Author Topic: CDN Tire going back into online tires... (Read 1358 times)

sailor723 · « **on:** September 20, 2011, 04:03:51 pm »

Wonder if they'll come close to Tirerack pricing or will it still be "that will be an extra 40% because you're Canadian" ? It's interesting what Wetmore had to say about the US online retailers near the end of the article.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/prospect-of-targets-arrival-has-canadian-tire-on-its-toes/article2172791/

2latecrew · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:17:45 pm »

Quote

“tens of millions of dollars” of online sales going to foreign players – to such an extent that it “frightened us,” Mr. Wetmore acknowledged.

This is reference to tires. Guess what..tire manufacturers don't care. They don't care if you buy your BFG Tires from Tire Rack, Tire Trends, Joe's tires or Canadian tire as long as you buy them.

Hopefully Canadian tire's volumes will enable to them to purchase quantities large enough to make a difference. I'm not holding my breath with guys like discount tires direct offering FREE shipping to Canada. My money is on them effing this up and failing

ktm525 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:42:01 pm »

It's pretty simple. Sales were going elsewhere because CT prices on tires are insane. I have always found the a couple of Canadian online retailers as well as the mighty TireRack blow CT prices away. Costco is good too but here in Calgary it is too much of a nuthouse to endure in order to save a few bucks.

Do have KalTire down East? I always smile when people show me their new tires from Kal. I don't have the heart to let them know that they probably left 50% extra on the table..

johngenx · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:44:49 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on September 20, 2011, 04:42:01 pm

Do have KalTire down East? I always smile when people show me their new tires from Kal. I don't have the heart to let them know that they probably left 50% extra on the table..

Bring lube with you to KalTire. They're too cheap to provide some, and without it, it's gonna hurt when you bend over...

(Every time I've been there, the salesperson lied about tire requirements for my car, too...)

sailor723 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:48:32 pm »

I just went to the CDN Tire site and looked at 225/45-17 W rated tires for the 328. It showed about 6-7 choices anywhere from around 330 to over $400. Tirerack was in the mid 100's to about 250 for the same thing. You should be frightened Mr Wetmore. It's not rocket science....if you want to compete in that market you have to be price competitive.

2latecrew · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:49:14 pm »

No Kal tires in Atlantic. Scotia Tire Coast tire come to mind as chains. I get tires mounted balanced etc there all the time. Their service is fantastic especially Scotia tire. Really knowledgeable, pleasant , not condescending. Problem is that as much as I like their service and the people I never buy tires there because the price difference is simply too huge. I can't afford to play 30% more. When I bought my Hancooks Wonder Auto was nearly 1k on a set of 4 tires versus 600 online. That's like paying for 6 tires to get 4.

I can see why CT wants to get into online sales becuase they certianly aren't going to sell anything with their great "service" and BS automatic install protection packages on tires.

ktm525 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:04:53 pm »

Tirerack is not even competitive anymore. The massive shipping charges to Calgary about $200-$300 prices them higher than the Canadian eq. (1010 tires and tiretrends)

johngenx · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:08:15 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on September 20, 2011, 05:04:53 pm

Tirerack is not even competitive anymore. The massive shipping charges to Calgary about $200-$300 prices them higher than the Canadian eq. (1010 tires and tiretrends)

^^^This

I had bought from Tirerack before, but not now. The shipping costs are atrocious. My last few tires have come from Costco during instant rebate promotions, making the prices the best around. Costco has dramatically improved their install service as well. It was crap, but no more.

2latecrew · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:27:08 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on September 20, 2011, 05:04:53 pm

Tirerack is not even competitive anymore. The massive shipping charges to Calgary about $200-$300 prices them higher than the Canadian eq. (1010 tires and tiretrends)

It depends.

Yes their shipping charges are high. I think it was on the order of 400$ to Nova Scotia..scary. BUT the wheels I bought were $99 on clear out and were close to $300 anywhere in Canada. The tires were $60 a pop less than anywhere in Canada. Plus the free mount and balance and even after the shipping charges I still saved big $ over Canada even online.

I agree the gap has narrowed due to shipping (discount tires direct tends to trump all with free shipping and low prices) on tires but Tire Rack still needs a look for both the choice and price on wheels

rrocket · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:27:54 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on September 20, 2011, 05:08:15 pm

Quote from: ktm525 on September 20, 2011, 05:04:53 pm
Tirerack is not even competitive anymore. The massive shipping charges to Calgary about $200-$300 prices them higher than the Canadian eq. (1010 tires and tiretrends)

^^^This

I had bought from Tirerack before, but not now. The shipping costs are atrocious. My last few tires have come from Costco during instant rebate promotions, making the prices the best around. Costco has dramatically improved their install service as well. It was crap, but no more.

I just checked for the sake of checking on the tires I bought for my LS400. Tirerack would be $115 cheaper than 1010 Tires shipped to my house. And it was ~$125 to ship to my house. Luckily I live close to the US, so it was a mere $40 to ship, saving even more. The prices get even more out of whack if we're talking buying performance tires in Canada.

FWIW, my friend owns a tire shop. And he says he can't match the prices I pay for tires in the US because his cost is often higher than the retail I pay on certain tires.

sailor723 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2011, 08:18:58 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on September 20, 2011, 05:04:53 pm

Tirerack is not even competitive anymore. The massive shipping charges to Calgary about $200-$300 prices them higher than the Canadian eq. (1010 tires and tiretrends)

But I live about an hour from the border

dougjp · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2011, 07:33:47 am »

Quote from: sailor723 on September 20, 2011, 04:03:51 pm

Wonder if they'll come close to Tirerack pricing or will it still be "that will be an extra 40% because you're Canadian" ? It's interesting what Wetmore had to say about the US online retailers near the end of the article.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/prospect-of-targets-arrival-has-canadian-tire-on-its-toes/article2172791/

The bottom line is its a marketing ploy. They want to give the appearance that they are 'with it'. How is it going to be different than now in any real sense. There's no way they are reducing prices, other than taking the add-ons out of the pricing (ie; mounting and balancing). And for most of the sales, it will be no different, people go to the store to get them put on. And pay more for that.

blur911 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2011, 10:48:47 am »

Quote from: rrocket on September 20, 2011, 05:27:54 pm

FWIW, my friend owns a tire shop. And he says he can't match the prices I pay for tires in the US because his cost is often higher than the retail I pay on certain tires.

I work for one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, when Canadian Tire puts on their "buy three, get four" deal, it's a better deal than our employee sale pricing.

Canadian MSRP is still about 25-40% higher than US MSRP for the same tire.
A guy from work just ordered a set for his truck through the Tirerack as it was going to save him over $400 off our "deal". Some of their prices were a wash after shipping, duties, etc. some are still significantly cheaper. Just remember you still have to mount them which is $60+

ktm525 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2011, 11:05:00 am »

Quote from: blur911 on September 21, 2011, 10:48:47 am

Quote from: rrocket on September 20, 2011, 05:27:54 pm

FWIW, my friend owns a tire shop. And he says he can't match the prices I pay for tires in the US because his cost is often higher than the retail I pay on certain tires.

I work for one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, when Canadian Tire puts on their "buy three, get four" deal, it's a better deal than our employee sale pricing.

Canadian MSRP is still about 25-40% higher than US MSRP for the same tire.
A guy from work just ordered a set for his truck through the Tirerack as it was going to save him over $400 off our "deal". Some of their prices were a wash after shipping, duties, etc. some are still significantly cheaper. Just remember you still have to mount them which is $60+

The online shop where I ordered from (fmr sponser) threw in some lugs and of course when buying wheels the mounting is free. What I like about them is they offer good deals on OEM wheels. They must have some good relationships with local dealers.

SaskSpecV · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2011, 11:18:22 am »

Good discussion here. I refuse to buy from CT - the service is just so incredibly AWFUL, at least here in S'toon - but if they actually can be competitive with online pricing, maybe other tire retailers will be forced to match.

I know the shipping (and duty/brokerage) costs tends to even out the tirerack.com comparison, but for many people it's still a viable option. When I last ordered winter rim & tires, the cost was just over $800 - but with shipping & duty, etc., the final bill was $1200. Not cheap - until I got a quote from KalTire ($1800 for WS70s with 16" alloy rims). Unlike some other posters here, I've had nothing but great service from KalTire (first set of Blizzak WS50s), but man the prices are expensive. 1010tires - sorry, I know they are the forum sponsor - was nearly as expensive as KalTire, once shipping & mounting/balancing/hardware costs were included (that last stuff is complementary at tirerack).

Interesting comment that Canadian wholesale prices are still often higher than US retail prices. Can Cdn tire retailers do anything about that? Or is this just a case of more Canadians need to buy from the US until the price discrepancy narrows? One poster mentioned that the tire manufacturers don't care where you buy the tire (US or Canada), so long as you buy THEIR tire. Don't know about that - if the Cdn tire retailer has to pay the mnfr 40% more than the US tire retailer for the same tire, I'm pretty sure the mnfr would rather sell in Canada where there is more profit...

aquadorhj · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2011, 07:06:17 pm »

holy sh1t, i just looked on canadian tire for the m3 size tires..

$311 for 255/35/19 rear each... $:-\$ and that's the cheapest exclaim .general uhp.

i was gonna pick up some OE 19" rims for summer, but i'm gonna have to forget that. OR buy exclusively from tire rack..

1TSX · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2011, 07:53:33 pm »

Quote from: aquadorhj on September 23, 2011, 07:06:17 pm

holy sh1t, i just looked on canadian tire for the m3 size tires..

$311 for 255/35/19 rear each... $:-\$ and that's the cheapest exclaim .general uhp.

i was gonna pick up some OE 19" rims for summer, but i'm gonna have to forget that. OR buy exclusively from tire rack..

As 2latecrew mentioned...

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/FreeShipping.html?icid=brandingBanner

psg · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2011, 11:02:46 am »

Speaking of duties and brokerage...

Can anyone comment on duties and brokerage when you get the "free-shipping" tires and wheels from discounttiredirect ?
For alloy wheels and 205/60-16 Yokohama Ice Guard IG20, I am looking at:

$1082 + tax at pmctire (includes nuts)
US$772 + tax + duties/brokerage at discounttiredirect

Although I might buy the Toyo Observe GSi-5 at pmctire instead of the Yoko for a few dollars more (wasn't listed on discounttiredirect).

johngenx · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2011, 11:14:13 am »

Check the shipping info page. Often, free shipping offers are to the continental US only.

psg · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2011, 11:30:06 am »

One post above mine is a link to free shipping to Canada via UPS, except UPS Ground charges a huge amount for brokerage (and thus my question), and I don't know if duties apply. I'd guess that they don't.