Brampton East Canadian Tire

Location: Ontario, Brampton
Industry: Retail
Annoyed By: the staff


Went there to purchase a huge window AC, gf and I stood by ACs for 25 minutes before anybody would help us, even the idiot store manager looked at us several times wondering why we were just standing there. The regular floor staff passed by us numerous times, the same staff over and over. Then they wonder why people flock to American chains. They even helped other people close by that showed up after us. We are normal looking people, showered, not missing any teeth, lol, maybe that's the problem, we are the wrong colour to live in Brampton, that's why I am moving away from this pathetic city.

The store owner offered to come to my work, make a STINK and swear in front of my employees!

Location: Ontario, Markham
Industry: Retail
Annoyed By: Canadian Tire Owner - Cameron md mv

Updates on Dec 11, 2008: Please find the voice message from Cameron below:

I was at the Canadian Tire at 7650 Markham Road in Markham Ontario. I went to the self-checkout to pay for 3 sets of 2-way radios (a work purchase). The customer service rep took my receipt and wanted me to pull out my wallet and show her my credit card. I asked why and was told that she had to confirm the last 4 digits of my credit card with the number on the receipt (keep in mind my self-check terminal was the second-closest terminal to her terminal). I told her I wouldn't give her my card unless she showed me the POLICY that documented such actions or if she showed me her credit card. She explained she had to do it for all purchases over $200. I asked to speak to a manager who could provide me with a copy of the policy. An assistant manager was not able to provide me with a copy of the policy. Again, I said either I leave or someone shows me the policy or their credit card. Side note: I once had my debit card compromised and I vowed to take every step to avoid such an upleasant and violating experience to ever occur again. A manager came and was very confrontational. We were both creating a "scene" and I absolutely refused to provide my credit card without seeing a copy of the policy.

The manager explained that any order over $100 was subject to this policy. I asked again to be presented with the policy since there was now confusion on the dollar amount - is it $100 or $200??
The manager then told me that the policy was from the corporate office - A LIE !I retrieved my receipt with the corporate number and left.

The next day I called corporate office to document the situation and ask for their policy regarding credit cards and self-checkouts. I was told that it was up to the individual franchise operated stores to decide policies like that. They said they would contact the store in question. Later that day I received a voicemail from the owner (Cameron) who at first was polite to say that the policy comes from my credit card company (that makes 3 different possible entities responsible for a policy which no one can reproduce for my review!). I then received another voicemail from Cameron saying that he didn't appreciate the "scene" that I caused in his store and that my behaviour in his store was unacceptable - that I had been, "demanding this - and demanding that...". He suggested that perhaps he "should come over to my place of business and make a stink and swear in front of my employees" but to his credit, he did tell me to have a nice day. At no point did he say he did his homework and review video footage of the event in question. There is obviously my version of the events which will contrast with the version of the staff - but someone is always watching you and I have nothing to hide.

When you shop at Canadian Tire be prepared to be treated as a petty thief, the lowest common denominator. And whatever you do, don't ask them to back up their in-store policies. Who knows what you might be threatened with.....is it to cliche at a time like this to say, CAVEAT EMPTOR ? And remember folks, in the words of Cameron: "behave yourself!"

Whether you agree with me or not, Email me at:
cosmicmigration-bewarecanadiantire@yahoo.ca
If there is somewhere that I can post the audio clip of Cameron's message, please let me know!

Last question: in this time of economic uncertainty, how are retailers so confident that they feel they can speak to customers so abusively?

Crappy Tire service

Location: Ontario, Ottawa
Industry: Automotive

My ten-year-old Honda was working well, save for having developed an unfortunate tendency to stall out.

I took it to the Canadian Tire outlet on Kent St in Ottawa and had it looked at. I wanted to discuss the problem with the mechanics, but was told by the guy at the front desk that he'd take the details and pass them on. Mere customers weren't supposed to go deal with the repair staff, for insurance reasons I was told.

Came by a couple of days later to pick up the car and it worked well ... until it stalled a few days later.

Unhappy, I brought it back and they apologized but it was an intermittent problem and being a tech myself, I know how difficult it can be to sort those out. The next day they tell me now they have it right.

Except they didn't as it stalled out again.

Determined to see them get it right, I brought it back and complained quite vehemently, this time getting to speak to one of the mechanics.

A couple of days later I was informed it had stalled while hooked up to the diagnostics gear and so they knew EXACTLY what the cause was.

Great. Came by, paid the final bill, and drove off ... until the car stalled a block away.

I had them tow it back (they wanted to charge for this and I got them to get me the district manager on the phone and explained the situation to him and made sure he understood what he could do with that idea) and then had the district manager cancel the previous bill and fix the real problem at no further charge.

The car worked fine after that, but I never set foot in a Canadian Tire since, either that one (which closed its doors a couple of years later) or any other.

Canadian Tire Auto Ripoff

Location: Ontario, Scarborough
Industry: Automotive
Annoyed By: Canadian Tire
mv

A while back, my car broke down in the drive through at Tims...it was a 96 Cavalier.
I didn't know of any mechanics in the area, thus got it towed ro Candian Tire at St.Clair/Kingston Rd.

They charged me over $100 to do a diognostic and called me a few hourse later to tell me my engine had completely blown and I needed a new one, which would cost about $5000. I could get a refirbished one for about $3000. I was dumbfounded...but there was more. The rep said " Even though your car is toast, the Mechanic really liked it and would like to offer you a couple of grand for it, are you interested?"
WHAT!!!!!
Are you kidding me?

I refused. Got my car towed to a private mechanic who found the timing chain had broke and damaged some cylinders.
It cost me $2000 all in and it was back to normal within a few days.
Stay away from the scammers at Canadian Tire!!!

Bad Car service

Location: Ontario, Toronto
Industry: Automotive mv

I got a bad car service in Canadian Tire store located CenterPoint Mail, April 26 2008. I take oil changing service in this store for my Subaru Forest 1999. First, the advisor rejected my request for oid type, he told me using 5W30 olny, if 10W30 needed, I have to pay extra fee. Second, the technician has very bad skill. After his engine oil changing, 40 percent parts in the hood got oil. The engine got very dirty condition. The cap of a oil bottle lost in the engine as well. It took me a couple hours to clear my car.

Canadian Tire

Location: Ontario, Sudbury
Industry: Retail
Company: Canadian Tire

I had brought my car in to have my roaders and barrings looked and and possibly fixed, i had left for an hour then when i came back the mechanic told me it would cost me 950 to repair my car, i was shocked and i didnt understand, he told me i needed 4 new tire and a new rim on the left front side. I then asked him if he had looked at my roaders or barrings and he said no, he then said he could not look at other parts of my vehicule because he had already seen damaged parts that needed to be fixed i then asked to speak with the manager, the maneger was extrmely rude and told me i was a danger to everyone on the road and needed new tires, i did not dissagree with the man i just wanted my barrings and roaders looked at first, i was very dissatisfied with the service, i was then charged the 30 dollars for the mechanic looking at my car, even though i did not even get a brake expection or my raoders and barrings looked at.