Canadian Retail Thread

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Which is dumb in and of itself because if there is one good thing about Canadian Tire, it's that they have almost everything.

People I know originally from other countries sometimes rave about Canadian Tire for this fact alone.

Their in-store service often sucks but their "buyers" division is top-notch for scouting out pretty much any imaginable product one might need.

Everyone goes to CT, but does anyone actually like CT?

Customer service is appalling in most hardware/reno-type stores (Lowe's is marginally better than Home Depot, which is marginally better than RONA, which is marginally better than CT). 400K SKUs, but seemingly zero service.

Did anyone like this guy?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Everyone goes to CT, but does anyone actually like CT?

Did anyone like this guy?

The guy in French was even worse (especially his voice) but I can't find videos of him for your viewing pleasure.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

White Spot burgers are pretty good. I enjoyed them during my BC days. I noticed that BC was completely bereft of Harvey's. Every year, there seems to be fewer and fewer Harvey's locations.

In my opinion, Harvey’s has gone sharply downhill in the past 4-5 years. The last two times I went there - two different locations in different provinces - it was one of the worst burgers I’d ever had. In one location it was dried out and overcooked, at the other it was cold.

They seem to have chosen to pull out of BC instead of try to compete with A&W and Triple O’s, which are both far superior to Harvey’s these days.

I don’t think I’ll ever go to a Harvey’s again, even if I’m visiting Ontario.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Their in-store service often sucks but their "buyers" division is top-notch for scouting out pretty much any imaginable product one might need.

The website is pretty accurate for item inventory and locations too. Combined with self checkout you don't need to interact with any of the organ banks that work there.

[Airboy]

Maybe its just me but when I go to CT, Lowes, HD I usually know what I am looking for. Its rare that I ask someone. its just getting something out of the locked cages that sometimes takes forever.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by megadude

Yeah, it's a kind of sad when one of those places closes down and then residents in the area will have a hard time to get some items they need, like immediately today. Something we take for granted. You hope something can fill the void for some items.

Those tiny hardware stores you see in Manhattan in shows or movies I've only experienced once. When I visited my cousin on the Upper West Side and stayed for 12 days. She was next door to one of those shops and I got a key cut. Was narrow, a little dark and a little grungy. Not a pleasant shopping experience, but it had many of the essentials. Those small CTs look a lot more inviting.

I have to admit, I like stepping foot in any modern CT or HD. 99.99% of the stuff I don't need but it all looks so cool and is presented well. I could easily browse around aimlessly for 15 minutes. A place like HH or Rona will keep you focused because they are smaller and to the point.

Home Hardware seems to be the closest thing in some parts of Canada, but even then their stores are not always in convenient locations. I have a Home Hardware not too far from me in Burnaby, but it’s just as fast to drive to Canadian Tire on Marine Way.

The west side of London has had absolutely no hardware store since about 1995, not counting the big box stores that are almost impossible to get to via public transit. Byron used to have a Home Hardware when I was really young, in the same location the LCBO is in now. It later became a True Value, then it closed a couple years later. Westmount Mall had a Pro Hardware right behind A&P back then, but it closed in the mid-90s. I don’t ever remember Oakridge Mall having a hardware store, though Woolco sold some of that stuff.

The closest hardware store to Byron now is the new Home Hardware in Komoka. Which you cannot get to via public transit.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

the new Canadian Tire commercials are touting it as Canada's Kitchen Store. I find the stores far too crowded, aisles cluttered with stacks of dollar store looking products, they sell sheets? towels? Anything that is As Seen On TV. overall its the last place I go to look for something. Plus their stuff seems to go on sale every other week, why not just offer lower prices year-round than 70% off a frying pan every other week

I bought a kitchen knife at CT a few months ago. It broke within days.

They do sell higher quality knives, but you gotta pay up.

[MolsonExport]

Canadian Tire does seem to have merged with Dollarama, given the excessive amount of cheapo junk they peddle, alongside the better quality stuff.

CT is the true category killer. It isn't a hardware store. It isn't an automotive store. It isn't a general merchandise store. It isn't a housewares store. It isn't a gardening centre. It isn't a sporting goods store. It isn't a dollar store. It is a mishmash of all of the above.

[niwell]

I do almost all my hardware shopping at Home Hardware - there are two within walking distance of me that are both well stocked and have knowledgeable staff. Both are urban format on traditional main streets.

We bought our patio set from CT because they are strangely cheap for that kind of stuff. But for larger scale hardware needs (wood, etc.) I'll generally go to Home Depot or Rona.

[MolsonExport]

Is Stedman's V&S still operating?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Canadian Tire does seem to have merged with Dollarama, given the excessive amount of cheapo junk they peddle, alongside the better quality stuff.

CT is the true category killer. It isn't a hardware store. It isn't an automotive store. It isn't a general merchandise store. It isn't a housewares store. It isn't a gardening centre. It isn't a sporting goods store. It isn't a dollar store. It is a mishmash of all of the above.

Wait 'til they start selling food!

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Wait 'til they start selling food!

they do!

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

they do!

Back in 2012 they were testing selling frozen food. You could buy frozen pizza at CT.

[p_xavier]

In a nutshell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GoxSm9iYxI

[casper]

Originally Posted by p_xavier

In a nutshell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GoxSm9iYxI

One more Canadian Tire video. I remember seeing these one two-three years ago when they released their new concept. Very tech focused. This is all good, but when the people don't understand the product your screwed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhKf0TDq5bM

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I bought a kitchen knife at CT a few months ago. It broke within days.

They do sell higher quality knives, but you gotta pay up.

You always pay up for “quality knives”.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Back in 2012 they were testing selling frozen food. You could buy frozen pizza at CT.

That's really funny

The weirdest thing I ever bought from CT was about 20-22 years ago I bought a pair of Army Green cargo pants that you could zip off into shorts. I think they were marked down to $19.99
The sewed tag was Russian. I swear to god this was a "lot" of Russian Army surplus

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I bought a kitchen knife at CT a few months ago. It broke within days.

They do sell higher quality knives, but you gotta pay up.

You can get Henckels at CT!

Don't get anything less than Cuisinart

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Did anyone like this guy?

No!

[SpongeG]

how many brands does CT own? they bought Helly Hanson, Paderno, Woods, and Noma, what else do they own?

[Hawrylyshyn]

Can't lie, CT has some of the best sales I've seen. It's lower quality stuff no doubt, but you can get it INCREDIBLY cheap when the sale is right (especially tools).