Canadian Tire

HowEver

I've never even considered Canadian Tire for service and installation for any vehicle-related purchase.

(Some things never change I guess. This thread began in October 2002! No one will fault you for starting a new thread after 4.5 years!)

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tekrave

Pelao

Seems to me that the fairness of the amount is hard to debate. You are not paying for the 30secs, you are paying for the knowledge and experience required to do the job etc etc.

What seems objectionable to me that they did not tell you beforehand. It sounds like you were under the impression that the guy would just do it as a customer service thing. Well, if that's your impression because they did not say otherwise or mention a charge, then they truly need a slap.

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ErnstNL

Bad service story: Dropped car off to put a new clutch in a few years ago and the mechanic forgot a pin to keep the front axle in the transaxle! Drove the car like that, unknowingly for 250 kms.
Fluid from the transmission leaked all over the driveway and they refused to honor the repair.
Explanation from the store manager : That mechanic is no longer with us, (probably fired). Their solution to resolve the problem was to give me a "free" 25 point checkup for my vehicle. When I stopped laughing they finally resolved to give me $125 worth of credit towards shop charges. The shop credit could only be redeemed toward "engine checkups" What a joke. This store was crooked, obviously.
I did use another CT for repairs with good results, so your mileage may vary.

From then on I vowed to only buy tires from them but I will take them with me and get them installed and balanced at a local shop or Costco.

ErnstNL

SINC, I argue with shops that charge "fixed rates" all the time.
CT is famous for charging minimums for silly things like you experienced. Their argument was, for example, that if it took 3 hours or 30 hrs for a brake job, you still get charged their "fixed rate". That could be considered dishonest if the job only took 2 hours. It was like talking to a turnip. They showed me the binder with all the charges for different procedures. They had to charge the fixed price for each one. Bah, what a rip-off.
My vehicle dealer charged me half an hour labor ($30) to tighten a few bolts on the undercarriage of our Ford. The car was over a year old and I was told that they charge a minimum half hour for "rattles and squeaks" maintenence.
I brought it to a local shop for an oil change and they tightened up a few bolts as the oil was draining. No extra charge. They got all my oil changes after that.

RunTheWorldOnMac

I agree they aren't cheaper; they will charge going rate. I will argue that the quality of mechanic is not there. I would also argue that the mechanics, aren't that well paid. Perhaps a technician or 2 is but most of those guys aren't making that great money....man I like to argue; what's wrong with me? Nicotine levels are getting low I suspect. 80) I have some good mechanics in Ottawa if needed.


Cheers,

Scott

simon

Sinc, if they did not inform you that there would be a service charge or if you did not sign a work order specifying the work to be done or verbally agree to pay X amount - legally you are not responsible for the bill (at least in Ontario), they cannot spring it on you as a "standard charge" after the fact.

Now for my CT story.

When the Drive Clean Program was implemented in Ontario one of the few places that offered testing to have your car pass (at least near my home) was Canadian Tire. Being forced to go to Canadian Tire for anything automotive service was against everything I believed in for over 10 years since they burned me in installing a new motor in my car when I was a student (but that's another story).

I made my appointment and drove my van to CT and, not to my surprise really, they made me wait almost an hour after my appointment time because they were "busy". Finally I noticed my van being driven in and expected to have the results of this new "tax grab" within a few minutes. Well a half hour later the mechanic comes out and whispers something to the service advisor who then starts to look up stuff in those big books on the front counter. I was called to the desk and they informed me that they cannot test my van as it has an exhaust leak in the catalytic convertor (seems a return tube on the top of the convertor has rotted away and this is the exhaust leak which "prevents" them from testing the van).

Since they cannot test a vehicle with an exhaust leak they say I HAVE to replace the catalytic convertor for $1,400 (parts and labour) with no guarantee that the van will still pass after. At that time you could get a conditional pass if your car failed the test and if you spent $700 or more towards repairs to have the vehicle pass. Seems the repairs towards getting the actual test don't count in that total. I smell a rat and CT sees a cash cow.

Not being too gullible I say I'll have to think about it and I'll have to come back. She says that I will have to pay for the Drive Clean test and I politely inform her that they didn't perform the test yet. After I leave I went to the neighbourhood Menakie (sp?) and told the mechanic the situation. He says not to worry, that this is a common problem on most Ford full size vans and he can fix it for about $80 - which I said go for it and he did - for $80 (added tube extensions and soldered them on - fixing the convertor easily in about 20 minutes). To me it seems that CT would know of this common problem - so why are they trying to insist that I have to replace the convertor as a whole rather than having it repaired.

I then took his advise and took the van to a testing station that was not also a garage (they provided the testing only and could only suggest repairs). The van passed with flying colours and the catalytic convertor lasted another 2 years before it really need to be replaced.

I know CT is a business and they are there to make money - but to make money by misinforming people and charging by the book rates doesn't make for long term good business practices.

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rondini

james- original poster... which CT store in Guelph did you go to> the one in the north end? You may or may not be happy to know that they finally got ythe walmart open next to it.
Personally wouldn't take my car to CT for any repairs, and I worked at the one in the north end, some years ago,

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Demosthenes X

With CT, like all things, your mileage may vary. Because it is a franchise, with each store 100% independently owned and operated, you see a wide variety of competence between stores.

And there are some terrible ones, and some great ones.

Of course, people only tend to share their negative stories (except for the OP, and good on you! ).

I would be wary of CT, though, and this is from someone with a long family history there. There are some good mechanics, and some lousy ones. Some good service managers, and some lousy ones.

There's no reason not to go to CT for auto work on principle, but if at all possible, try to get an idea of how they operate first. A good service manager will make all the difference - I'm happy to say the store I worked at had a great service manager, and while people are not always happy (for a wide variety of reasons), I feel the shop did the best possible job.

*shrug*

YMMV more or less sums it up, I think.

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MACSPECTRUM

i visit CT only if they have something on sale, like phones or clothes washing soap

their service is horrible and staff scurry away if they see you might have a question

i go to Rona as much as possible

i would be very nervous letting CT touch my beamer

Vexel

I worked for CT in the Auto Parts department for quite a while. I worked on the back window (where mechanics get their parts.)

The store I worked at was great. The mechanics there were really good, despite getting a terrible pay. Mechanics get 'units' on their pay which are comprised of set times that it would take to do a job. The quicker they get that job done.. and move on to the next.. the more they can do to make more pay. If it takes them 4 hours to do a 2 hour 'unit', that doesn't matter.. no matter the reason.. they still will NOT get paid more for their time.

This is the problem with the CT Service scheme. Mechanics are rushing to get their work done so they can take more jobs and make decent money. It's definitely not the mechanics fault.. they're usually pretty well trained. The ones I worked with almost all had more than 10 years experience, some of them with 25-30 years. These guys bust their balls for the same crap day in and day out.. and have little to show for it.

That's why I won't go to Canadian Tire for service work. Not because I don't trust the mechanics.. but because I don't trust the way the mechanics are paid.

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