I don't understand this.

[68stang351]

I bought a wheel and tire combo back in May from a reputable, big name company for my 04 GT. I will keep them anonymous right now, as I am in the process of dealing with the warranty. They say there is a one year warranty on the finish.

Well, it's been less than a year, and both of my rear deep dish wheels have the coating peeling off of the lip.

They want me to pay a 15$ per wheel warranty fee, shipping, and probably also the tire dismounting/mounting and balancing of the new wheels.

Also between the two representatives I've gotten in touch with, they have been very vague about all the info that they need me to provide for them, and have not answered several of my questions that I've asked so that it will be more clear what I need to do to get this resolved. It's like they are trying to make it such a pita for me that they hope I'll give up on trying to get a decent pair of wheels.

I've been nothing but respectful so far in my correspondence with them.

My problem and what I don't understand is that if they have a warranty, why must I pay to have a warranty issue taken care of because of a manufacturing/quality defect.

It just seems wrong to me that I spent all that money with them, yet it's still going to cost me even more to get my wheels swapped out because of their crappy quality.

Quite honestly, I'm kind of pissed off right now, but I will give the anonymous company a chance to make things right before I start throwing their name around. Either way, when this is done I will publicly give this company either a or a based on the way this is handled.

This company is supposed to have a great customer service reputation, but I'm not feeling it.

Thoughts?

 

[trombonedemon]

Just so you can fight fire w/fire, do you have the waranty in writing, just so when they want to argue w/you, you have there words in front of you, or better yet see if its in there CPU system. You need to have facts on your side, its not what you know, its what you can prove!

 

[BurningRubber]

There may be some BS in fine print about a "fee" you need to pay for warranty work. If there is, I'm sure they wouldn't make a point to let you know.

It sucks, but $15 a wheel isn't that bad to get them re-finished, or new wheels. I would pay the $15 IF and only if they won't drop it, but wouldn't pay a penny over it.

 

[68stang351]

Just so you can fight fire w/fire, do you have the waranty in writing, just so when they want to argue w/you, you have there words in front of you, or better yet see if its in there CPU system. You need to have facts on your side, its not what you know, its what you can prove!

This is straight from their website.

Chrome plated wheels are guaranteed against separation and peeling for one year from original date of purchase. All other wheels are guaranteed against paint separation and paint peeling for one year from original date of purchase.

**********'s obligation under these warranties is limited to repair or replacement at our sole discretion, without charge excluding freight if wheel(s) are found to be defective.

So I can see paying freight since it's right there in the terms, but why a warranty fee?


I just wish I would have had decent wheels the first time and avoided all this crap.

 

[BurningRubber]

Maybe the "warranty fee" is really just freight to get the wheels to them.

 

[68stang351]

Maybe the "warranty fee" is really just freight to get the wheels to them.

I hope so. I mean, I'm kind of cornered into doing it, I can't drive an otherwise sweet looking Mustang around with crap flaking off the wheels.

 

[sneaky98gt]

Yea, I know what company you are talking about. And it seems like you haven't met any of the exclusion clauses. So it would only seem right that they fix them, with you paying for the freight (as per their policy)

Only thing that concerns me is the "at our sole discretion" part. I guess they could use that to make you pay whatever they wanted to.

I haven't had, nor do I know anyone that has, had a problem with the company. I would think/hope that everything will work out for you in the end.

 

[4tun8]

This is common in the business. They probably didn't know that they would have to pay the warranty fee themselves. Threaten to go to the forums, they'll drop the charge I promise.

(I work in the industry)

 

[trombonedemon]

Yea, only thing I can see is that they might try to prove that you were the cause some how, if they were going to extreme "douche bags" I love my capitalistic society