Honolulu, HI
On Saturday, 4/21/18 I purchased 4 tires from Lex Brodie’s Tire Company. I initially went in just to have them look at my tires (flat fix) and I explained to them that my check tire pressure warning light comes on every few weeks, but that I had my husband fill the tires recently so I wasn’t sure which tire might need fixing. The salesman was personable and he looked at all my tires and explained that the tires were worn and that they all needed to be changed. He said that they were “bowing” (I think that was the term; at least 2 of them) and that they were practically bald and would not pass a safety inspection. He showed me that my tires were from 2014, and he showed me how to read the serial number on the tire that showed when the tires were manufactured. I agreed to purchase 4 new tires. I asked him at least 3 times if I really needed them and he said yes. I asked him for a discount and he said he would give me a discount. When I brought my car home, using my new-found knowledge I discovered that two of the tires were manufactured in 2018 and two of them were manufactured in 2017. I don't know a lot about tires, but I knew that they should be purchased all at once (4 of them) and that they should be manufactured at the same time. I Googled this information and my understanding is that all of my tires should have been manufactured in 2018. I called Lex Brodie’s, and the girl who answered the phone said all the tires were new. I told her that I didn’t question that they were new, but that they were not all manufactured in 2018. She told me to hold on. Cooper, the manager, answered the phone. I explained why I wasn’t happy, and he told me that I should have been informed all 4 tires were not from 2018, and that he would have to check if they had any “in stock.” He came back on the line and told me that they didn’t have any 2018 Michelins in stock and that it would have to be ordered. I informed Cooper that he could check with the Kaneohe store and that I could go there. I also asked him for an additional discount to compensate me for having to bring in my car again. He agreed. When I spoke to Cooper again, I asked him for a “Costco price matching,” that I had found on their website. He agreed to this, but said that it was for the cost of the tire only, and that it would bring the price of everything down to $600+ I told him that wasn’t what I was seeing on the Costco website since I could look it up myself. I took a screen shot and saw the price of the tire at about $440 for 4 tires. We argued about the price and then all communication broke down. We argued about refunding the alignment, and he said that whatever tires I would buy from Costo would not need to be aligned since Lex Brodie’s already performed an alignment. (Others I have spoken to have said this is not true because the alignment would have been done with the Lex Brodie’s tires). At that point, I must have struck a nerve because Cooper told me that I was buying new tires. I reiterated to him that I understood the tires were new, but that they were not all manufactured in 2018, which is what I wanted and what he had already told me they (Lex Brodie’s) should have told me at the time I purchased the tires. I then asked him for a full refund, stating that I wanted them to put my old tires back on my car and give me a refund. I was concerned they would do something to my tires, so I warned him that my tires had better be safe until I go to Costco to purchase new ones. Cooper then told me to go to Costco first, get new tires, bring the Lex Brodie’s tires back to Lex Brodie’s, and he would give me a refund, except that he would not refund the cost of alignment. I told him that I might not be able to carry the tires, but he said I could ask the Costco workers to put it in my car for me. This sounded like a good idea. I told him that I may not be able to get Costco to change my tires tomorrow, so that I may need to bring the tires back during the week. He said that was fine. I had previously written a glowing review for Lex Brodie’s, so I’m disappointed. At this point, I don’t know if I even needed new tires, but the salesman seemed honest. I don’t feel confident that Lex Brodie’s is telling me the truth about anything. I am seriously doubting that they didn’t have all four tires because I can’t imagine that the salesman I dealt with wouldn’t have told me this, but I’m not sure anymore. I also don’t believe what Cooper said about the alignment still being good even after I install new tires from Costco, since Costco told me that they didn’t believe that to be true either. I will go to Costco in a few hours and purchase new tires. Then I will return the tires to Lex Brodie’s for a refund because that is what Cooper told me to do. I don’t want to hold onto these tires any longer than I need to.