Rip Off - Tire Choice
 

I got this from a fellow Villager whom I trust. I too walked out on the Colony Tire Choice when they attempted to sell ridiculousness.

I just want to let you know what happened to my sister, Elba, who lives in the Villages. She went to the Tire Choice store on Wedgewood Lane to get a Lube oil and Filter change and a tire rotation. Her neighbor went with her to bring her home. Prior to leaving the person at Tire Choice asked her if she needed anything else done. He said they will do an inspection and let her know the condition of her car. She said if it needs any SAFETY items let her know. Remember, she is 80 years old and lives by herself. Her car is a 2005 Toyota Camry with less than 20,000 miles on it. She had been getting it serviced at Quality Tire on 466, but he was closed for a while. She got a call from the guy at Tire Choice and he told her that she neede to have the following SAFETY items done, Brake System Flush, Power Steering System Flush, Transmission System Flush, Coolant System Flush, Complete 4 wheel allignment and recommended Premium Synthetic Oil Change. Well not being aware, she said ok. He said the bill would come to around $2450. Luckily, her neighbors son was visiting and she asked him about the list. He immedialtely took her back to Tire Choice and they stopped most of the work. Some work, to the tune of $1536 was already done or in progress. This was a total RIP_OFF of a defenceless elderly lady.

You may want to pass this on to your friends and neighbors. I had my son, who is a Pa. State Trooper, make some phone calls. He contacted the Sumter County Sherrif's office and they were not too helpful. They told him to have my sister come to the Annex office in the Villages and give them the information. I will be talking to her today .

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend

Contact this group immediately Seniors Vs. Crime Project. They will be able to help you.

In the Sumter County Sheriff Office, don't stop at the Sheriff desk. Instead stop at the Seniors vs Crime office. I suspect you would learn that what happened is not a criminal act since she said "OK" but rather an unscrupulous act and something that the Seniors vs Crime people can frequently help redress.

Put: seniorsvscrime.com/offices.htm#Sumter_County in your browser and you will get the web page with address, hours, etc. They are great people - it might not help but then again, they might be able to help.

If you're over by Wedgewood Lane again, next time stop in at Walmart across the street to the automative depart., it's on the left side of the building. I had a nail in a tire and took my car to Tire Kingdom on 441 next to the new McDonalds. They said the nail was too close to the edge to fix and a new tire installed was $180. I took the car to Walmart, they fixed the tire for $10 and the tire is still going 10,000 miles later.

I don't know how some people rest their heads on their pillows at night.......

Another example.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...-colony-93999/

THIS CERTAINLY ISN'T THE FIRST TIME TIRE CHOICE HAS BEEN FEATURED ON THIS FORUM. THEY ARE THE MOST DEVIOUS BUSINESS IN OUR AREA AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. THEY DO THIS UP CHARGING KNOWING THEY ARE JUST BARELY STAYING ON THE SIDE OF BEING LEGAL. THEY HAVE FOUND A GOLD MINE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE VILLAGES ELDERLY CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY WITH WIDOWS. I HOPE YOU DON'T LET THIS SLIDE BY, BUT THAT YOU FOLLOW THRU WITH THE COMPLAINT. I PERSONALLY DETEST BUSINESSES THAT TRY TO LEGALLY STEAL FROM MY NEIGHBORS.
:censored:

A prior thread on this subject.
 

In my Opinion:

having dealt with "Tire Choice" On Wedgewood,

>>>> STAY AWAY FROM TIRE CHOICE <<<<

Seems like a good place for the Florida Attorney General's office to conduct a sting operation.

So sorry to hear about this. Even with the normally inflated prices, these items should not have totaled more than maybe $700. None of those items actually needs a "flush" - a simple drain and refill is sufficient most of the time. This is very shameful. Word of mouth is very powerful - spread the word.

Is there a corporate office for this chain to go through

Read some of the other threads. Folks have tried to do just that.

They tried it with me as well unsuccessfully. Tire Choice at Colony is totally unscrupulous. It appears that corporate policy supports the unethical conduct.

I too had an issue with Tire Choice. Please watch out for them. They are not getting any of my business ever again!!!!! Shame on them. All we can do is to let all of our Village neighbors know to go elsewhere.

Try Sumter Tire on 301 in Wildwood. Great people. Good service. Reasonable prices. We have all of our non-warranty service done there and have never been disappointed.

I had a bad experience with Tire Choice on LaGrande Blvd near Spanish Springs. I won't go into details, but I don't know how they stay in business with all the stories I've heard about them since my experience.

The most effective way to stop this is to get the AG involved and suggest a sting operation. where is 60 minutes when you need them

I went to Tire Choice, Colony for an oil change. They tried to sell me four new tires and rear shocks. I said no to everything but the oil change.

agree
 

Amen

I'm not condoning this business, but certain things required routine maintenance if we keep car long enough. basiclly if you know nothing about whats required need to read the owners manual, weigh the outcome, and inquire cost before you sign allowing them to do the work. Lets face it cars are not cheap and paying for maintenance not either.


have the following SAFETY items done, Brake System Flush, Power Steering System Flush, Transmission System Flush, Coolant System Flush, Complete 4 wheel allignment and recommended Premium Synthetic Oil ChangeI wouldn't consider them safety items unless the levels were low and the car was pulling severely left or right.

If you read in the owners manuals of most cars fluid changes are mileage and by months changes if you don't put enough miles on in certain amount of time, then there are the conditions you drive in which may make the intervals less. now days computer will signal when something required

Even though the car only had 20K miles it was 9 years old, course we think of oil changes on regular basis but antifreeze is just as important to prevent head gasket, water pump, radiator and hose failure problems after four years or so, 9 years is stretch IMO. Basiclly it breaks down and starts eating seals, and plugging radiators so 9 years on orginal anti-freeze is asking for trouble IMO.

Break fluid may absorb water from condensation usually worse in colder climates further north. With the cost of anti-lock brake controller and system conponents I can't say it's not overdue.

As for power steering fluid flushing every few years may prevent pump failure or leaks notice I said may?

I never alow maintenance to be done without inquiring how much it will cost. I agree in this case outragous over priced, Maybe they think their so good worth $500. hourly rate? I think if you goggle hourly rates you may be just as shocked, they have alot of expenses that added into the rate. Rent may be one?

usually the dealer has specials on fluid changes or trusted non-dealership business Which they post in paper or sale adds, Just make sure you read the FINE print for additional charges

Just cause Car has low miles don't mean it don't need servicing routinely. IMO that's why most stay away from the dealer after the warrenty runs out cause they want to change all this stuff also. Just need to find out how much they are charging for the service IMO before you let them do the work.

Most people don't keep cars long enough for things to go sour or south from lack of routine servicing requirements. IMO that's why they trade every two or three years? If you do nothing cars now days will last that long IMO of course.

About the alignment, if you bang (hit) curve or pull in too hard and you bang the tire stops it might knock the front end out of alignment especially if you notice tire wear not even. Now days front wheel drive cars have all four wheels aligned, not like the old 68 impala or F100 truck where you could bang the curb and may not knock anything out of alignment. parts are lighter now days JMO others may disagree. way too long but I'm not doing nothing at the monment.

As some one new to the villages post like this are a great help. This site helps with the choices we make.

A good honest mechanic is worth their weight in gold!!!

These type of places give themselves a bad name. Don't they realize they are killing the goose with the golden egg? I heard the same thing about Firestone locations also. A $30 oil change cost $400 to $500 in unnecessary repairs.

Shameful dishonest practices, always bite you in the rear. Seniors vs Crimes should be contacted to set the matter straight. I personally would have contacted the DA's office to make them aware, this business is ripping people off. If enough people complain, they might modify their practices.

Until then, I don't know how they sleep at night. Maybe a large cocktail bought by their customers, sitting in their easy chair. :(

Notify the local news stations and newspaper about your experience. Hope they get blasted in the media.

Tire Choice at Colony tried to rip me off for an unneeded $800 repair. Instead, I added 3ozs of power steering fluid and a year and 15,000 miles later the car is still going strong. Avoid Tire Choice at all costs. They will rip you off if you let them.

Its unfortunate that businesses can get away with this. The problem here in the villages is a lot of businesses know that even if they lose a customer there will be more to come along to take their place.
Customer retention or service is not a requirement for most businesses here.
Word just cannot get out to enough people to make the business change its practices.

So where IS a good place to get your car serviced? Oil changes? New tires?

tire choice
 

I have posted other sites will give quick overview out of 8 travel trailer tires 4 replaced 4 in use. 6 have blown out on trips 2 have failed belt separation. Have been waiting 40 days for some settlement. My advice don't t do any business with tire choice, they sold me these tires knowing they were dangerous. The company has no conscious. They don't t care that your tires are the most important part of your car/truck/TT. Find other stores that actually care about you your family. If I worked there I would be ashamed to go to work.

safety items
 

Really. Fluid changes/syn oil changes/ don't t you guys have mothers and grandmothers, you would be furious if someone did that to your family. Best advice I can give call your kids ask them, no kids you have friends. Ask them to help with advice, we have a lot of car people come to car show 3 sat each month town square. You will meet people that have forgotten more than today's car experts, at least they will direct you to someone who is honest. Took me awhile /Meredith auto 352 753 1033......tri country 352 753 5400 people that have been more than fair with my vehicle repairs. By the way. I'm one of those car guys I know when I'm being cheated. Good luck. Don't get taken advantage of,you worked to hard for that money.

Sam's Club and Costco for tires.

Sumter Tire in Wildwood on 301 just south of the railroad overpass about a block.

Had the same situation as another poster with a nail to close to sidewall they said. These were 70k Michelin Radials with 15,000 miles , R 19s and cost $1400. They told me they cannot repair it and had no replacement tire that size. Wanted to quote me on 4 new tires. I said no way, put air in it and I moved on to the dealer in Wildwood. $15 later and on my way home. This was the Colony Plaza store. These guys are so shady.

Boycott Tire Choice they are rip offs only got me for $60 bucks it's the principle.

:rant-rave:I always take my 2 golf carts 2 times a year for $55 service spring and fall.
Oil grease gas filter oil filter yada yada yada

This past time the service man called and said that my fuse holder was corroded and it should be replaced. They would change it over to a fusible link for $60
I have no tools here and at the time it seemed feasible to me.
Pick up my cart paid the bill $115 plus dollars
Got home Googled fusible link and it's a wire that cost retail $2.99 it's six inches long
Takes less than 10 mins to install
Tire Choice you have lost a customer forever

Tire choice seem to be the place to go if you want to be ripped off. You guys that work there must be very proud of yourselves remember what goes around comes around.

I recently overheard the guys at the front desk discussing how "corporate isn't interested in repeat customers". Well that explained it for me.

I would never take my golf cart to a place that tries to fix cars. Where is the trained individual that knows golf cars that works there? Just because they are mechanics, doesn't mean they can fix whatever comes through the door.

This is a every day problem at this place. Buyer beware.

Tire choice is no place to take a car for repair unless you have money to throw away.

I needed two 18 inch Bridgestone Dueler SUV tires. Walmart was $156.00 ea. Tire Choice was $210.00 ea. That is 35% higher for the same tire.

Why?????
 

It seems that those of you who have posted negative experiences with Tire Choice on here must have read previous negative experiences. I have to wonder why one would go there for services when they have been warned and others have been ripped off? Can anyone explain? Maybe it's the "it won't happen to me" syndrome.