PSA : Canadian Tire rip off ( winter tire mounting and balancing )

[Sal Bass]

I bought tires at CDN Tire this week. They told me that the tire mounting was free but the balancing was not included. They charged me $56 for balancing but no charge for mounting. I asked how much it would cost if I had to pay full price for balancing and mounting, they told me it would be $64. I complained that the pricing for balancing and mounting are not proportionate, they told me that this is the price at all CDN Tire stores. This is price gouging, there are tire shops advertising $39.95 specials for balancing and mounting.
It is all in the bottom line price. So if you buy tires at CDN Tire know that you will get tire mounting free but pay an extraordinarily high price for balancing.

 

[Like_It_Hot]

You have to consider the total cost and then compare from different shops. Some may attract you with low balance/mounting price and charge more for the tires. It's call marketing... Sure individual services cost more than a package deal. I like CT but I always check for sales and special points offer, as 15X extra points that they regularly offer. You can also pay on 24 payments without interest with their credit card. Very usefull when you need 4 new tires or getting expensive services as break job. You also have the choice to go elsewhere if the total deal is better.

 

[DrJ_TheGhost]

Do not get any car work done at Canadian tire. They are terrible at it. I rather overpay at the dealership than have anything serviced at Canadian tire. They screwed up on some of my friends and acquaintances’ cars years ago. I do not set foot there.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

I had to get a rad fix 4 years ago and every shop was busy for three days and I could not wait as I had to head out of town. Canadian tire had every lift open and could fix it right away. The final bill was $1,100.00... for a fucking rad install. They charged to flush the motor ( there was no fluid left ), they charged to put the truck on the scope ( $150 ) plus 3 hrs labour.
No wonder the bays were all open, fucking joke of a place.

There are similar reviews to this everywhere.

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/do-you-trust-canadian-tire-auto-service-742581/

 

[Сonker]

I like Canadian Tire. Where else can you get a cookware set for $69.95 marked down from $799.95

 

[No_Church_InThe_Wild]

^^^
Canadian tire is not the best place to go when you need to have major repairs done , because you will pretty much get ripped off and that is a given . But if you need to just go and change your tires it will do ,,, especially if you forgot to line up an appointment at your usual garage and you cannot wait .

And besides don’t forget that after a while you will be able to amass a big stack of Canadian tire money

 

[Thor Jr]

Never go to canadian tire for anything, even their credit cards are a rip off.

 

[charmer_]

This is price gouging, there are tire shops advertising $39.95 specials for balancing and mounting.

I mean, you could just buy the tires at Canadian Tire, and install them somewhere else.

I just bought winter tires this year myself, and it cost me $60.00 for the balancing and installation at the same place I got them (not Canadian Tire). So no discount, even though I bought my tires from them .

I avoid Canadian Tire for garage work as much as I can, but I sometimes get my tires installed there if I'm in a pinch.

 

[OnJustALark]

Keep in mind as well that "mounting" involves no additional parts - it's strictly a service. "Balancing", on the other hand", does involve additional parts - the weights. Specialty tire stores will typically be your better bet if you want the job done correct and no damage to your rims or new tires. High volume retail place like Canada Tire and NTB here in the States have higher damage rate or ignore issues in uneven tread wear that you should know about and want to fix, lest you waste money on your new tires when your alignment has a problem as well.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

For winter tires, the most cost effective way is to get cheap winter rims somewhere and put winters on them. When the seasons change jack up the car and change them yourself one at a time.

 

[Julia Sky]

For winter tires, the most cost effective way is to get cheap winter rims somewhere and put winters on them. When the seasons change jack up the car and change them yourself one at a time.

This!! I think this would indeed be the most cost effective way. And if you don’t feel like changing them yourself, hire a sexy sex worker who knows how to and let her do it for you and get some bonus fun after ;p hahah

 

[maximus]

Find a good independent garage that comes recommended by people you can trust.

 

[Kavorkian]

Canadian Tire charges me $56 for balancing my new tires when I bought them last month. When I asked how much it was for balancing and installation, they told me $68. I told them the prices are proportional to the work involved. To value balancing at 7 times the price of tire installation is a cash grab. I called Canadian Tire head office and spoke to the customer service department. They had no argument and will be sending me a $25 gift card to compensate.

 

[charmer_]

And if you don’t feel like changing them yourself, hire a sexy sex worker who knows how to and let her do it for you and get some bonus fun after ;p hahah

Is that a service you provide, Julia? Lol

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

Find a good independent garage that comes recommended by people you can trust.

Yes, there are way more general mechanics in Quebec than Alberta. There is one in Drummondville that is superb, can do amazing modifications and fabricate parts, $65 a hour and he is honest.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I bought tires at CDN Tire this week. They told me that the tire mounting was free but the balancing was not included. They charged me $56 for balancing but no charge for mounting. I asked how much it would cost if I had to pay full price for balancing and mounting, they told me it would be $64. I complained that the pricing for balancing and mounting are not proportionate, they told me that this is the price at all CDN Tire stores. This is price gouging, there are tire shops advertising $39.95 specials for balancing and mounting. It is all in the bottom line price.

This is a trick that the automotive industry learned from the Cable TV industry. It’s called “bundling of services”, and the idea is to promote the idea of a “deal” resulting from packaging services together, while keeping the consumer unsure of exactly what he or she is paying for in terms of the individual underlying services.

It’s like a head fake in basketball. The idea is to get the defender to think you are going one way when all along you are really going another way. Very old school standard trickery which in this context is really designed to fool those who allow themselves to be fooled. Works with a high % of customers, and therefore becomes the business model.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

^^^^^^ Google " Canadian tire automotive repair complaints " The huge majority say they suck and rip you off.

 

[jalimon]

Conker once they fucked up on a change of tire... The employee at the counter told me I should not come here with an expensive car as his employee are not cut to work on such car...

Took me 10 years to go back to CT for a quick car fix. But now I have a cheap rented car

Cheers,

 

[Fradi]

Garage mechanics anywhere, Canadian Tire etc.. rank up there with politicians and lawyers, you know you are going to get screwed.
I have been going to the same local garage for 35 years, I get ripped off usually half as much as at dealers and Canadian Tire , at least I usually get same day service because I know the owner his son and now grandson.
When I can get any kind of service done including a snow tire change without them finding additional things and I leave with paying under $500 I consider it a good day lol.

 

[No_Church_InThe_Wild]

^^^
Pretty much how I also feel about garages and mechanics