Big O Tires

Big O • Tire quality • Sales practices • Damage, errors • Auto service ---- • Sears Sells NTB to Big O Parent

Big O, with about 450 stores in 19 states, is part of TBC Corp., which calls itself the "industry's premier private brand tire marketer." We're not sure what that means but it sounds like Big O sells private-label tires at what are supposedly bargain prices.

TBC's latest acquisition is National Tire and Battery, which Sears unloaded after running it into the ground. Other brands include Carroll Tire Co., with a network of 5,000 retailers in the Southeast; Tire Kingdom, with 150 stores in the Southeast; Northern States Tire, a wholesaler in the Northeast; TBC de Mexico; and Superior Tire, a Las Vegas-area retailer.

Some recent complaints ...

Melanie of Dayton OH (12/09/08)
Bought 900 worth of tires because they said if you bought tires you would get 500 in free gas. So they are suppose to send you cards each month to get your rebate but they will not send them. They say that they will but they never do. This has been going on for 5 months now. I will never go back to them ever again. I do not trust them anaymore.

John of La Grange, KY December 2, 2008

John of La Grange KY (12/02/08)
On a routine tire rotation performed by BigO all four alloy wheels were scratched when they took off teh center cap.BigO refuses to do anything about the damage as I did not notice the damage immediately. I take great care of my vehicles and noticed the problem immediately upon had washing the truck. They said I can't prove it but I know the condition of the vehicle and would have noticed if the damage previously existed. Shame on BigO for not taking better care and putting a rag behind the tool they used to protect the finish.

Wheels valued at 1000 (upgraded 20 wheels on 06 F-150).

Chris of Nanaimo, BC November 20, 2008

Chris of Nanaimo BC (11/20/08)
took my car to get a muffler in stalled. they had the car from 11 am to 4 pm. bout a month later i hear a grinding from my rear of the car. so me and my brother take the tire off and find that my rear drumb was cut from the inside so it would slowly come off and need to be replaced. very dangerous that they cut that on me i could hav lost control in a accident situation

rear right drums cut from the inside of the drum. could be dangerous in a accident. i will be getting it repaird at a another more repretable shop

Alice of Washington, UT November 7, 2008

Alice of Washington UT (11/07/08)
I took my car there to be lubed and tires rotated. I had bought the tires from Big-O. I was told that my rotors and brake pads needed to be replaced. Also that by brake fluid needed to be flushed. The price for that would be 522.44. I am retired and a widow, and at this time could not afford that much money. I was also told that for my safety, I should not let this go very long. My son-in-law took the brake pads and rotors off and took them to a parts store where we were told that the rotors were fine. The 522.44 job ended up costing me 38.00.

Also at the time I was at Big-O I was told that the rotors should only cost about about 69.00, but their supplier was quoting 146.00, and he didn't know why, but that is the way it was. Also, at the auto supplier I went to the brake pads were 38.00, not the 139.00 I was quoted.

I think some of the men working in these places see a single older woman and think they can pull the wool over their eyes and get the customer to do whatever they suggest. I resent being taken advantage of. I will admit Randy did measure the rotors, and they were worn down hundreths of an inch, but did not warrant being changed.

The consequences were that by getting another oponion, I saved myself almost 500.00.

Patricia of Torrance, CA November 2, 2008

Patricia of Torrance CA (11/02/08)
I need new brakes for my van. yesterday I called and went down to Big O Tires. I was given a quote of 178 for front brakes, 278 if it needed rotors. This morning all of a sudden that price has changed to 425 for front brakes with rotors. I was then told that NO ONE would be able to fix the brakes for under 300.

After a couple of phone calls I found that Pep Boys in Torrance will do front brakes, rotors AND an oil change all for 270, while they are at it they are going to change my tail light for free.

I was without my car for an entire night and 1/2 of the following day. I needed to have my step-dad pick me up to get my car from Big O so that I can take it to Pep Boys to get it fixed.

David of Mohave Valley, AZ October 30, 2008

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