How should I proceed with a potential issue with a supporting vendor?

[vinnymac]

I have a potential issue with a supporting vendor.

I bought a set of wheels, winter tires, and tire pressure monitoring sensors as a package from a supporting vendor back in August. The transaction and delivery was just fine and I received my wheel/tire package and I stored them until last week when winter weather forced me to put them on.

I immediately got an error from my TPM system stating there was a malfunction. I tried resetting the system several times but my 2015 M3 will not recognize the sensors.

I contacted the supporting vendor the next day and explained my issue. They responded by saying they probably installed the incorrect TPM sensors and they would need to be replaced. The replacements are arriving this week.

I asked them to cover the cost of swapping out the sensors (estimate is $125 at my local tire shop) and they said they would NOT be able to help me. I paid for a wheel/tire combo for my vehicle and the TPM sensors were part of the package. I feel they should cover the expensive of replacing the incorrect sensors they installed.

Does that sound fair?

[ando]

They probably don't have enough margin to do that. You can't always have low cost and service. Get the replacement sensors and wait till next season to swap

[platty]

Based on your information - yes it sounds fair. If it was my customer, I'd eat the cost of swapping them since it was my fault for putting the incorrect sensors on the package.

[fjabad]

Your request to cover the install is fair. They screwed up and now you have to pay an extra $125 which is not fair.

[visi107]

So they sent you the replacements at no cost?

[vinnymac]

Originally Posted by visi107

So they sent you the replacements at no cost?

Yes, and I am sending the incorrect sensors back to them.

[visi107]

Originally Posted by vinnymac

Yes, and I am sending the incorrect sensors back to them.

Hope everything works out but you could refuse to sent the old ones back and sell them privately to cover the swapping fee.

[fjabad]

Originally Posted by visi107

Hope everything works out but you could refuse to sent the old ones back and sell them privately to cover the swapping fee.

^This is exactly what I would do.

[vinnymac]

Originally Posted by visi107

Hope everything works out but you could refuse to sent the old ones back and sell them privately to cover the swapping fee.

I wouldn't feel right doing that. I'd rather take the hit on the out of pocket expense before I do something that is shady.

Regardless, I've been emailing with the vendor today and we're close to working something out.

[Who's on first]

Originally Posted by ando

They probably don't have enough margin to do that. You can't always have low cost and service. Get the replacement sensors and wait till next season to swap

Their margin is of no concern to the end user. Cost of doing business.

[vinnymac]

Quick Update:

I had the sensors replaced and everything is working now. It turns out they did install the incorrect sensors. The vendor agreed to reimburse me for the labor up to $80.00...which I guess is better than nothing...my out of pocket was $83.96 at my local tire chain.

I'm just glad the issue with the TPMS malfunction is resolved.

[LeFort One]

Which vendor is this? I still don't agree with that. You paid for a product and service and that was not delivered. You had to take time off your schedule to ship the wrong sensors back to them and then deal with swapping in the new sensors.

I would be out of a job in my line of work if I did that. Any reasonable vendor would have covered that for you.