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So, it turns out my wife's car needs new front shocks. So as an ex Tiger Wheel n Tyre salesman, I decided to support our sister brand Tyres n More.

So I duly called the Port Shepstone Branch, and asked for a quote, as the work would be done on an Innovation Group Warranty claim, and they are a service provider for the Innovation Group.

After giving the vehicles details etc, the Salesman said he would call me back with a quote. So far so good.

So the aforementioned salesman calls me back today, and informs me that he can get the "last two" shock absorbers available in the country, for the wife's car.

Needless to say warning lights came on in my head, as I had already enquired via Midas and Auto zone about pricing and availability and was pleasant surprised that the shocks ranged from R1300 each to R1750 each depending on brand, considering that the warranty covers work upto R4000 per annum for shocks.

So, the salesman tells me that the shocks (Gabriel) are R2500.00 eac ex vat, excluding labour and excluding wheel alignment. Which would put the total quote for 2 shocks, at around R6500, 00 fitted. Utter madness, and I would have to wait for a few days for the shocks to be "shipped" from Cape Town.

So I duly call the Kokstad branch of Tyres and More, dealt with a phenomenal salesman, Alfred, who took all of 5 minutes to quote me R4395. 00 for everything, shocks, labour and alignment, and that the shocks would be couriered over night from Durban.

So the question would be, how does the same company have more than R2000 difference in pricing, and how can one branch have access stock overnight and the other telling me that the parts have to come from CT with a 5 day wait, and still charge prices for shocks that are more in line with Mercedes or BMW shock prices.

Needless to say, all though I am an ex Ti Auto (the holding company for Tyres n More and Tiger Wheel and Tyre) employee, as is my wife, and we never asked for discounts etc, I am shocked and horrified at the **************** that Tyres n More Port Shepstone commits. They will definitely not be recommended by me for anything.