LES SCHWAB THE BIG FISH IN THE LITTLE POND

I thought this company was just grand, until I sent my 18 year old son to buy 1, 14 inch snow tire, and they charged him 61.34 for it, plus another 9.75 to mount it, plus 3.25 for a valve stem, and 11.25 for stud. I'm sorry, but over 85 dollars for one tire is ridiculous. I'm really happy to hear that the employees are well paid, it makes me feel so much better when they are picking my pockets!! As for paying for safety, I don't see any evidence that proves overcharging gives you a safer, or better job!!

I take my car in every year to have my regular tires taken off, then my snow tires mounted on the same rims then put back on my car. I always pay about $40.00. I think maybe there might be more to the story, his charges for just that seem excessive.

I will always go to Les Schwab, I have never had better service!

I just read poor Jeff's account of the "rip-off" he thinks he experienced when he elected not to have his used tires dissmounted, remounted, and installed on another vehicle.

Dear Jeff- do you have any idea what is costs to pay the overhead on a buidling, hoist, tire machine, balancer, wages, uniforms, benefits, insurance, advertising, power, etc.

Tire shops SELL tires. Since very few-if any, consumers have the tools or ability to install their own tires, tire shops charge a very nominal fee to install them for you. When you visit a shop to have tires transfered to another vehicle, there is no profit for the store. What sounds like a simple procedure is actually very tme consuming. hoisting or jacking up two vehicles, dis-mounting 8 wheels, re mounting 8 wheels, and balancing 8 wheels can easily take an hour and a halfs worth of time if one "hustles" I was a tire monkey for 3 years before evolving to a car dealership service manager. These days, in your area, the labor rate at an automotive shop averages $75.00 per hour, at 1-1/2 hours, that's roughly $112.50, not to mention the wheel weights,
and shop supplies.
Wake up and smell the coffee!

If people want to avoid situations like this, why don't they try asking what services cost BEFORE they ask for them to be done.

Come on people.

Now that you went to another tire store I hope you don't intend to have all your servicing done for free at Les Schwab. If you want to eat their cake...don't expect a fork or napkin...etc. Les Schwab may have lost your business, but you lost a lot more.

Good luck with the other guys.

Last January, my Class A RV got stuck in the mud at my duck club in Gridley, Ca. In the process of getting it out of the mud, the left rear inside tire inflator was broken off.

When it was time to go home, I was leary of driving the 34' RV anywhere. I managed to limp into the Les Schwab dealer in Gridley.

After a brief wait (20 min) one of the employees had my RV in the air the tires off and had discovered the problem.

He promptly replaced the broken valve stem, which involved breaking down the offending tire, remounted the tire after checking balance and then checked the air pressure in all of the tires.

This entire process cost me $18.50 for the valve stem. That was it!!!!!!!!!!! Les Schwab has a customer for life. I've already replaced the Firestone tires on my truck and my wife's Toyota is next. Thanks, Les!

I checked out the Les Schwab site and there is a place for customer letters and opinion. I dont think you were being ripped off however. I have a nephew who has worked for both companies. Presently at Les Schwab. He is paid very handsomely for his hard work. I assume this why the higher prices. I know I would rather have a guy being paid 16 dollars an hour mounting and balancing my tires than a guy being paid 9 dollars. You tell me which one takes more pride in working on my second biggest investment. After the attacks of 9/11, Remember what the issue of security was all about? those guys were being paid close to minimum wage. Did they do a good job? Now there is legislation on how much airport security is to be paid. And, respectively, Air travel is going to be more expensive.