Comments on: Canadian Tire Automotive: Cheaters

By: raymond

raymond — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:37:25 +0000

sounds like most of you people have no idea how a canadian tire garage or any garage works the reason canadian tire shops have so many complaints is because they have so many shops not to mention most of the customers they get are broke or to cheap to maintain there car so when it does go in for service it needs a pile of work and they want everything done cheap as possible i have worked for canadian tire shop before i have had people come in buy the cheapest parts they can find and get us to instal them then get mad when the parts fail. most of todays customers are idiots powered by google who think they know everything and cant be told different

By: TYTU

TYTU — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:05:27 +0000

I was just at Canadian tire today to get some new windshield wipers for my Honda Fit 2009 and it was my first time changing those wipers so I asked for advice because I couldn’t get the old ones out and most of them told me there is supposed to be a little button BEHIND the wipers that you need to PUSH in so the blades can push out! I went to check just to make sure but i know for sure there werent any “button” that they were talking about so I took pictures of my old blade and went back to show them but they insist there is a button. I totally walked out ignored what they said and figure it out on my own and lucky me I finally got it open. There was no such pin but instead all i had to do was PULL the front notch and it popped right out. I spend 30 mins out in the snow storm finding that notch that they were talking about for no reason!

By: Brian McNairn

Brian McNairn — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:44:45 +0000

Hi,
Bad Service at Canadian Tire? Hmmm. I took my 2009 Ford Ranger to CT. for an oil change, not to difficult, remove oil plug, drain oil, remove the old oil filter, replace oil plug, fill new filter with Quakerstate Synthetic Oil, install new filled oil filter, fill with the purchased oil to proper level, not difficult agreed? The Cornwall On. CT managed to screw it up! Picked up my truck, was driving to work in Ottawa, oil light comes on! Immediately pull over, stopped engine, and checked under the hood, mmm everything OK there. Checked underneath vehicle, oil covering everything, grabbed my CT tool kit and managed to worm my way under the the truck. What do I find? The oil plug so badly cross threaded that less than half a turn removed it! I managed to, actually it was quite easy, to reinstall the plug and put enough oil in it to get me to Ottawa with oil light off, luckily I always keep a couple of litres in the truck and had some left over from the oil change. Went to the Clyde St. CT, for them to top up the oil level and to replace my 2L of Quaker State Synthetic. Ended up arguing with the manager, no joy there! So I started stopping people before they dropped off their vehicles, finally, the manager came out and agreed to a new oil change, extra 2L of my oil, and pressure washed the underside of my truck.
Moral of story? Stay away from CT if you want repairs done correctly and don’t have the time to argue and create a nasty scene.

By: Fran

Fran — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:32:41 +0000

We agree … we had many bad experiences with Canadian tire in Winnipeg, dishonest and always overcharge clients.

By: Fernando Brounson

Fernando Brounson — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:03:25 +0000

I relished the post. It was a wonderful read. Filled with a ton of well written info I will be back. Hopefully to see more great info added. thanks allot. Build Your Pectorals

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:35:18 +0000

@ Ami I noticed your arguement but although you may seem smart your missing the discussion. It’s about the service of CT being below regular standards and not the kids working there. Everyone who is blaming the kids needs to look at the real issue. Alot of people are finding bad service from many CTs all over Canada and why? Even if the kids did something wrong, its about CT never taking responsibility when it happens. So CT is to blame, they choose a system that doesn’t properly guide the regular mechanics to the apprentices. Honestly I would never go to CT with this many compaints, I mean is it even worth testing whether they are good or bad? Is it worth the few extra bucks saved if they give you a coupon? Its not about complaining to better business bureau, these systematics are not perfect, the better business bureau would have to do an investigation, then they would have to find proof of negligence in the CT system and not just individual stores. Proof that the System as a whole is fishy. Investigating complaints isn’t enough, its just enough to investigate the issue but how do you think they would prove that CT is negligent towards mechanic issues? Very hard and thats why CT still survives, they know when they happen to get investigated they will take certain actions to make sure they do not fail like anyone else when they feel threatened.

By: susan

susan — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:03:13 +0000

Please dont go to Canadian Tire. They told me i needed a new driver’s side tie rod when i got some tires. I said no thanks because i usually have the car serviced at the dealer. Next time i was at the dealer they told me nothing was wrong with the tie rod. Now, my son has a car and he took it to Canadian tire for a safety inspection (long story short he would not have taken it there if he had option but circumstances of transferring car and his work). The car is in great condition; just required the safety to be plated. The same canadian tire told him he needed a new driver’s side tie rod! I am so upset because i know this is a lie! 300! I feel sick. We just took the car from TN to Ottawa Canada and there was no noises and the person who gave us the car just had it checked out.
I have proof about the tie rod recommendation on an invoise and my dealer saying these are ok on an invoice. I have other bad experiences at Canadian Tire
Someone blogged that we should not penalize all canadian tires for the acts of some. What Crap. This is a business and the culture of a business and management at the top should know what their subsidiaries are up to.
Someone else told me Canadian Tire works on commission so their employees tell clients they need more work done than they actually do. Them maybe use a different bonus mechanism!!!
I will never go to a Canadian Tire again.

By: CT neighbour

CT neighbour — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:44:37 +0000

I have stopped doing ANY auto business with Canadian Tire because I can’t figure out where the line is between any experienced mechanics doing the work and the clueless kids. Both Canadian Tire stores in Thunder Bay ON, have messed up oil changes on my vehicles. On one occasion I returned to the desk BEFORE I even moved my car because there was a rag visibly tangled up in the tie rods. I opened the hood and reached down to remove it, and found my air filter housing wasn’t re-attached and the PCV hose wasn’t either.
Service manager’s reaction? “What do you want ME to do about it?”
No wonder there’s a website called http://www.canadiantiresucks.net

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:53:17 +0000

I’m tired so I’m barely scratching the surface here, but the most recent of my experience with CT absurdity..

Rear passenger tire goes flat and I’m using the donut. Off to CT thinking they should at least be able to get tires right. $75 each new tire and $16/tire to install and balance. Sounds reasonable, but was still outside my budget at the time. Call around to the scrap yards and end up with 2 pretty good used tires for $30 each. CT charged the same amount to install and balance whether you bought the tires there or not. $100 later I’ve got 2 used tires installed and a free inspection pointing out my brake light was out. Estimated cost for them to repair: $23.39+tax. Take the estimate to the shelf and cost of bulb: $4.99 for a pack of 2. The bulb case is attached to the inside of the trunk by 2 screws. The bulb itself pops in and out. Installed in my driveway in under 5 minutes (including time to go inside and get the screwdriver lol).

Skip ahead a couple months to today and I go to the same scrap yard for front tires. Again, off to CT for them to be installed. Walked to McDonalds to get dinner for while I wait in the service waiting area. Halfway through my burger one of them comes in saying they can’t get the car to start. I go out and check, turns out he couldn’t figure out how to get past the steering wheel being locked (needs to be turned to the right a bit while turning the key). I ended up driving it into the bay and onto the lift myself (and backing it out after too).

Next they claimed my coolant was dirty and I needed the radiator flushed. $111.51+tax. I haven’t checked for comparisons yet to know if that’s reasonable, but I it doesn’t matter since there’s no way they’re doing the flush. Listed on the estimate: 2 bottles motomaster concentrated antifreeze. I drive a Saturn SC1, the car takes 1 bottle Dexcool and 1 bottle of distilled water. Full concentrated antifreeze would be an insulator and make the car overheat. Not to mention the 2 types of antifreeze don’t mix well if there were any bits of old fluid leftover.

Just to top it all off, they inflated all 4 tires to 35 psi. The specs are printed right on the side of the door 32 for the front and 28 for the back. Really?! They couldn’t even inflate tires correctly? It’s a scary thought that people would trust them to get something as important as brakes done right.

By: HV

HV — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:55:43 +0000

I agree with original writer and most of you who have had bad experience with Canadian Tire. My power steering oil leaked and being CT the nearest repair shop i took my car to them. They took took the car in immediately and came back to me after 1.5 hrs with an estimate which as $484, i asked what all they think needs repair or replacement, OMG belt, engine wash, diagnosis, pressure switch and power steering flush. I said i just need switch and power steering flush. After lot of selling they agreed to what i want them to do. They said car will be ready in 3 hours, no call from them till 5 hrs, i called and i was told the part that came is wrong so they have reorder the part, now it will come next day, next day again same story, now its 5th day my car is at there workshop and its not in even condition to bring it back as they have removed oil and switch. I am stuck, BEWARE of this store……. and save yourself from hassle.

By: Robe de mariee

Robe de mariee — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:35:42 +0000

What an amazing review it is! Can I get some more of you thoughts on the topic?

By: scott ireland

scott ireland — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:16:18 +0000

After 20 years I returned to CT for oil changes thinking the mechanics might have improved over the years. This year (2012) they did a bad job again. After the oil/filter change, I drove home. Next morning I noticed an oil spot on the the driveway and the oil dipstick indicated the level was well above the maximum mark. I went back to the Montreal CT store and they corrected only one problem. In the past I used different garages including Toyota dealers, my conclusion is that 50% of the mechanics are unable to perform correctly an oil change.

By: Denis

Denis — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:17:04 +0000

Another sad story, brought my 2006 Aveo in for an alignment in St-Jerome,Qc. The alignment was 79$ but there was extra fee of 10$ for using torches for unscrewing bolt, WOW that’s alot of torching… anyway, came back 2 hours later, they hadn’t done anything (not totally true). First they told me, before the alignment, I had to replace table bushings, ball-joints and complete rear axle and yadayada… for a total of over 1200$. Told them to forget it, and left paying 25$ for them to look at the car… (contained myself!!) , I left with the car and the alignment was way way off, tires were screeching while going straight. So I drove 60km like this to a trusted mechanic who had the alignment kit, he inspected the car and did the alignment. The car came out driving straight without any problems. I specifically asked him about the axles and bushings and he told me they were in perfect and safe condition. END of story…
And here I thought there was no way CT could screw up an alignment.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:15:56 +0000

CT is a huge ripoff. They wanted over $600 + tax to install an alternator in my car. I went home and found a garage that would install a new alternator for $160 within ten minutes!! Three hours of labour to install an alternator? give me a break. These guys are a huge ripoff and I will NEVER go back again. Even if my car broke down in a Canadian Tire parking lot I would get it towed somewhere else.

By: Kevin R

Kevin R — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:06:37 +0000

Me again with my 2007 Fusion. I just went to collect my car (with the ‘flat spot’ rubbing noise) and asked why, if this supposed flat spot was the problem, had it not been picked up on my previous three visits. The reply from the service manager (not Jonathon-he’s pretty decent)? “That’s because it only really became prominent once the brakes were fixed.” I then asked what would cause such a flat spot. Reply “Probably a defect in the tire.” He then tried to support this by saying “You can tell that because the noise is there at 60 but disappears at 80″. He had no reply when I said that his answer was interesting as, at 100, it sounds like I’m being followed by a helicopter and that my original complaint was the rubbing noise that got progressively worse up to highest speed. DO NOT take your car to CT. They either don’t know what they’re doing or they just guess at what will fix your car. Btw, that’s the Waterdown branch.