TireRack Conversation Report

[Chris Kennedy]

Well, as promised in a related thread, I contacted TireRack and asked whether they had considered offering additional lines of tires. I asked for the person in charge of product acquisition, and was referred to "Wes". "Wes" said he was a salesman, and said there wasn't really anyone but him to talk to concerning product acquisition (that sounds suspect, but, I tried and it was obvious I was going to speak with "Wes" or no one). I told him that I like TireRack, and wondered whether they would consider adding new lines of tires. He told me they were satisfied with the line they offered, and I suggested that they might want to also consider some lines the "tuner" market is buying, such as TOYO, NITTO. He told me that TOYO and NITTO had marketing agreements of some sort and that TireRack didn't offer them.
I have some experience dealing with Asian manufacurers, and what I have found is that they very much want to sell to you, and if you are willing to work at it long enough, the parties will come to a satisfactory arrangement. So, I didn't know how to characterize Wes' response, but (diplomatically, I think) suggested that they might be losing a market to competitors such as Discount Tire, which has greatly ramped-up its own similar operation to TireRack in recent years (check out their website, and you can see the linesthey offer). What I was trying to suggest is that TireRack might want to keep working at comming up with an arrangment with these other manufacturers to avoid losing a market. Anyhow, when I thanked him for his time, there was a silence on the other end and I realized "Wes" had hung up on me. Those are the facts.

Actually, in addition to the tuner market, I am beginning to see more non-traditional tire lines offered on-line, or advertised in various magazines, AND seeing these tires on the street on all sorts of performance vehicles and SUVs, etc., tuner and non-tuner. One of the great things about the U.S. today is that there are SO many avenues you have to explore new products and new ideas. For example, no longer do you have to rely on the old mainstream press for their decision of what constitutes "news", you also don't have to rely on your local tire store for their selection of what tires you can buy. If "Wes'" attitude is representative of TireRack, generally, it looks like that before long you won't have to rely on TireRack's selection, either, nor should you rely on it, as many of the sellers are starting to match and exceed TireRack's selection, prices and other services as well. The lesson here is to shop around as there's lots out there. TireRack was a unique and great idea for a long time, but is now 'a' source, no longer 'the' source forconvenient tire buying.

Cheers,

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Edmond]

Looks like Tirerack is living in 2002. The market has changed so much even in these past 2 or 3 years that if companies aren't up to their stuff, they can be out of business within months because news travels fast on the 'Net.

Out of curiosity, I looked at some tires for a GTO that I'm buying in the spring and the variety offered by Tirerack was not good. I didn't look at many other places but I made Tirerack my first stop. They only had a bunch of expensive tires and I didn't think that was a fair representation of the tires offered for the GTO. We'll see what happens...

 

[tyrel]

When I bought tires from them, I was pleased with their selection and happy with their customer service, low prices, and fast shipping. I don't really understand the issue here, if you want other brands, go somewhere else. No single company is going to carry all brands of anything, this is just the way businesses operate. I guess I would be pretty annoyed too if my customers started telling me how to run my business.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

When I bought tires from them, I was pleased with their selection and happy with their customer service, low prices, and fast shipping. I don't really understand the issue here, if you want other brands, go somewhere else. No single company is going to carry all brands of anything, this is just the way businesses operate. I guess I would be pretty annoyed too if my customers started telling me how to run my business.

Imagine how the customers feel when they tell you like their company, suggest additional product lines to improve it (not tell them "how to run" their business), and then they find that you've hung up on them.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Edmond]

A successful business does not stand by and watch buyers go to their competitors when they do not carry a product line. A successful business starts to research those brands and would carry those brands if the demand were there. After I was done shopping at Target the other day, the receipt came with an online survey. It asked about how the store was doing, service, etc... At the end of the survey, they had a box with suggestions for product lines they do not carry. They even said to mention specific brand names!

If anything, Chris is actually doing Tirerack a favor by telling them where they're deficient. If you ran a business and didn't carry a product, wouldn't you want customers to ask about it instead of shutting up and going to your competitor across the street?

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Looks like Tirerack is living in 2002. The market has changed so much even in these past 2 or 3 years that if companies aren't up to their stuff, they can be out of business within months because news travels fast on the 'Net.

Out of curiosity, I looked at some tires for a GTO that I'm buying in the spring and the variety offered by Tirerack was not good. I didn't look at many other places but I made Tirerack my first stop. They only had a bunch of expensive tires and I didn't think that was a fair representation of the tires offered for the GTO. We'll see what happens...

Yeah, I was sort of taken aback by the "hanging up" bit---so much for warm and fuzzy myths of family-run businesses! Anyhow, try the Discount Tire website for a start. Also, if you do a search on Google, frequently you will find various "mini-TireRack" types of sellers who have certain "house" brands, so to speak, and will search out others for you, negotiate price, etc. One place was willing to order the TOYOs I was looking at and match the lowest price I found elsewhere. Incidentally, you also need to look at the Discount Tire interactive website for wheels for our cars. They have a much wider selection of brands than TireRack does, including replica ZR-1 styles and an interesting wheel called the "Bullet".

Good luck,

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Chris Kennedy]

A number of auto industry analysts have commented that GM's various debacles during the 70s and early 80s lost them a whole generation of customers who started buying cars in the 1990s. They went Japanese, then Korean, so don't have much emotional/historical attraction to the GM name. It also helped that Asian manufacturers, then and now, tend to be genuinely concerned about how they can improve their product and keep your business (think Lexus when it first came out). Similarly, there's a whole generation of performance tire buyers out there who debate buying certain Asian brands before they consider Goodyear etc., as well. If possible, it's probably a good idea to keep these people within your tent. Next time you are at a magazine rack pick up copies of some of the tuner magazines and flip through them. It's amazing all the wild products you've never heard of, yet it is also fun and exciting at the same time. Frankly, it's rekindles all those feelings of why you became a car fanatic to begin with. You just have to decide which way to go---stuck in the past or willing to keep and integrate the best of the past with the best of things new.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[MBDiagMan]

My post will probably sound like I am all hung up on Tire Rack and that is not the case. I have had good service and have been satisfied with them, but I will buy wherever I can to get what I want at the best price.

That said, in a phone mill like I expect is present at Tire Rack, there are all sorts of explanations for a line being cut off. I would not condemn them for that unless I called back and they would not take my call or hung up again.

Secondly, there are many, MANY factors at work with a reselling organization that determine what manufacturers they deal with. It could very well be that other tire manufacturers will not give them the line because one of Tire Racks competitors has locked up the online market or maybe gotten an exclusive deal or a multiplier with which another distributor could not compete. Distributors are EXTREMELY defensive about other competitors handling the same product line.

If a distributor is doing a good enough job moving a mfg's line, that mfg, will be careful to listen to them and not do anything to upset the apple cart by giving the line to a competitor.

I am sure that there are very good reasons for Tire Racks line selection and there is NO WAY that you or I will ever know the reasons that drive particular distributors having different lines.

This is very simple. If there is a particular brand that you have the hots for, then shop around and find the distributor that has what you're looking for at the best price.

Competition makes such business work, so take advantage of it.

Good luck,