Les Schwab?

[ballpark]

Have a few stories from various Les Schwab's - good and bad. 
The bad - Ellensburg - Brother in law got a flat while elk hunting.  Ended up getting new rear tires but they didn't tighten the lug nuts.  Next day as we are standing next to truck talking about how many hunters are in the area, we noticed he was missing 2 lug nuts - checked all the tires and the all the rear lug nuts were loose    Port Orchard - Took truck in for rotate and front end alignment afterwards it drove like **it.  Took it back they fixed the alignment.  Gave them another chance with wife's Denali, they screwed up the alignment - pulled hard to one side.   Took it back they fixed it.
The good - Snow zilla this past FEB lost the valve stem on front tractor tire - they replaced it for free.

Oh wait one more BAD - Port Orchard - Brother in law -same as above- had his brakes done prior to elk season 3 years ago.  Day 2 or 3 he noticed a grinding sound from front left tire.  We pulled the tire and the caliper was missing one of the bolts.  The caliper was held on by 1 bolt and grinding against the aluminum rim - nice groove.  Had to run into Weiser NAPA and get a new bolt.  

[CoryTDF]

I am not stuck to LS but I have been treated pretty well by them here in WW. I will store jump from time to time to find a better deal as there are 3 LS within about 15 miles of me. Both the Walla Walla store and the College Place store will cut you break on tax to keep you from going to the Milton Freewater Oregon location.   

You should try Luttrell's on Rose. Rick from Coachman works there now and @woodchuck might know something about them, too...

I have used them in the past and was happy.

[ctwiggs1]

On the south end I use Enumclaw Tire. Those guys have been around for 30 years and it's the same guys running it.  That's 30 years of experience telling you what's needed, not 30 days. 

Prices are always very competitive and they don't jerk you around for little things.

[pup0025]

Schwab's is why I own my own tire machine and balancer.

[Special T]

Schwab's is why I own my own tire machine and balancer.

Depending on the vintage of your ride having a machine, or knowing how to do it with bars is very helpful. Lot of guys whom wheel keep soap tire irons, a plug/patch kit and and inflation adapter to make repairs easier. 

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[pup0025]

I have a small rim clamp machine.  I've done a set of 37's but 35 is about max size.  The machine will break the beads on larger tires but after that it's tire spoons.

Schwab's is why I own my own tire machine and balancer.

Depending on the vintage of your ride having a machine, or knowing how to do it with bars is very helpful. Lot of guys whom wheel keep soap tire irons, a plug/patch kit and and inflation adapter to make repairs easier. 

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[follow maggie]

Have a few stories from various Les Schwab's - good and bad. 
The bad - Ellensburg - Brother in law got a flat while elk hunting.  Ended up getting new rear tires but they didn't tighten the lug nuts.  Next day as we are standing next to truck talking about how many hunters are in the area, we noticed he was missing 2 lug nuts - checked all the tires and the all the rear lug nuts were loose

This happened to a friend of my brother's. Took his boat trailer in for new tires & on the way home from Les Schwab both wheels came off the trailer in the middle of the road.

[h2ofowlr]

I called Les Schwab two weeks ago to have my from rotors turned on my 2015 GMC Yukon XL.  They quoted me in the ball park of $115 plus tax.  Okay, make the appointment.  Drop off the rig.  Get a call back a few hours later and said I would need new calipers, brakes and rotors.  $649 and some change.  I said nope, I will pick it up.  Went to Napa, picked up new higher end slotted rotors and higher end pads.  Just shy of $300.  45 minutes later I was done.  Easy job and better than what they would have used.

[HillHound]

As a business owner and employer of over 30 people this is simply a case of being as good as your worst employee. It really is unfortunate but the truth that one bad hire can drag your name through the mud. I have also had great and horrible experiences with various les schwabs in the past

[Special T]

As a business owner and employer of over 30 people this is simply a case of being as good as your worst employee. It really is unfortunate but the truth that one bad hire can drag your name through the mud. I have also had great and horrible experiences with various les schwabs in the past

It should also be noted that there is a large shortage of skilled tradesmen in many industries exacerbating this problem. This shortage makes it hard for employers to invest in training because there is a high rate of poaching employees making it hard to recoup the cost.

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[ctwiggs1]

As a business owner and employer of over 30 people this is simply a case of being as good as your worst employee. It really is unfortunate but the truth that one bad hire can drag your name through the mud. I have also had great and horrible experiences with various les schwabs in the past

If that were the case, we'd probably be complaining about McDonald's just as much.

I think it's a process and training issue myself.

[pianoman9701]

As a business owner and employer of over 30 people this is simply a case of being as good as your worst employee. It really is unfortunate but the truth that one bad hire can drag your name through the mud. I have also had great and horrible experiences with various les schwabs in the past

If that were the case, we'd probably be complaining about McDonald's just as much.

I think it's a process and training issue myself.

If that were an accurate analogy, McDonald's would be charging 30% more for their food than BK. They don't. Carl's Jr. does and they deliver with a difference. I ran a hotel with 50 employees. Our training was for each position was standardized and employees held accountable or let go. I don't believe this is a training problem. I believe that over the last 20 years, LS has mainly forgotten what sets them apart and makes their pricing less of a factor in the consumer's decision to use them. 

[Blacktail Sniper]

When the old man passed away, the spirit of what set them off from the rest died as well... 

[C-Money]

The Ephrata store has a good reputation around here. Work gives their business to Commercial Tire. Moses Lake store is pretty good...they bough my kids lamb at fair last year. I, like many, have had my share of head scratching moments with Schwab. They in store credit has saved my butt a few times when out and about and have tire issues and not much cash. Brewster Les Schwab replaced my boat trailer tires using my store credit while on a camping trip a few years back. That was nice.

[baker5150]

As a business owner and employer of over 30 people this is simply a case of being as good as your worst employee. It really is unfortunate but the truth that one bad hire can drag your name through the mud. I have also had great and horrible experiences with various les schwabs in the past

If that were the case, we'd probably be complaining about McDonald's just as much.

I think it's a process and training issue myself.

If that were an accurate analogy, McDonald's would be charging 30% more for their food than BK. They don't. Carl's Jr. does and they deliver with a difference. I ran a hotel with 50 employees. Our training was for each position was standardized and employees held accountable or let go. I don't believe this is a training problem. I believe that over the last 20 years, LS has mainly forgotten what sets them apart and makes their pricing less of a factor in the consumer's decision to use them. 

In the current labor environment, this isn't really an option.  You have to work with what you have, or you won't have anyone left.
It's border line impossible to find trainable labor, let alone skilled labor.  The skilled guys out looking, are looking for a reason, and you probably don't want them.
The young greenhorns looking for a career come in with no people skills and lack fundamental common sense.

The old "slow to hire, quick to fire" is the exact opposite anymore. Or at least be "slow to hire, slow to fire."  It's just to darn to expensive to file thru 10 guys looking for that 1 good one.  Expensive in soooo many ways.