Over the last four years I have purchased two motorcycles from Woodson Motorsports. I have had both bikes serviced there during that time. Today was the first time I got to interact with the manager and the last time I will do business there.
I am currently in need of a set of tires, front and rear. Over the course of a week I called around and had tire quotes from many local companies. Woodson quoted me a total of $170.95 for the front tire and $218.95 for the rear, both were a Metzler Z8 Roadtech with installation being $100.00 for the pair; grand total with tax - $513.87. During the course of pricing I asked them if they would install tires purchased from another company; YES was their answer.
I found the same tires at Motorcycle Superstore for 286.98 with no tax and free delivery. I called Woodson back and asked how much they charge to install tires that are not purchased there. I was quoted 130.00 for both; grand total 416.98. Almost 100.00 savings. Yesterday I ordered the tires from Motorcycle Superstore and had them delivered to Woodson Motorsports. I received a notification that the tires would be delivered the next day. So first thing in the morning I called Woodson to schedule the tires to be installed. When I notified them that the tires would be arriving via UPS the person on the phone went crazy. He accused me of not supporting local business, that companies like theirs were going out of business due to people like me and that they didn't care if I had the tires installed there or not.
After my phone call I went to the store and asked to speak to the manager about the conversation that had taken place that morning. I started to explain my phone call to the manager, Mike Ackels, only to find out it was him I had spoken to previously. He went into another tirade again about how people like me were driving companies out of business, that they make money on parts and not on labor. At that time I told him that I had purchased two bikes from him and that it was their policy to install tires purchased from someplace else.
He then asked if I had paid full price for my bikes? (should that matter?) He also said I had a lot of nerve shipping the tires from their competitor? (it is their policy to install tires... not mine) I asked him how it was different than if I were to carry them in, other than the fact that it would be inconvenient for me to try and carry two tires in while riding my motorcycle. His statement was to take my savings someplace else?he then threw the tires out the door and into the street! Expletives were exchanged as I walked out the door to retrieve my tires while he proceeded to follow me outside the building to continue arguing with me. This went on for several more minutes, him screaming at me and me screaming back. In closing he wished that my Motorcycle would break down so he could have the satisfaction of turning me away.
You would think that if a company cannot be competitive on parts margins with the
more