Went up to Lake Tahoe for a few days with my '06 F150, pretty new Bridgestone tires, so no problems were expected… But after a nice evening with my cousin who’s acting with his DW, as a Camp Host at a nearby campground, returned to our little cabin in Tahoma… Had plans to meet them at a nearby breakfast spot, but I goout to leave, Right Rear is totally flat!
Called AAA, an hour or so they came, swapped for the spare, looks like it was original equipment, but it was aired up, served it’s purpose. But I didn’t want to drive far on it, so I began calling around… The AAA guy told me to call ahead, or most likely they don’t have to make time to repair my flat! Made calls to 4 different shops, none could do it as a drive up, one refused totally, another was booked into next Wednesday, a week from when I called! Crazy… Nobody can get help, and between locals and tourists they are all overloaded!
Finally called a shop, Truckee Tire, a ways away, but he right off said sure, come on in at 1 PM! Some were off… Place was closed until 1 PM, so we waited, and sure enough at 1 PM, a van pulled up and the whole crew bailed out, the owner apparently drove the crew to lunch somewhere, but he grabbed the tire, had me back into the open bay, by the time I did that they had plugged the tire, twice, two drywall screws had found my tire! Fifteen minutes later the spare was off and tucked back used the bed, patched tire was on, lugs all torqued, air in all the tires checked.
I went into the office, the big guy owner, when I asked how much I owed him, said “Nothing, just give the guys a tip!” Blew my mind, asked again, he repeated it, said that how we treat folks around here! Stunned, Thanked him, and peeled off some bills, have to the fellow who seemed to be the foreman, and thanked hi as well… And off we drove… Still amazed at the great service, and attitude of that big, gruff seeming guy with a heart of gold! Rare, very rare in today’s world! I told him that in the midst of realizing he was seriously not going to charge me! Best call I’ve ever made I think!
weco