Tyre company rip off!!

blueboy2001 said:
Whilst I accept you have been mis-sold these tyres, Kormoran tyres are manufactured by Stomil which was largely bought out by Michelin about 10 years ago to get a foothold in Eastern Europe.

Small numbers of Kormoran tyres have been imported into the UK since Michelin modernised their factory and production processes. Costco (who exclusively distributed Michelin tyres at the time) sold them for a while.

Stomil have been making high quality agricultural and trailer tyres for many years - I used to source them for my customers when I was a machinery salesman.

These won't be anything like as crap as the cheapo Far East stuff.
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They are **** believe me. They are like £20 at costco less than Ling Long's. Local tyre company said to fit rubbish like this they would surcharge and offer no warranty. These are suppose to have a 24 month defect warranty yet their is no address or after service contact. I am waiting for some info back from Michelin but over the phone they really wanted to distance themselves from any relationship with the company.

Put it this way, I used to own an IT company. Sony own a proportion of Foxconn. If you ordered a Sony monitor would you be happy if I sent you "imagetech" or something made in the factory which Sony owns a proportion of? It might share a component or two but it would not be a Sony.
 
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Can't you just return them because they're poor quality ?

Third opinion - I'd fully star out that sweary, I got suspended for doing that :(

MW
 
Stormster said:
I don't get why you'd email when you can pick up the phone and have way more clout!

Get on the blower :)
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Did that too, wait about 30 minutes then get cut off or put onto some apprentice. They maintain they are made by Michelin as they buy them from their website so they are the same quality. Apparently they have a two year manufacturers warranty against defect (on the receipt) but nobody can give me any contact details in the UK for Kormoran. The warranty cannot be worth a spit as Kormoran UK does not seem to exist. Even Trading standards cannot find any details of them in the UK or UK warranty. Be warned guys this are really dodgy!!!
 
They told you they were selling you 'Michelin Primacy' tyres. They did not sell you these tyres. Who Michelin own, what Kormoran do etc. is irrelevant, the tyres on your car are not Michelin Primacy tyres which is what you were told they would be. It should be as simple as that.

If you were sold SportContact5Ps and actually ended up with PremiumContact2s, it doesn't matter that they're both made by Continental, they're not the same tyres and not the product you were sold.

Getting into a debate about whether Michelin own Kormoran shouldn't be necessary and isn't going to achieve much, it's a side issue.
 
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Personally I think it depends on whats on your reciept. If it says Kormoran tyres I don't see how you have a case. Your wife should have seen that and not paid for them insisting she was quoted for Michelins. If she has paid then she has accepted the tyre they have fitted, the fact you not happy about it after isn't their problem. If it says Michelin tyre then you have a very good case to get them swapped.
 
You are right about the receipt but I contacted Consumer advice and they say we do have a case. I have to write to them as their description even in their email is "made and sold by Michelin". This is inaccurate as Michelin owns part of the company, they don't make tyres for Kormoran or vice versa.
 
Third Opinion said:
You are right about the receipt but I contacted Consumer advice and they say we do have a case. I have to write to them as their description even in their email is "made and sold by Michelin". This is inaccurate as Michelin owns part of the company, they don't make tyres for Kormoran or vice versa.
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sneaky buggers

wish you all the best. Teach them a lesson that they can't con customers like this to sell more budget tyres that have a nice high markup.
 
Given up with them now, they win. They are now even denying they described them as mid-range. They have just told me they rate them below budget. Guess I will be driving very slow for the next few months until I can afford to replace them.

Last message I left them was "I better be careful if I can ever afford to order that Ferrari, by your reckoning I might turn up to collect it and be supplied with a Fiat. Owned by the same company so must be the same thing"
 
Third Opinion said:
Given up with them now, they win. They are now even denying they described them as mid-range. They have just told me they rate them below budget. Guess I will be driving very slow for the next few months until I can afford to replace them.

Last message I left them was "I better be careful if I can ever afford to order that Ferrari, by your reckoning I might turn up to collect it and be supplied with a Fiat. Owned by the same company so must be the same thing"
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Thread fails to deliver.
 
Third Opinion said:
Given up with them now, they win. They are now even denying they described them as mid-range. They have just told me they rate them below budget. Guess I will be driving very slow for the next few months until I can afford to replace them.

Last message I left them was "I better be careful if I can ever afford to order that Ferrari, by your reckoning I might turn up to collect it and be supplied with a Fiat. Owned by the same company so must be the same thing"
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Dont give up. They ripped you off simple, explain this to trading standards and they should do something about it..
 
If it says made by michelin on the invoice you've got written proof they've tried to con you.

Get trading standards to take it up with them. They can't mis sell products like this. Even if they deny all knowledge to your face, deal with trading standards instead.
 
Yeah I have contacted Michelin direct about my concerns about the Performance, price and and possible safety implications. There area sales rep has just called and wants me to fax the invoice to them.

I must say they have been very sympathetic about my concerns and very prompt. No point going backwards and forwards to the seller as it's just got into a game of "I never said this, oh yes you did".

I have explained the problems with my health and budget and how important the car is to me at the moment (having a major operation in two and a half weeks).

I am sure I am the laughing stock around the fitters office. All I can say is I hope they are happy with themselves. I am not some tight ass rich bod trying to get something for nothing. I am a genuine hard up person who really cannot afford to be mislead at this critical time for me.
 
What a bunch of cow boys. Another comparison; if you ordered Heinz beans online at supermarket and they sent you their own brand (as Heinz make most of them), that is also wrong. It is the branding and model of the product that matters, not who owns who.
 
[TW]Fox;18264166 said:
What does the invoice say?
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The invoice say what they are. Yet I never signed the invoice as I was not their and nobody else did they just paid them.

The real problem is over the phone they said "2 x Michelin somethings, probably Primacy or something. End of line but definitely made by Michelin. Our mid range tyres"

Get home to find this rubbish on it. I gotta laugh now but the tread pattern looks like something off a tractor. Maybe I could do some part time ploughing ;)

They are arguing "they are Michelin, well kind of, well made by them, well we think. We market them at mid but now we realise they are budget thanks for the info mate. Not our problem."
 
so its all verbal then. :( thought they put made by michelin on the invoice.

Take it up with trading standards anyway. They can deny it to your face, but trading standards can pay them a visit to remind them not to miss sell stuff. (Least i hope they will if they are showing an interest in your case)
 
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