Service is something we take for granted -- until we don't get it. Then there are the guys over at Mr. P's Tires in Bay View, who went above and beyond in my first visit there. They deserve a little love for the classy way they treated me.
I woke up one morning of Summerfest with a completely flat back tire. Now, it's Summerfest. The Brewers are in first place, the Bucks are making moves -- I needed the car. And, there was no way I was going to drive around Milwaukee's streets with a spare.
So, I called around to a variety of tire dealers looking for estimates and frankly, the price (with labor) was going to be about the same.
I had called Mr. P's Tires at 2366 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Bay View earlier in the morning, and said I might be by. I eventually decided to go, and as soon as I pulled up Ray and his crew were waiting outside for me.
He knew by the model of my car that I was the one who called earlier, and they were ready to go -- the car was being jacked before I even got inside.
I was all ready to buy a new tire. My mind had been made up. But Ray took it in and checked it out and discovered that wasn't necessary. A staple had deflated it, but that could be repaired. He checked the inside of the tire for safety, repaired a slow leak in another tire, and I walked out of there in about 25 minutes spending about two-thirds less than I anticipated.
This may seem unremarkable, but they could've taken advantage of the situation. I saw my tire and changed it -- it was completely flat. I assumed it was D.O.A. They could have sold me the new tire and labor and I would have been none the wiser.
"We don't screw people," Ray said.
And I appreciate that. So, I'm giving Mr. P's Tires and the guys there some love. Sure, you could say it's their job to do that, but we all know that's not always the case. Honesty and good service goes a long way, and they've got a loyal customer now.
Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.
A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.
To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.
Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.
In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.
Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.
