[catchtheroadrunner]

I took my car into a local Firestone today (Fischer's in Grass Valley) because my 6 month old front tires were nearly bald on the insides while still fresh on the outside. The tires were mounted, installed, balanced and aligned in an Oakland branch. It was necessary to use camber bolts to correct my camber sufficiently.

As it turns out, the camber bolt was put in the wrong hole and the tab facing the wrong direction. I can't really figure this out, because when I picked the car up on that day, they pointed out on a printout where the alignment was at, and that it was within reasonable limits. It didn't look right, but the printout said it was right. So was it properly aligned briefly by accident??? Additionally, at the time, only one side got a camber bold at the time (today the second one was installed).

Anyhow, I called their customer service, and they attempted a conference call with the Oakland Manager. That was a pleasant surprise, no "back room" conversations, simply "let's call them". The Oakland manager wasn't there and the asst. manager wasn't in a position to be able to work this out. Then I was referred to the Divisional manager who took some details and looked into the matter. He called me back a short time later, talked to me and the local independent Firestone manager a bit more, determine it to be appropriate for all the work done and parts used today to be reimburse. I just need to fax him todays report and receipt from today's mechanic.

There were so many things they could have said to dissuade me, suggestions about my driving habits, asking me to call the Oakland branch myself. I didn't have the original receipts so they could've tried to use that (but it was on a Firestone card so I had a record). They didn't do a single think to stall for time or shirk responsibility.

[Mustangshar]

Corporate Office was very good to me, however I will never go back to my local Firestone Dealer. Briefly...when I had my 03GT I have snow tires/rims that I had swapped the last week of October. Did it every year.

That year I went there to have it done. When I drove her home,there was something VERY wrong, felt rough. I went right back to the dealer the techy came out and looked at the tires and said oh there some "flat spots" drive it a week. That was Sunday. By TUESDAY there was a funny metal rattling going on, front right sounded like the rim insert was loose. Mind you,, it was still a rough ride and shimmy. I stopped at my FORD dealer to have them take a look.

They hauled me into the service bay....they said you weren't driving fast were you? I said yes 65. The front right had only 4 lugs installed and one was totally stripped. The noise I was hearing was my wheel ready to fall off! That same tire was no longer road worthy. There were 2 different styles of LUGS and the tires were never inflated to the proper levels.

I received a complete refund and a new tire and the Ford repair. But when I went back to Firestone for my credit..they defended everything up until I said well if all that is true,, and everything was done to spec,, then how do you explain 2 diff lugs and 24 lbs of air in each freaking tire! SILENCE, I win.

This is a TIRE store...they know all this stuff-easy swap. It was just crap. Never EVER again. I so do not trust people that are trying to kill me, ya know?

But again..corporate is EXCELLANT.

[06RedfireGT]

I had a set of Bridgestones put on my truck at a firestone place. Had no problems.