ME, NH, MA VIP customers lookout
 

Last weekend I had my tires rotated and balanced at VIP in Topsham ME (Store Just opened). Well to make a long story short. I have been driving around for 8 days with a missing lug nut, and 4 others loose. In their flyer it says something about "all" lugs hand torqued. How do you torque a lug nut that is not there? I was washing my car and thats how I found it. I guess what makes it even worse, I have a 8 month old baby. He has been in my car atleast once every day durring the past 8 days. I am going there 1st thing in the morning, hopefully I don't end up in Jail. I will post the outcome Monday night.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/fb8e4dc1.jpg

Also, Please spread this to any other forum that has anything to do with the 3 states listed above

I'm fairly new to tires and all, but "hand" torquing nuts seems like a dumb idea! How can you tell by hand that you have proper amount of torque applied? It's like a department store advertising that they sell you fabric "measured by eye" instead of a ruler.

You should complain to the local Chamber of Commerce, maybe BBB.

"Hand Torque" its not by a hand. Its using a torque wrench insted of using a impact driver untill it will not turn anymore.

Well heres the scoop. I showed up ask for the Manager. He can up to the counter. I told him about what happened he said "Oh, it happens all the time". So I told him I wanted it replaced and all my lugs checked. After about 15 to 20 mins of talking he called around to find a lug nut. He found one about 25 miles away, sent his driver to get it. I did expect more of a hassle out of them, but I was suprised. I guess the moral of the story is you have to check the work of the poeple we pay to do things.

Or do it yourself

you know funny story, my buddie is into muddin, here in maine also, he was out muddin one day, and broke the bead on the tire, no big deal, put the spare on, went to VIP in portland, told them to clean it up, and remount it, and balance it. so they did, but the truck had a shimmy like at 30mph, so he had it balanced like 4 times, everytime they just added more wheel weights. so we got curious, and pulled the tire off the rim, there was like 6 inches of mud and water in it, they never cleaned it, just mounted it. he was pissed, took an assload of pics, and went and got his money back. so yeah VIP blows.

I hate VIP!!! I bought new tires, rims, shocks and struts for my 88 Firebird acouple of years ago. They installed them and I went out to leave and my lug nut covers and center caps for the factory rims are missing. I go back in and bitch about it and the tech says the rims didn't have them on the car when he pulled the car into the bay. I was very ugly. The manager said that he couldn't do anything about it. I really didn't care about the lug covers just the 65 dollar ea caps. Also the rear shock mounts were back and the tech never replaced them so they were rattling. I ended up going to my uncles and he replaced them for me. That was and will be the last time I go to VIP. I don't even buy anything there.

PEPBOYS are just as bad!!!!