Short version:

Was told they could align the car, no problem. I gave them some custom alignment specs that are really VERY tame for the miata, and are practically gospel in the miata community.

First red flag: Alignment tech didn't understand that I didn't just want him to align all the wheels until the machine put everything in "the green". Warned me, quite idiotically, that his machine would report almost all of my custom values as "in the red". Apparently, the numbers don't mean anything to him, he would just turn a bolt until the screen on his machine would turn green, and he'd stop.

At the end of the day, I call for a progress report. Mind you, this shop is in a nearby town from where I live, and I have been stuck at a customer site all day waiting on this. (contract customer, no issues there). That means, I didn't get to eat lunch that day because I couldn't LEAVE. The progress report was that they couldn't seem to get it. Out of time for the day, bring it back tomorrow. Ride home was interesting on a half-way aligned car.

Retardedly, I brought it back the next day. Lather, rinse, repeat. "Bring it back tomorrow."

"Oh, and we broke an alignment bolt." That brings me to one of the most hilarious questions I have ever been asked by a professional automotive shop: "Hey, you wouldn't happen to have an extra alignment bolt, huh?" Apparently, in this waterheaded idiot's version of reality, they don't stock alignment bolts (a fairly universal part). So the only way to procure one is to call Advance Auto Parts or rely on the customer to supply his own. What kind of pants-on-head retard would expect a customer to have a ready supply of alignment bolts ready at a moment's notice to replace one they conveniently broke?

...

So, that evening I grab an extra alignment bolt I have sitting around at the house.

Day 78: They say they brought in an expert from another shop to work his Midas touch on the car (see what I did there?) and get my suspension dialed to the impossible, improbable, and downright insane numbers I provided.

At this point, **** got real son.

I noticed that the alignment pads on each and every one of my wheels had gouged the lip of the rim and destroyed the paint. Not just on the rim, but also on the inner spokes of the wheel. How in the hell............?

I rolled initiative and quickly cast a Fiery Inferno of Fury. Veins popped from my forehead. Items around me began to levitate. The sky opened above me and rained a fiery sulphur of vitriol at the completely incompetent alignment tech.

Well, actually I just yelled to get my car off the rack.



A manager quickly waddled over to the bay to identify the issue. No question their machine had done it. Promised to make it right.



Chapter 2: On promises and pride

Is it too much to ask for someone to take a little pride in what they do for a living? Honestly, if even one person, ONE, had taken just the teeniest, tiniest amount of pride for just one second on their chosen profession, we wouldn't be at this point. But we were. So maybe things would get better? Perhaps the wheel repair place they chose would be the kind of establishment that would be just as shocked and appalled as I was at the staggering incompetence of Goodyear and would rise above to please a customer.

Or, perhaps, they would be exactly the same caliber.

Sadly, I feel you already know the answer.


Yep, got the wheels back. I opened the first box. Wow, the wheel looked really good! Perhaps my early judgment was unwarranted! Second box: Joy of joys! Another beautiful wheel! Third box: Could this be? Has someone actually stepped up to the plate and knocked one out of the park? Well, only one box to go! Open that fourth box!


WHAT. THE. F***?!

How could you ship out three wheels with flawless clearcoat, and send one out with none at all? Did no one notice, "Hey that wheel looks awfully flat compared to the others, what with it being completely NOT SHINY."

So, they apologize for not, you know, checking them first before wasting my time to run back to Thibodaux to check them. The wheels are shipped back to the repair shop, some time passes, and I am asked to again come in for an inspection. Once again, seriously? The one wheel came back twice as dark as the other three. Clearly, provably, demonstrably darker. The clerk at goodyear smiles while holding up the wheel, like Vanna White proudly turning a letter on a game board.

"Uhh..........that's not even close."

Round 3:
They eventually end up sending all four wheels back and Goodyear gives the shop orders that the wheels are to match or the penalty of PAIN OF DEATH awaits them.

Hey, whadaya know? If you threaten someone, things get done! I finally get my wheels back, they are near flawless. Goodyear then mounts my old tires back to them, balance them, and send them merrily my way.

THE END