Hmm, thanks for your thoughts guys... Bob Jane seems to have a pretty poor rep from everything I've now heard. I know they have to punch the numbers through but still I'm pissed off about the manger's attitude and basically being told I'm lying and should be thankful they will cover half the cost of a touch up.
To be fair, it's not like the absolute crap has been gouged out of the wheels all over, but they were perfect before and now they each have 1 - 2cm long gouges that have gone through the paint and clear coat. One wheel also has the inside rim deeply gouged up for 20cm, like the head of the bead roller dragged along it badly. You run your finger along it and the metal is all ripped up.
I know there's worse things but I'm pissed because clearly the previous tyres were put on without a mark being put on the rims, and then this bad attitude.
Anyway, I emailed their head office, we'll see what they say (if anything).
The inside of the rim would have been gouged because of the way they put the rim on the machine.....The jaws of the machine should be open, so the rim is grabbed by the outer lip.....There is also a plastic cover, which goes over the jaws of the machine, which is there to prevent the jaws scratching rims. I suspect, they left the jaws closed when the rim was placed on the machine and opened them onto the inside of the wheel, without the plastic cover, which caused the gouging you described.
The section that is used to remove the tyre from the rim, also has a plastic cover that should be used to protect the lip of the rim....If this plastic piece isn't used, or is worn, this will cause scratching to the lip of the rim. From what you describe, either scenario would be applicable as to the cause of your rim damage.
The Bob Jane franchise is a little weird.....Some of the stores are owned by the company, whilst others are independantly owned, paying a fee to use the name. So it is quite possible head office won't reply