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Probably because they are not interested in having to support franchises or company owned stores. They rely on independent dealers to sell their products and stay out of the retail end.
Although they are now selling tires on-line directly to consumers to much grumbling from their dealers.
Probably because they are not interested in having to support franchises or company owned stores. They rely on independent dealers to sell their products and stay out of the retail end.
Although they are now selling tires on-line directly to consumers to much grumbling from their dealers.
Thanks. I always wondered how they were the biggest tire maker with no stores of their own.
Some of the company-owned Goodyear and Firestone tire stores in my metro have either closed altogether, or have been sold to independent franchisees.
The trend seems to be away from the single-brand tire retailers, in favor of multi-brand stores. Because they are a legacy operation, probably has a lot to do with why some of the branded places still exist.
Licencing or operating retail / service outlets is a very different business than developing / manufacturing products. Especially challenging internationally.
They are very successful in the business they are operating and likely see no large advantage in retail.
Why? Let the other tire retailers such as Discount Tire, Big O tire, Sears, Costco, etc., carry their tires. I think it would be a complete waste of money to set up a retail location.
Major oil companies have essentially left the retail fuels business...so if oil companies don't own gas stations anymore, why would tire companies own tire stores?
I was always able to beat the tire prices at the Firestone place by shopping around local tire shops. The manager didn't like the question when I asked how other retailers could sell me the same Firestone tires for a better price.
The 'branded' franchises (Goodyear, etc.) depended on vehicle maintenance (oil changes, replacing air filters, etc) for a lot of their profit. Suggesting (aggressively at times) unnecessary or overpriced work was commonplace at a lot of these places. They also couldn't afford to price match lean operations like Discount Tire (and similar multi-brand tire stores).
Discount Tire carries numerous brands of tires (and wheels) but that's it...they don't do any maintenance work or even perform wheel alignments. By keeping it simple, they can offer lower prices. By having multiple brands to choose from, they can also offer you multiple options.
I've always been a fan of Michelin tires (they were the factory/OEM tire on all my previous Honda and Acura vehicles). When the factory Bridgestone tires were almost shot on my 2012 Mazda CX-9 (after only 24k miles), I replaced them with a set of Michelins at Discount Tire. I was out the door for $980 (which is great for a set of 20" with a 60k treadwear warranty).
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