In Sep. 2009 I was visiting Perth, Ontario and my battery conked out. I got in touch with CAA and they sent a guy over to start it. He checked and told me that the battery was almost dead. The nearest place to go to for a new battery, he said, was Canadian Tire, a couple of kilometers away. I drove there and asked for a good brand; they told me they only sold their own Motomasters. I had no choice at that point, other than driving a long way to another town, like Ottawa, and run the risk of the car stalling on the way. So, I agreed, and they installed the battery, which had a sticker saying " 2 Year free replacement".

Come Nov. 2010 and I'm having starting problems again. I look for the reciept from Perth but can't find it. I call them and they confirm that I did get a new battery in Sep. 2009, but added that I got it for free. It was my lucky day blah blah blah. I said how is that possible, why would you give me a new battery and let me drive away?

So, I go to my Bank ( RBC ) and they dig out the records for Sep. 2009 and there it was, the $ 139 plus which had been paid to Canadian Tire. I called back and faxed the proof of payment and only then did they confirm that I had paid.
When my battery finally gave way in Nov. 2010 ( barely 15 months later ) I called CAA again, and they sent someone over within 5 minutes. He checked the battery and said it was almost dead. I got Canadian Tire at Perth to fax proof of purchase to the Canadian Tire at Yonge and Church. I go along and they charge me $ 74.33, just over 50% of what the new battery had cost me.

I thought "FREE" meant "FREE". Not so with Canadian Tire. The fine print said that parts were free, not labor. So how did it work out to $ 74. About 20 bucks was the labor charge, taking the old battery out and putting a new one in. The other $ 50 was for checking the old battery, to confirm that it was bad. Not only did they not trust the customer, they also didn't trust CAA ( a Canadian, not a foreign organisation ).

Why on earth would I go in for a battery change, if it was working fine.

The second point, the replacement battery that they've installed only has a warranty for 9 months, since the first one lasted 15 months. So, I guess if this one conks out in 6 months, they will charge me another $ 74 and give me a new one, with a 3 month warranty.

What kind of people are these guys? I feel like using a lot of expletives, but I shall refrain.

The other experience I've had with them, is taking the car in for an oil change, and while I am waiting in the waiting room, some guy comes up to me and says the oil cap is missing. I tell him that is impossible. How could I have been driving the car around for thousands of kilometers without the oil cap. He tells me to buy a new cap. I said I'm doing nothing of the sort. So, after some back and forth, he goes back in. My car emerges after 15 minutes, ready to go. I ask what happened and the answer: Well, there's this new guy, he had misplaced the cap and he found it.

Not one ounce of decency, to say we are sorry.

I thought it was a good idea to buy Canadian and promote Canadian businesses, but Canadian Tire's policy I think, is to destroy any customer base.

For now I think I will not add another horrifying story about them, told to me by a friend.

What recourse do I have? Any advice would be welcome.

On 08 of August, 2010 I arranged to premium detailing package code no.: LH765N When I payed$199.99+TAX$26=$225.99, I was disappointed that they told me that all the mats are socking wet in my trunk of the car. I was told, that I have to dry mats and install them myself. I am living in condominium and I had to carry all the mats up and put them in my bathroom and wait two days to dry them out. After two days when I lifted from the bathtub there was 1.5lb dust and dirt under. I have to vacuum clean all the mats before I was able to install them back in the car. This is not enough, they busted spring away from seat on the driver side. I am only driver of this car. The seat was never moved. They estimated the damage that they cause: is reverse cable bracket broken (0.5hour), seat removal required to inspect further (2.0hours).
Six years ago I took the car to change the oil, they didn't install copper gasket on the cup. It cost me $60 dollars to clean the oil spill in the condominium's garage. When I went to complain they told me that something else was wrong. But surprise, surprise, before they touched my car there was no licking on my car for for years.
Please people if you care about your car, avoid using any service - doesn't matter how small - with this company.
As you see, you can clean your car yourself like I did and you can save aggravation and save $225.99.
Remember what Canadian Tire advertising is misleading.

My husband tried to return our tent 30 days after buying it because it had gone on sale for half price and they refused to match the price. The receipt said there was a 90 day return policy but the manager claimed that tents were not included. Nowhere on the receipt does it say they are not included. I don't even want the tent anymore because I think that this whole situation is ridiculous and despite the fact that it has never been used I can't even get my money back!

I am purchase a LED light from canadian tire On July 10, 2010. when I back to home and find this one is not right one I need.
So I return on July 11, 2010. the store is on yonge and Steel. since I pay by credit card, so I did not get canadian tire money, but when I return, the customer old lady say I take it. But I tell her that I did not because i paid credit card, so we argue a lot. finally the store manage give me money back. when I ask other cashiers, that, If I pay by credit card, I do not get canadian tire store money.

The old lady is around 150cm tall, 50s age, each ear has 3 rings.

From this I think the canadian tire store using canadian tire money fool lots of people who are not carefully. The money is not much, but lots of people, that is huge money. So if N years later, canadian tire store is close, that lady and the way canadian tire working now are contribute it.

Canadian tire sucks. Let's Boycott canadian store!

Ah; yet another grievance to add to the already overflowing cornucopia of Canadian Tire return policy complaints. I recently invested in a hybrid mountain bicycle from the establishment of Canadian Tire two months ago and two days ago the unit basically stopped functioning altogether. This wouldn't have been a problem, had bike been fixable. What I had thought to be a malfunctioning bearing in the pedal, turned out to be much more. On top of that the back breaks, and a few of the gears were not working correctly.
Obviously, knowing how stern and ridiculous Canadian Tires policy on bicycles is I took it to the local bike shop to seek a bearing repair. This was an annoyance considering the age of the bike, the function of the bike as a mountain bike, and having to rely on the bus to get from place to place that day. Before the day had come to an end, I received a call from the bike shop saying the bike was not worth fixing due to the extensive defects. I was told that the forks in the front were not installed properly and it was only a matter of time until they break apart from the frame and I lose a couple of my pearly whites.
After acquiring this information from the mechanic I took the bike back to Canadian Tire looking for a full refund (I didn't want to another bike because clearly whoever is putting them together is not a professional, nor would I accept in-store credit because I wanted to put the money toward a bike from the locally owned and trusted bike shop in my neighborhood, nor did I want a repair because I do not trust their untrained bike mechanics).
The teenage female I dealt with was completely lost, consistently regurgitating the same unjustified phrase "I cannot return bikes after they are out of the store". Then the manager of returns interviened and stated that there is a sign on the wall that says "All bike sales are final". That statement is completely unjustifiable, not only does it contradict the policy on the back of the receipt, she is trying to legitimize the sale of a poor quality product.
Even with the receipt(Which states I have a 90 day period to return defective or faulty goods, the warranty(which states all parts are under the manufacturing warranty for one full year), and the input of two bike mechanics(including one of their own) who have both said its repairable but not worth the cost of the bike, they would not give me a refund.
My bike sits in the return section right now as they wait for the manager to make an executive decision on Monday about whether or not I should get my money back.
Basically, all future potential bike buyers heed this warning. Canadian Tire will sell you defective items, and then not have the respect to take it back, which leaves you feeling angry and used. Corporate con artists is what they are.
<BUY LOCAL OR PREPARE TO GET SCAMMED>