Epperly Tire & Auto Center

Had a wonderful service manager named James assist with new Goodyear tires and a 90k mile service on my SUV. Got a ride home and picked up when work was completed. Repair time did take longer than promised resulting in the loss of one star in this ranking however Thomas, my mechanic, did a thorough and meticulous job.

I went to this location because of location convenience and due to very pleasant prior experience with Goodyear (in Atlanta). I have worked for 3 different Goodyear stores (both as a mechanic and tire salesman), and so far this store has let me down.
1. Work performed on my car at this point has been adequate, however I would expect that any car shop could perform basic maintenance (tires and brakes). Be careful of hidden costs (miscellaneous shop fees)!!
2. POOR customer experience/​relations!
I have been to this location three separate times, and with each visit I received similar treatment from the front end staff. They give off the impression that your business is an inconvenience. The front staff seem resistant to explain basic service questions and get somewhat annoyed when you question why basic service is taking longer than they projected.
I realize that dealing with customers is not always easy, but I would hope that the front service staff would at least PRETEND to care that you were giving them your time/​money/​business.
Regardless of the quality of work that a store provides, Customer relations should be the most important component. Based on my experience, you will NOT get that here. I will be searching for another store (non Goodyear) to give my business.

Absolutely, the worst auto place in Columbus, GA! $ 60+ for an oil change and they will take HOURS and treat you like a fool if you question it. They make numerous mistakes and then you have to fight them to get them to admit they did it. Arrogant, incompetent and overpriced. Because they are very close to my house in Maple Ridge, I have used them on four occasions for oil change, tire replacement, and larger repairs. Every single time there were major mistakes. They even cracked my windshield which they eventually paid to replace but only after I fought them on it. Another time they left the cap off the oil pan. Parts and labor charges are through the roof. Clearly, they fancy themselves brain surgeons and expect to be compensated thusly. The one overriding purpose for them is to get as much money from you as possible with as little effort as possible and to take all damn day to do it. Epperly is from the old school of auto repair – «us against them» and «a sucker born every minute». Yeah, they have a coffee maker– big whoop – save your coffee and run your business with integrity; that would be better.
Try TireFirst on Miller Rd where at least they will deal honestly with you (well, so far so good with them anyway.)

Got my brakes replaced and serpentine belt changed here with no problems. It is a nice place with drinks, coffee, and popcorn. Extremely overpriced and will go elsewhere next time.
Also, about a week later, I sent my daughter in for a copy of receipt because I needed a few things from Publix and she came out empty handed. I had to go in and wait in line to get it because you need the owners ID to get a receipt even of you have the tag #, etc. No identifying info on receipt other than name and address. I guess it’s just safer that way, but an inconvenience.
Edit and Update May 2015:
I changed this review from 4 to 5 stars because I have been back multiple times since I made this review. They have been awesome and can get you in quick! Last month, I was at the Circle K when one of my hoses loose. My lost all the fluids in my car and it started overheating bad! I slowly made my way straight here and they were able to fix everything same day.

The text of the letter I sent to the owner of the business about my experience:
«On February 11, I took my wifes Toyota Sienna to your Schomburg Road location for two tires and to repair a leak in one of the good ones. The old tires were worn out perfectly, no cupping, no feathering, so when your service manager offered to sell me a front end alignment, I declined. Then he trotted out a printout that showed the alignment severely out of adjustment. I paid for an alignment against my better judgment.
The tire noise that was immediately evident when I drove away and which did not exist prior to the tire change made me wonder if I had just paid to have my front end misaligned. Yep. I paid money to have a perfectly aligned front end, misadjusted. I did. The tire noise is still prominent and the tires are feathering badly. And the leaking tire… still leaking.
You profited from a front end alignment that I did not need and that was improperly done but you lost a customer. I am taking the van to the dealer to have the alignment reset to specification. I may be a slow learner but I do learn.»
I expected a call to offer to properly align the front end at the minimum. I got this phone call from the business:
MY PHONE RINGS
ME: Hello
THEM: This is Mr. So&so from Epperly tires. I understand you sent an email or a letter with a complaint. (Forgot his name)
ME: Yes. I sent a letter but I can’t talk right now. I am in the doctors office and they are calling me back. But my complaint is in the letter.
THEM: Okay. We won’t bother you anymore.
And he hung up.
Needless to say I don’t recommend them.

Crazy up-​sells on stuff that’s probably not wrong, and wait times 90 minutes or more longer than promised. No communication about why there’s a hold up or when the car will be ready. I guess they just expect you to wait quietly without questioning them.
I’m going elsewhere next time.

This place is a complete rip-​off! Avoid at all costs & go to someplace trustworthy like Firestone on Fort Benning, where you’ll be taken care of.
I got the Buy 3 Tires Get 1 Free with balance & alignment. One tire started losing air within a week and my alignment wasn’t straight anymore. I was told I had a puncture in my brand-​new tire and they still charged me to patch my tire (but insisted my alignment was fine, though it now pulls left while driving). When they finished, I noticed they didn’t patch it… they plugged it (which was something the manager at the Schomburg Road store swore against doing). I took my truck to the tire retailer on Fort Benning where they fixed all my complaints for less than Epperly Tire charged me to plug my tire. I was contacted by David Epperly where he invited me to return for a refund, but he, literally, couldn’t even pay me to return.
Save time, save money, and save hassle by going somewhere other than Epperly Tire.

No complaints. This is the only place we’ve been taking our cars for the last couple of years. And they support our teachers with a nice discount. And support charities like Relay For Life. Double win in my book!