Q: I recently went to a local Toyota dealership to have work done that required the wheels to be removed. I thought it would also be a good time to rotate them. I assumed (and inquired) that there would be no additional charge to do the rotation since the wheels were already off. However, I was later told that there would still be a charge. When I mentioned to them that the tires were also purchased there, they said that it didn’t matter. Is this a customary practice now or was that just an example of gouging and taking advantage of the customer?
R.W., Coventry, Connecticut
A: I think this is an uncustomary and un-customer-friendly practice. It stinks. Somebody who is treated like this can’t be blamed for never coming back. If I were the service writer, no matter the rules of the dealership, I would have waived the charge. I would have also sweetened the deal by offering a free lollipop.
