Sks Canadian tire debacle and a memo from a few years back
- Thread starter RSK
- Start date
They won't drop the automotive stuff - they sell more of that than anyone else in the business, by an enormous margin and they make good money on it. I think they may be looking at getting out of firearms though, they have a sale on this week at 10% off that puts Wholesale's liquidation to shame for actual price. From experience in dealing with them as a national account supplier, I think they're entirely incompetent above store level, but their contracts contain an amazing amount of weasel text written by a well trained shark, the suppliers WILL take the rifles and accessories back, they have no choice. Dealing with CTC is like dealing with the devil.
Eddie.Willers
New member
- Location
- Prairie Flatland
Whelp, I guess there's always Cabelas.
No big conspiracy here, this was a "reaction" to the Vegas shooting.
Canadian Tire Corp has a number of working/advisory groups for all the product classes - everything from small kitchen appliances to hand tools and firearms.
The dealer at the store I work at is a member of the Firearms advisory group for the corporation. It is made up of a couple corporate members and a half dozen (dealers) store owners from around the country. The guy I work for is not a hunter or shooter, owns no guns and has no wish to do so. There is no requirement on the part of the Corporation for anyone in their groups to actually have any first hand experience. I am not saying this is right/wrong or indifferent, just stating that fact.
Immediately after the Vegas incident they called a meeting. My dealer asked me if we stocked any SKS products since the meeting was called to discuss the banning of SKS sales at any Canadian Tire in the country. While stores that hold a Business Firearms Licence source their firearms (non-restricted only) from any number of "approved suppliers" (billing is done through the corporation so the supplier has no worries about dealing with essentially a couple hundred separate retailers in terms of payment guarantee)- BUT the corporation retains the right to (dictate/approve) any particular make/model to "preserve the corporate image".
There had been some initial news report that the gunman had used an SKS and the Corporation wanted to distance themselves. Since firearms make up such a small percentage of overall sales they don't want people staying away from that store that sells "deadly assault rifles right next to bicycles for children".
The group met and decided that they no longer wanted to be associated with "the brand". Details of the exact discussions were not published as to how they came to that conclusion but it was probably purely due to "potential public perception".
I don't have the memo that was released (on my home computer) or I would publish it here now - It's not "some big secret".
I basically states that the Corporation has removed their support for the sale of all SKS products.
It states that sales are to cease immediately. Any stock should be removed from the sales floor and locked up securely and stores should wait for further instructions.
Shortly after that (a few days) a "return package" was sent to all the stores. The corporation had come to some deal with the two suppliers that sold the SKS products to the stores and they were buying back any outstanding stock.
A sheet containing product description, serial numbers, quantities etc had to be filled out and the product was to be shipped back to the wholesaler via "chain of signature" (purolator, who has our national account for firearms transportation).
So I am positive because I got the word from a member that sat in the group that banned the sales that it was a direct result to a quote claiming an SKS was used in Vegas.
There had been rumblings as early as spring of last year that the Corporation wanted to get away from being associated with any black or red rifles of any kind but they did not immediately act.
This (Vegas) gave them the only reason they needed to start the process. I was personally asked if there was "anything else" that "we maybe don't want to sell".
This was not to do with any kind of liability or pressure from some "outside force or agency", it was simply a corporate decision to protect their brand image. Because while the stores that sell firearms do make "a bit" of money from the sales, if the selling of them gave any indication that it would hurt the sales in other departments, all the firearms, regardless of "how scary" they look, would be gone.
Canadian Tire Corp has a number of working/advisory groups for all the product classes - everything from small kitchen appliances to hand tools and firearms.
The dealer at the store I work at is a member of the Firearms advisory group for the corporation. It is made up of a couple corporate members and a half dozen (dealers) store owners from around the country. The guy I work for is not a hunter or shooter, owns no guns and has no wish to do so. There is no requirement on the part of the Corporation for anyone in their groups to actually have any first hand experience. I am not saying this is right/wrong or indifferent, just stating that fact.
Immediately after the Vegas incident they called a meeting. My dealer asked me if we stocked any SKS products since the meeting was called to discuss the banning of SKS sales at any Canadian Tire in the country. While stores that hold a Business Firearms Licence source their firearms (non-restricted only) from any number of "approved suppliers" (billing is done through the corporation so the supplier has no worries about dealing with essentially a couple hundred separate retailers in terms of payment guarantee)- BUT the corporation retains the right to (dictate/approve) any particular make/model to "preserve the corporate image".
There had been some initial news report that the gunman had used an SKS and the Corporation wanted to distance themselves. Since firearms make up such a small percentage of overall sales they don't want people staying away from that store that sells "deadly assault rifles right next to bicycles for children".
The group met and decided that they no longer wanted to be associated with "the brand". Details of the exact discussions were not published as to how they came to that conclusion but it was probably purely due to "potential public perception".
I don't have the memo that was released (on my home computer) or I would publish it here now - It's not "some big secret".
I basically states that the Corporation has removed their support for the sale of all SKS products.
It states that sales are to cease immediately. Any stock should be removed from the sales floor and locked up securely and stores should wait for further instructions.
Shortly after that (a few days) a "return package" was sent to all the stores. The corporation had come to some deal with the two suppliers that sold the SKS products to the stores and they were buying back any outstanding stock.
A sheet containing product description, serial numbers, quantities etc had to be filled out and the product was to be shipped back to the wholesaler via "chain of signature" (purolator, who has our national account for firearms transportation).
So I am positive because I got the word from a member that sat in the group that banned the sales that it was a direct result to a quote claiming an SKS was used in Vegas.
There had been rumblings as early as spring of last year that the Corporation wanted to get away from being associated with any black or red rifles of any kind but they did not immediately act.
This (Vegas) gave them the only reason they needed to start the process. I was personally asked if there was "anything else" that "we maybe don't want to sell".
This was not to do with any kind of liability or pressure from some "outside force or agency", it was simply a corporate decision to protect their brand image. Because while the stores that sell firearms do make "a bit" of money from the sales, if the selling of them gave any indication that it would hurt the sales in other departments, all the firearms, regardless of "how scary" they look, would be gone.
Pretty much what my local CTC told me, they were told a while back to stay away from rifles with the scary look, although they do have a few! With Cabelas coming to our area, they will be fighting for business now anyway! Hope it creates some small price wars!
Hightrailtracker
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I was at CT in Windsor On yesterday , A month ago or so I picked up a real nice sks all matching ( as well as the stock ) @ $219.00 .
Yesterday , no SKS's in stock ?? found the sporting goods guy and he said they had a price jump to $270.00 , then sold out and CT in Ontario will no longer sell SKS's .
I quess it all of Canada
Yesterday , no SKS's in stock ?? found the sporting goods guy and he said they had a price jump to $270.00 , then sold out and CT in Ontario will no longer sell SKS's .
I quess it all of Canada
Yupp. It's so pathetic that a giant corporation is worried about their bottom line...
Your local Canadian tire is a LGS. They are owned by a dealer and operated like a mom and pop shop if you have a good owner. Not supporting them is no different than not supporting an other mom and pop shop.
Blame corporate, don't get angry at the guys/gals working the gun counter. They didn't get to make the decision. The corporation has a list like an FRT of allowable products for the store, every single firearm on the shelf is there not because of head office, it is there 100% because the owner of that store wants them there.
also, some Canadian tires will allow you to negotiate on the price. Just ask.
Have to agree, my CTC works hard to bring in hundreds of different rifles and shotguns, plus stock many calibers of ammo! The sks deal really pi$$ed off most of our local CTC , but they still sell lots of other milsurp rifles and are looking for more, such as svt40 and k31! The sks was a draw for them and more or less an entry level into the milsurp addiction! Yes, they will usually cut a deal, especially on the higher end rifles/shotguns! Hard to knock much off of a $169. Lakefield .22! I bought 3-5 sks there and got a nice percentage off, plus got to pick through more than 130 rifles! Get to know the sports section managers/clerks, our CTC are locally owned and operated and this owner likes/wants to sell firearms.
Could be different out west although I would think not, our guys down here want more, looking for Mosins, svt40( he was selling SVT for $750 two years ago and couldn't keep them in stock!) k31, they just sold all their m48 , price was about $500. They can get more of those, but they didn't sell real fast, said North Sylva has hundreds of them, not sure the condition. All that said, they do have to follow the franchise rules to a point, but they can also get together to pressure corporate! I think corporate may be pressured by the liberals and by liberal anti customers! When I walke up with the sales rep to the front of the store with 3 sks, and a lady beside us found out what I had, she near lost her mind!! They send in letters/emails, we need to do the same, send emails letting them know one of the main reasons I shop at CTC is because they carry firearms and assessories and thanks for doing so! Counteract the anti sentiment!
