Not sure where to put this thread, but since this has to do with tires, I figured here would be good.
DO NOT USE NJ DISCOUNT TIRE ON ROUTE 206 IN ANDOVER, NJ!
Long story, short: So I ordered Yokohama S Drives from this tire shop and the guy asked for my credit card number to hold the tires for me. He ends up charging my card without consulting me. It's been over a week and I have no tires. I went back a few times and each time the tires, conveniently, weren't delivered yet. Tried to get a refund yesterday and the guy said he's absolutely not giving my money back since they were special order. I gave him a few chances to refund my money and he won't. So he will now be investigated by my bank and the Andover Police Department, as well as receiving a letter from the Better Business Bureau.
Here's the detailed version that was given to the bank, police, and better business bureau:
Thursday, April 22- Called NJ Discount Tire at 4:08 PM to order tires. Spoke with the owner who told me that the specific tires (Yokohama S-Drive 225/40/18) were $148 each, including mounting and balancing. I asked for 4 of the tires and was then asked for my credit card number. I asked the owner why the number was needed and he told me that it was to hold the tires for me. I asked if my card would be charged and he assured me that my card would not be charged until the tires were installed on my car. I asked if I would be able to get the tires installed on Wednesday (4/28) and he assured me that the tires would be there by Monday (4/26) or Tuesday (4/27) so it would not be a problem.
Tuesday, April 27- After checking bank balance online, a request for $656.56 from NJ Discount Tire had been submitted on my Checking Account. For the 4 tires at $148 each plus tax, the total should have been $633.44. I called NJ Discount Tire that evening at 8:12 PM and left a voicemail asking why my card was charged without being authorized by myself.
Wednesday, April 28- The withdrawal for $656.56 on my Checking Account went through. I did not receive a call returning my message from the night before. I went to the shop to get my tires installed around 1:00 PM. I was told that only 2 of my tires had been delivered. I asked why my debit card was charged prior to installation and was told that the tires were special order and therefore non-refundable. This was the first time that this “policy” was told to me. Nothing about this “policy” was said during the initial ordering phone call on Thursday (4/27). I asked why the charge was more than the original price. He said that the $656.56 included removal of old tires from the rims. I explained that there are no old tires since they are brand new rims. He said the money would be credited back to my card. The difference was never credited back to my account. I was then told that the tires would definitely be in by Friday at 11:00 AM. Unable to be there on Friday, I told him I would be here first thing Saturday morning (5/1). I was told that the shop opened at 8:00AM so it would not be a problem.
Saturday, May 1- Arrived at the shop at 8:03 AM. The owner arrived at 8:15AM. Immediately upon seeing me, I was told that only 3 of my tires had come in. I was also told that the fourth tire would be there by Monday (5/3).
Monday, May 3- Arrived at shop around 12:30PM. The owner was busy with another customer, but immediately told me that there were still only 3 tires there and that the fourth would be there Tuesday (5/4). I was told that the tire was still in Parsippany, NJ. I told him that I would like a full refund and that I would like to bring my business elsewhere. I was told that he would not refund my money due to the fact that they were “expensive tires that were special order”. I told him that he did not have authorization to take funds from my account when I first ordered the tires. He said that if tires are special order, they are non-refundable. I told him that he never called me to tell me this and that he never explained this to me. He then continued to say that I was being “thick-headed” for turning this into a problem and not just waiting a day. I told him that my card was charged, without my permission, almost a week ago for tires and installation; neither of which I received. I told him unless my card was credited the $656.56, I would go to bank and file a dispute form for unauthorized withdrawal. He said that I could do that, but it would take a few months to get my money back. I told him that I would then go to the police station to file a civil complaint for theft of services. He then replied, “how far do you think that will get you?” He then explained that he would take off $20 per tire if I waited until Tuesday (5/4). I told him that I did not want to do business there anymore. I then left the shop for a few minutes to compose myself and make a phone call to my stepfather for advice. I returned to the shop shortly after and explained the situation very simply to him. I said that he could return the money to my card or I would be notifying my bank and the police. He then told me to go ahead “through all of the red tape.”
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So in the end, I will get my money back, but I could be waiting for up to two months. The thing is that I actually researched this place before buying from the guy. He's been there for over 20 years and has done business with some of my family members before. Hopefully no one else has had experiences like this. Thanks for looking and stay away from this business...
DO NOT USE NJ DISCOUNT TIRE ON ROUTE 206 IN ANDOVER, NJ!
Long story, short: So I ordered Yokohama S Drives from this tire shop and the guy asked for my credit card number to hold the tires for me. He ends up charging my card without consulting me. It's been over a week and I have no tires. I went back a few times and each time the tires, conveniently, weren't delivered yet. Tried to get a refund yesterday and the guy said he's absolutely not giving my money back since they were special order. I gave him a few chances to refund my money and he won't. So he will now be investigated by my bank and the Andover Police Department, as well as receiving a letter from the Better Business Bureau.
Here's the detailed version that was given to the bank, police, and better business bureau:
Thursday, April 22- Called NJ Discount Tire at 4:08 PM to order tires. Spoke with the owner who told me that the specific tires (Yokohama S-Drive 225/40/18) were $148 each, including mounting and balancing. I asked for 4 of the tires and was then asked for my credit card number. I asked the owner why the number was needed and he told me that it was to hold the tires for me. I asked if my card would be charged and he assured me that my card would not be charged until the tires were installed on my car. I asked if I would be able to get the tires installed on Wednesday (4/28) and he assured me that the tires would be there by Monday (4/26) or Tuesday (4/27) so it would not be a problem.
Tuesday, April 27- After checking bank balance online, a request for $656.56 from NJ Discount Tire had been submitted on my Checking Account. For the 4 tires at $148 each plus tax, the total should have been $633.44. I called NJ Discount Tire that evening at 8:12 PM and left a voicemail asking why my card was charged without being authorized by myself.
Wednesday, April 28- The withdrawal for $656.56 on my Checking Account went through. I did not receive a call returning my message from the night before. I went to the shop to get my tires installed around 1:00 PM. I was told that only 2 of my tires had been delivered. I asked why my debit card was charged prior to installation and was told that the tires were special order and therefore non-refundable. This was the first time that this “policy” was told to me. Nothing about this “policy” was said during the initial ordering phone call on Thursday (4/27). I asked why the charge was more than the original price. He said that the $656.56 included removal of old tires from the rims. I explained that there are no old tires since they are brand new rims. He said the money would be credited back to my card. The difference was never credited back to my account. I was then told that the tires would definitely be in by Friday at 11:00 AM. Unable to be there on Friday, I told him I would be here first thing Saturday morning (5/1). I was told that the shop opened at 8:00AM so it would not be a problem.
Saturday, May 1- Arrived at the shop at 8:03 AM. The owner arrived at 8:15AM. Immediately upon seeing me, I was told that only 3 of my tires had come in. I was also told that the fourth tire would be there by Monday (5/3).
Monday, May 3- Arrived at shop around 12:30PM. The owner was busy with another customer, but immediately told me that there were still only 3 tires there and that the fourth would be there Tuesday (5/4). I was told that the tire was still in Parsippany, NJ. I told him that I would like a full refund and that I would like to bring my business elsewhere. I was told that he would not refund my money due to the fact that they were “expensive tires that were special order”. I told him that he did not have authorization to take funds from my account when I first ordered the tires. He said that if tires are special order, they are non-refundable. I told him that he never called me to tell me this and that he never explained this to me. He then continued to say that I was being “thick-headed” for turning this into a problem and not just waiting a day. I told him that my card was charged, without my permission, almost a week ago for tires and installation; neither of which I received. I told him unless my card was credited the $656.56, I would go to bank and file a dispute form for unauthorized withdrawal. He said that I could do that, but it would take a few months to get my money back. I told him that I would then go to the police station to file a civil complaint for theft of services. He then replied, “how far do you think that will get you?” He then explained that he would take off $20 per tire if I waited until Tuesday (5/4). I told him that I did not want to do business there anymore. I then left the shop for a few minutes to compose myself and make a phone call to my stepfather for advice. I returned to the shop shortly after and explained the situation very simply to him. I said that he could return the money to my card or I would be notifying my bank and the police. He then told me to go ahead “through all of the red tape.”
-----------------------------------------------------------
So in the end, I will get my money back, but I could be waiting for up to two months. The thing is that I actually researched this place before buying from the guy. He's been there for over 20 years and has done business with some of my family members before. Hopefully no one else has had experiences like this. Thanks for looking and stay away from this business...
