Les Schwab Tires Lied about tires, intentionally physically damaged grease boots on both tie rod ends Lake Oswego Oregon

Twice in the past year I went to Les Schwab for tire problems. First to have a flat repaired, second because of tread seperation issues on three tires. Both times they told me I could not leave the shop with the tires on the car, that I had to buy new tire(s) before I could leave because the car was a hazard on the road.

The first time I bought one tire and received an allowance for remaining tread. They should have simply repaired the tire.

The second time I purchased three new tires to match the one I purchased in my previous experience. I did not receive any allowance for the remaining tread on the three tires. I was also told the tie rod ends were badly worn and needed to be replaced. It was after 5 so they could not do it that day. I was told it was imperative I have it done immediatly, not to drive over 500 miles or the tires I just bought would be damaged. The mechanic had already left so they could not give me a cost estimate. I was promised a call from the mechanic the next day to tell me how much it would cost. I never got the call.

I took the car to the dealer where I bought it, they said the tie rod ends were not worn, but the grease boots were damaged.

I took the car to an alignment shop that has a good reputation. They said the tie rod ends were not worn, but the grease boots were damaged in an area they had never seen before. They said it looked like someone had punctured the boots so they could put grease in, or tire chains had damaged the boots. I have never had tire chains on this car. They were specific that the damage was not in an area caused by normal wear.

I went back to Les Schwab the next day to inquire about why I had not received an allowance for remaining tread on the three tires I purchased. The manager looked at the tires they had taken off my car and gave me a refund for a little over half of the $600 I had paid for the tires. He said he would love to look at the tie rod ends but his lift was not available right now. I should come back another time for that.

I dealt with Les Schwab for many years and was always quite satisfied with my experience. A few years ago (5 or 6) Les retired and one of his key executives took control of the company. He also retired a couple years later. The conclusion I have drawn is that the top management of the company now does not have the standards of customer service or ethics that the company was founded on.

These experiences have moved me to a point where I will not drive into a Les Schwabe store, even if I have a flat tire. It is one thing for them to lie to me about my tires and con me into buying new tires. It is another matter when they actually damage the parts on my car so I have to replace them. I feel I cannot even trust them to have my car in their store again.

Too bad, they were so successful under the guidance of Les Schwab. But this kind of business practice will certainly erode the base of once satisfied customers. I look at the reports other customers have had in the past two or three years and conclude my experience was not an isolated incedent, it is a matter of widespread deception being practiced in many of the Les Schwab stores.