I have never created a rip off report but find myself compelled to do so given a recent unsatisfactory experience at the local Smiths Falls, Ontario Canadian Tire store. For the past several months I have been renovating our cottage and frequently purchase products from Canadian Tire's Smiths Falls store that easily total well over a thousand dollars. No longer however. Here forward I will continue to use the Perth Canadian tire store. Apparently each store owner is able to make their own rules. According to the on duty Manager the Smiths Falls owner in July 2009 decided to no longer offer a store credit for unused returned items without a receipt.
My story - In mid September not knowing this policy change I purchased from Canadian Tire a new 1 7/8 ball as well as a 2" trailer receiver end to install on my trailer. My plan was to attempt to replace the receiver on my trailer so that all my trailers were set up for a 2" ball. As a contingency I would have the new 1 7/8 ball available to install if that were not possible.
Fortunately I was able to replace the receiver and therefore didn't need or use the 1 7/8 ball. A couple of weeks later I returned to the cottage and unable to locate the receipt went to the store and simply asked for a store credit to fund the purchase of things I did need for the renovation. Imagine my surprise when the returns clerk told me this was not possible because the store owner had changed the store return policy last July so that no returns would be accepted without a receipt even for a store credit. I was told that if I had charged the purchase to a Canadian tire credit card they would be able to provide a credit but since my card is from CIBC I was SOL. I left without being able to speak directly with the owner and have since confirmed similar experiences with several of my friends who have also purchased products from this store and have had trouble with returns for defective products etc.
We're all mid 40's aged customers with ample disposable income to spend and until this an affinity to purchase from Canadian Tire. Now we are all agreed we will no longer step foot inside the Smihs Falls store and will favor Rideau Lumber, Walmart or Zellers when shopping in smiths Falls. We will continue to shop at the Canadian Tire in Perth when there as they have an owner who apparently understands that money goes where it's treated best.
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