T/A charges environmental fee for tire rotation

Stopped at T/A in Missoula to get tire rotation done. 18.99 a tire + $8 fee per tire environmental fee. Asked sales lady what it has to do with rotating a tire
"Don't know, we can't take it off on our end"
#### t/a

 

Went to one of my local tire shops for trailer tires. Bought 8. Only really needed 4. 2 things annoyed me.
7.50 per wheel end for using the big torque wrench. $30. Retorque "free"....
Also wanted to charge me to dispose of the old tires. Said I won't pay for that I will take them home and burn them. "You can't do that". Why not? I put them in the back of my trailer and they're in my garage. I can sell the bad ones to farmers for grain wagons and I have some spares.
I paid about 300 for dismount and mount. I can do the work myself just don't have the tools or space. I look forward to not having to pay for that stuff.

Also learned in order to be eligible for a national account you need to have at least 1000 wheels on the ground. To get the good discounts.

 

I thought environmental fees on items that are NOT disposed of are illegal.

 

They would have to show me the federal or state statute that says environmental fees apply to tire rotations. If they couldn't, I might pay it, but would immediately file a complaint with the state AG office.

But I understand these fees re often coded into the billing system and they can say it's for anything, like rags to clean up with. But these fees can often be removed if you raise enough stink about it.

Are these uni-directional tires? (they had to be dismounted and swap rims and remounted)

 

They're recap tires. Should fit any position

 

Further reasoning of why I have relationships with tire dealers and shops at home ...plan component replacement at home before failure and truck stop shops are always my last resort choice ...emergency only .

 

Oh. For some reason I thought you were rotating the steer tires.

 

Shouldn't turning wrenches be part of the labor cost? Ridiculous.

 

It should. All these little extras just kill me.
I guess I can cross that tire shop off my list. I have 4 or 5 of them around me in the bigger cities. I like the drive thru service but this nickel and dime crap for stuff I never paid for before will make me go elsewhere or do it myself.

When I get my own shop put up I will do it myself.

 

Maybe we should charge back showers to the shippers and call it an " environmental fee " ? Lol