What is your pet peeve of the day?

[Walt34]

I really make an effort to avoid lines. My long-standing policy is that if a business is too busy to take my money I'll spend it someplace else.

 

[nafddur1]

OK... had something else come up this morning that just got to me...

I need to get my tires rotated... when I went to them the other day it was a 2 hour wait... I said I could not do it today, but I live 5 minutes and would like to be able to get in line and come before you do the work... the guy gave me the number and said call us and I will put you in line...

So, this morning I call and he said it was 45 minutes to an hour, but he would put me in line and I could come in about 30 minutes. So, 30 minutes later I show up. They said it was about an hour wait since I was not scheduled... OK, but I called and scheduled... so the new guy said he would put my name down and I could come in 40 minutes...

SOOO, I come in 40 minutes and am told, it will be about an hour wait.. WTF!!! I was here 40 minutes ago when I was told an hour wait... why do I have to wait for all the people that came AFTER me? I was then told that even if I HAD AN APPOINTMENT I would have to wait about 45 minutes to an hour before they would get to me...

Then why in the heck (read a different word there) do you even have appointment times

This is Discount Tires... they have better prices and I have already bought these tires from them and this is just a free rebalance and rotation....

Why not just rotate them yourself? In a little more than the time it took to type this post, I do my own tire rotations in my driveway (or garage if it's raining out. Of course then, I usually just wait for the next sunny day). Life's way too short to waste time driving to a tire store, waiting for them to get to my car, doing the `work,' listening to their spiel about how much unnecessary work I need done, and then returning home.

Then again, I feel the same way about oil changes which I also like (actually, prefer) doing myself. I guess to each their own.

 

[aja8888]

Discount Tire tricks: Find a close location with a Denny's or IHop next door (or other suitable breakfast place)

1. Make an appointment for the morning.

2. Wait 30 minutes, then call the location ans verify they have seen your appointment (sometimes they don't check the computer in the busy morning).

3. Go there and drop the car and tell them you will be next door.

4. Go next door and have a coffee and your favorite breakfast.

5. In an hour, go pick up your car.

 

[Texas Proud]

Why not just rotate them yourself? In a little more than the time it took to type this post, I do my own tire rotations in my driveway (or garage if it's raining out. Of course then, I usually just wait for the next sunny day). Life's way too short to waste time driving to a tire store, waiting for them to get to my car, doing the `work,' listening to their spiel about how much unnecessary work I need done, and then returning home.

Then again, I feel the same way about oil changes which I also like (actually, prefer) doing myself. I guess to each their own.

Tires need balancing... I can feel one or more out of balance....

Then again, I do not have good enough tools to get it done easily...

And finally.... they do it FREE.... just have to wait for them....

 

[Texas Proud]

Discount Tire tricks: Find a close location with a Denny's or IHop next door (or other suitable breakfast place)

1. Make an appointment for the morning.

2. Wait 30 minutes, then call the location ans verify they have seen your appointment (sometimes they don't check the computer in the busy morning).

3. Go there and drop the car and tell them you will be next door.

4. Go next door and have a coffee and your favorite breakfast.

5. In an hour, go pick up your car.

I think the whole point of making an appointment is that you do not have to wait for all the people who walked in... if I make a 9AM appt, I would expect to get service around that time... not 10AM or even later...

Also, nothing next door to go and get anything... so I would have to drive to a different store... not sure if there is anything next to it (them, as there are a few around here) either...

 

[aja8888]

I think the whole point of making an appointment is that you do not have to wait for all the people who walked in... if I make a 9AM appt, I would expect to get service around that time... not 10AM or even later...

Also, nothing next door to go and get anything... so I would have to drive to a different store... not sure if there is anything next to it (them, as there are a few around here) either...

I'm just stating how it works at Texas DT stores in big cities.

One of my friends is a district manager for them (now in College Station) and all the stores are busy these days. There big problem is that the store staffs don't always see the online appointments when they start the shift and they also don't place a high priority on appointments for tire rotation/balance since they are free.

It sucks going there, and there are other tire shops like Firestone and Pep Boys.

 

[Texas Proud]

I'm just stating how it works at Texas DT stores in big cities.

One of my friends is a district manager for them (now in College Station) and all the stores are busy these days. There big problem is that the store staffs don't always see the online appointments when they start the shift and they also don't place a high priority on appointments for tire rotation/balance since they are free.

It sucks going there, and there are other tire shops like Firestone and Pep Boys.

Thanks... the mgr of the store also explained it to me... so then why even offer appointments? That was my argument...

I think what corporate wants and what the stores do is not the same... but then again, it could be corporate that is fine with the way it is...

Yes, I will be checking out other stores now.... but I think DT beats them all in price... and I would not want to pay for balance and rotation every 5K miles or so... I also have been a customer for maybe 30 odd years...

 

[Meadbh]

Thanks... the mgr of the store also explained it to me... so then why even offer appointments? That was my argument...

I think what corporate wants and what the stores do is not the same... but then again, it could be corporate that is fine with the way it is...

Yes, I will be checking out other stores now.... but I think DT beats them all in price... and I would not want to pay for balance and rotation every 5K miles or so... I also have been a customer for maybe 30 odd years...

Do they have a Facebook page? Consider giving constructive feedback there, where other potential customers can see it. That may get their attention.

 

[Texas Proud]

Update on my Discount Tire saga...

Wrote to the company and complained... got a call this morning from the manager who said that is not what is supposed to happen...

Scheduled me for 11:30... I arrived at that time, got me in when the bay was empty, did the work and I was out of there in less than 20 minutes...

This is how an appointment is supposed to work!!!

But, just found out that my 90,000 mile Michelins are almost ready to be replaced at 30,000 miles... the manager said that Michelin is aware of the problem and I would get back a credit... said I got one more rotation and then will have to replace them...

If it ain't one thing it is another.....

 

[ls99]

OK... one just happened to me....

A door to door salesman that will not take NO for an answer... when it is a call (which is another peeve... the no call list does not work) I just ignore it...

But, the guy at the door you usually answer... I step out so the cats do not get out... they ask their question and I politely say 'not interested'... then they try something else... 'no, still not' as I am opening the door to go back inside... and they continue to try and sell something!!! REALLY, how many people open the door back up and say 'OH, sure I will buy your crap'....


And especially when I was just about to fall into a good nap....

There is a nifty little sign available for about 2 bucks.
It says "NO SOLICITING". I have on right at the entrance to my driveway. It works pretty good, those who ignore it get to stand at the door until they become bored.

 

[John Galt III]

Here's a good one. When watching golf on my 10 year old perfectly good 25 inch TV, about half the time, while they are showing players on the green, you can't see the player taking the putt! Or you can't see the ball as it is rolling toward the cup. It's as though the producers have cropped out the edges of the scene. Why? Maybe they have formatted it for large flat screens? And the print on the screen is now microscopic. Again, maybe something to do with formatting it for huge screens?

 

[REWahoo]

Have you checked your TV settings? That would be the first place I looked.

 

[John Galt III]

Have you checked your TV settings? That would be the first place I looked.

No, I have not. Will try it. Hope the instructions aren't hopelessly ambiguous.

 

[ERD50]

Here's a good one. When watching golf on my 10 year old perfectly good 25 inch TV, about half the time, while they are showing players on the green, you can't see the player taking the putt! Or you can't see the ball as it is rolling toward the cup. It's as though the producers have cropped out the edges of the scene. Why? Maybe they have formatted it for large flat screens? And the print on the screen is now microscopic. Again, maybe something to do with formatting it for huge screens?

Yes, I think most broadcast nowadays is formatted for HD TVs. If you are watching on an SD (Standard Def) screen, some will be cropped, and they now make the fine print barely readable on an HD, so it is just a blur on SD.

-ERD50

 

[ERD50]

Have you checked your TV settings? That would be the first place I looked.

No, I have not. Will try it. Hope the instructions aren't hopelessly ambiguous.

No, that won't help:

" There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. ... We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical.

We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to — The Outer Limits.
— Opening narration, The Control Voice, 1960s "

-ERD50

 

[Derslickmeister]

Why? Maybe they have formatted it for large flat screens? And the print on the screen is now microscopic. Again, maybe something to do with formatting it for huge screens?

Yes, you have answered your own question. Broadcasting in HD 1080i and 16:9 aspect ratio. You need a newer, bigger TV.

 

[JoeWras]

Update on my Discount Tire saga...

Wrote to the company and complained... got a call this morning from the manager who said that is not what is supposed to happen...

Scheduled me for 11:30... I arrived at that time, got me in when the bay was empty, did the work and I was out of there in less than 20 minutes...

This is how an appointment is supposed to work!!!

But, just found out that my 90,000 mile Michelins are almost ready to be replaced at 30,000 miles... the manager said that Michelin is aware of the problem and I would get back a credit... said I got one more rotation and then will have to replace them...

If it ain't one thing it is another.....

I don't want to sound like a cheerleader, but I love Discount Tire. Here in Raleigh, NC, they are pretty good with appointments. I've never had a wait.

I'll also say this: my friend's son works there and they provide a good opportunity for young people to make a decent wage in a responsible job. We need more employers like this.

All that said, I blew them off for many years because their shops looked cheesy, and so did their ads. A co-worker suggested I try them, and now I'm a regular customer.

 

[Car-Guy]

Why not just rotate them yourself? In a little more than the time it took to type this post, I do my own tire rotations in my driveway (or garage if it's raining out. Of course then, I usually just wait for the next sunny day). Life's way too short to waste time driving to a tire store, waiting for them to get to my car, doing the `work,' listening to their spiel about how much unnecessary work I need done, and then returning home.

Then again, I feel the same way about oil changes which I also like (actually, prefer) doing myself. I guess to each their own.

+1 Even though I've been happy with Discount Tires, I still do my own tire rotations. (Besides, it's two hour round trip to the nearest Discount Tire shop)

 

[John Galt III]

Yes, I think most broadcast nowadays is formatted for HD TVs. If you are watching on an SD (Standard Def) screen, some will be cropped, and they now make the fine print barely readable on an HD, so it is just a blur on SD.

-ERD50

Aha! I guessed right. I just have to get with the program and buy an expensive new TV! No, I suppose I can live with the cropping. It may be happening on all programs, but I only notice it on sports shows, and I'm not a huge sports fan.

 

[pb4uski]

Stopped at a food store on the way home and saw 2 women (50ish) in the produce department eating cherries out of the packages. I was shocked and said "you can't eat those without paying for them, it's stealing." They said "no it wasn't that everyone does it." ...

It would have been tempted to say 'No, I'm pretty sure it is stealing. Let's get the store manager and we can ask for his/her opinion."

 

[aja8888]

It would have been tempted to say 'No, I'm pretty sure it is stealing. Let's get the store manager and we can ask for his/her opinion."

Standing there munching on cherries and not buying the rest of the bag is certainly not "testing" and shorting the person who eventually buys the bag. I sometimes test grapes in the store before I buy the product because we have bought some that were downright sour and past their prime. But I don't "test" just to nibble because I feel like eating a few grapes.

Plus, if the store manager wanted potential customers to try the cherries before buying, he would have set up a test kiosk with an employee there to hand out cherries.

 

[Texas Proud]

I don't want to sound like a cheerleader, but I love Discount Tire. Here in Raleigh, NC, they are pretty good with appointments. I've never had a wait.

I'll also say this: my friend's son works there and they provide a good opportunity for young people to make a decent wage in a responsible job. We need more employers like this.

All that said, I blew them off for many years because their shops looked cheesy, and so did their ads. A co-worker suggested I try them, and now I'm a regular customer.

I do too... I have been going for probably more than 30 years... I normally go in when there are not that many people there... but do not drive by them as often as I used to so decided to set an appointment..

If you read my last email, the manager called and worked it out in the end...

 

[mystang52]

I'm sure this has been mentioned before in one way or the other, on this or another post. But what drives me crazy are all those supposed expert analysts who can, ahem, "expertly" explain the sharp drops and increases in the stock market - after it's happened.
Heck, I can do that. As far as I'm concerned, no different than the after-the-fact claims from the Psychic Network.

 

[Walt34]

Even if you're not Comcast's customer they still won't miss an opportunity to mess things up. The new next-door neighbor was getting Comcast cable installed, and that's fine. Of course while doing that they cut my cable and phone line even though the locations of the cables had been marked.

Then they botched up the repair on the phone line, tried to fix it for two hours, then admitted that he had no idea how to fix it so I ended up calling Frontier. They had it straightened out in a couple of hours.

 

[travelover]

Even if you're not Comcast's customer they still won't miss an opportunity to mess things up. ........

I don't have Comcast either, but their cable line was knocked down in my (very large) backyard and it took months for me to get them to raise it back off the ground and even then they left the cable from the old line laying on the ground. I finally got disgusted and rolled up the steel cable myself and sold it for scrap.