Ripped Off at Canadian Tire

By Robert Rohloff

My wife and I was having problems with a strange squeak beneath the hood of our 1996 Chrysler caravan.  We bought some belt dressing from Canadian Tire at
1655 Leckie Ave, Kelowna - (250) 860-5744. Once out in the parking lot, I sprayed the stuff on the belt and the belt came off.  We went back into the store and complained what the dressing did. They said they would bring in the Van and have a look. After about an hour they informed us that the Belt Tensioner was bad and needed to be replaced along with the belts needed cleaned of all the belt dressing. We gave them our go ahead to do the job. Cost us 216.00 dollars this was on September 16, 2010.

We don’t drive the car much but the squeak started again a few days later, and we put off taking it back hoping the squeak would go away. October 18, 2010 we decided to go back to Canadian Tire for the squeak was getting worse. They took in the car, inspected it and came out and said now it needed a new water pump that would cost over 800 dollars. I asked maybe that’s what it was in the first place instead of the Tensioner, They said that was impossible and the tensioner and water pump was two different things. I told them to give me back the van for I felt I had been not treated right and talked to as if I was a child.

Today, October 21, 2010, we took the van to a different mechanic. He said he could not help us about if the Tensioner needed replaced or not when we got it done for he never seen if the tensioner was wore out, but he checked over the Van and informed us that there was nothing wrong with the water pump. After cleaning the belts that Canadian Tire said they cleaned, the van ran real quiet, the squeak was gone. Cost us 30.00 dollars saved ourselves over 800 dollars. We are wondering if this is how Canadian Tire does business. We feel we were ripped off, and when we went back to complain, they tried to rip us off again.

21 Responses to “Ripped Off at Canadian Tire”


  1. 0

    David says...

    W5 (TV show) Ran a segment once on different shops in Canada, and how honest they were with there customers. They found very few were honest, some even when out of there way to do extra work and charge the customer for it. Really it comes down to you the buyer, Read, ask questions, and shop around. If you’re not sure get a second option.

    In this situation, I don’t think its Canadian Tire’s fault, but rather the Mechanic who looked over your car. They might of had a junior guy, probably born the same year as your car, take a look at it.

    To find a good mechanic,
    - talk to friends
    - Ask your neighbor
    - etc

    once found, create a relationship, it will go a long ways to save you $$ at a later date.

  2. 0

    David says...

    and in case you’re wondering about the show:

    - Fountain Tire identified the problem quick, and didn’t charge the customer as it was just a plug that had come loose
    - and the REAL looser were Canadian Tire and a few other big box stores

  3. 0

    Chris says...

    Your first mistake was going to Canadian tire… Sorry

  4. 0

    J says...

    Yah, this doesn’t surprise me, either. Unfortunately, Canadian Tire is known to do these things to their customers. They tried to do it to me once, too, several years ago. It’s horrible. I will never take a vehicle to Canadian Tire for servicing ever again and have made sure to let everyone know how horrible they can be!

  5. 0

    Freefinger says...

    Yeah, big companies will employ mechanics that just come out of school and have them change tires for a couple of minths then promote them to do mechanical work without actually training them before hand since they have their mechanic certificate. And they push them to get cars out the door, so very limited in time for a good checkup.

    They’ll pay them the minimum wage plus an extra 1 to 3$ an hour but at the end of the day the better ones will find work elsewhere.

    I know because a friend of mine worked for Can Tire’s Garage shop and he felt he actually was losing his skills rather than furthuring them.

    He quit, started his own shop and now has 3 mechanics working for him. He makes sure they are fully trained and that they take road tests, and double check what they think the problem is with him or another mechanic. This way he lessens the chances of seeing a costumer comeback pissed.

    Mind you, it happens, errors in that sector of work is normal has one problem can hide another but when you take your time, inspect twice and do a road test it helps to diminish the errors you will do.

    Like most people say, ask around, find yourself an actual mechanic instead of Wal-Mart, Sears, Canadian Tire and other big venues. Most of them don’t want bad reputations, they’ll be extra carefull especially if you’re a friend of another client. They live by the dollar you bring in, if you’re pissed your dollar ain’t coming back hence less money for them.

  6. 0

    E says...

    I’ve had to take my car to Canadian Tire several times and I have always left there paying more than I was originally quoted. They always talk down to you like you’re some kind of idiot (it’s meant to intimidate you so you won’t question when they rip you off) They keep you waiting forever, even when you can look in the shop and see there is only one car in there and all kinds of people just milling around drinking coffee. Like I said, I’ve been there several times and the experience is consistantly bad, so I won’t go to CT for auto repair ever again.

  7. 0

    Philana says...

    I once took mt car for a quick oil change at Canadian tire, or so I thought… They told me my battery died. Yep. After they finished my oil change they tried to start my car, and it just wouldn’t start. I wish I had known how to check a battery, or had someone else there with me. I had no choice but to pay the 100$ for a new battery. I always feel they take avantage of me, expecially because I’m a young woman. I won’t ever take my car back to Canadian Tire, not even for an oil change, not even if it was Free! Active Green and Ross is the way to go.

  8. 0

    mike says...

    I went to Canadian tire once for a oil change and they charged me almost 300 because they somehow broke a bolt and needed to drill it out and replace it. And t hey would not allow me to take my car until it was fixed. ALSO this is the same one that a friend of mine took his car and they forgot to take the funnel out and put the oil cap back in and another friend they didn’t tighten the oil plug which caused the engine to blow cause it lost all its oil

    Canadian tire Charlottetown

  9. 0

    thatgengirl says...

    Let me put it this way:

    If you’re in the mood for a good steak, don’t go to Boston Pizza, go to a steakhouse.

    If you need a mechanic, don’t go to a retail store, go to a mechanic.

  10. 0

    Dont trust CT says...

    I have heard many horror stories from friends, but the worst was from an old manager of mine. She had her car taken in to get winter tires on…went across the street to get a coffee and when she returned (after 20 minutes) the tires were done and the mechanics were looking under the hood. She asked why they had the hood open, when all she was getting was winter tires put on. They said it was ‘routin’ to check the car…she didnt buy it and went to her mechanically inclind brother who had found that the battery ternimals were loosened and they had removed her air filter.

    I hope ppl read these stories and STAY AWAY from CT mechanics.

  11. 0

    Lisa Hallman says...

    If, I ever get a car, you can be damn sure I won’t go to Canadian Tire. Even if there happens to be a good one. I will research, ask friends etc. On top of that I will educate myself as to the inner workings of said vehicle.

  12. 0

    Vlad says...

    To whom it may concern
    On December 12, 2010 at 1.40 pm my girlfriend and I went into Canadian Tire on 6670 Meadowvale Town Centre Circle, Mississauga, ON to install previously purchased winter tires. I have been quoted $199.99 ($50 per tire) to complete this work to which I objected questioning why it is this expensive. The response I have received was that this price was set for all Canadian Tire stores for low profile tires. My tire size is 205/55/16 and I said that my tires are not low profile. I was told that the Canadian Tire Corporation has recently changed its policy and now considers 55 to be a low profile tire as it is one of the most popular sizes and it allows Canadian Tire to make more money on it. I was a little surprised but the sales representative assured me that the Canadian Tire Corporation matches all the prices in every location and I would not be able to find a cheaper rate. I signed the quote and left my car.
    My car is a company car, so I called my boss to tell about the charges. The response I got was “That is insane!”. I called several other Canadian Tire stores asking for the quote. The prices were ranging from $16.99 to $24.99 for a tire. I quickly returned to the store and asked to stop, however, the summer tires were already off the wheels. I started arguing about the prices and wanted to get my car back but the shop manager told me he will not let my car out of the shop unless I pay $199 + taxes. One of the store representatives made calls to several Canadian Tire Stores in the area but didn’t get a quote over $24.99. After that the shop manager told me that every Canadian Tire store sets its own prices. The sales representative refused that he ever said about matching prices for all the stores even though my girlfriend and I both heard it. I had nothing to do but to pay in order to get my car back.
    I told the shop manager that I am going to call the corporate office and the branch manager but he replied that these calls will be unnecessary.
    I am seeking reimbursement in the amount of $113.03 in order to regain my trust and ever for me and my family to do business again with any Canadian Tire.
    I hope that the Canadian Tire Corporation closely review my case and reimburse the above mentioned amount.

  13. 0

    Vlad says...

    Say No to Canadian Tire

  14. 0

    Alex says...

    What are the alternatives?

  15. 0

    andre gravel says...

    CTC. in Aylmer quebec tried to get me on a clutch job they were suppose to have had the fly heel resurfaced , when i toke the vehicle out of the shop , it had cluch hoping ( hight spots on flywheel )meaning the flywheel had not been resufaced . i complained and asked to see the machine they had used to do the work , being very machanicaly aware , i laughte when he showed me a lathe used to turn drums , impossible to do a flywheel on . I had to contact head office in Toronto and complain to get reimbused for work charged for and not completed , manager would not cooprate with me at all ……………great service Candian Tire Aylmer Quebec

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  21. 0

    micky says...

    Hey GUYS! I am a X employee of Canadian Tire and will not tell my location but I can assure you that it is the mechanic that will make stories up to get you in or even run in the parking lot to take air out of the wheels. I have seen this plenty of times and that is the reason why I left the company.

    The answer is, they will do anything for a buck of commission. Better go somewhere smaller company or someone you know.

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