When companies get big, or are bought by a big company, they use business plans to extract more money from each customer. The large/national car care centers are a good example - you pull in to have a slow leak fixed in your tires. While you are waiting someone comes out and says their records show that you have not had your radiator flushed, your transmission fluid changed, new fan belts installed, and their safety check revealed that you need new wiper blades. Then they tell you that they can't fix your tire because the leak is in the side wall and it wouldn't be safe, but they do have a sale on new tires that are your size and since you are replacing one, you might as well buy the whole set! They are betting that a certain percentage of people will fall for one or all of the above. They do not stick to the basics of good honest service where the customer is considered the number one asset they have. I don't use big companies any more. I avoid them. This is my prediction: if we do not support our local people (who can't compete because they don't have the volume) one day the biggies will be all we have to purchase from, and they will treat us like they want to because they have no competition and we have NO options.
