So last week SBK finally decided on which tires he'd like to purchase. He set up his appointment via Firestone on-line on Monday 01/04/10, they are running a buy 3 get 1 free so SBK opted for the 285/70-17 E M/T.

Tuesday 01/05/10 - SBK receives a phone call from Firestone, they can't locate the tire I am looking for and I should contact Tom at the store I am scheduling the install with. I call Tom and he explains that he can't seem to find them anywhere nearby, he found some in Massachusetts but they want $55.00 per tire to ship them. I need them by 01/15/10 so no go, plus I'm not paying $200.00 more.

Wednesday 01/06/10 - SBK calls Tom again and stresses that he needs them by the 15th. Tom explains he can't find them anywhere. I cave in and ask about 265/70-17 E M/T, he responds with only 2 locations have them, Reno, NV and Citrus Heights, CA. Lucky for SBK, a store employee happens to be at a meeting in Citrus Heights and can pick them up before heading back. SBK is relieved and confirms that he'll see Tom on Saturday 01/09/10, Tom agrees.

Saturday 01/09/10 - SBK arrives at Firestone at 6:40am for his 7:00am appointment. Jim takes SBK's information and goes to the back to confirm the tires, Jim returns and shrugs his shoulders, can't find them. SBK is confused, SBK asks for Tom, Jim says Tom will be in at 8:00am, SBK waits. Tom arrives and appears nervous, Tom tells SBK that the employee forgot to pick them up, he then tells SBK that he'll pick them up personally on his day off. SBK says no, call Citrus Heights ask them to touch the tires and if they are there SBK will drive 80 miles to get them installed today.

SBK leaves Antioch for Citrus Heights 1.5hrs later he arrives and they take his truck for new tires. As SBK waits he notices they have hired a female worker for counter help, SBK realizes soon that she was hired as eye-candy and nothing more...

Exhibit -A

Customer: I have an appointment, last name Lopez.
Eye-candy: First name?
Customer: Bill
Eye-candy: ? I don't have anything for you?
Customer: I'm a regular, I should be in the system.
Eye-candy: Let me ask my manager to take a look.
Manager: First Name?
Customer: Bill
Manager: William?
Customer: Yes
Eye-candy: You said Bill?
Customer: Bill is short for William
Eye-candy: It is? I've never heard that before, they don't even sound a like?
Customer: ??? Will? Bill?

Exhibit - B

Eye-candy: Okay Alan, what number to contact you?
Customer: None, I'll wait here
Eye-candy: Okay, I'll note that you're waiting here Alan.

1hr later...on the phone with Alan's truck parked out front

Eye-candy: Hello, this is Eye-candy, I'm just calling to let Alan know that his truck is ready, we're here until 6:00pm.

2 minutes later...

Customer: My truck is out front is it ready?
Eye-candy: Name?
Customer: Alan
Eye-candy: Wow! I just left you a voice mail that it was ready.
Customer: I told you I was waiting
Eye-candy: I wondered why it said that on the ticket, but tried calling anyways.

Anyways about another 1/2hr goes by and they are aligning the front end on SBK's truck when I here them trying to start a car in the garage...RRRR...Boom....RRRR...Boom....RRRR...BOOM ! As SBK turns to see what they are doing, much yelling and running around the garage ensues as the cars engine compartment is engulfed in flames. Someone yells for a bucket of water. (SBK note: Really? A bucket of water?) Someone grabs an extinguisher and kills the fire.

SBK says to Eye-candy, That was hilarious since it wasn't SBK's truck.
Eye-candy: Ya, pretty cool, huh? (SBK note: Really, you're telling a customer that it was cool you set a car on fire?)

SBK ends up getting $40.00 off the tires, and a free Alignment.

The hilarity of everything was worth more than the discounts I received.