« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.  (Read 1126 times)

Offline ktm525

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: against the eastern side of the rocks
  • Posts: 4964
  • Carma: +5/-0
  • Just walk away!
    • View Profile
I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« on: November 17, 2009, 12:44:25 pm »
Just a little rant I need to get of my chest. Have any of you auto enthusiasts gotten frustrated by the lack of selection of auto related stuff? Want a brake bleeder? In the States just click on Amazon or drop by Pep boys. In Canada either spend time emailing some distributor that never replies or ask at Partsource and get blank stares.

I tried two part stores yesterday (Partsource and Auto Value)  to find Dot 4+ or Dot 5.1 brake fluid.  Auto Value had nothing while the woman at Partsource said she has never heard of Dot 4+ or 5.1 ::). I guess it is off to the Volvo dealer and bend over the parts counter.
Logged

Offline wing

  • Big Wig
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
  • Posts: 18105
  • Carma: +101/-61
  • Gender: Male
  • If you ain't first ... you're last!
    • View Profile
    • Drivesideways
  • Cars: 2001 Honda S2000; 2005 Nissan Titan
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 01:07:45 pm »
You need to find a small shop forget the big box stores.  I can find that stuff easily in ottawa at Benson's or a few other places.

They all order from the same place in the end though!

But there is better selection in the US, I looked all over for one part here in Canada, it could not be found nobody had it.  But Autozone and another one (I forget the name) in small towns in the US had them on the shelf!
Logged

Offline ktm525

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: against the eastern side of the rocks
  • Posts: 4964
  • Carma: +5/-0
  • Just walk away!
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2009, 01:16:12 pm »
Quote from: wing on November 17, 2009, 01:07:45 pm
You need to find a small shop forget the big box stores.  I can find that stuff easily in ottawa at Benson's or a few other places.

They all order from the same place in the end though!

But there is better selection in the US, I looked all over for one part here in Canada, it could not be found nobody had it.  But Autozone and another one (I forget the name) in small towns in the US had them on the shelf!

All the small shops are on the other side of the city. 1/2 hour each way in traffic to pick up a bottle of brake fluid...Ugh.

Logged

Offline wing

  • Big Wig
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
  • Posts: 18105
  • Carma: +101/-61
  • Gender: Male
  • If you ain't first ... you're last!
    • View Profile
    • Drivesideways
  • Cars: 2001 Honda S2000; 2005 Nissan Titan
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2009, 01:19:52 pm »
Sounds like you live in suburbia like me :P
Logged

Offline articsteve

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: ON
  • Posts: 15055
  • Carma: +31/-163
    • View Profile
  • Cars: Hobbie Car: 1990 944S2
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2009, 01:25:00 pm »
It is indeed horrible up here.  For auto tools try these guys.

http://www.bosstoolsupply.com/

A division of Harbour Freight which is monster in the USA.
Logged
“Frankly, we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency,”     Billions for jets and pennies for vets; Harponi is MAGNIFICENT.

Offline No H2O

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Canada & the Alps
  • Posts: 2284
  • Carma: +0/-2
  • Gender: Male
  • Alps Adventurer
    • View Profile
    • Alex's BMW Motorcycle & Global Touring Page
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2009, 01:27:38 pm »
Quote from: ktm525 on November 17, 2009, 12:44:25 pm
Have any of you auto enthusiasts gotten frustrated by the lack of selection of auto related stuff?

I stopped banging my head against a wall back in the late '80s and just deal in the USA for just about everything.

Not just auto related stuff but anything under the sun. I am also sick and tired of the get-rich-quick pricing up here, not just the lack of availability.

Luckily, The UPS Store is a short drive across the border.
Logged
What you won't find in my car is a coffee, cigarette and a cell phone. What you will find is a driver; imagine that, a driver in a vehicle. What an effing concept!

A car has to do more than just perform; it has to stir your soul!

A true driver's car does not have cup holders.

Offline ktm525

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: against the eastern side of the rocks
  • Posts: 4964
  • Carma: +5/-0
  • Just walk away!
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2009, 01:32:00 pm »
Thanks for the tips. For the planned-out stuff I order from the states. For Volvos I use IPD out of Oregon. I bought my Mighty Vac, Porte Cable polisher etc all out of the USA. The biggest issue is when the small unexpected projects pop up. (Such as me noticing the Volvo's brake fluid is looking grungy and I want to bleed when I swap to the winters this weekend.)

I feel better now. Thanks.
Logged

Offline Canada

  • Learner's Permit
  • *
  • Location: Anytown
  • Posts: 86
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2009, 11:59:48 am »
Yeah, I know what you mean, I am trying to find someone local (or as best as can be, pronounced I will probably have to buy it from somewhere in the Sates) selling a beam type torque wrench.  My search continues.  Maybe because the Canadian market is relatively small compared to the U.S. that companies have a hard time surviving up here?
Logged

Offline blur911

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Kingston, On
  • Posts: 2509
  • Carma: +37/-70
  • Shake the Baby
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2009, 12:36:37 pm »
Quote from: Canada on November 19, 2009, 11:59:48 am
Yeah, I know what you mean, I am trying to find someone local (or as best as can be, pronounced I will probably have to buy it from somewhere in the Sates) selling a beam type torque wrench.  My search continues.  Maybe because the Canadian market is relatively small compared to the U.S. that companies have a hard time surviving up here?

You can get those anywhere, they start at about $20 on sale at Crappy Tire or Sears.  If you want a bit better one and like shopping for shiny tools, then stop by an Acklands Grainger store and get a Westward for $55.  They're dead simple and for most applications accurate enough.  If the needle goes off zero, bend it back to zero.


I get to use this one at work occasionally.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2009, 12:50:08 pm by blur911 »
Logged

Offline Arthur Dent

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Lethbridge, AB
  • Posts: 2925
  • Carma: +18/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Old Car Junkie
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2009, 12:54:14 pm »
Princess Auto has a good selection of tools. Quality is uneven. I bought a brake bleeder for under $10 and worked great on the Beetle (apparently hard to bleed brakes on).

I've found DOT5 at Canadian Tire but its totally random.
Logged

Offline ktm525

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: against the eastern side of the rocks
  • Posts: 4964
  • Carma: +5/-0
  • Just walk away!
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2009, 04:20:57 pm »
Quote from: Arthur Dent on November 19, 2009, 12:54:14 pm
Princess Auto has a good selection of tools. Quality is uneven. I bought a brake bleeder for under $10 and worked great on the Beetle (apparently hard to bleed brakes on).

I've found DOT5 at Canadian Tire but its totally random.

You can find Dot 5 most places but nobody had DOT 5.1. A big difference.
Logged

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: My house
  • Posts: 18663
  • Carma: +81/-89
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2009, 04:41:14 pm »
Oh yea!!  I had this same rant before when sourcing stuff for the Supra.  IF it's available here, you pay more for it than you should.  LIke others, I just started buying from the US.  Funny thing, too.  I had the same issue when I wanted a quality brake fluid.  I ended up going with ATE Super Blue btw...
Logged
How fast is my Supra?  I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....

Offline safristi

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Bethlehem
  • Posts: 40872
  • Carma: +141/-51
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2009, 04:46:14 pm »
"Princess auto has a good selection of tools".......who'da thunk.................. :)...
« Last Edit: November 19, 2009, 04:48:51 pm by safristi »
Logged
THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....

Offline dr_spock

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Canada
  • Posts: 10569
  • Carma: +10/-4
    • View Profile
Re: I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.
« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2009, 05:13:09 pm »
I source most of my parts in Canada.  Once a while I'll order from the U.S.A., if it is not available in Canada.   I haven't had a problem where I couldn't get something I wanted yet. 
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »