throw it on. He comes back again and says "she said ok but she's booked up 4 weeks". Any respectable, professional shop would have taken care of the customer, it take 10/15 minutes to mount and balance a tire with a carry in rim and doesn't push back current jobs enough to make a difference. So once again, I go through it with him. "So this can be a good review, they made a mistake but made it right, it's not the tire I wanted but I'm happy with the service overall, or a bad one detailing the situation, plus you loose profit from the tire, plus it's costing you money sitting on the shelf, or return shipping and stocking fee, plus all my riding buddies will hear about it and tell their buddies." he laughed and said go ahead. read more
