Autotire

This is an update to my previous review. After messaging Brittany V (messaged me on the original review), speaking to someone at Customer service and being put in touch with the regional manager, things were worked out. I took the car back to another Autotire today (on Hampton), these guys are awesome, very good at their jobs and were able to figure out the problem. So after 3 trips and a total of 18 hours in the shop, it is supposed to be fixed. I will drive it a few days and see. I do have to thank Mike (regional manager) and Brittany V for getting the ball rolling and making things happen. Also all the people at Hampton avenue Autotire, this will be my go to store in the future.

With an unexpected need for a new tire due to a nail in a spot that made in unrepairable, we went to Autotire because, after making a couple of phone calls, discovered they were about $ 20 cheaper than their local competitor. The customer service was great. They got us in immediately, which is practically unheard of on a Sunday afternoon with no appointment. I will be back when the need arises.

Though I see several bad reviews here complaining of poor customer service, I had the opposite experience. In an attempt to keep from taking time off of work, I brought my car in late on a weekday (around 5pm). All I needed was a new tire, and I happen to know that Autotire carries the particular one my car needs. Shop employees let me know that they woud do their best to get my car finished that night (given that there were 2 – 3 people ahead of me in the service line), and they agreed to call and update me as the evening went on (I left the shop with a friend who lives nearby).
About 20 minutes before their closing time, I got a call letting me know that my car would be done soon. I headed back down and waited for them to finish up. Around 7pm (closing time) one of the shop attendants came out and let me know that there was a problem with the tire they were getting ready to put on (it appeared to be damaged in such a way that it would chronically leak and eventually need to be replaced). Unfortunately, this was the only tire of that brand/​type they had in the shop. Rather than simply telling me that they couldn’t finish up tonight (which would have been totally acceptable), the other employee who was there that night drove over to another location, picked up an in tact tire, and brought it back so that I could take my car home that night. Everyone I worked with was very kind and helpful that evening as well. I also was impressed that the female employee who was present while we waited for the new tire locked the exterior door to the waiting area so as to insure my safety while she completed tasks in the shop area.
I have to say I was quite pleased with the customer service, and very impressed with both employees’ willingness to stay well past closing time to make sure I got my car back that evening.

This place is the prime example of how customer service has completely fallen by the wayside in this country.
I roll in here about 9:05 AM, 5 minutes after they open, on a Sunday morning. All the garage doors but one are closed, so it looked open. As I parked, a man in an Autotire uniform walked out of the front doors and directly past me. I said hello to him. He looked me up and down and did not even respond. Ummmmmm… Okay.
I go into the office. There is nobody in there. I wait. And wait. And wait. And wait.
I look around. And wait.
I walk outside and try to find the open garage. Now all the garage doors are closed. I walk down the line, peering in the windows, trying to find someone who works there. Maybe they aren’t open?
I get in my car and am pulling away, and a woman who works there strolls out of the office. I roll down my window and ask if they are open. She says yes. I ask if I could get my oil changed.
«I guess, but I mean, you’ll have to wait.»
«Okay… About how long?»
«A long time.»
«Okay… How long is a long time?»
«I won’t even be able to look at it for at least an hour or more.»
I don’t mind to-​the-​point service or directness, but I really resent companies that immediately answer with a «no». It makes me feel like they don’t want my business. Why act like your customers are a pain in the ass? Like WTF? If I had been working, I would have been enthusiastic and said yes, we’d love to change your oil, let’s set an appointment, I have one open in an hour.
How do places like this stay in business? Also, really, you can’t get me in for over an hour at 9 AM on a Sunday morning when your business is deserted? But whatever, I understand that auto shops are really hard, because you’d have to be way over capacity to be able to afford to hire another mechanic, but still.
I came here because it was personally recommended to me by a friend, but the attitudes of both employees I encountered this morning ensure that I will never return.
Customer service is a teachable skill. Can we please teach our next generation some people skills? To take pride in their work? To at least be able to fake a good attitude? To be kind to customers? To be appreciative of customers?

Awful. Don’t go here. I have had the worst experience with them. I had my check engine light on, they ran a diagnostic for $ 100, then had to do over $ 600 worth of repairs. They had my car for like 8 hours and when they were done, and after i paid, the check light was still on. SO i took it back in, they called some people bc they had no idea what was wrong, and I brought it back in again today bc they told me they figured out what tests to run. They’ve had it for almost 9 hours today. I just called bc they haven’t checked in with me all day and the store manager said to «be patient».
They work on each car for a few minutes, then go to another car for a few minutes, then move to another car. They don’t just stick with one car till they get it done. So you might think it’s wise to bring your car in early in the day, but it will still take them all day to work on your vehicle because they only work on for a few minutes before they move on to another car. As soon as i get my car back from them today i’m never going there agin.

Due to my own bad timing, I was unable to ever test the care care services of the shop, but my experience with the customer service was very good. The woman at the front desk (the same one everyone I visited/​called, over 2 days– I think her name was Amanda) was knowledgeable without being condescending and helpful without being unrealistic about fitting me in. I appreciated her service, and even though I wasn’t able to make it in to have my tire patched, based on my experience with her I would definitely go to them in the future.

Long waits despite appointments. Charged for wrong service. They also said I had a problem with my alternator. The explanation they have was so ridiculous. The reason made no sense at all if you knew anything about alternators. Which I do. Needless to say, no alternator problem. That was confirmed. Won’t go back. Seems pretty shady overall. I used to like this place, but they’ve taken a turn south. Won’t return.

Nice try, AutoTire. Knowing full well that it is the last business day of the month and every service station in the county that does inspections would be busy, I took the time last night to research tire prices and made an appointment online. This morning, I called and confirmed my appointment, the tire I was looking for, and the number of tires (2). The Autotire employee confirmed and I even offered to just drop off my car in order to give them time to work on it. Upon dropping it off, I was told that the tire I chose was out of stock… in the ENTIRE ST. LOUIS AREA. A different story than my phone conversation earlier that day. AND, the tire they did have available was over $ 20 more per tire. Regardless to say, I got back in my car, called Dobb’s who was willing to fit me in if I dropped the car off, they ordered the tire that was not in stock and met the price of AutoTire. AutoTire did not offer any apologies or discounts. They have lost a potential customer and I will now go straight to Dobbs.