I am getting sick and tired of the lack of selection of auto stuff in Canada.

[ktm525]

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.

[wing]

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!

[ktm525]

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.

[wing]

Sounds like you live in suburbia like me

[articsteve]

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.

[No H2O]

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.

[ktm525]

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.

[Canada]

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?

[blur911]

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.

[Arthur Dent]

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.

[ktm525]

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.

[rrocket]

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...

[safristi]

"Princess auto has a good selection of tools".......who'da thunk.................. ...

[dr_spock]

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.