Cost of Tyre Repairs / Balancing

jayok

Bit of a rant here but bear with me.

Over the Christmas I managed to pick up a nail in the tyre while in Kilkenny. So off I went to a local repair shop and it cost €15 to fix. It seemed a litle high to me, but seeing the Christmas period and it was the 31st of December, I let it slide.

However, today, while back in Dublin, I brought the car in to get the wheels balanced (it's a bog standard car BTW) The conversation went like this:

Me: "Hi, I'd like to get the front wheels balanced, at high speed the steering is wobbling"
Him: "Sure, it's €15.
Me: "Grand"
Him: "Per tyre."
Me: "Per tyre!! Wow, that's expensive, it used to be €10 per tyre six months ago!"
Him: "Dunno, you'll have ask the boss man"
Me: "Ok, where is he?"
Him: "Errr... he's not here"
Me: "How much is it to fix a puncture?"
Him: "€15"

Building on this, then conversation continued:

Me: "So if I've a flat on the front and it needs to be balanced as a result of the repair, will it cost €30?"
Him: "Er, yeah, 'cause you've a puncture and a balancing"


WTF? Are we not in a deflationary economy, isn't a 50% increase a little much? A €10 seems ok, but €15??

I worked in a garage many moons ago so I know what's involved in repairing a puncture and balacing a tyre, €30 is waaayy too much.

So, is €15 the new "norm" for this sort of work?

B11gt00e

I've had tyres balanced for €5 each in Dublin. A tenner for about 10 minutes work sounded fair to me.

Your quote sounds way over the top.

Midnight_EG

I'm only 18, and I'd happily do your tire for free if I had the resources available, it literally takes 5-10 mins for either job.

BrianD3

The tyre place that I use has also recently put up its charge for fixing a puncture from 10 to 15 quid. Doesn't sound much but in the middle of a recession with the country experiencing deflation and pay cuts?

As a high mileage driver I buy lots of tyres and have spent well over a grand at that place, am "well known" there and probably would have continued to buy there. But the puncture charge has annoyed me. May buy in NI in future, much lower prices and a better attitude. From what I've experienced, some places in NI will do laser alignment for for no extra charge when buying tyres. Whereas here, it always seem to be at least 40-50 euro extra. I've also had an alloy straightened for 35 euro in NI whereas I've heard of much higher charges for this in the republic

jayok

Midnight_EG wrote: »

I'm only 18, and I'd happily do your tire for free if I had the resources available, it literally takes 5-10 mins for either job.

Yeah, I done my time in a tyre repair shop (5+ years) so I know how little is involved. But like that if I'd the balancer and weights I'd do it myself.

€5 is very good, €10 seems reasonable, but sorrt €15 is just too much.


@BrianD3, it's the attitude that's the most annoying alright. It's along the lines of, "well what are ya going to do about it?". Leave, would be my response.

neilthefunkeone

Shop around then..

I had my car balanced and tracked on new years eve for €30.. tried a few places and it was the cheapest..

Had a nail removed awhile ago for €10 in a place.. Didnt complain too much as my alternative was a new tyre at roughly €100+....

Ush1

Some mechanics you deal with really hate their job and honestly don't want to know it seems.