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Thursday, March 19, 2009

Canadian Tire - No Longer "More Than Just Tires" - now add Crappy service to the name!

***UPDATE***
Hmmm. Tried 2 times to post this story - it has yet to be 'approved' by CTC - could be they are afraid to post something from someone who is truly upset and looking to find a reason to shop at CTC again? Or perhaps they are willing to write me off as 'one customer who doesn't matter'... by the way - the tire doesn't appear to be leaking anymore


Let me tell you a story, I call Canadian Tire, Me and my $300.

On Monday, I had a tire blowout - then put the spare on and went str8 to Canadian Tire to get a replacement. I decided to buy 2 as I believe that they should be replaced in pairs.

Anywho... they replace 2 tires and are a good brand - GoodYear Allegra, I believe.

So imagine my surprise when I had to put air in one of them not just once but twice in 3 days...

So's I call the store around 3pm and they said, just bring it in and we will have a 'technician' look at it...

I arrive at the store at 530PM and am promptly told that it won't be ready until 645pm. Hmm, I think.. I asked, "Do I still have to wait that long? I just purchased the tires on Monday..." The service guy said, "yes, we have only one 'technician' on tonight and there are two other tire customers ahead of me.

I explained again that this is to resolve an issue with the tires I purchased on Monday. The service guy didn't budge. I mentioned that maybe they should look at my car first as (it was a complaint), but he cut me off saying "It could be a nail, you know with the weather and all..." I asked him what that has to do with it, I think the bead was not done right, resulting in a slow leak ... he mentioned that they would not know that until they got it in to look at. I said ok, and rather abruptly left with my partner and went to Sobey's for a coffee.

I came back at 630pm to see how much longer --he said he would check and disappeared for 10 minutes into the shop. He comes back out and says right away.

I walked over to the Customer Service desk and stated my complaint to the service clerk, knowing full well that the manager was standing within earshot. Anywho , amazingly, she had the same answer for me as the service guy.

So... finally at 715is my car was ready. The service guy said it was a bead leak and they couldn't help that. I said well, doesn't that mean that the tire was not beaded correctly when it was installed? He answered, he wouldn't no that.

I happened to catch a sign that states quite plainly (reading BETWEEN the lines) that Canadian Tire is NEVER responsible for delays in what time a vehicle is actually ready. they are very quick to blame EVERYBODY else, when in my case, it was the 'technician' who had erred in beading the tire. This would be best described as a "Not our fault" sign...

CTC not our fault sign

A funny note: While I was complaining about the lack of service, I actually received a computerized phone call from Canadian Tire telling me they "valued my business and if I had any concerns to contact the Service Manager, Mr. Funk..."

Ha!

So when I go out and buy the next 2 GoodYear Achieva's, i will go to Kal Tire or such. In my books, Canadian "Tire" is no longer about Tires and their service is tired as well.

For me CTC = come take a chance!

Join my new facebook group "Canadian Tire Service Horror Stories"

4 comments:

STAG said...

Hmmmm....if you were certain it was a bead leak (which you can spot pretty easily with a little soapy water) you could have simply taken the vehicle to any small garage and have it re-mounted. Twenty bucks and you make a new friend.

Its not usually the tires, but rather the balancing which is the problem. Because I have a lot riding on my tires, I always do the soap and water check when I get my car back, and make sure the new weights are tight. Then a nice high speed run carefully listening for vibration, and another check in the parking lot of the store. (I have a chunk of cardboard I throw down to lie on...makes life a lot nicer.)

I have always found "something". A loose weight, or a squirrly bead, or a bulge in a brand new sidewall, so my precautions are warranted.

Only once did I have a problem with Canadian Tire fixing the problem right away, and they said "all those people out there, I have to get their cars in...yours will have to wait...come back tomorrow." I smiled and said, "I can do that. I will also talk to everybody out in that waiting room and tell them about this incident before I go." He called my bluff...disovered it was not a bluff when a couple of people walked out.

And no, I was not dumb enough to let my car back into that bay after pulling that stunt. I found a nice mom and pop place closer to my home which appreciated the business.

So Brian, instead of making a pointless facebook page, why not just print out this complaint, and drop in once or twice a week and pass them out to the waiting customers? Make sure the manager gets a copy. And send a copy to the owner of that franchise telling him what you are doing, and another to Canadian Tire Headquarters (customer complaints) in Toronto?

The Wizard of 'OZ' said...

hmm. I see what you mean, Stag, but why would I need to pay an additional $20 to re-bead a tire they should have beaded correctly in the first place?

Bran Everseeking said...

contrast this with my flat tyre rolled into KalTire on Idylwyld.

Tyre was flat. not bought there.

repaired and mounted on car in 20 min.

no charge.

thanks!!!

The Wizard of 'OZ' said...

Oops! The tires are GoodYear Allegra and not Achieva