Fish-Hawk.Net

This probably isn't the right forum for this but the mods can mod's can move it if they like. Like a lot of others, I spend thousands on boating and fishing. Normally the first place I start is Canadian Tire. Never again will I spend a penny on gas or products. I went to ctc in Pembroke to buy new signal flares for my boat. (Over 20ft you need 6) The handheld set of 6 amounts to 80 bucks. When I got there they informed me that they have only 2 yrs before they expire. Supposed to be 4 yrs..I ask for a discount based on the life that is left. They at first offered to discount them a whole $10. I ask for a better discount and then they just plain refused to sell them to me saying that the supplier would reimburse them the full amount. I spoke to the general manager John Birch and he said the same thing but added, we are not in the business of losing money. I told him that if I stop shopping at his store that he would lose alot more. He said he was ok with that. So now I will have to drive to ottawa to get them. So all I can say is "shame on you ctc for putting profits ahead of a once loyal spend crazy customer."
Now I am looking for a business to which I can expect awesome customer satisfaction. And that my friends is my rant

That's really poopy!

moonshine wrote: Now I am looking for a business to which I can expect awesome customer satisfaction.

That's an easy one....Paddletales, above and beyond!

Amen to that!! They make you feel as if they're doing you a BIG favour by taking your $ and treating you badly. Worth it to drive little more,pay little more at local small businesses. Customer service IS important.Plus local info FREELY given!!

Does Foy's marine in Renfrew carry them ? Worth a call anyway.

I find myself going to CTC less and less. The odd half price tool, that's about it. Their stocking sucks. Rain Checks are worse.
So many more options is purchasing nowadays.

Specialized items like that, you are better off going to stores who stay in business selling that type of stuff.

As quite known on this board, I frequest Paddletales often and is where I buy most of my stuff. If he is unable to get you the flares, I would recomend the Chandlery in ottawa. They make their living off of boating accessories and equipment. Great store and you can check online if they carry what you need. If you don't see it, call them and they will verify.

Yes the chandlery has them in stock. The one thing that surprises me most is that all of the places that sell pontoon boats over 20ft, not one of them in the valley carry the required safety equipment that they are required to have.

The last place I go to is CTC (WMart also qualifies). There are exceptions.
I needed a battery for my car. It's Sunday ... CTC is open so that's where I went.
First sign of trouble ... It's going right back.

Pretty soon, CTC will be opening a grocery section.

Anything fishing = Paddletales
Boat related stuff such a flares and whatnot = Any shop specialized in Marine equipment

moonshine wrote:Yes the chandlery has them in stock. The one thing that surprises me most is that all of the places that sell pontoon boats over 20ft, not one of them in the valley carry the required safety equipment that they are required to have.

It can be difficult to keep track of all the nonsense "safety" gear the do-gooders require...a 20 foot pontoon boat requires flares but an 18 foot doesn't? Brilliant...

I have had similar experiences at the CTC in Pembroke. I have gone in there for a very common spark plug, the computer says 4 in stock, of course none to be found. I then went in 8 months later to find the same plug not in stock, you guessed it the computer says 4 in stock. No one bothered to update the quantity from my first visit...this is a very common NGK plug, no telling how many sales were lost.

I HATE going there to buy something out of the sales flyer...knowing full well it won't be there.

Wish we had a Paddletales in Pembroke...

CTC like many businesses is a franchise. Although there are "corporate values" the franchisee is able to operate his store as he sees fit. IMO what you guys should be complaining about is how the guy in Pembroke operates his franchise and given where you live, there is only the one store location so it is difficult to take your business elsewhere. Here in Ottawa there are CTCs all over the place and in my experience some of them have better service than others.

There probably are a number of CTC stories everyone can tell that will make your blood boil but Iam not sure this one is that big of a deal. (from a corporate policy perspective) They have a product that has half the shelf life of normal doesnt means they need to give you a 50% discount on it. They have a legit reason in this case, if they dont sell them they get their money back from the distributor. So just dont buy them there.
Now dont get me wrong It sounds like the mgr is a D!ck, and thats what really got you going. for example if it was me I would have said to you upfront.. sorry cant give you a discount because we get reimbursed 100% when we return them, but I will be happy to order you new stock. At that point you have the option to wait or just go somewhere else, but I bet if that happens you dont write this post. Its the Dill hole mgr saying "we are not in the business of losing money" that got your fingers typing.
So what I would do is write a polite letter to the owner of the store and corp HQ identifying the reason they have lost your business is the store mgr attitude.

That is not cool.
But why go anywhere, just order online? Way more choice's.

You cant order online for the same reason you cant order tnt online. Its considered an explosive device. What got my blood boiling was that at first they offered it to me at a $10 discount claiming that they would be getting only their cost covered. Then changing their mind claiming to need to make a profit. A properly managed store would exchange their old product every year as they are allowed to do.

moonshine wrote:You cant order online for the same reason you cant order tnt online. Its considered an explosive device.

So you're telling that's why I couldn't order a 12 pack of dynamite sticks?

Steve I agree with JZ for the most part. I get pretty good service from my local store,even sale prices after the sale at times. Sounds like you guys just have a crappy CTC store with a dickhead manager and maybe a lousy owner to boot. "We're not in the business of losing money" he says. Right! What the hell do you think a loss leader is dickhead. Besides, a happy customer is a return customer. Plus what's it going to cost him in time and shipping to return a few flares, which would be considered dangerous goods . What a jerk. I would definitely write a letter to the owner or even better catch him sometime when he's in the store and give him a piece of your mind. That's where I might differ from JZ. If the owner backs his manager and doesn't care about losing all your business, then I might not be so polite or quiet.

Cheers

TheMaverick wrote:

moonshine wrote:You cant order online for the same reason you cant order tnt online. Its considered an explosive device.

So you're telling that's why I couldn't order a 12 pack of dynamite sticks?

In Soviet Russia, the 12 pack of dynamite orders you!