Costco Tire "Fee" is this legit?

Here's my thread:

Are the valves and TPMS one unit? | PriusChat

 

Unless they have to deal with emergency repair goo, or the sensor somehow got damaged, there is no reason should charge extra for repairing a tire with TPMS.

I paid $5 for such a plug repair. $20 should get you a proper, true permanent fix plug/internal patch that requires removing the tire.

 

When you're on the road, $20 to save you from not going home, is a blessing. Yes I know it was a rip off, but at that point, I didn't really care

 

Two corollories to that maxim:
1) If it ain't broke, fix it until it is broke!
2- (In the world of Software Engineering)) If it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features!

 

Here's the take on it from America's Tire/Discount Tire:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTPMSArticle.do

They replace the cap, core, retaining nut and grommet on metal valve stems or the cap, core, screw and valve stem on rubber stems when they install tires. There is a diagram of what you're getting for your money about halfway down the page.

 

3-(In the world of Washington, D.C.) If it ain't broke, we haven't taken enough money in taxes and fees from it.

 

The TPMS is a dream come true for auto repair shops. I am in the market for tires for a Civic in the family, so I saw the Costco charges, and I found Costco per tire fees less than most, and most are adding these TPMS fees now. Didn't buy yet since I do not favor 422 for A/S with snow.

 

Only for greedy ones. The above shows that the TPMS service includes replacing the stem, cap, and core. Tire shops were already replacing those, and charging a fee for it, before cars had TPMS. An honest shop will charge for either one but not both.

 

I purchase my tires at Costco all the time...I never have to pay that. It is only "as needed" just tell them they batter not "need it" to put the tires on and you never had to do this previously.

 

I understand not wanting to pay it or feeling it's "not needed" but they are replacing some rubber parts that are subject to the same weather, heat, abuse, etc., etc. that the tires are. When I see my sidewalls are rotting, usually at about 5 - 6 years of age, or the tires have worn from whatever the number of miles it took, I figure it's time to replace the tires. Adding $12 to the total bill is pretty cheap insurance so those small rubber valve stems and parts don't fail from the same stresses the tires did.

To each his own.

 

Yeah I'm on the fence, swayed by whoever posted last, lol. Makes me think of pressure cookers: they suggest whenever you're replacing the lid's sealing ring, to also replace the rubber gasket at the pressure release valve.

 

One of the TPMS batteries failed on my 2006 at about 7 years. So when I replaced 2 tires (unrepairable damage to one), I just replaced the TPMS sensors in them as a precaution. At 10 years, there is still one original TPMS sensor going fine. I think I paid about $30 each from Amazon. The TireRack installer that I used said that the $30 was less than his wholesale price. Never replaced any of the gaskets, rubber rings, etc. My take is that the batteries will fail before anything in the "service kit". And the batteries can fail as soon as 7 years, or still be working at 10.

 

Unless you're changing the rim, the TPMS isn't touched. They just unscrew the core out of the stem to release the pressure, so they can remove the tire.

 

correct. the tpms guys just figure new tyres are a good time to replace potential failure area's for short money.

 

Sounds like a BS fee. As if you're paying them a fee for them to be more careful with your TPMS sensor. Take that price of the tire to your local Toyota dealership and have them price match them. They can't even perform alignments there.


iPhone ?

 

Hmmmmm....
I used the other Big Box Store for my tires and they haven't charged me for TPMS yet.....or then again, maybe they have.
I'll have to look at my paperwork.

I buy tires 4 at a time, and get an OTD, inflated and installed, "you pay this amount" quote when I shop for tires.
If their out-the-door quote is less than or even close to their competition then I go with Sams because my CFO takes the car in every 5K for a free balance and rotation - which is why my tires last long enough for me to replace them 4 at a time.
If they're charging me for velvet-lined valve stem covers, or TPMS service I don't really give a rats.
As long as they honor their OTD quote, and they give me my 16 free balance and rotations they can write whatever they want on the little piece of paper.

The hotdogs and free refills?
That makes it even better!!!

 

I wonder why they use batteries in TPMS modules. Seems to me that with all the motion inside a tire, a device something along the lines of a self-winding watch would work forever.

 

Schrader is the type of valve, presto is another, both have removable, lubracateable stems.

They are scamming you, but, what yous makes on the popcorn, yous loses on the peanuts.

 

You assume the mechanical parts of the self winder can stand up to those forces.

 

Perhaps not, but it would be an interesting experiment.