If you could improve Canadian Tire's automotive department......

[loganm3]

Yes, it's a serious question. You don't need to tell me whats wrong with it, there are MANY things wrong.

But if you could improve the automotive section what would you want to see?

[breakfasteatre]

them not taking a power washer to the engine

[Default User]

Honestly - they pretty much have it covered. If they start adding brand name aftermarket tuner parts - half our sponsors would go under

[peterm15]

Honesty and competitive/realistic rates, compentence would also be nice ( more so from managers not the workers.)
Basically an hourly labour wage in most cases rather then a flat rate charge. $125 for diagnostics some times is not worth it, espically when the service worker is compentent and knows in the first 30 seconds whats wrong. Im not saying do it for free but really a 30 point inspection for a problem that can be figured out and tested in 5 min.

Im not saying this is all canadian tires but vast majority that ive delt with have seem more like con artists.
There is one canadian tire in particular that i will deal with and frankly trust.

[Burner]

Having worked at the parts counter in my high school years I know there's a need for the parts employees to have some formal training.

If they still use Keystone, they need to advertise the parts that are available. I haven't worked there in years, but if the process for ordering parts from keystone is similar, it needs to be streamlined. Also, offering up a certain % off on keystone items in the flyer could increase the business on that end.

[m_bisson]

I worked at the parts counter in high school too :D The training was terrible for me as well... I was at Ottawa and Fischer-Hallman in KW.

[plontoc]

I worked at the parts counter in high school too :D The training was terrible for me as well... I was at Ottawa and Fischer-Hallman in KW.

You got training? I did the parts counter thing in HS too and they pretty much said "Heres your shirt...go get them!" LOL (Eglinton and Warden)

[dentinger]

Honesty and competitive/realistic rates, compentence would also be nice ( more so from managers not the workers.)
Basically an hourly labour wage in most cases rather then a flat rate charge. $125 for diagnostics some times is not worth it, espically when the service worker is compentent and knows in the first 30 seconds whats wrong. Im not saying do it for free but really a 30 point inspection for a problem that can be figured out and tested in 5 min.

Im not saying this is all canadian tires but vast majority that ive delt with have seem more like con artists.
There is one canadian tire in particular that i will deal with and frankly trust.

but can you diag your car in 30 seconds? you have to pay, and you really have no other choice.
when you've done the same job for 20 years, you begin to see what most commonly goes wrong.
for example, yesterday, chevy avalanche comes in, airbag light is on. the one tech goes, "i bet you $50 its the front impact sensor, they go all the time"
sure enough, it was. i replaced the sensor, problem solved.

[peterm15]

And that's my point. It took you how long to diagnose and test? With competent mechanics like that don't you figure it would be fair to charge by the hour like most other mechanics do. Even if it's 5 minutes an hour minimum is realistic. Rather then charging a diagnostic fee and by the hour.

It really does have less to do with the mechincs as most ( not all) have been very good. It's more to do with the charging practices.

Now I haven't had my car diagnosed at canadian tire pobably 8 years so it may have very well changed. I had 2 separate cars starters changed at 2 different Canadian tires and both charged me a diagnostic fee. Even though I went in told them my starter was gone and asked the price to change it. Agreed and when I got the bill there was an extra 125 bucks on it. Granted both times I didn't pay it but the the principle of it. Again there is 1 Canadian tire that I have delt with that didn't try this with me so i will deal with them again, and the mechincs there are very good.

[rzapata]

You got training? I did the parts counter thing in HS too and they pretty much said "Heres your shirt...go get them!" LOL (Eglinton and Warden)

Man, the employees there now, I don't think they did have much training at all... I went there to ask them if they sell 3/8" rubber hose (which I know they do), the guy just looked at me and said "if you don't see any on the shelf, then no." Then a little bit later, this other guy came by and I ask him, he then asked me how much I need because they sell it by the foot (which I know they did).

For common stuff like engine oil, cleaning stuff and others, CT is an ok place.. But it's the specific stuff that they might need a little bit more information on.. I guess it comes with proper training.....

Maybe better inventory as well.. :)

[Slade]

I would like to see the shops/managers actually take responsibility for what happens in their bays.

I had a really bad experience where they broke a brand new brake/clutch resivoir (that they weren't even working on!) because they didn't let the plastic warm up before working on the car (was the dead of winter and the car was parked outside overnight), ended up loosing my car for an extra 3 days because they couldn't get the part in, and when it was finally done and I wanted to speak to the manager, all he told was this is head office number, call and deal with them. They even wanted me to pay for the part they broke!

Complete bullshit, if it happens in their shop they should be responsible, a suit at a desk won't have the foggiest idea what is going on.

Same thing that happened to the Green & Ross on the undercover report, when they questioned why the mechanic wanted to do $2,000 to a brand new car all the manager told them was to call head office.

Not to offend anyone here, I know some of you did/do work there, but I will personally never take a vehicle there again, not even to get tires changed or installed, seeing how responsibless the managers are, I can only imagine the mechanics (again not trying to insult anyone here)

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I've had a similar experience to Slade, Canadian Tire ****ed up bad (didn't re install ABS ring on my Blazer) and didn't take any responsibility for it and didn't really seem to care how many times I had to come back for them to rectify the problem they caused.

The manager basically said "we fixed it eventually".

No vehicle of mine will ever be back there.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

op.... you change jobs?

[FLIPDADY]

Give discounts to wholesale customers. When Canadian Tire employees buy Mazda parts I give them trade price. When I buy parts from there they can't give a discount.

[MistaChin]

Let Jimmy run the automotive department and rename it to Street Performance 2.

[Shawn]

Have parts software that is actually current.
I had a friend that had a 1994 Dodge GTX, they could never find parts. Nothing listed. Had to ask for 1995 Eagle parts.

[Thrizzl3]

Let Jimmy run the automotive department and rename it to Street Performance 2.

for what? his shop is 100x better than all the canadian tire's put together..

[dentinger]

Have parts software that is actually current.
I had a friend that had a 1994 Dodge GTX, they could never find parts. Nothing listed. Had to ask for 1995 Eagle parts.

because it's a '94 GTX.....

[loganm3]

op.... you change jobs?

Nope, still in marketing but working on something big. The next 6 months could be interesting for the Canadian automotive scene

As for never finding parts.....ya, rare cars are a pain. Try asking for parts for my 323 GTX and having fwd GT parts given to you on pretty much EVERYTHING you ask for. In my build budget 2k is for wrong parts!

Aside from the service bay and better counter staff....what about the products, how the store is laid out, Canadian Tire money and if they let us have meets and shows in their parking lots?

[peterm15]

A move back into a store that focuses more on automotive and hardware. I dont mean that they should get rid of the other stuff just stop taking away from automotive.
I still cant believe that CT on sheppard east of brimly has a grocery dept.

As for layout, they have that pretty covered but i do think that the tools, auto stuff, hardware, gardening equp, the stuff you think of when you think of CT, should all be closer together and closer to the cashes and exit. Move the furniture, lighting, cooking stuff to the other side. for example the CT on 7 has all the auto stuff up front but the hardware is on the oposite side of the store, should be closer together ( i may be mistaken on location of the store though)

It would be nice to have a "points card" option that wasnt a credit card, like optimum card from shoppers. your CT money is put onto the card, less lost money for me, Although CT money is a trademark so i dont think getting rid of the paper all together is a good idea.

Shows and meets are always a good idea.

I generally like the store, they pretty much have it covered but little improvments are always good.

[PearlM3]

I think Canadian Tire could really do to keep a better stock. Every time I go in there to get something for either my car or my wife's sonata they are out of stock, they always say they can get it within 2 hours, but I'm not waiting, I'm gonna skip over to parts source 2 mins down the road, and they lose my business.

[Burner]

I think Canadian Tire could really do to keep a better stock. Every time I go in there to get something for either my car or my wife's sonata they are out of stock, they always say they can get it within 2 hours, but I'm not waiting, I'm gonna skip over to parts source 2 mins down the road, and they lose my business.

Parts source is owned by Canadian tire so corporate is still happy.

[SilentJay]

The layout of the aisles are fine, imo, however the breadth, relevance, and management of products carried might need to be re-evaluated.

For instance, on more than one occasion i've gone there in an emergency looking for a particular part or tool, only to have to buy something else and kinda "McGuyver" something together... But I'd see like 5 different brands of tools for something that looks like they've been sitting on the shelves since the 80s.

In another few cases i've gone to the parts desk for something, had it show up on the computer as having a few in stock, only to have the parts guy hunt for it for 15-20 minutes and come back empty handed. I realize receiving parts into inventory is a warehouse function, but if there were some way for the stock to not show up until they've been stocked onto the part shelf, there'd be a lot less hassle.

Just my 2 cents...

[mazdilla]

CT parts clerk: Can I help you?

Customer: I need a starter for a '71 VW Super Beetle.

Ct parts clerk: What make of car?

Customer: Volkswagon.

CT clerk: Year?

Customer: 1971.

CT clerk: Model?

Customer: Beetle.

CT clerk: 1200 or 1600cc.

Customer: It doesn't matter, but its a 1600cc.

CT clerk: Front or rear wheel drive?

Customer: It only comes in rear wheel drive.

CT clerk: 2 or 4 wheel drive?

Customer: It only comes in 2 wheel drive.

CT clerk: 2 or 4 door?

Customer: It only comes in 2 door.

CT clerk: AM or AM/FM radio?

Customer: The latter.

CT clerk: Cassette or CD?

Customer: They didn't have CDs back then.

CT clerk: Sunroof?

Customer: Yes.

CT clerk: Colour?

Customer: Yellow.

CT clerk: Oh, oh ... Sorry, sir, but we don't have listings that go back that far for yellow Volkswagons. Leave us your name and phone number and we'll get back to you.

[SSmoked]

meh i cant complain about crappy tire, they have my automotive cleaning products or oil when i need em, when they have tools on sale i buy em, in woodbirdge/maple they let us use there parking lot for a classic car show.
the lay out is easy to navigate, prices are decent. there emissions testing is funny, my buddies catless/muffler/resless jetta passed lol.

[mazdilla]

meh i cant complain about crappy tire, 1) they have my automotive cleaning products or oil when i need em, 2)when they have tools on sale i buy em, 3) in woodbirdge/maple they let us use there parking lot for a classic car show.
4) the lay out is easy to navigate, prices are decent. 5) there emissions testing is funny, my buddies catless/muffler/resless jetta passed lol.

1) I'm with you there on cleaning products.
2) I like their Maximum mechanics hand tools with an unquestionable warranty
3) They do the same in Picton on Thursdays
4) Our store is too small, so they never have enough stock on sale items
5) I wouldn't let them touch my car.... ever!