Kwik Fit tyre pricing weirdness

Miles_W

During the recent break between Christmas and New Year I decided to get one of my car tyres replaced, since the tread had worn down nearly to the limit.
I firstly telephoned my two nearest Kwik Fit centres. They both quoted me near £100 for a Continental-branded tyre, the second also quoted £58 for a budget tyre but they had to order it in and could not fit it that day.
So then I went online. I was able to book an appointment at the first centre (who had told me over the phone that they didn't have any other tyres available) a Hankook tyre for £76 for fitting the same day. Initially, the website was charging me £86 (an extra £10 for express fitting), however when I got to the checkout this extra charge had disappeared. (I'm not sure if I accidentally exploited a glitch in the site, I'd like to be able to say exactly what I did so others could try to repeat it - might have something to do with leaving the site, coming back and adding another tyre so there were two in the basket, then removing one.)
I paid online, turned up at the booked time and got my new tyre fitted with no problems.
So, if you're using Kwik Fit, never accept what you're told over the phone, always check online. And if the website is charging you for express fitting, try making some amendments to your basket to see if you can trigger the same glitch I did, which will get this charge removed.

AdrianC

Or, even better, avoid KF.

Arklight

It doesn't really matter what they tell you over the phone. Once they have your car up on the winch and have invented three different problems with your suspension and exhaust, put the wrong tyres the wrong way round on the wrong wheels, and reversed your tracking and alignment, you will be paying a random 3 figure sum regardless.

EdGasketTheSecond

Arklight wrote: »

It doesn't really matter what they tell you over the phone. Once they have your car up on the winch and have invented three different problems with your suspension and exhaust, put the wrong tyres the wrong way round on the wrong wheels, and reversed your tracking and alignment, you will be paying a random 3 figure sum regardless.

Thats why I only ever take loose wheels in to have tyres changed and as they are steel, they cant do too much damage.

wongataa

Arklight wrote: »

It doesn't really matter what they tell you over the phone. Once they have your car up on the winch and have invented three different problems with your suspension and exhaust, put the wrong tyres the wrong way round on the wrong wheels, and reversed your tracking and alignment, you will be paying a random 3 figure sum regardless.

While Kwik-Fit does have this reputation I suspect not all branches are this bad. In the admittedly limited experience with my local branch none of this activity has happened. My other half recently took her car to Kwik-Fit as one tyre was losing air too quickly (slow puncture of sealing problem). They looked at the wheel in question, diagnosed a rim sealing issue, quoted a price to fix which we were happy to pay, applied their fix (which has worked), and that was it. No trying to upsell or anything.

gabitzul

Generalisation is in my book also not helpful and rarely accurate. Had the same generally good experience with the KF branch I go to (Reading on Richfield Avenue).

BUT - I take care of my cars, I service myself more often than the schedule, turn up to MOT with a nice and hot engine etc. All the usual tricks really, to make sure there is as little as possible that can be deemed not right.

marlot

wongataa wrote: »

While Kwik-Fit does have this reputation I suspect not all branches are this bad.....

I've had good and bad (lease company used KF and I travelled a lot). The best one I visited was Chesterfield. Others varied - presumably based on the local manager and team.

System

You only walk out with a bill for stuff you didn't want if you let yourself be talked into stuff you didn't want. If you go in there wanting a tyre and are only willing to pay for that that's what'll get done. Sure they may mention brakes etc but you politely say thankyou for bringing it to your attention and you'll sort it out in the future.

angrycrow

Not a fan of kwik fit but I use them for my mot each year and find them fair.

We have two branches locally within a mile of each other, one is excellent and the other one is truly shocking. I suspect part of the problem is branch A send all the jobs they don't fancy to branch B around the corner saying they are too busy. This leaves branch A free to do quick tyre changes and mots.

I also suspect branch A don't mess me around as they know I look after my cars and do my own repairs so no extra money to be made from mot repairs.

facade

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Thats why I only ever take loose wheels in to have tyres changed and as they are steel, they cant do too much damage.

They can put the tyre on backwards if it is directional, I draw arrows on the rim with a sharpie to show the rotation.

[Deleted User]

Avoid Kwik Fit and just go to any half decent local indie garage. Most will be able to source and fit tyres same day for any budget.