Thread: Canadian Tire doesn't honor their return policy?

I recently purchased a snow blower, Jan 6, 2011. The Yardworks model I purchased is a piece of junk. It doesn't blow the light snow, let alone the wet and heavier stuff. CT advertises on their website and fails to mention that this particular model will only blow 4 to 6 inches of light and fluffy snow. This is what they tell a customer after the fact.

I returned to the store where the purchase was made....nothing. I contacted their customer service department...nothing. I've sent an email to someone at head office...not even a reply. I contacted MTD that sells to CT....nothing. They stated that they are not responsible for what or how CT advertises their products.

I have spent thousands of dollars over the past 25 years....no more. I can shop my dollars at many of their competitors. All for a $700.00 piece of junk, they would throw away my business. Conclusion; CT loses and Home Depot, Rona, Home Hardware, Princess Auto, Walmart, Sears, and several others win.

I now know how they got the name "Crappy Tire". I have owned several businesses in over the past 25 years, and if I ever came across a product that saw my customers complaining, I had two choices. I was smarter than CT proves to be....I dropped the product and kept my customers happy.

The problem is that very few people stand behind their convictions. Companies such as CT offer bad service to some, and they continue to shop there. The only way for these idiots to feel the pinch is for all of us who have received bad service, is to stay away and give our hard earned dollars to a company that stands, not just behind their products, but stands beside their customers.

Originally Posted by Gizzard1959

I recently purchased a snow blower, Jan 6, 2011. The Yardworks model I purchased is a piece of junk. It doesn't blow the light snow, let alone the wet and heavier stuff. CT advertises on their website and fails to mention that this particular model will only blow 4 to 6 inches of light and fluffy snow. This is what they tell a customer after the fact.

I returned to the store where the purchase was made....nothing. I contacted their customer service department...nothing. I've sent an email to someone at head office...not even a reply. I contacted MTD that sells to CT....nothing. They stated that they are not responsible for what or how CT advertises their products.

I have spent thousands of dollars over the past 25 years....no more. I can shop my dollars at many of their competitors. All for a $700.00 piece of junk, they would throw away my business. Conclusion; CT loses and Home Depot, Rona, Home Hardware, Princess Auto, Walmart, Sears, and several others win.

I now know how they got the name "Crappy Tire". I have owned several businesses in over the past 25 years, and if I ever came across a product that saw my customers complaining, I had two choices. I was smarter than CT proves to be....I dropped the product and kept my customers happy.

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"I have owned several businesses over the past 25 years"

There is a quote that screams out success! I wonder if the customer stood beside you when you closed those businesses out. Google any one of the companies you listed....complaints against every single one of them....seems people are unhappy about their return policies....things like, I didn't have my receipt and they wouldn't take it back, they made me deal with the manufacturer for repair, they sell crappy stuff, etc. etc.

Grow up whiner.....mom and pop shops are gone for a reason...they couldn't compete.

Listen up Junior. I have lost and spent more money than you will ever make. And yes, with providing my customers a well invested service and product, they did stand behind me on many occasions. I have my receipt, and it was just purchased (Jan 6, 2011), and yes, they don't suggest on their website that this piece of junk will only blow 4 to 6 inches of the light and fluffy variation of the stuff we call snow.

As far as you slamming mom and pop shops, and so blatantly miss the point; it's small businesses today, and always have been that run this economy, but you probably didn't know this, as you only make $25K annually, and wouldn't know real money if it bit you in the ass.

As far as your 'whiner' comment. Pretty brave coming from someone sitting in front of a keyboard....stupid coward, not to mention, probably broke. Go back to school and study business, you need to.

how about you get off your high horse Gizzard1959, you stepped in here like you're king shit, when you're the same as the rest of us, a guy behind a computer that can claim anything they want.

If you're so high and mighty in business land as you're positioning yourself to be, you should be easily able to deal with a product you're not satisfied with and get resolution. Instead you've ended up on an internet forum that quite frankly outside of whining to angry customers who are already whining on here, produces zero impact.

as far as your snowblower claim, i suspect an exaggerated story. won't blow light fluffy snow? bs. even $100 electric will blow light fluffy snow. If you want something to clear mounds of snow from a snowplow, you should be on top of a 26" or 30" gas unit at minimum which will run you $1000 give or take.
Is that what you got?

Also in closing, who "doesn't have time to research" but has time to come to a forum afterwards and complain about the quality of the product that they didn't research in the first place?
UYou know what they say about an ounce of prevention....

oh and one last thing... mom and pop shops run this economy? I don't know what economy you are analyzing but i can't think of a more ridiculous claim. mom and pop shops run downtown centers, most of which are typically failing. even in tiny town canada, franchises and national chains are running the show.

this from a guy who told someone else to get a business education? lol

Originally Posted by Gizzard1959

I recently purchased a snow blower, Jan 6, 2011. The Yardworks model I purchased is a piece of junk. It doesn't blow the light snow, let alone the wet and heavier stuff.

Gizzard:

Based on your description alone, I would have guessed that it's a Yard Works. These and other "house brand" product are made Canadian Tire's specificiation, which seems to aim for the lowest possible price, and functionality doesn't seem to matter.

I don't know what province you are in, but most (including Ontario and BC) have consumer protection legistation, which I've discussed here a lot.

If the snow blower is supposed to handle 6" of light snow, but it can't, then the product was "misrepresented", and you are entitled to a full refund. Either this unit was defective, or all units are poorly designed. The exact reason doesn't matter.

You may wish to contact the Ministry in your province for consumer issues. They can investigate complaints, and help you get a refund. The bad news is, you might have to sue the store (as others have reported here).

I went onto the Canadian Tire website and looked at all of their snow throwers......I was surprised to see that there are customer reviews on all the machines they sell with pictures and specifications listed. This poster states that there is nothing on the website that states the machine he bought would not move 4 to 6 inches of snow. Clearly he went on line, why is it then that he can't see the same things as the rest of us. I also couldn't see one that had a plastic impaler priced at $700.00, but that alone would make most people recognize that end of driveway is not it's intended use.
I see why you have "lost" more money than I will ever make. Sorry if I state the obvious, but the issue is with you, not the retailer.....like I said, poor purchasing decision. Lots of people like you in North America.....you know "the world owes me" type...."not responsible for my own stupidity" type....better get with the times, you reap what you sow.
By the way, mom and pop shops do not run the Canadian economy.....most of the one's that are left, are older baby boomers with little chance of a succession plan....not to many takers of an unsustainable business model that has to charge a premium over major retailers. The vast majority just simply won't pay it. But you already know this with your several business failures.

Originally Posted by Gizzard1959

Listen up Junior. I have lost and spent more money than you will ever make. And yes, with providing my customers a well invested service and product, they did stand behind me on many occasions. I have my receipt, and it was just purchased (Jan 6, 2011), and yes, they don't suggest on their website that this piece of junk will only blow 4 to 6 inches of the light and fluffy variation of the stuff we call snow.

As far as you slamming mom and pop shops, and so blatantly miss the point; it's small businesses today, and always have been that run this economy, but you probably didn't know this, as you only make $25K annually, and wouldn't know real money if it bit you in the ass.

As far as your 'whiner' comment. Pretty brave coming from someone sitting in front of a keyboard....stupid coward, not to mention, probably broke. Go back to school and study business, you need to.

Originally Posted by CT_MANAGER

I see.. So you get bad service in your opinion from 1 store and you decide to boycott the entire corporation, where do you see the logic in that?

Canadian tire many have to eat the cost of the merchandise so there is a code 12 (Customer Satisfaction). Many of the stores are franchised so it's the dealer who has to eat the cost so it's up to that particular stores discretion whether to or not.

Personally if a customer told me that it was shedding features and they had their receipt, I would have no problem giving back their tender paid. If the Canadian tire you went to didn't do that, I would say not to shop at their store but why boycott the entire corporation?

You going to boycott Wendy's because they missed fries in your last few orders?? Where does that make any sense? There is always 2 sides of a story and from what you described it seems you likely are not giving us the entire story. My guess is you were trying to get your tender back for the item without a receipt? That I can see happening where you would then cause a fuss that they would not give back your money... am I right?

Canadian Tire with hundreds of stores must start to realize that the operators cannot continue to abuse customers with their made at store policies as to accept a return or not. It is up to the corporate office to devise policies and ensure they are followed across the country. The example of Wendy's missing fries comparing to return of shedding feathers is rather poor. If it was a Canadian Tire brand then any Canadian Tire Store should be required to accept the return and refund the purchase price. The litany of unsatisfied customers is totally un acceptable. I recently was charged $160.00 for a new widshield washer reservoir due to a leak somewhere in the sytem. When I discovered the container was in fact the original, the service manager stated "...looks new to me". Pointing out the bolts had never been removed and the hinge for the cap was broken (had been for years) the man replied "... new ones come without caps". Great service. Just because your mechanic misdiagnosed the leak, doesn't give Canadian Tire the right to rip me off for $160.00. CT you will not see this customer again.

Originally Posted by a different unregistered

how about you get off your high horse Gizzard1959, you stepped in here like you're king shit, when you're the same as the rest of us, a guy behind a computer that can claim anything they want.

If you're so high and mighty in business land as you're positioning yourself to be, you should be easily able to deal with a product you're not satisfied with and get resolution. Instead you've ended up on an internet forum that quite frankly outside of whining to angry customers who are already whining on here, produces zero impact.

as far as your snowblower claim, i suspect an exaggerated story. won't blow light fluffy snow? bs. even $100 electric will blow light fluffy snow. If you want something to clear mounds of snow from a snowplow, you should be on top of a 26" or 30" gas unit at minimum which will run you $1000 give or take.
Is that what you got?

Also in closing, who "doesn't have time to research" but has time to come to a forum afterwards and complain about the quality of the product that they didn't research in the first place?
UYou know what they say about an ounce of prevention....

You can call it whatever floats your boat. My neighbours, not to mention, my own family have seen this machine in action, or lack thereof. As far as the website. Look for the model priced at $699.00. Yardworks 24" 208cc. You will notice that under features, spec's, or the buying guide, it lists nothing that would suggest this machine will only blow a small amount of light snow. It's also a two-stage engine, as mentioned a 208cc. I don't have a problem with my eyesight. As far as whining goes, it was my wallet I took out, not yours. But of course you are above all that, and then some. You never bitch and complain about a faulty product, or service, you just bitch and whine on various forums?

It also, as you pointed out, I can't remember seeing any information about the impeller being made of plastic, and yet, it's plastic genius.



"Get off your high horse, you came in here like you were king shit, you're just like the rest of us".

Your own words...I rest my case. At least I avoid being condescending, self righteous, hypocritical, and always stay true to my word.