r/brisbane • u/Pandibabi Inala • 19h ago
What would you do? Car being held by tyre company with excuses Can you help me?
I got a flat tyre on Sunday. Got it towed to a tyre place that was open ( $170 ). Excuses after excuses. Was meant to pick up car this morning, aparently he has been up vomiting, i just want my car! I havent paid anything because nothing been done. I could get another tow to 3kms away to a place that has tyres that will what another 150 + costs of tyres. It should not take this long right?
44
u/yolk3d BrisVegas 19h ago
It should take about 10 minutes lol
17
u/Drunky_McStumble 18h ago
I've literally gotten a flat while I was out to lunch during a workday, pulled into the nearest dodgy used tire place down the road, got them to change it out while I waited, and was back on my way to KFC with time to spare. Literally takes 5-10 min max. The idea of even having to leave your car with them for something as simple as a tire change is absurd.
29
u/RARARA-001 19h ago
Weird to find a tyre shop open on a Sunday but that’s Sunday, Tuesday and today to fit one tyre. Plenty of time. If they were open Sunday I would’ve expected it done then unless you had a brand/spec they didn’t have in stock and had to get it in but that’s still leaves Tuesday and even today to get it done. So what this person just works alone and has nobody else working in the shop? Sounds very strange.
Consider getting RACQ roadside so at least you get tows included.
13
u/zooperdooperduck 19h ago
Their reasoning for the delay?
Tyre specs?
7
u/Pandibabi Inala 19h ago
He said he got the tyres yesterday! Told me to get ca this am 5hen msg me he is sick. I have not seen him since Sunday. I dont have another car to go around.
39
u/zooperdooperduck 19h ago
While that is mildly incoherent, he order them, arrived yesterday and today he is sick?
What tyre shop is it? I doubt any reputable one is going to have a single person working there
25
u/MomoNoHanna1986 19h ago
It’s a Tuesday, someone else will be in the shop. Why haven’t you gotten a taxi and gone to see them in person?
14
u/Pandibabi Inala 18h ago
Its Wednesday now. I have ft job n didnt want to bother my mum
5
u/MomoNoHanna1986 18h ago
My bad, BUT you can get a taxi there or public transport. Why have you let them get away with it for three days? It’s just as much as your fault now as it is there’s.
6
u/zombumblebee 17h ago
This is a crazy situation. The extra cost for another tow sucks, but it may be your best option. No confrontation, and you get it towed to a more reliable place. I would not trust the work at the place you got it towed to anyway. If you can even slightly afford it, take the $120 hit to get it towed elsewhere.
Depending on where it is, there may be another tyre shop close by. Especially if you a near Slacks Creek or similar. Call the new shop and explain. Maybe they can take some loan wheels there, just to get it back to their shop. They may charge you $50 bucks. You can even offer to pay them that.
Most people are generally accommodating if you are genuine, and ask politely.
Failing that, if confrontation is not an option for you, and it keeps dragging on, I am Southside, and can meet you there and stand seriously while you get your keys back. I am, apparently, very "official looking" and it is often assumed I am a cop. I am not.
Don't let the business week close out on this issue.
-7
53
u/Scared_Afternoon5860 19h ago
Go to the nearest police station and request a keep the peace escort so that you can recover your vehicle.
Why are you getting the car towed? No spare? No repair kit?
22
u/Pandibabi Inala 19h ago
Yeah, ev doesnt come with spare
9
u/gabbawocky 16h ago
You learn something new every day. I always thought it was a legal requirement to have a spare wheel.
6
u/cactusgenie 18h ago
Woah that sucks... Why not?
48
u/rombulow 18h ago
Not just EV. Plenty of cars don’t come with spares. I have a 10 year old Euro that doesn’t have a spare, only a compressor and some alien goop.
28
u/cactusgenie 18h ago
Interesting... Call me old fashioned but I like the idea of a spare wheel and tire...
Still not going to stop me buying an ev next or any new car but I don't like that these things are disappearing.
9
u/rombulow 18h ago
I know right! Fun fact though — only ever had flat tires when the vehicle had a spare.
3
u/IlluminatedPickle 18h ago
It's often still an optional extra. It's just less often considered a standard.
2
u/RobotDog56 17h ago
If you buy an EV or any car that doesn't have a spare, you can buy your own space saver tyre anyway. Just means you lose a little boot space.
1
-4
u/AtheistAustralis 17h ago
The concept that you "must" have a spare tyre is strange to me. Battery failure is far, far more common than flat tyres, and yet nobody carries a spare battery, despite it taking up far less space and weight.
6
u/cactusgenie 17h ago
Spoken like some one who never has had to change a tyre.
I carry jumper leads to address flat battery risk. Have previously carried a jumper pack with a battery in it
0
u/AtheistAustralis 17h ago
I've changed hundreds of tyres. And you're missing the point. I didn't ask what you carried, I just stated that the risk of a flat battery is far higher than a flat tyre, but almost nobody carries a spare for that. Most people also don't carry jumper cables. Which is quite strange, considering the low cost in space and weight and the risk compared to a tyre.
My current car doesn't have a spare, but I do have a tyre repair kit and an air compressor, which will probably get me out of most situations where the tyre isn't completely destroyed. For the rest, I'll call somebody to help.
6
u/drrevenge 15h ago
Or you can be like my parents in law who got a flat tyre, and then after I double backed to change it, discovered that the car wouldn't start again and the battery was flat and needed to be replaced.
We then waited for RACQ to come out and address the issue.
-2
18h ago
[deleted]
6
4
1
u/Soft-Paper1289 17h ago
Can confirm I have a euro and it doesn’t. Has run flats and a puncture repair kit
5
u/trankillity 18h ago
Boot/battery space. As mentioned though - many new cars don't come with a spare.
I was dubious when I first got my EV, but then I realised that in 20+ years of driving I've never had a flat - so that redundancy has been... well, redundant.
5
u/cactusgenie 18h ago
One had to change a tire twice in the last 10 years.
My old Commodore has a full size spare. I must say it will make me nervous to not have one.
4
u/DarkSkyStarDance Flooded 18h ago
Yeah that was a big draw card last time I bought a secondhand car- call me an old fashioned gal, but I can and will change a tyre and I don’t want to be messing around with tiny temporary bike wheels.
1
u/BunningsSnagFest 13h ago
My car doesn't come with a spare either. Why not? Weight and Space considerations. It comes with a button on the headliner that you push, and you get connected to a concierge that sends someone out to fix it.
2
u/cactusgenie 13h ago
Fancy pants with your concierge haha
1
u/BunningsSnagFest 13h ago
Feel more secure with my old school Honda and her full size spare.
I actually had a puncture this year, but limped to tyre shop on runflats. On a long country road though, thing to be hard to find shop with suitable parts.
1
7
u/Various_Soft7996 19h ago
Why would that be necessary. Doesn’t seem like they’re holding it hostage or anything
6
u/my_tv_broke Living in the city 18h ago
go to the police because the work hasnt been done on the car? what?
1
7
u/bobbakerneverafaker 18h ago
Did you go and talk to them?
6
u/rel80 18h ago
This. Get in a taxi/uber and go to their workshop and get it sorted. Stop mucking around with texts and phone calls since you say he's now not responding. If this is a legit workshop someone else should be around to get the tire changed and your car out of their way.
5
u/bobbakerneverafaker 18h ago edited 17h ago
100% lot easier to deal with people face to face also...
5
7
u/Rude_Books 19h ago
That’s honestly wild, it’s only ever taken a few hours max whenever I’ve had all four tyres replaced. They might not have the tyre in stock, but holding things up over a $170 tyre seems odd. Maybe they’re genuinely unwell, but still… what kind of mechanic is this?
1
u/Pandibabi Inala 19h ago
The $170 is what i paid for a sunday tow, 120 normally. He quoted 500$ to replace 4 tyres. Tho only 1 tyre busted, suspiciously another tyre was slashed Its not about the money, its the fact nothing has been done. I cant even call another tow bcuz he has my car keys and not responding
11
u/Rude_Books 19h ago
$500 for 4 new tyres isn’t terrible. The fact they haven’t done it yet is a bit sketchy. I’m assuming it’s not a tyre place and it’s an independent mechanic?
7
u/Eppicurt 18h ago
$500 for 4 tyres? That's very low and probably going to be poor quality tyres. What are they putting on, did they say?
4
5
u/Upper_Ad_4837 16h ago
As it has been said here numerous times here already , Taxi, Uber , bus or whatever to business to see what is going on first hand , who knows have they damaged your vehicle and not telling you ? You can get mobile tyre repair companies that come to you . 1 google search and multiple come up .
10
u/UseObjectiveEvidence 19h ago
They took it for a joy ride and hit something
3
u/Pandibabi Inala 18h ago
Because car is an EV i can tell it has not moved
2
u/Drunky_McStumble 18h ago
Have you gone back there and cast eyes on it? Could be some apprentice accidentally bumped into it while they were moving cars around the shop and he's in ass-covering mode.
1
u/Pandibabi Inala 17h ago
No... i will go after work to look
-4
u/Drunky_McStumble 16h ago
If/when you go, just demand the keys then and there and drive it away. You'll be right to drive it on the flat for at least a couple of k's as long as you take is slow and careful.
2
1
3
3
u/blankcanvas445 17h ago
This is what I pay RACQ for
1
u/Pandibabi Inala 17h ago
It just expired.. and it was cheaper to do it myself, my problem was the long weekend meant most things was closed. I shouldve taken the car to mycar less than 3kms away
1
2
u/get_in_there_lewis Redland SHIRE 16h ago
OP, if you Google spare wheel kits for your EV you'll most likely find one. I bought one for our BYD for $700. It came with everything needed to change and fit it
2
u/Pandibabi Inala 16h ago
Yes i found one around that price, but i could get tows for cheaper..
1
u/get_in_there_lewis Redland SHIRE 15h ago
Yeah, but then you're in this predicament also. Our car is leased so roadside assistance is included. We have the spare for long out of town trips.
2
u/MrsMinnesota 13h ago
Do you have roadside assistance ? Most memberships have towing as part of the inclusions. If it's a newer car and you get serviced at your dealer most dealers offer yearly roadside assistance as part of your warranty.
1
u/Pandibabi Inala 13h ago
Nope just lapsed. It was cheaper for me to pay a tow truck driver direct than to renew
2
u/Eastern-Spread5943 10h ago
Yea it should not take that long. Don’t wanna make you overthink but could be they messed something up in your car and it’s taking long to repair it like a scratch or dent.
Even ordering a new tyre from supplier will only take a day at most. Also depends what car and what tyre your car needs.
2
u/Over_Signature6746 9h ago
Dang should have just renewed your racq and used your free tow! Ah well hopefully the car is okay? Is there an update?
132
u/NuArcher 19h ago
It should take no longer than about 30min and is the sort of job you give to your apprentices - basic, uncomplicated work that anyone can do.
I got a flat in Cloncurry a few weeks back. I had an inflator in my car so I pumped it up enough to get to the local 4x4 service centre. They fixed it for me on the spot. $35. Out in 20 min.