MY SHOCKING EXPERIENCES WITH TYREMART, Gerahamstown/Makhanda

Having over the years written several reviews of local businesses of Makhanda, it pains me that this is the first time I've had to resort to taking a local business to task. On 11/12/23 I had both rear and front brakes repaired by Tyremart, Makhanda/Grahamstown (Eastern Cape) On 19/2/24, whilst en route home (Makhanda) from Jeffreysbay, and at the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, a loud grating sound occurred from the back left wheel while I was applying the brakes. I then had to summon a towing service to transport my vehicle to a brake repair centre in Newton Park. My insurers luckily covered these costs. The prognosis by the centre was that the bolt attaching the brake drum to the vehicle had loosened and sc****d against the rim of the tyre. I was told that the bolt had probably not been fastened properly when the brake pads had been replaced (by Tryremart). It was also found that the brake pads had been fitted incorrectly. I was told that the defective brakes could have endangered our lives and that we were fortunate that we were left unscathed. My wife had a medical appointment at a PE hospital and was forced to use a Bolt vehicle. The brake centre advised me that there was a three-day waiting period at the VW dealership for the necessary parts to fix the damaged brake. Being resourceful, the centre then drove around various s**** yards until finding a usable part. This resulted in me having to wait for 5 1/2 hours in Newton Park before I could collect my wife to resume our trip home. The following day I dispatched an email to the owner of Tyremart, Makhanda detailing what had happened and the costs I had incurred resulting from Tyremart's defective workmanship. With no response to my mail, I then visited the branch and saw the owner. His first response to me was to enquire whether I was the one who had written a long email. which he had not had time to read. My impression during this meeting was that the owner immediately went on the defense, querying the charges by the brake centre. He did indicate that he would pay my costs (R1 024,40). At no stage were my claims refuted. The most sobering aspect of my interaction with the owner, was, firstly. the cavalier treatment of Tyremart's customers; secondly, a total disregard of the considerable inconvenience and potential danger resulting from the neglect by his employee/s; thirdly, the absence of even a smidgen of remorse or the slightest apology. To date I am still awaiting payment and, some 6 weeks have already passed since my last interaction with Tyremart