Having grown up calling Canadian Tire, "Crappy Tire", due to poor quality of products I vowed never to purchase from them again. However, after a new flagship store opened up in Richmond Hill, I thought that I would give it another try. Over the past 3 years, every product that I purchased from that store was damaged upon opening the packaging, or broke within 30 days of use. My latest purchase, that of an electric fireplace was no exception. Just over 60 days of use, the product failed to operate. It was a gift, so that made it even more embarrassing! After contacting the manufacture, as per instructions included with the product, a replacement part was shipped ; however, did not match. Further inquires concluded that the fireplace was built in 2007 and parts were no longer made for it. So, my story is this: I purchased an electronic fireplace in 2010 (just 3 months ago), which was clearly an end-of-the-line that Crappy Tire had no problems selling in their store. They probably made a huge profit on this clear-out item, which they sold for full retail; and accepted the fact that support was no longer available.

December, 2010 (not at Christmas time)Just purchased outdoor spot lighting and with help of sales person got the wrong one (not weather proof, it was indoor). Realized as soon as purchased. Had to go to customer service with receipt, then go get correct one, back to customer service. Rude service at customer service when I asked why Ihad to provide address, name, phone number to exchange (not refund) with a receipt. "You should have looked at the back of receipt". Then pointed to a hand printed small notice saying cashiers would not take abuse from customers (asking why is abuse?). I felt that what should have been posted was their return policy. I was treated with aggressive rudeness. I felt staff was using their don't abuse the staff information as a BAT against their customer. If they have fraud problems they should look at the staff. A customer with a receipt for an object just purchased a few moments before and only wanting an exchange should not be treated like a criminal. I of course will not shop Canadian Tire and will tell everyone I know or will ever meet why.

Store mislead by specifing a product that was on sale, when I went to purchase they told me that wasn'nt the product on sale. I stated to show me the product to which the assistant manager showed me a completley different product. When asked if she was the manager she stated yes. After approx 10 minutes of talking about the 7 tags that represented the product I originally had she stated she would contact the store manager. I stated you told me you were the store manager. This is another misrepresentation of Canadian tires part with assistant mangers that lie. She then contacted the little trogladite who was the store manager. When I brought up the issue of the product on sale in question being a reasonable customer who read the sale tag he stated that it was a misprint and it was not the actual product on sale. I laughed and stated he should take the 7 tags down and print them properly. Well he must have little man syndrome because he stated we will not! I stated you are then misrepresenting us as customers to a product that is not even on sale, furthermore I stated if I was to go and get any customer in the store they would also pick the item described in on the sale tag. The "manager Gord" stated that I was the 4th customer today to which I scarached my head and said well doesn't that show you. I asked him to let me purchase the item at cost of sale price to which he said I can't and won't while the "assistant female manager began to laugh. I am so dissapointed as a loyal canadian tire shopper that this will discourage me from shopping there in the future. Customer service from the manager and lying assitant manager has gone downhill and I can only imagine the poor staff and angst they must feel working for two idots like these! I would have been fine if they noted the misprint and took it down to fix but not being the first customer to notice this and the mangers having attiude?? Good luck to this stores future treating people like this when walmarts around the block!

In mid November I decided to purchase winter rims and tires for my wife's Pontiac Vibe. I looked around at some of the "exclusive tire" retailers and was disappointed with the price. I looked at CT to see what they had but was apprehensive as my previous tire buying experience with them (approx 15 yrs ago) was not a good one. I figured it was time to give them another chance. I looked at some of the tires they had on sale started to do some research finding that one was actually quite highly rated by several independant review organizations. I went to CT and inquired about purchase of 4 rims and these tires mounted and balanced stating I would pick them up and install myself when the snow comes. The clerk said that there were plenty of rims in stock, but the tires would take 2 weeks to arrive and this was acceptable to me. 13 days later I arrived back at CT to check on the status of my order. The same clerk stated that the tires were now on back order and would be another 4 weeks. He said I could contact the parts manager to learn more. Later that same day I spoke with the manager who seemed very helpful, concerned and apologetic stating that this mistake should have been caught much earlier. As the time frame for delivery was no longer acceptable to me the manager offered a more expensive winter tire for the same sale price as the previous ones and that they had plenty in stock. Unfortunately at this point they had no more rims in stock but said a new shipment would arrive in one week. After the week passed we were told the rims would be another few days and sure enough we were called after that time and told that the tires were mounted on rims and ready for pick up. My wife and I went to CT to pick up the tires/rims and were met by the parts manager. The manager told us that the tires were indeed in the store and mounted, but that he could not sell them to us. The reason he gave was that the speed rating on the tire (180km/hr) was too low for our Pontiac Vibe. He and another clerk then both "tried" to explain very unclearly that a higher speed rated tire was necessary. I asked if there was a written policy showing this requirement and they could not answer. At this point I had decided that it was futile to attempt to reason with these guys and my old bad feelings with purchasing tires from this outfit were nagging at me so we decided to leave.

I suppose if this CT was located anywhere near the Autobahn or on a continent that has 180 km/hr or higher speed limits I could maybe understand. I have since seen the exact tires I wanted to purchase on Pontiac Vibes and Toyota Matrix and they are only sold by CT.

I purchased a Noma indoor heavy duty timer from my local Canadian Tire. I wasn't perfectly sure I was getting the right one as there was a variety of selection. I wasn't worried about it though as they have a very large sign up beside their customer service department that states that they have a wonderful return policy which is limited to a month as I recall. When I got home, I was informed that it was meant for a 2-pronged cord, and a 3-pronged one was required. I was back to the store in about 4 days to return it and get another one. They said, "Sorry we can't take it back, it's one of our items we're discontinuing". I then remembered it was on sale when I bought it, but nothing was ever stated that it would matter either! They wouldn't let me use it as a credit against an exchange or even give me a "deal" on a different one. I talked to the manager who agreed that there wasn't any way they were supposed to give me my money back on a discontinued item. Since there was no indication whatsoever on the item or pricing information or signage to that respect, I'd call that blatant false advertising and a scam!! apparently every item you buy, you'd have to ask if it was covered by the return policy/was a discontinued item. Beware.