October 04, 2010
Two more examples of why independent tire dealers are the best
By: Lori L. Mavrigian
I recently cleaned out my mother’s garage, getting rid of a large volume of paint cans, pesticides, leftover house cleaning solutions and automotive chemicals that my parents had amassed over the years.
I was collecting them to take to a waste recycling center in a nearby city. I bundled them up in heavy-duty trash bags and drove them to the center.
After handing them off to the workers at the recycling center, I noticed two of the bags had leaked. I was incredibly thankful that my husband had told me I should place the bags in plastic containers in case something like this happened. At least the toxic stuff hadn’t leaked into my PT Cruiser’s carpet.
But the problem remained that I had two extremely stinky boxes in the back of my vehicle and a 30-minute ride home.
Whatever chemicals had leaked were strong enough to be slowly deforming the plastic containers. And the smell was so bad it was making me light-headed and nauseous – even with the windows open and the vents going full blast.
Worried that I’d get sick or pass out from the fumes, I looked for a dumpster to get rid of the boxes before I hit the highway. I saw some behind a McDonald’s.
I asked the manager if it would be OK to get rid of them there, but she said no because of Environmental Protection Agency regulations. I could understand that, so I asked her if she had any ideas. She suggested I try a Walmart across the street.
So I drove over there and found their automotive service bays. Folks, the lights were on, but there was no one home. I looked around the bays but couldn’t find anyone to talk to! On my way out of the store I saw a sign across the street for an NTB (National Tire & Battery) outlet.
By this time is was about 6:30 at night, but the store was still open (they’re open until 8 p.m. on weekdays). I went in told the man at the counter about my predicament. He said I could toss the boxes into their dumpster. No problem. Glad to help.
So my thanks go out to NTB on Hudson Drive in Stow, Ohio. You were a lifesaver.
And here’s another example of a helpful independent tire dealership.
Jon Greene, the band booster president for the James M. Bennett High School marching band in Salisbury, Md., was in desperate need of replacement tires for the band’s equipment trailer. “It is our non-profit organization's responsibility to raise funds for the band so the musicians can attend band camp, sporting events, competitions and parades, and to assist with the purchase of instruments and other equipment,” Greene wrote in the town’s newspaper, The Daily Times.
“With the rising cost of transportation and equipment, this has become quite a struggle, not only for our organization but for bands countywide. With limited resources, we were extremely concerned with the cost. We priced tires at such places as Walmart and Sam's Club, and even after they were told it was for a local school organization, they were unable to offer us a discount.
“However, one local business we contacted was more than generous. Not only did they give us the tires at their cost, but also did not charge us for labor. This company never hesitated to offer us a discount, and they were extremely professional, getting the job completed in record time,” Greene wrote.
“On behalf of the JMB Band Boosters and students, I would like to thank Burnett-White Tire and Auto Co. The kind and generous offering is appreciated; it saved our organization money so we can continue to support our band students during these tough economic times.”
So kudos to independent tire dealers -- both large and small. NTB is part of Tire Kingdom Inc., the second largest tire dealer chain in the U.S. with 735 outlets, according to the Modern Tire Dealer 100, and Burnett-White Tire Pros, with one store in Salisbury, Md.
It 's just two more reasons independent tire dealers are the best!
Sign up for our Enews and receive the latest news, trends, and product information right in your e-mail inbox.