Canadian Tire fails part replacement test
by Steve ~ March 15th, 2008. Filed under: Maintenance & Repairs.
As promised, I visited Canadian Tire today to order a replacement shifter for the Bike of Doom. I came armed with the bike part number, as well as my emails from Canadian Tire head office. None of that seemed to make a difference.
The guy manning the Bike Department said he couldn’t order a part unless I could prove I’d purchased the bike from Canadian Tire. I pointed out that Canadian Tire was the only company selling this bike, as far as I knew. That didn’t matter, he needed a receipt. When I said I’d be right back with it, he asked when I purchased the bike. I said a bit over a year ago. He didn’t look happy. He didn’t think they could order the part. He called his manager on the phone to confirm.
Yep, they wouldn’t order the part. At least, not without seeing the receipt first.
I should point out that the guy from the Bike Department seemed genuinely disappointed, and very polite.
So, my emails from Canadian Tire, and from Raleigh Canada, were only partially correct. Yes, parts are available for order, but only if you have a receipt for the bike, which suggests they’ll order parts only as warranty replacements.
That’s no good for somebody who wants to keep the bike in running condition beyond the warranty period. That’s too bad. None of it mattered, anyway, because when I got home I couldn’t find the receipt. Guess I was S.O.L., no matter what.
Finding replacements parts isn’t the issue. I’m sure I can find a SC1800 abandoned in a lane nearby with shifters I can remove, or I can order from Bike Parts USA. I can even upgrade to handlebar stem friction shifters from an old ten speed I have lying around. But I was hoping to get these from Canadian Tire, to prove a point.
Well, I guess I did prove a point. Don’t count on Canadian Tire for parts.
The adventure continues!
PS: if anybody from Canadian Tire reads this and would like to prove me wrong, I’m happy to oblige! I need thumb shifters for the SuperCycle 1800 mountain bike (#71-1556-2). Just drop me an email and let me know when they’re ready, and I’ll be happy to pick them up at the St. James store in Winnipeg. Happy to pay for them, too. This is not a warranty repair.
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March 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I think you just nailed the only serious problem I have with recommending that type of bike. For a lot of users the mid to low end MTB does the job, but you do lose out on the sort of support I take for granted with the other bikes I ride. Some of it is shop (I know the place I go has a no-trade policy for “department store” bikes, but I don’t know about their service policy) and some is company. Good luck with the part hunt.
March 15th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I don’t mind scrounging parts, but I had hoped that Canadian Tire would come through and supply parts when I needed them. Until now, I would have recommended the bike to somebody who was willing to repair and maintain it, believing they could buy replacement parts from the source. Now that I know that isn’t the case, I’d be reluctant to recommend the bike to anyone, unless I was sure they were able to do some scrounging and parts salvage when the time came.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Hiya Steve. I hadn’t even thought of this angle of criticism on BSO’s (dept. store bikes, dynacrap bikes) and the disreputable companies that sell them.
But it makes me realize something. As depressing as this post is (can you imagine a car dealership turning away customers who wanted those high-priced OEM replacement parts because they didn’t have a receipt for their auto?), I commend you and that Canadian Tire manager for even entertaining the idea of ordering replacement parts for a BSO (dept. store bike, dynacrap bike).
Here in the benighted US, it would never even cross our mind to go into a Wal-Mart or a Target looking for a new shifter or a crank, because we’re pretty sure we’d be laughed right out of the store by a disbelieving sporting goods clerk.
Oh, and congrats on reaching the one year anniversary. It’s only been a year?! Holy crap, that bike really has been a piece of intolerable junk. You’re a saint — or a masochist - to keep riding it.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I’m very surprised that Canadian Tire has dropped the ball. I think you need to take this a little higher up the food chain.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Pinchie > I hadn’t actually considered this angle either. You really are on your own if you buy one of these bikes, unless you can find a friendly Local Bike Shop willing to service it, and if you do that, why not buy the bike at the LBS to start with? And, yes, just a single year, and more bike repairs than I can shake a stick at.
MikeN > I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble to take it higher. The SC1800 is on sale for $79 right now. If I really wanted to, I could buy another and cannibalize it for parts. But I think I’ll keep going with the BOD, without buying additional parts, to see how long it takes to disintegrate.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I’d be more impressed to hear you found a CT with functional bike racks. There is something not quite right about pimping bsos without providing facilities to lock them up.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Have you tried your LBS? I’m sure they *can* get the parts for you, as much as they may grumble about it. If they won’t help you, I’d be happy to step to the plate.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Chris, thanks for the offer… my LBS has been pretty good in providing parts for a couple of cheap bikes I’ve had. They don’t even grumble!