Here is the update on the issue with the TPMS. America's Tire Company has contacted Schrader Bridgeport, and they have agreed to exchange the obsolete system for the newer version at no cost. See below for the previous post.

Checksix

I agree with the approach Klaus has suggested. The shop and mechanic needs to learn from the experience too. If they don't offer anything then make a business decision to continue to or not to do business there.

I recently put new P6 Pirellis on my 2001 V70 T5. It became an emergency thing I had to do as the tires were quite worn (was going to squeeze one more month out of them before it rains here in California) and I shredded one when apparently I picked up a nail and ran it flat. Amazing it was almost impossible to tell (right front). I guess with the 45 series tires this happens. So while I was there, figured I'd price a TPMS (Tire pressure Monitoring System). They sold me a Schrader - Bridgeport Model 250-1 for $200, which seemed a fair price. They installed the sensors in the tires, and I was going to do the rest of the wiring. So after I get home and read up on it, I learn you can buy another sensor and it will monitor the spare tire too. So looking around on the web I can't find this model for sale. I then contacted the manufacture (SB), and learned this model was out of production for approximately 4 years, and you couldn't buy sensors for it any longer. What this would mean is that when the batteries on my current sensors go, I'd have to buy a whole new system! This would probably happen about the time I need new tires since the life of a sensor is about 7 years, and I may have used up a substantial amount already.

Needless to say, I was not real pleased and took my paperwork back to the tire dealer (America's Tire Company) to ask what could be done. The manager there was quite upset too when I showed him the e-mails that had passed between me and SB. They had quite a bit of these still in the inventory system, and he was quick to realize he too had obsolete merchandise, and could possibly have more unhappy customers. The ending to this story has yet to play out as the dealer is contacting SB to see if they would provide the current model for the price I paid for the old. The dealer will unmount my tires and replace and we get to start over. If SB comes back and says no, then my guess the dealer may provide me some rebate, and if not then I too get to make a business decision. Chances are I will continue to go back, as I've been doing business here for 15 years. I shop all over and get the best price possible, and this shop will match it every time; can’t beat that!

So the point of all this is to work with the shop, you don't know until you ask! ( and to get the word out on an obsolete model of a TPMS ;-))

Best of Luck,
Checksix