Firestone Auto Center
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
A win, win situation for both of you. They probably lost their azz on some corvette brake jobs and learned it's best not to touch them. You said he was just reluctant not belligerent.
Their aim including the district manager is profits.
You have the opportunity to take it to a more competent place.
Their aim including the district manager is profits.
You have the opportunity to take it to a more competent place.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 945
Likes: 10
From: Winston Salem NC
If they really did not want to work on your car, so be it.
I had a similar experience with a local place here. I later learned they were worried my vette would not pull up onto their lift without hitting the frame. That kind of refusal I can handle.
I have two other places I take my other vehicles. They are both thrilled to work on the vette and consider it a treat over their regular Camry/minivan/accord business. I know they treat it with kindness and will tell me when they can't do someting.
I had a similar experience with a local place here. I later learned they were worried my vette would not pull up onto their lift without hitting the frame. That kind of refusal I can handle.
I have two other places I take my other vehicles. They are both thrilled to work on the vette and consider it a treat over their regular Camry/minivan/accord business. I know they treat it with kindness and will tell me when they can't do someting.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
From: Millstone Twp NJ
Final Note: Firestone's District rep called me today and pretty much did what he is supposed to do, which I give him credit . He tried to rectify the situation, apologized and stated he is meeting with both the Manager and the behind the counter "Knuckelhead" He also stated he had talked to the Manager prior to calling me who said he was not aware of the incident and that his store is capable and does work on all corvettes. I told him I appreciated the call but they still lost me as a customer as I found another repair shop that appreciates business in this tight economy. He asked what he could do to make me happy, I just thanked him for the call. In my opinion to try to take advantage of the situation would have defeated the point I tried to make. Pete
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
I think you are handling in the right way. It would not be fair to the shop that earned your business by doing their job to take any kind of a free bee from the guys that wouldn't or couldn't. 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
I don't think the economy has anything to do with it. People still need their cars fixed and every time I have to go for service there is always a line or I have to make an appointment and bring it back.
I don't blame you for getting upset but in all fairness, if it wasn't the owner or manager that said no, I wouldn't have stopped using them just for the one issue if they had done good work for you in the past. Employees for the most part are just there for a check and they don't always look out for the company's benefit. The issue should be that they correct what an employee does wrong.
That said you probably found a better place to use than a chain store. I commend you for not trying to get freebies for nothing. Only making them aware of their problem employee was the right way to go.
I don't blame you for getting upset but in all fairness, if it wasn't the owner or manager that said no, I wouldn't have stopped using them just for the one issue if they had done good work for you in the past. Employees for the most part are just there for a check and they don't always look out for the company's benefit. The issue should be that they correct what an employee does wrong.
That said you probably found a better place to use than a chain store. I commend you for not trying to get freebies for nothing. Only making them aware of their problem employee was the right way to go.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski