Canadian Tire

Pretty conventional Canadian Tire (CT) location, includes your general department store, Auto Centre, Garden Centre, Gas Bar, propane exchange and hunting/​fishing/​firearm services. Its a decent sized store and doesn’t lack any of the things some of the smaller CT stores do. There’s even a «Mr. Happy Day Fries» food truck that is almost always parked outside here lol, I haven’t tried it personally but looks like reviews aren’t great.
So being a CT it’s what you’d expect, the Macleod Trail/​Southland Drive location is no exception; you’re not going to find any WOWs here, nope just another CT. Good products, average staff/​service, medium-​high prices (unless on sale) and an overall good selection of things for all around the house for all seasons.
I recommend browsing their flyer/​online ahead of time because you can usually plan your purchases or determine if it’s even worth the trip. This store does seem a bit disorganized and cluttered at times, sometimes you find the same item located in multiple parts of the store or in a department where you wouldn’t think it belongs. Despite having pretty average service in general, I do find the employees are very well trained at knowing where stuff is to the point of being able to quote the exact aisle number. I have done a return here as well and they processed it no questions asked.
Some of their sales are great and will save you a good chunk of money, but if you’re just buying at regular price you’re probably not doing your wallet any favors. One thing I think is lacking is their sporting section, I’d recommend Forzani’s other company Sportchek for these items. Other than that, all the other departments are quite adequate. Not sure if it’s a place I’d go to get my car serviced though; in my opinion a lot of their technicians lack the experience of more qualified technicians you find in a true automotive shop. They manage well enough on small jobs, but you may be costing yourself more in the long run to save a few bucks in the short term.
Summary: Satisfactory CT, best for smart shoppers, don’t expect to be blown away.

went in with my girlfriend and spent a couple hundred dollars on misc items. As we were leaving, they mentioned tires and I decided to go check prices. My girlfriend is pregnant and didn’t want to load out purchases into the car so I turned the cart around and headed towards automotive. After I got a ordered tires and had left the store, the store manager Cory Free, started pushing me back towards the store in the parking lot after I had shown him my receipt for my purchases, told me that «dicks like me should never come back to any Canadian tire again» and that he wanted me to cancel my order for tires. Weirdest Wednesday afternoon of all time

I’m a pretty regular Canadian Tire shopper. They’re my go-​to place for tools.
This review is for this location’s service dept…
First of all, there’s nothing personal here. The folks I dealt with were all personable and professional. It’s company policy that I have issues with: the policy that says Out-​of-​Province inspections are a licence to print money. Anything that can be imagined as an issue is to be documented and used to charge the unlucky newcomer as much as possible.
Allow me to elaborate: Less than a year ago, I purchased this 2008 car in Ontario, and it was safety-​checked, emission-​tested, and passed with flying colours.
In April it had a complete tune-​up and check-​up before driving out to Calgary. Once here, my insurance company informed me I had to get Alberta plates if I was here for more than three months, so I paid the government $ 10 so I could pay $ 150 or so for an OoP inspection. I made the mistake of listening to the lady at Mojo’s (the AB privatized licensing office in the neighborhood), who told me I could save $ 20 by bringing the car to Canadian Tire. No problem, I thought — the car is in great shape.
And it is, but they failed it. To the tune of $ 1800 that they wanted on top of the $ 129 pre-​tax inspection charge. And they wanted to sell me new tires all-​around, even though they couldn’t show me anything beyond normal wear on the first two, and 3 of 4 of the tires. The third we looked at did have a bit of uneven wear — which they jumped on, pulling out the inspection manual to show me that «ANY EVIDENCE (caps mine) of uneven wear» was justification to fail me.
To add insult to injury, they didn’t even discuss tire options with me. They knew what they wanted to unload on me.
So I asked for the car to be taken down, and I drove away.
PROLOGUE
I contacted the Ministry of Transportation, and they recommended another testing facility. They found an issue with one tire, and that the brakes needed adjusting in the rear, but that they passed (Canadian Tire failed BOTH front and rear). Total cost $ 600 with a new (and better) pair of tires of my choice.
Two weeks later I was speaking with a co-​worker who has recently returned to Calgary from B.C. He had brought his car to this same location for his inspection — and paid $ 1800 (coincidence?) to get a pass. Hearing my story, he told me he’d had a complete brake job within the past year, but they’d failed them, and failed his tires as well. He was VERY angry.

My wife and I were in the market for some new camping gear (thanks to last years flood!), so we popped into our local Canadian Tire. They always have a large selection of outdoor gear at a reasonable price. Just so happens we caught the end of a big sale and got our new tent for 50% off! Jackpot! We basically had to start from scratch and buy everything from hotdog cooking sticks to foam sleeping mats and a Frisbee. They have it all!
The staff (teenagers mostly) were surprisingly super helpful and on 2 separate occasions during our visit, staff members were able to tell us what aisle the item we were looking for was in from memory. Pretty impressive.
The only reason this place isn’t getting a solid 5 star review is because of Ye Ol’ Car Battery Mix-​Up of ’14.
This story may drag on (Sorry)… You can skip to the end if you want the gyst of it.
My car battery had died in Jan. 2014 and it was minus 1 million outside. I had to get my wife to come get me while I waited in a nearby Starbucks. I didn’t have any tools available so I had to resort to taking a pictures of the battery so I could go buy a new one. My wife drove to the same Canadian Tire mentioned earlier and I showed the gentleman in the auto parts department the pictures and told him the year/​make/​model of my car and asked for a new battery. He did some computing on his old yellow IBM machine that looked like it was older than I am (30 yikes) and vanished into the shelves full of batteries. He returned with a battery and told me that it would be the right fit. I put it to the side of the counter and ran to buy some tools as well. I settle up and hop back in my wife’s nice warm truck (did I mention it’s minus 1 billion outside?) and we hit the road. Upon arriving at my my car I realize why the Mercedes dealerships charge so damn much for their mechanic’s labor. The battery in my car had so many nuts and bolts and doohickeys holding it in I was proud to have been able to remove it at all. I go to put the new battery in and yep, you guessed it. It doesn’t fit. The sun had started to set and I was in a panic. How was I supposed to get back to Canadian Tire, exchange the battery and then install the new battery in the dark, in minus 1 trillion weather? I didn’t know either. After showing the guy at the counter my old battery, he managed to give me the right replacement. We rushed back to the car and managed to get that stupid thing installed right before the sun dropped below the treeline. PHEW!
Long story short, Canadian Tire — The year is 2014. Time to upgrade your computer hardware. Black screen/​green font? Seriously? 3 Stars.

Went to return a vacuum that didn’t even last 60 days. Called, the customer service lady said they would give me store credit. When I got there Store manager said it’s not something he can stand behind. It’s «easier» for me to go through the manufacturer. Easier for who?! NOT THE CUSTOMER.
He also told me Walmart would take it back. If «he» was Walmart. I was insulted. I like to keep my money in Canadian companies thanks.
TOLD ME TO GO TO A VACUME REPAIR SHOP AROUND THE CORNER AND GAVE ME THE ADDRESS.
If you are reading this, you missed a big sale. My air purifier crapped out (worth and not afraid to spend another $ 300) I was scoping out new ones. And rims for my winter tires. Not to mention we were going to purchase a BETTER vacuum cleaner with credit.
I’ll take your advice tho mister Store Manager, I’ll be going directly through the manufacturer ONLINE from now on.

Absolute worst experience I have ever had.
1) product was in stock and on sale, however the plastic wrap the combined the large 4.4L oil jug to the smaller 1L container was wrecked. So sale price did not apply and had to pay 3 times the price. Also floor manager claimed store was out of the product I was clearly holding in my hands.
2) Walmart and Rona are directly across the street carrying most of the same products for 20−30% less without being on sale.
3) poorly organized store. Unclear prices. Cat beds next to chainsaws didn’t make too much sense.
4) Flyer falsely advertises products on sale or has products not even available for purchase.
All in all piss poor product and service for luxury prices.
Not to mention the esso across the street also has cheaper gas. By 4 cents a liter.
Will never shop here again.

Winter is around the corner folks and you know what that means, WINTER tires! Well I have been avoiding getting new tires ever since I bought my used vehicle but a friend recommended getting them now while they are still available and cheap.
Decided to do some pricing and this is what I found at the local Canadian Tire. First of all, free parking and a huge store. I have forgotten how lovely CT is; I mean it carries everything not only automotive stuff, there is the household area, toys, sporting goods, weights, there is already even ten rows for Xmas decorations. I was so distracted by other things that I needed to buy that I totally forgot about my first intention for coming.
Once focused I ventured to the automotive area, and there was a full service staff there attending to customers. I finally found George and I knew it was him as CT now has plasma TVs that proudly display mug shots of their service workers. It was funny talking to George as his photos sat grimly behind him over his right shoulder. «Ignore it» he said «the only thing it lacks is the line of numbers on the bottom and a profile shot». I instantly took a liking to this guy.
He explained that winters tires are seasonal especially studded ones, and that by city law you could only drive winter tires with studs from now until May. I would be looking at buying another set of tires in 6 months. To save money he said to go with the all season tire and that if I wasn’t planning on doing much driving I would be okay with the most economical one. We talked for at least 30 minutes, George showing me many examples of tires, the difference in grade and wear and the CT guarantee. He gave me quotes and printed my options; it was the best service I had ever gotten at an automotive store. Not once did I see George TIRE! Hee hee
All in all exceptional service and great prices. CT has always been consistent for this, I have dealt with CT all my driving life, so get your tires here and don’t be left out of the cold literally.

I have been to this particular Canadian Tire several times as it’s close to where my friends Jim and Kathy live. It’s one of the bigger ones. Diane d. is right, there is something here for everyone. And on every Canadian trip, I make it a point to visit at least one of these stores. I also have a pretty good collection of Canadian Tire Money. At times, it may have been even more valuable than the Loonie!