Hi all, I have always thought Nokian tires were top quality and excellent tires. I actually have a set of Hakka R2's which I was very happy with, purchased from discount tire direct a few years ago (ordered in USA and picked up there). I love their products but I am very disappointed as they have decided that their tires are only available via tire dealers and you are unable to buy them online from here in Quebec. So I cannot order them from the USA to be shipped here and nor can I buy them online here. I would need to go to a tire dealer who are very expensive and a pain to deal with. Why Nokian refuses to make it easier for me to obtain them is beyond me and makes no sense if you want to sell alot of tires. I am therefore no longer going to ever support this brand, and as I have said, its a shame, because I love their products. I sent them an email to ask them why they do it that way and this was their reply:
My email to them:
Hi,
I am a long time Nokian tire customer and am extremely disappointed with the fact I am unable to buy Nokian tires online in this province. I have no idea why you would not want to allow them to be sold online in this province. I am not sure what the logic is behind this, but most people I talk to, tell me they dont bother with Nokian because its complicated and very expensive. I currently have 4 Nokian Hakka R2 tires and swear by them to everyone I know, however last year I encountered a sidewall rupture on 1 that is not fixable (still has 6-7 / 32nds). It seems that it is alot of work to obtain a replacement tire. I would like to just go online and have one shipped to my house, but obviously its more complicated than that. I think you make the best winter tires available, but please dont make yourself and your customers suffer by not making them more readily available (ie. Online).
Their reply:
While buying tires online does have its convenience, Nokian prefers to distribute to authorized dealers for several reasons. Our authorized resellers are experts on winter tire knowledge, and are trained to offer multiple tire solutions to best fit individual customer needs. A properly equipped retailer would be able to offer alternative size recommendations, will ask questions that may reveal unknown needs, and is able to offer other advice because of their hands on experience. Also, the Nokian Tyres warranty process is administered through the dealer network, which most customer's have already established a relationship with at the time of purchase/installation. Tires bought from an official retailer are also eligible for a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, where new tires can be returned within a 30 day period for a full refund if you are unsatisfied for any reason.
If you would like to see what dealers are in your area, follow this link: https://www.nokiantires.com/where-to-buy/dealer-locator/
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Why as a company would you make it so difficult? Their reply seems to suggest that most people are not bright enough to choose the correct tire for their car. Im completely disappointed with them. I wont be supporting them anymore.
My email to them:
Hi,
I am a long time Nokian tire customer and am extremely disappointed with the fact I am unable to buy Nokian tires online in this province. I have no idea why you would not want to allow them to be sold online in this province. I am not sure what the logic is behind this, but most people I talk to, tell me they dont bother with Nokian because its complicated and very expensive. I currently have 4 Nokian Hakka R2 tires and swear by them to everyone I know, however last year I encountered a sidewall rupture on 1 that is not fixable (still has 6-7 / 32nds). It seems that it is alot of work to obtain a replacement tire. I would like to just go online and have one shipped to my house, but obviously its more complicated than that. I think you make the best winter tires available, but please dont make yourself and your customers suffer by not making them more readily available (ie. Online).
Their reply:
While buying tires online does have its convenience, Nokian prefers to distribute to authorized dealers for several reasons. Our authorized resellers are experts on winter tire knowledge, and are trained to offer multiple tire solutions to best fit individual customer needs. A properly equipped retailer would be able to offer alternative size recommendations, will ask questions that may reveal unknown needs, and is able to offer other advice because of their hands on experience. Also, the Nokian Tyres warranty process is administered through the dealer network, which most customer's have already established a relationship with at the time of purchase/installation. Tires bought from an official retailer are also eligible for a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, where new tires can be returned within a 30 day period for a full refund if you are unsatisfied for any reason.
If you would like to see what dealers are in your area, follow this link: https://www.nokiantires.com/where-to-buy/dealer-locator/
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Why as a company would you make it so difficult? Their reply seems to suggest that most people are not bright enough to choose the correct tire for their car. Im completely disappointed with them. I wont be supporting them anymore.