I had to fix a flat tire. I hate flat tires not because the car is relatively immobile, but because i have to deal with scummy car repair salesmen. If I had to rate them on a scale of one to ten, 1 being people that I would like to spit on to 10 being people I would like to mate with, I would say they’re about -426. Plus or minus 5.
What I needed: two tires and an alignment. (Alignment was recommended by oil change folks @ WalMart).
First quote from Walmart: average tires for $70 a tire. Installation, tire removal, and tax. $175 out the door for all minus alignment. The lady told me it was gonna be 70-80 bucks. If I got a tire upgrade, at least 225.
I figured this is a good place to get range of price because WalMart employees aren’t economically incentivized like those bastards at your local car repair shop.
Being the internet geek that I am, i went home to research my options. I called the first Wheel Works… gave me a quote of $330. This included everything, plus the tires I actually wanted… a higher grade than the one offered by WalMart.
Then I called another one.. ask them what they would offer me… $300…
Then I called another one. This time $270.
Another one. $250.
Then I called 2 more… they would NOT go below $250. So I thought, maybe that is the rock bottom price. Then I had the urge to annoy someone else. Another quote… $230!
Then I called BACK the first guy asking him to price match because I didn’t want to drive 15 miles. He agreed. $230 out the door. He went from $330 to $230 because I spent 15 minutes calling around.
Not bad for 15 min worth of work.
But now I think about it, i could’ve probably haggled down to $200. Maybe even $100. Maybe.. have them pay ME instead for the honor of negotiating with a cheapskate like me.
Lesson: Don’t get pushed around in life… unless you are the one doing the pushing. Then it’s gravy.
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