[rkealey]

Firestone sells lifetime services at a premium. 4wh alignment for

$179.95 (79.95 align + 100 premium) lifetime balance (at a premium),

rotation with 4 tires, etc. No restrictions on frequency of use.

Object is to get the vehicles back. The pitch is that the customer can

return as often as they like (“even every day forever.”) Manager

stated that most customers return on a reasonable schedule and combine

their lifetime benefits whith other service. Some never return and he

pockets the extra profit. A small number of his customers abuse the

system and he just deals with it. He figures that he must align a

vehicle approximately 9 times before he actually loses $$$$.

Hope this helps.