Price Comparisons
How can you be sure that you are comparing
like with like?
Actual Price Comparisons
Blackcircles - Our Online Partners
In searching for tyres
on the Internet, the general public is faced with a vast
array of choices. As well as the established tyre retail
chains, there is now an increasing number of specialist
online tyre retailers.
This is great for the consumer because it
widens choice and increases competition, ultimately making
sure that you, the consumer, is getting the best possible
deal.
However, in comparing prices, it's worth bearing
in mind that the kind of service offered by companies offering
tyres
for sale over the Internet varies considerably.
So how can you be sure that you
are comparing like with like?
We have introduced our new price comparisons
section to offer readers looking to buy
tyres the opportunity to get an overall view of the
kind of prices that are available on the Internet as well
as the different kind of services that are on offer.
In doing so we have compared the online price
offerings on a given day of six of the more prominent companies
active in the market, these being:
-
Blackcircles
-
Kwik-Fit
-
National Tyres
- Mytyres
- E-Tyres
- Event Mobile Tyres
For the purpose of comparison, these six companies offer
a useful cross section of what is available on the market
but it's worth taking a moment to look at the type of service
on offer.
- Blackcircles is an independent online specialist operating
through a nationwide network of affiliated dealers, many
of whom are franchised. Blackcircles prices are all-inclusive
and the aim is to offer a comprehensive service similar
to that of the major retail chains - in other words once
you've booked and paid for your tyres,
Blackcircles say they will look after the rest of the order
process on behalf of the customer. Online payment is available.
- Kwik-Fit and National are examples of established retail
chains. They too offer a complete all-inclusive service.
Indeed Kwik-Fit also offer a mobile fitting service for
an additional price. Both National and Kwik-Fit have a list
of online prices on their website (Kwik-Fit does not list
its full range and asks you to phone the depot if the tyre
you want is not listed). Payment is completed at the depot
after the work is completed (Correct at the time of writing).
- Mytyres is a mail order specialist. Tyres are delivered
to the customer's home address or to a nominated third party
address. Fitting is offered through a network of fitting
station partners but it is the customer's responsibility
to arrange for fitting and to pay the garage for this service.
Online payment is available.
- ETyres and Event Mobile Tyres are independent networks
offering mobile fitting services at home or at work. Prices
are all-inclusive but of course are dependent on the customer
booking a fitting time. ETyres offer online payment, with
Event you pay when the work is completed.
As you can see, the type of service you are buying into can
vary substantially so regardless of whether you buy
tyres off one of the six companies mentioned above or
one of the many other companies offering tyres for sale on
the Internet, it pays to check what you are getting for your
money and whether there are any extra costs involved.
Actual Price Comparisons
As an example of current Internet tyre pricing
we have taken a particularly fast moving size, this being:
205/55 VR 16
These price comparisons are simply a spot check on what was
available on the day in question and our aim is to update
these comparisons on an ongoing basis (at least once a quarter).
They are meant as a rough guide and should not be taken necessarily
as valid prices at any given time. You will need to check
the websites of the individual companies for valid offers
on any given day.
We have included all tyres,
which were listed and priced on at least 4 of the above companies'
websites at the time we accessed the sites. This should give
you, the reader, an idea of how the various companies and
retail concepts stack up against each other in terms of price
as well as the depth of the product ranges that they offer
to online customers.
However, please bear in mind that availability and product
ranges can vary on a daily basis so you will need to check
with the individual companies to verify up-to-date availability.
Blackcircles - Our Online Partners
At this point we would like to emphasise that Tyres-Online
has a commercial arrangement with Blackcircles.
Are they the cheapest? Well, it would be difficult for any
company in any market to claim they are universally cheaper
than anyone else. However, as can be seen from the price comparisons
above, we think you'll agree Blackcircles perform pretty well
on price, particularly when you consider the all-inclusive
nature of their service.
If, after visiting our site, you decide you would like a
quotation off Blackcircles, please use the links off these
pages. It's what keeps us in business.
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