Sounds like maybe they just blew you off (i.e. didn't even search for you tire). On that basis you might try one more call. This time to the service manager. Give him the setup about why you think the tire is there. Then go into the part about no one called you back and that you are concerned that they may not have looked for your tire.

Sure this is a big longshot. But if the service manager says look they may really look. Could be a shop thief might bring the tire back and "find" it at the shop if enough heat is applied. Could also be this type of followup attention will keep a dishonest shop from ripping off a few less people in the future.

Could also be that you can find a rim and tire in Tucson for less than a drive back up to Phoenix to pick yours back up.

Again sorry for the loss.

Honda mechanics would not have been trained on the DI motor.

Agreed, nor would they have been trained on the Aisin tranny in his truck. But it doesn't sound as if he were having any issues with those things.

So long as it weren't and engine tranny issue (or warranty issue for that matter) A Honda dealership should be able to do all other normal wrenching on your Honda er Isuzu.

Here is the letter I'm going to send to the service manager. The Isuzu Collective provided good advice earlier, I'm open to good advice now:
------------------------------------------------
Dear Rotten Bastards Who Stole My Tire
(just kidding)
---------------------------------------------------
Service Manager
Chapman Chevrolet Isuzu
1717 E. Baseline Rd.
Tempe, Arizona 85283

Dear Service Manager

I have an issue I wanted to bring to your attention in case it is a repeating event.

A month ago, I took my 2004 Isuzu Rodeo in for servicing. This included rotating the tires. Last week, I left work early (I normally leave after dark; and it's the only time I approach my car from the rear), I noticed the rear didn't look right. It took me a minute to realize the spare tire was missing.

I checked the rear door for damage (it blocks the spare lowering mechanism)--none. The spare tire holding chain was rolled back up, and the extra chain was tucked up neatly. (i.e. it's not dangling down or I would have noticed it immediately).

I called your service department (Tuesday, August 14th) to ask if, during the power outage and resulting confusion, my tire was put aside and forgotten by mistake. I left a couple messages and my call wasn't returned; when I reached a person he replied he had called me, but didn't leave a message. That is possible.

I explained the issue and was told I'd be called back the next morning (Wednesday the 15th). When the call wasn't returned that day, I was on the phone Thursday morning. I learned that my tire wasn't found. I was disappointed that my calls were not returned, even to say, "I promised you I'd call, but we're still looking into it."

One of two things happened to my tire; either someone stole it off the street, or it was taken while being serviced at the dealership. Let's examine the probabilities:

Theft:
I drive my Rodeo pretty much just to work and back; even grocery shopping is on a military base. It would have to be a parking lot thief working out of my job or my driveway (rear end of the car facing the street) taking the time to remove the tire tire with the access door locked. He did this without damage, and instead of a quick getaway, took the time to neatly clean up his work afterwards, rolling up the chain and tucking away the extra.

Even if I left the doors unlocked, he either used his own tools (including the odd-fitting rod to lower the tire), or took the time to get mine out, use them, clean them, then neatly return them to their holding space under the rear seat, and then put the seats back in place. Despite full access to the Rodeo, this very neat thief didn't want to steal my iPod/accessories in the glove box (ok, it's just a 1 gig, but it's a target), or any of the change I leave in my cup holder or ashtray. A very honest thief.

Dealership:
I called Wednesday and booked an appointment at the dealership, first one on Friday morning. When I arrived, the service department hadn't heard of me. I had the number in my cell phone and GPS, I called the correct number. While working on my car, the power went out at the dealership. This caused confusion. My car was worked on, including a tire rotation. I do not know if 5-tire rotations are standard, but the four tires I have have both before and after noticing the missing spare are roughed up from 4-wheeling; the spare was pristine. I paid by credit card (I left a signed, blank template so you could fill in the amount later as I didn't want to wait for power to come back up before I could leave). I returned the next day to retrieve a receipt (for warranty proof) that had several minor typos in it.

I do not have any proof, and didn't spot it soon enough, to say for certain it happened at the dealership. However:

- It is very suspicious. I do not hold the dealership responsible, however you might have a dishonest mechanic that either made a mistake and covered it up, or has done this in the past to sell extra wheels and tires on the side.

- Not being able to reach a person, not getting calls returned from voicemails, or not receiving promised return calls when a customer is looking for a wheel/tire combination I'm rough-estimating at $350, was frustrating. A few minutes of communication leads to a much happier customer, no matter what the issue.

- The small errors, normally ignored, because annoying. Lost appointment, receipt with saying it was 6k service on a 2003 Rodeo with the wrong address (I'll give you the address), instead of 15k service on a 2004 rodeo and the correct address.

Again, I have no proof, and I do allow there's reasonable chance it was a roadside thief and not your dealership. I will probably stop by again the next time I'm in town to get my Rodeo serviced. I hope this is a one-time event, and I'm the first (and last) customer who brings this issue to your attention.

Respectfully,
Me

My wayne, you have certainly become quite the Smiley, havenÆt you.


Look, hereÆs my take. Sending this letter is pointless.
you donÆt ever say what you want, and you are sending it to the wrong person.

Decide what you want and state it in the first sentence; and then use the rest of the letter to back up the assertion and the action you expect. That action ought to be that you expect a call to discuss how and when they are going to replace your wheel and tire that was obviously stolen while your vehicle was being serviced.

Sending this to the service manager is pointless. It needs to go to the owner of the dealership. It will trickle down for action, it will never trickle up.

You need to send it to a named person, not a title.
You need to edit out all the cute asides as well as all the stuff that doesnÆt make your case for the wheel/tire replacement by them. Let them make their own case.

This letter is too confusing in tone and substance. Get it more focused on getting what you want. finally, if you really are willing to return to them for service under these circumstances, whatÆs the point of all this anyway?

//bc

That was funny.

My intent is obviously not getting across. I don't expect them to replace the tire. Without proof or quicker discovery, I have no case, just strong doubts.

Same for the name--I had planned on finding that first, but you're correct, I will send it higher. Chapman is an LLC stretching across Arizona and NM with about 20 dealerships. I'll see if I can google out a name. Best I've done so far is:
COO: Edward (Eddie) Davault
Chapman Automotive Group, LLC
1150 N. 54th St.
Chandler, AZ 85226-1032

I will step back for a day or so before I look at it, then try to refocus it.

Still open for other advice.

Wayne, I agree some with trooperbc and I also see you honest point, that you can't prove it therfore you aren't expecting anything.

You do need to weed out the irrelevant stuff like the typos, and the details you thought out on a "thiefs process". You need to be more direct in what you are trying to acomplish. Some of what you suggested is relivant and should be explained when you get a call back. Remember you are talking to a dealership. From the start, 95% of the time you are not dealing with the most honest people in the world. Plus By letting them know you will return for service even though they "may have" stole your tire just lets them know it is not a big deal to you and they will quickily blow you off. What they need to think is that due to your experience not only will you never have them service you truck again plus you will not be buying your next vehicle with them either, and you are very likely to express your less than desireable experience with others as a friendly warning. One negative feedback has more impact than ten positives, and they know that. If you insist on leaving your demand open-ended then simply say you want them to make-it-right. ie... replace the tire, compensation on your next service, partial refund on this last service, etc... Remember to demand a return phone call. Say it more than once in your letter. And like trooperbc said, send it as high up as you can because s**t always rolls down hill but never up. Oh and another tip, if you mail it, print it on something other than white paper. and mail it in a card like envolope. It gets there attention quicker.

My grandfather always said, there is power in the pen. and he wrote letters like you wouldn't believe. And almost always got the response he was looking for.

Check with your credit card company and see if they can help. What kind of typo errors were on the receipt, anything dealing with the cost of service?

Not only would I write a letter to the "head honcho" of the company, I would also take a copy of it to the dealership manager explaining what had happened and telling them that the letter will be sent to the "head honcho" and to the dealerships supplier (GM, Ford, Chrysler)... I would not be surprised if he/she tries to remedy the problem themselves.

If they do say that, then get a firm date of resolution by saying that the letters will be forwarded within 5 buisness days if nothing has been accomplished.
P.S. Keep your letter short and to the point

Van <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

that sucks dude. the dealership I got my rodeo from was suppost to replace the fuel pump and alot of yall might know, the bash plate on the 94 rodeos is pretty hard to get off and the fact that there was alot of undercoating from its time of being owned up north before I got it didnt help the situation very much for them to get to it. they ended up cutting the bolts off so the rest of the bold body was still stuck in there and hard as hell to get out, took a week to get it all done, and then instead of putting my bash plate back on, they tried to hide it and hoped I wouldnt see it sitting in the grass right next to there shop. well, I was pissed and told them that I wasnt going to pay for such bad service and disregard to how my vehicle was brought to them and they got stuck with me not paying and didnt want to try and make me pay because they were already in enough trouble with getting the better business guys already looking into about 10 other things theyve done to people like me. so I still have my bash plate sitting in my gerage waiting for me to get in there and remove the nuts and bolts still stuck in there and get it back on wich will be a task to do because its gonna be a very tight fit.

I agree with the other that short and to the point is best. Demand that they find or buy you a new spare. The worst that happens is they say no and you end up getting another one yourself anyway. But at least you will have their attention and it will be on record.

With my whole family working at auto auctions and my uncles auto transport business I grew up around dealers and there arent very many that I trust. I even worked as a mechanic for a short time for one of the worst in Denver (Douglass Toyota). Makes you wish all stealerships did like Len Lyle Chevrolet does here. The owner puts his direct office, home, and personal cell phone numbers on the screen for all his commercials.

Btw, Owner and President of Chapman Automotive Group is Ted Chapman. Same contact address that you have for the COO though.