Tyres done, rego done, insurance paid for another year.
I ordered 5x Yokohama Bluearth ES32 @ $106 ea from www.tyresales.com.au. Their website states buy 4 tyres to get a free alignment at one of their premium fitting locations, then has a big green button to click to find the nearest one. I clicked that, it gave several locations, and I chose one close to my usual mechanic.
Then I phoned the business to add a rego check and ask about the free alignment, because the tyresales site says European cars don't qualify. The guy (I later find out he's the owner) tells me:
Him: "That's for modern European cars that have computers, independent wheels, etc. - your 240 is fine."
Me: "So my car does get the free alignment?"
Him: "Yes. We'll call you when the tyres arrive - tell us to add the rego check then."
A few days later a woman (his wife) phones..
Her: "Your tyres arrived. When do you want to come in?"
Me: "I need a rego check too, and the steering wheel centered when you do the free alignment."
Her: "We don't give free alignments!? They're $85."
Me: "The tyresales site states I get a free alignment for 4x tyres purchased - and a guy I spoke to there a few days (owner/husband) ago said my car qualifies for the free alignment."
Her: "No, we've never done free alignments for tyresales. You'll have to speak them about that."
I phoned tyresales:
Me: "Me buy 4x tyres... Me get free wheel alignment, yes?"
Girl: "Yes, that right."
Me: "The tyre fitting location your website gave me says they've never done free alignments for you - it's $85 extra!"
Girl: "Oh. What type of car do you have?"
Me: (Here we go... Say 'no European cars', I bet)... "1991 Volvo 240".
Girl: "Sorry, European cars don't qualify."
Me: "Tyre guy said that's for modern cars with computers, independent suspension, etc. but my car is the same as doing an Australian-built Falcon or Commodore."
Girl: "Oh, sorry - yes, you're right."
Me: "But they're saying they've never done an alignment for you..."
Girl: "Looks like they're not one of our premium fitting locations.
Me: "But the website has the 'find me a fitter' button right below that offer, it gave a list of businesses, and doesn't show which ones are or are not 'premium' - plus the guy said I qualify, but now the woman says I don't. I ordered the tyres based on all this and in a few days everything has reversed."
Girl: "Um, erm, yeah I can see the site does that. That's strange, mumble, mumble... that needs to be fixed."
Me: "Ok... How about I pick up the tyres and take them to one of your premium locations to be fitted and get the alignment instead - where's the closest one?"
Girl: "Yes, I can arrange that. Um... Sorry we don't have ANY premium fitting locations in your area. The closest is Sydney."
Me: "Why not - they charge $85 for alignments, so they do them... aw, never mind. Since I purchased on that understanding, and you're admitting the website should state there are no premium fitting stations in my area but instead just gave me a list after promoting that offer, what can you do to fix this - can I get a partial refund, or... something!?"
Girl: "I can send you a $50 e-giftcard to be used at BCF, Woolworths, Coles, JB Hifi, etc.?"
So I got 5x Yokohamas, fitted, balanced, tyre disposal, for $15 less again, after the giftcard, and after paying $35 for an alignment (by my mechanic instead of $85 at the tyre fitter).
Would I use tyresales again? If the tyres are cheaper than elsewhere - yes. At first I thought she was just going to make excuses for a while before finally fobbing me off. But instead she corrected an error in the way the website is set up, in my favour.