Why do they try to talk you into cheap tires?

Just wondering, especially if you're in the tire business already, why do some tire sales stores try to talk you into cheaper tires? I live in new england (MA) and called Town Fair Tire to ask for a price quote on Michelin LTX ms2's. Pretty straightforward I thought, give them the specific tire and size and they tell me how much it'll cost total. Nope, the guy I talked to was evasive, asked my why I want those tires, told me he has equivalent, cheaper tires, and told me they'll match any price and beat it by 5%. He never did give me a total price quote though, really turned me off to them and I definitely won't be going there for tires now. What's the deal?

 

If he doesn't have them on hand, he has to order them and that's a hassle. EDIT: and yeah, carrying inventory is expensive. Any business wants to move what they've already got on hand.

 

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Not to mention that he wants to see you back in a year and a half when those tires wear out. That is the other thing you pay for with a tire, the warranty.

 

mental note: I won't be going over the boarder to the TFT in Bellingham. I am sure the one in woonsocket isn't any better.
I guess the saying the customer is always right doesn't apply.

 

It was actually the Woonsocket one I'm talking about, the one on Diamondhill Rd near Wendy's and Sears and Taco Bell. I liked the idea of them doing a front end alignment but I'm definitely not going there since they didn't give me a quote. I know what I want, don't try to talk me into something else, ya know?

 

There is usually a lot higher margin in the cheaper tires also. So they make more money to begin with and then you have to buy more sooner.

 

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The Firestone shop did that with me too. I wanted Revo2's and the guy kept trying to get me the Revo D694's. I wondered why he kept making that "mistake" on the quotes. In the end, he had to order the Revo2's, Firestone was running a $100 gift card promo, and I had a coupon for 10% off. He made a comment at one point about not making any money off of the sale, but I really didn't care after the hassle.

 

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Try COSTCO, Sams or Discount Tire and look at the Michelin LTX AT2s ... you might really like them and be surprised at the price difference.

Most tire stores will match COSTCO's price too.

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come on to new jersey ill help ya out may need new ones by the time you get back but we can work something out

 

This guy got it right. They make big money on those cheaper ones. They make very little on the high quality ones like Michelin because it costs them more to buy them in. Like was said by SOSH go to Costco because they dont 'specialize' in tires only so they absorb incidental costs better and won't care what you buy., besides they get a much better buy-in deal from Micelin from buying so many in at one time. I absolutely LOVE my Michelins mainly because they have the least 'rolling resistance' of pretty much anything out there. They last forever too, so you save in the long run.