I needed to rent a tractor with a tiller and a scoop this last weekend, because we’re going to completely re-do our yard, and I wanted to reduce it to a flat, barren, Moon-like surface first. I google and call the closest rental place, and pick up the tractor Saturday morning.
Unload the tractor, take a few practice turns in the street before I try maneuvering into my yard, and POWHIIIISSSSSSSSS…a tire blows. Damn.
I get on the phone and call the rental place.
“United Rental, this is John.”
“Hi, this is JSexton. I just rented a tractor from you, and the tire blew. What’s the procedure here?”
“Um, I’d call Les Schwab if I were you. I can give you a number.”
“Oh, ok. They just bill you, then?”
“No, you pay for it.”
“…and then you reimburse me?”
“Nope. Tires aren’t covered.”
“Um, I even paid for the rental protection plan. That covers everything, right?”
“Everything but tires.”
deep breath
“OK, I’m out here looking at the tire, and there’s a giant hole in it, there’s hardly any tread, and there’s multiple cracks, any of which could cause a blowout. I’d understand if I ran over a bottle and killed a new tire, but this thing is clearly on it’s last legs, and there’s no way I’m buying you a new tire.”
“Well, that’s up to the boss.”
“Can I speak to him?”
“No, he’s out today. Tell you what, go ahead and cover it when they’re there, and then you can talk to the boss on Monday about reimbursement.”
“Well, John, that doesn’t really give me any power, does it? No offense, but all I’d have is your word, and the boss wouldn’t really have any incentive to work with me, would he?”
“Well, no, when you put put like that…”
At this point, I’m starting to lose my temper. We went around a few more times, him stalling, me getting increasingly irritated.
“Look, John, I’m going to call Les Schwab and get them out here to replace this tire. When they get here, I’m going to call you, and you’re going to authorize him to bill you. If that doesn’t happen, then I’ll be loading the tractor back on to the trailer, dropping it back at your site, disputing the payment for anything coming from your company, and contacting the Attorney General’s office. How’s that sound?”
long pause
“Um, ok.”
The guy from the tire place said he’s been out to replace several tires from this company, and I’m the first that didn’t end up paying out of pocket for it. Complete scam. I mean, the tractor gets driven maybe 10 feet at the rental place, tops. Virtually all the wear happens at a job site, which it’s almost always going to blow while rented out, meaning the poor scmuck that gets the blowout has to pay for the tire, and loses 1-2 hours of rental time waiting for the tire place to arrive. He also said that the tires should always be replaced in pairs, and these clearly weren’t, meaning they wear unevenly and are even more prone to blowout.
I saved the tire and brought it with me when I returned the tractor this morning, in case they wanted to argue further. I’ll be keeping a close eye on my Visa statement as well, in case they decide to try and sneak this on.
