As a follow-up to my earlier post: http://blog.compumike.com/new-tires-now-including-a-free-broken-lug-stu

Thursday 3/25: I got new tires. They broke a lug stud and the broken part is stuck inside the wheel nut. The tire place sent me to a nearby mechanic and said they'd take care of it (paid for by the tire place). I'm informed that they'll get the parts and will call me either Friday or Saturday to do the repair.

Friday 3/26: Hearing nothing, I call the mechanic in the afternoon. They have the lug stud, but haven't been able to get the wheel nut yet. I make sure they have my number, and they assure me that they'll call as soon as they get it.

Saturday 3/27: Heard nothing -- and they're open on Saturdays.

Monday 3/29: Heard nothing. Should have called them, but got busy with work and didn't get to it in time.

Tuesday 3/30: Still hearing nothing, I called the mechanic in the afternoon, and was informed that they got the wheel nut from the dealer, but it was the wrong one, so they're sending it back and trying to get the right one. I'm assured that they'll have it on Wednesday, and they even ask me whether the morning or afternoon is better for me. I say morning, and am told that they'll likely call me around 10am, and confirm that I could bring my car in around that time.

Wednesday 3/31: It's now 2pm. So much for that 10am call. Haven't heard anything, and am about to call them. Any bets?

All for < $10 in parts, and a job that I could probably do myself in about an hour -- but really shouldn't have to.

View of Coronado and San Diego from Cabrillo National Monument:

Tidepools along the Pacific at Point Loma:

My car had Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires that were down to a sad 2 to 3/32" of tread after roughly 36K miles. I've only been the vehicle owner for less than a tenth of those miles, so I can't say much about how well they hold up, but in any case it was time for new tires.

Just picked up four new tires: "Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS Pole Position", which were moderately priced and had excellent customer reviews on tirerack.com and discounttire.com.

Unfortunately, while they were doing the work, the shop broke one of the lug studs on the front right side. They only do tires and wheels, so they referred me to a nearby mechanic and said they'd cover it, but it was late in the afternoon and they didn't have the part on hand, so I've got to head back tomorrow. (The mechanic tosses in a "we'll also give you 10% off on an alignment" up-sell.)

Ultimately, we're talking about a $5 lug stud and nut, plus perhaps 20-30 minutes to actually get to it and do the work. Still, it's a reminder of how simple things like a 30-minute new tire installation can turn into a complicated multi-hour / multi-day affair.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to report that the situation was resolved swiftly and painlessly, as an example of humble and competent customer service responding to an unfortunate incident. Of course, until then, I'm torturing myself by dreaming of all the ways that this can go wrong from here...

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