Friggin Canadian Tire

DE44 said:
There's a lot of talk about championing the small guy on this thread. What I'd like to know is how many of you practice what you preach when it comes to everyday purchases beside ammo and firearms. Probably not suitable for this thread or forum but think about it the next time your in Walmart buying you groceries, DVD,s or any other of the cheaply made low quality $hit they sell. Support the small guy everyday in every way!!
Obviously it's not reasonable for some folks, like the guy who said the closest gunshop was 120km away, to support local businesses all the time. Also if the local shops charge more for the same products/services that needs to be taken into consideration. If the local store is going to cost me $50 more per week for groceries then it's not reasonable to shop there. We are small guys too.
 
Well said, rleblanc

I would much rather support the local gunshop, but sometimes they're just too expensive. Spend an extra $20 to show support at the local shop, or get an extra box of shells at CT? Easy choice when you don't have much money to spare.
 
I try to support the little guy whenever it is reasonable and practical; I don't mind paying more, but I do mind paying MUCH more. That being said, I drive across town for all my firearm needs and buy from the one shop that sells handguns. The advantage is that they know me, and I get personalized service.
 
I cringe at the thought of going into a Walmart. I won't allow my family to shop at one. I have no interest in supporting big box stores. Having said that if I have to purchase items from a box store I will shop at a Rona or a Canadian Tire long before a Walmart or Home Depot. (I prefer my locally owned and operated HOME Hardware, and IGA.) I realize there are times when you may need to go to a box store but think of the impact your choice makes. Why is it the local shop is 120kms away? The area is big enough to support a CT but not a local gunstore. This is odd. Did all the shopping at CT put the local guy out of business?
 
fogducker said:
buying ammo in a tire store is like buying tire,s in a gun store:rolleyes:
Well said!! :dancingbanana:

Canadian Tire is only good for 30-30/.303/.308/30-06/.270/.223/22-250/.22lr/12ga/20ga. Other than those and it's time to take up reloading. :mad:

I was in there one time and I heard a fellow ask the clurk for 35Whelen. :eek: I didn't know what to do, burst out laughing, or offer to buy his gun. :D
 
Maybe I'm just slow, but I still don't understand your posts. Tylenol? No return policy?

Tylenol gave us 'security sealed for your safety' after several people were poisoned in the U.S.. It is now standard with a whole schwack of stuff, but not most ammo. I was trying not to spell it out lest some feeble minded person glom onto the idea, but I don't want to buy ammo that fast fingered freddy freedom fighter for the furry wanted to look at in the store. Or worse yet, had time to take them home and then returned to the store for refund/exchange. One tampered round could spell KB!

We can't guard against all lunatics but small inconveniences applied judiciously and appropriately are OK in my books.
 
DE44 said:
I cringe at the thought of going into a Walmart. I won't allow my family to shop at one. I have no interest in supporting big box stores. Having said that if I have to purchase items from a box store I will shop at a Rona or a Canadian Tire long before a Walmart or Home Depot. (I prefer my locally owned and operated HOME Hardware, and IGA.) I realize there are times when you may need to go to a box store but think of the impact your choice makes. Why is it the local shop is 120kms away? The area is big enough to support a CT but not a local gunstore. This is odd. Did all the shopping at CT put the local guy out of business?

Well we still live in a society where most people want to save $0.50. If they see something at Canadian Tire for less money they'll shop there. Those of us who could be considered more dedicated to outdoor activities tend to shop at smaller stores for lots of reasons. In Canada I've noticed a more "old school" mindset that is actually concerned about the community and giving back, which is why we care about supporting local businesses. My girlfriend can't understand why I drive 30 minutes to LeBaron to get something I could get at the Canadian Tire around the corner. It's hard to explain why you're inconveniencing yourself and paying more money to help a stranger's business.

I've been waiting for 3 months for LeBaron to get a 12ga. bore snake in stock. Every time I'm there they don't have one. I don't see any signs of them replenishing their stock either, so no reason to keep my hopes up. I then tried to place an order online for one, got a call saying that they don't do mail orders to Toronto. I finally broke down and went to Canadian Tire where they had bore snakes of all popular sizes in stock. The exact one I wanted too. I like LeBaron and shopping there, but 3 months without a 12ga bore snake in stock (when customers are asking for it) is ridiculous. I feel a little bad going to CT for my firearm needs but what can you do?

We need to try and support our local guys, but the local guys need to keep our needs in mind too.
 
mtallman said:
I know it sounds like BS, but one Walmart guy who's always there when I go is a lot friendlier than most of the SIR guys. The same box of shells is $12 at Walmart, and $16 at SIR.

I can agree with that. Some of those old guys working the gun counter at SIR are major a$$es.
 
At least you can buy guns and ammo reasonably easily in Canada, here most shops have closed or the guy has retired. To buy ammo now I drive 20 miles through the densely populated south east of our little island to get them to order bullets and brass for me. When I can get to a good dealer they still have to order in a firearm for you. My favourite shop for small repairs is 200 miles away. My favourite shop for rifles seems to sell more sporting shotguns and rifles are an inconvenience. I'm considering approaching Kynamco for a big ish order of .303 as I bought what must have been the last 40 rounds of Norma .303 150 gn softpoint in the country. In fact the country that invented .303 doesnt make it anymore!
I had to call into LeBaron in Montreal for a warranty job on a watch that my son lost in the end when we got home but boy did they have a good selection of pistol and rifle ammo on view. Not like Outdoor World in Florida where you can shop like its a supermarket but at least on view!
We now have to have the actual amount of expanding bullets (thats bullets not just complete rounds) written on the rear of our FACs when we buy!
 
I've bought at Walmart a cpl. times, they are always about $2 less than anyone else, but you pretty well have to serve yourself cause the kid at the counter know's squat, and the cpl. times I bought there,I was never asked for my PAL at the cash. Most the time i buy at a small gun shop where I bought my rifle, which happens to be on a Mohawk reserve, so I save on both taxes buying there which make it pretty competetive.

Cheers!
 
Hey fellow 25-06 er

just wanted to say hey and let ya know in case you are unaware but Hornady now makes a 117 gr 25-06 that shoots 3110 fps out of the factory box and is outstanding to use......I have been shooting a 25-06 for a few years now from deer to elk to bear to coyotes.....the best bang for my buck and accuracy has been the hornadys.....$35.00 / box of 20....there Great.....let me know if ya get this or try them....
 
The reason Canadian Tire does the distant past they had a customer who shot himself in the store with ammo obtained there. I recall it but can't give you the year.
 
I used to agree that we should support our local dealer. Until yesterday. I went into a local gun shop to buy a box of 12ga. #4 lead game loads,they didn't have any so he handed me a box of W.W. # 5 heavy game loads. Price on the box was $18.95. Said to the guy behind the counter "there must be a mistake". He said No and that was the price. I left the shop took a 5 min. drive to the local C.T. store where I purchased the same ammo for $7.95.
 
I usually by at the local shops. If I can't find what I want, I then check at lebaron (across the river in Ottawa) and if that does'nt work, I'll buy via the web. Ti-coune Tire, as we frenchman call it around here, is only a last resort option. e.g. Your halfway up to the hunt camp and you realize you forgot your ammo at home. :rolleyes:
 
Win/64 said:
I used to agree that we should support our local dealer. Until yesterday. I went into a local gun shop to buy a box of 12ga. #4 lead game loads,they didn't have any so he handed me a box of W.W. # 5 heavy game loads. Price on the box was $18.95. Said to the guy behind the counter "there must be a mistake". He said No and that was the price. I left the shop took a 5 min. drive to the local C.T. store where I purchased the same ammo for $7.95.

I don't know the dealers reputation or any possible history between but you might consider talking to him about it, tell him that he is WAY off with his price, tell him it costs $7.95 at CT and inform him that if he would like to sell the ammo you would be willing to pay $9.95 for the ammo (you have already told him you can get it for cheaper) but would like to support his business as long as he can stay somewhat competitive. He certainly isn't making any money off them if they stay on the shelf, and hopefully he is a reasonable person.

OR

Find a new gun shop. I was at one the other day and they wanted $69.95 for a Brick of CCI stingers. That is CRAZY!! Luckily I saw this place on the way to the regular gun shop, where I got my stingers for $44.95 (I think Lebaron lists them for $33 ish). Ya it is over $10, but they are a limited use kinda thing, if I chewed through them like candy then I would try to work something out with them, kinda a mini-volume discount. Try to find a shop that is willing to work with you, because you both need each other.

bearhunter said:
Quit screwing around with amateur dealers that don't know one end of a firearm from another, unless you live close to the Can Tire store in Kenora, forget it. Stick with a gunshop that makes it's liveing on guns and gun related stuff. Preferrably a full service shop. For the very few if any dollars you save going to crappy tire or wal mart, you will save yourself a lot of frustration and get what you want, unless of course you're more interested in the little old lady or maybe sweet young thing behind the counter. bearhunter

I agree. For the $2 that you save at CT you can begin building a relationship with the local gun shop. If you don't support the gun shop with the bread and butter stuff (12 ga., 22LR) the they won't be there for the 25-06, 300RUM(bad examples), and some that are actually exotic/rare/hard to get. I am even getting to the point that if I can get a gun for $50 MORE at the local gun shop (than SIR, Lebaron), I will pay it, really it is only $50 (keep in mind I am a university student, money IS an object). But that $50 stands for something, it stands for small business, it stands for the little guy, it stands for CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
 
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B-N said:
I don't know the dealers reputation or any possible history between but you might consider talking to him about it, tell him that he is WAY off with his price, tell him it costs $7.95 at CT and inform him that if he would like to sell the ammo you would be willing to pay $9.95 for the ammo (you have already told him you can get it for cheaper) but would like to support his business as long as he can stay somewhat competitive. He certainly isn't making any money off them if they stay on the shelf, and hopefully he is a reasonable person.

OR

Find a new gun shop. I was at one the other day and they wanted $69.95 for a Brick of CCI stingers. That is CRAZY!! Luckily I saw this place on the way to the regular gun shop, where I got my stingers for $44.95 (I think Lebaron lists them for $33 ish). Ya it is over $10, but they are a limited use kinda thing, if I chewed through them like candy then I would try to work something out with them, kinda a mini-volume discount. Try to find a shop that is willing to work with you, because you both need each other. I have given up on this dealer and will not go back. this is not the first time this has happened. They figure a box of Rem. Core Lokt in 30/06 is worth $31.95. While everywhere else is $19.95 to 21.95. How many chances do we give them?
 
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The problem with stock on shelves is some wholesalers dont let the retailers sell below a certain price, this is called MAP minimum allowable price. Ok but in 6 months when they havent sold there should be a mechanism for reporting this and then discounting. I find that with stock that doesnt shift from our normal sales we go to summer game and country fairs where the suppliers arent likely to see the discounted rates and we sell off cheaper.
Most retailers are tied in some way especially the smaller ones. Telling the retailer is the first step as if they are in the shop all daay they arent able to check what the competition is selling for.
Small retailers especially those with limited space can only stock small amounts and dont have the massive buying discount power of the national chains. This is why your local grocery stores dissapear and are replaced by the big boys. Dont let it happen!
 
billd_697 said:
just recently I went to CT and according to them I only need a drivers licence to buy ammo :eek:
Damn I knew I should have bought some dangerous assault gun ammo when I was there last.
 
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