PlanB
Well-known member
Craftsman v series socket set now on sale at PA https://www.princessauto.com/en/18-pc-metric-socket-set-v-series/product/PA0009302043
Canada Only Deals!
- Thread starter JradM
- Start date
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Hmmmm I need to go through my metrics and spare ones to see what I am missing before I commit to more.
coldh2o
Well-known member
GJ membership revoked!
It was a bit frivolous of me, but I bought one of the Mastercraft mini tool chests for $15. It’s about what I expected - fun, but I’m still not sure what I should put in it.
What does the rest of you have in yours? Soldering irons? Jewellers screwdrivers? Drill bits? Taps and dies?
What does the rest of you have in yours? Soldering irons? Jewellers screwdrivers? Drill bits? Taps and dies?
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Hmmm I already got a mostly complete set in the workshop bay toolboxes as well another Hansen tray mostly full on the side of the main bench cabinets, full blow molded case ratchet and socket set in the back seat of the truck…..then a bunch of jars of misc sockets!
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
What's the build quality like on that one? I'm thinking of getting one for my toddler for her first tool box.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
I may need to pop into Rona now…..
I’m actually quite pleased. Keep in mind it is $15. But fit and finish are good, and paint may be powder coat and is good. It doesn’t have slides, just a river to stop pulling it out too far, so it’s not a full open drawer, but good for what it is. But it’s not large, so limited why you can put in it.
In all seriousness, it they made a middle chest that this could be stacked on, I’d buy one or two. It would become a good unit for air fittings or other small items. But more than two drawers are needed to make that really make sense as a solution.
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
There's a thread over in the General Tool forum about mini boxes and I see that there are some brands that make a lower box for these mini upper boxes, so maybe they will show up here yet.
I’m travelling right now… but it doesn’t look like Lowe’s has stock. And it’s probably not worth the checked bag fee, even if work would pay.. Here’s hoping CTC gets them!
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
PSA guys: Lee Valley's cyber event is on right now. Discounted gift cards and Veritas seconds.
rancherbill
Well-known member
Is it just me or do Canadian Tire and Princess Auto sites ****?
They are SLOW, I think they are powered by a couple of networked 386s. Their software doesn't even try to be intelligent. I was looking for a bench seat cover for my truck. It dragged up every page in their whole site that had one of the words. Over on amazon, i got no garbage results and check out lots of options.
IMHO, both companies better smarten up or they will continue to lose business to amazon vevor temu etc.
They are SLOW, I think they are powered by a couple of networked 386s. Their software doesn't even try to be intelligent. I was looking for a bench seat cover for my truck. It dragged up every page in their whole site that had one of the words. Over on amazon, i got no garbage results and check out lots of options.
IMHO, both companies better smarten up or they will continue to lose business to amazon vevor temu etc.
AldeanFan
Well-known member
Yes, their websites could be a lot better.
On Canadian Tire you get different results if you search Bandsaw and Band Saw
rancherbill
Well-known member
I was ranting in person to guys this morning about this topic.
I was ranting that management at those companies are saying fast sites costs money, having AI software costs money, etc etc. LOOSING SALES HURTS PROFITS.
I'll confess, I have tried Aliexpress, Temu, Vevor and two other ones that their names slip my mind right now. Their systems are fast and got me where i wanted, and at the bottom of the page had a bunch of stuff that was super relevant. As an example, someone said there was a socket set at PA recently. I went there and it did not say whether it wa 1/4 3/8 or 1/2 and there was no info on the sizes of the sockets that were included.
I want to support Canada and Canadian jobs. Both Princess Auto and Canadian Tire better smarten up and do better.
I was ranting that management at those companies are saying fast sites costs money, having AI software costs money, etc etc. LOOSING SALES HURTS PROFITS.
I'll confess, I have tried Aliexpress, Temu, Vevor and two other ones that their names slip my mind right now. Their systems are fast and got me where i wanted, and at the bottom of the page had a bunch of stuff that was super relevant. As an example, someone said there was a socket set at PA recently. I went there and it did not say whether it wa 1/4 3/8 or 1/2 and there was no info on the sizes of the sockets that were included.
I want to support Canada and Canadian jobs. Both Princess Auto and Canadian Tire better smarten up and do better.
Just speculating - I wonder if details are sparse because they're sometimes not an authorized retailer for a product. E.g. the Craftsman V-series and Proto items that are showing up are surplus stock PA will sell and then never restock once gone. I wonder if when they buy overstock like that, if their contracts don't prohibit them from advertising the brand they're selling (maybe to avoid competing with authorized retailers or for warranty purposes).
I agree, PAL’s site is slow, with no good reason. And they need better ability to filter results, and offer better descriptions. Lack of brand names doesn’t overly bother me with what they do, but details are relevant - for example, a torque wrench should list the range, not just drive size.
CanTire I don’t mind there site, it can be a little slow, and I wish they’d get rid of the extra images - extra content of excessive suggestions just slows it down and makes it hard to navigate.
I also have similar complaints about HomeDepit and Rona. And all of them need to get better at showing inventory. I shouldn’t have to change locations to check the stock at the 3 or 5 nearest stores. And aisle number and shelf location should be indicated clearly.
Amazon is easy to buy from, but their site is far from perfect - way too riddled with sponsored results, and the infinite scrolling is terrible - way better to have 50 results and scroll through a few pages. Let me judge if 1 or 5 pages are what I want to look through, and make it easy to go back.
For me the gold standard of a site is McMaster-Carr. Search results and filters are incredibly accurate, complete, filterable, visually easy to scan, and reasonable time to load.
CanTire I don’t mind there site, it can be a little slow, and I wish they’d get rid of the extra images - extra content of excessive suggestions just slows it down and makes it hard to navigate.
I also have similar complaints about HomeDepit and Rona. And all of them need to get better at showing inventory. I shouldn’t have to change locations to check the stock at the 3 or 5 nearest stores. And aisle number and shelf location should be indicated clearly.
Amazon is easy to buy from, but their site is far from perfect - way too riddled with sponsored results, and the infinite scrolling is terrible - way better to have 50 results and scroll through a few pages. Let me judge if 1 or 5 pages are what I want to look through, and make it easy to go back.
For me the gold standard of a site is McMaster-Carr. Search results and filters are incredibly accurate, complete, filterable, visually easy to scan, and reasonable time to load.
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
Does anyone remember what the CT site used to be before the previous version? I think it was during the pandemic that they changed it, and it was not for the better. I thought they would fix some of the issues but it's been pretty much the same.
I find HD's site to be decent, but Rona's site *****. Especially the search feature and their inventory lookup. I really wish they'd fix that since my local Rona is my go to store.
But I feel that CT is going the way that TSC did, with more clothes/toys/etc and less hardware/automotive/tool focus. I ordered some maintenance parts last night for my wife's Edge, and some of the markups on CT products vs what Rock Auto is selling them for is ridiculous. I could order 3 wix oil filters for the price that CT sells one regular duty Mobil filter for.
I find HD's site to be decent, but Rona's site *****. Especially the search feature and their inventory lookup. I really wish they'd fix that since my local Rona is my go to store.
But I feel that CT is going the way that TSC did, with more clothes/toys/etc and less hardware/automotive/tool focus. I ordered some maintenance parts last night for my wife's Edge, and some of the markups on CT products vs what Rock Auto is selling them for is ridiculous. I could order 3 wix oil filters for the price that CT sells one regular duty Mobil filter for.
ObnoxiousFumes
Well-known member
I wonder about RockAuto, and rarely buy from them, I’ve heard lots of stories of cheap parts being reboxed into brand name boxes.
AldeanFan
Well-known member
At least Princess Auto has helpful staff.
If I can’t find something there is someone there to help, so I really only use their website to look at the flyer.
Canadian Tire has no staff and they lock up a lot of stuff. As a result I buy most things online for pickup from their lockers. But the website ***** so ordering online is not enjoyable.
If I can’t find something there is someone there to help, so I really only use their website to look at the flyer.
Canadian Tire has no staff and they lock up a lot of stuff. As a result I buy most things online for pickup from their lockers. But the website ***** so ordering online is not enjoyable.
AldeanFan
Well-known member
I’ve only had good experiences with RockAuto.
They have lots of selection, for example they have 40-50 options for brake pads for a mustang.
Their shipping is reasonable and what they charge includes all the tax and duty. The only time shipping is expensive is if you order something heavy like rotors or a starter, but even then it’s often cheaper than buying locally.
Twice I’ve had a problem and both times RockAuto has made it right. One time I ordered a ball joint and received a tie rod, and one time I ordered brake pads and the ones that arrived were wrong although the box was for the right parts.
Both times they refunded the cost and didn’t want the parts returned.
Me too. I like Rock Auto.
You do have to pay attention to which warehouse items are shipping from - if they're all shipping out the same place, then shipping cost is reasonable. If you're ordering 10 things from 10 different warehouses, yikes.
To avoid that, sometimes I put a few different versions of the same part in my cart, then see if I can remove ones that ship from different places. As long as you're not too brand picky, that works pretty good.
coldh2o
Well-known member
Vote #3 for Rock Auto. The website is super user-friendly, and it's great being able to shop in $CAN, then see total price with all tax, duty, shipping.
And ditto on "shopping" warehouses, it makes a huge difference on shipping cost.
darrowco
Well-known member
I use them too - mainly to build out my collection of free magnetic cards 
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
This is honestly the first time that I've heard of that. Like the others I've yet to have a problem with rock auto.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Rock Auto is stuff like brake pads, etc. for me. Half the time I don’t even get a magnet so all I do now is build up a list of the simple **** and order it all at once.
I stick to local if it’s something I expect not to work out the way I expect.
My brother is done with them after the wrong flywheel for his WRX.
I said it’s a Subaru….you don’t go anywhere else for specialty **** like that. And why the hell didnt you take the original one to Horsepower Acres(ourbuddys machine shop, even if it’s a 4-6 hour trip round trip, still faster than anyone shipping you a flywheel….and you know it was done right!
I stick to local if it’s something I expect not to work out the way I expect.
My brother is done with them after the wrong flywheel for his WRX.
I said it’s a Subaru….you don’t go anywhere else for specialty **** like that. And why the hell didnt you take the original one to Horsepower Acres(ourbuddys machine shop, even if it’s a 4-6 hour trip round trip, still faster than anyone shipping you a flywheel….and you know it was done right!
I try to give about a 20% handicap to buying local vs. Internet.
Rock Auto is pretty amazing for searching for parts. But definitely the split ships are a pain - there has to be a better way than putting 30 items in your cart and deleting all of the oil filters and brake pads that don’t come from the same warehouse.
I get that the local guys have overheads, and have to cover that, and that logically price bumps are needed every so often. Competition is what keeps things in check and keeps from treating it as cost-plus. I’m not sure if it is an adjustment needed to compete with Rock, or if Rock will go like Amazon and the deals disappear two there is some bottom line.
Rock Auto is pretty amazing for searching for parts. But definitely the split ships are a pain - there has to be a better way than putting 30 items in your cart and deleting all of the oil filters and brake pads that don’t come from the same warehouse.
I get that the local guys have overheads, and have to cover that, and that logically price bumps are needed every so often. Competition is what keeps things in check and keeps from treating it as cost-plus. I’m not sure if it is an adjustment needed to compete with Rock, or if Rock will go like Amazon and the deals disappear two there is some bottom line.
ObnoxiousFumes
Well-known member
Well let’s just say, I know lots of people that love RA, but those people are not the kind I would let near my vehicles with a wrench.
I’ve heard (from several sources) that they sometimes sell reboxed **** in name brand boxes or even counterfeit parts, and that’s not cool.
Never personally had any “trouble” with them I guess but I also don’t order much from them either.
Yes I’m sure it’s great if you are trying to put only the cheapest parts on your car, but I’m not into that as I don’t like replacing **** parts seventeen times when I can pay a little more and forget about it, and especially not when it comes to my VW’s.
The other thing is, buying local is WAY more important than most folks realize, so what if it means I pay a little more? I’m for supporting the hardworking people in my country first and hopefully not as much slave labour overseas. And I can walk in and talk to people I know and can relate with.
And like I said I’m not about to put the cheapest **** parts on my vehicles so there probably isn’t that much of a difference in price anyway.
Also RA’s customer service is basically nonexistent.
That’s my opinion, and I’ll see myself out now.
I’ve heard (from several sources) that they sometimes sell reboxed **** in name brand boxes or even counterfeit parts, and that’s not cool.
Never personally had any “trouble” with them I guess but I also don’t order much from them either.
Yes I’m sure it’s great if you are trying to put only the cheapest parts on your car, but I’m not into that as I don’t like replacing **** parts seventeen times when I can pay a little more and forget about it, and especially not when it comes to my VW’s.
The other thing is, buying local is WAY more important than most folks realize, so what if it means I pay a little more? I’m for supporting the hardworking people in my country first and hopefully not as much slave labour overseas. And I can walk in and talk to people I know and can relate with.
And like I said I’m not about to put the cheapest **** parts on my vehicles so there probably isn’t that much of a difference in price anyway.
Also RA’s customer service is basically nonexistent.
That’s my opinion, and I’ll see myself out now.
AldeanFan
Well-known member
I think you’ve been misinformed.
I've never actually ordered from RA myself but I know many who have.
Any time I need major work it seems cheaper when you're adding to cart but the shipping is brutal - at least to my rural post code.
I did a full brake job on my truck (4 calipers, 4 rotors, F+R pads). Half decent/"Daily Driver" parts from RA were about $800 (inc core). But shipping was $300! Locally it came to around $1200. To be fair I do get a discount at my local because I order a lot of parts through work.
And then there's the hassle of a core... I can go into my local guy and just hand him a caliper in a plastic bag and he doesn't give a damn (in fact he usually credits me the core when I buy the parts because he knows I'm good for it, but that's not what everyone can/should expect).
With RA you have to make an effort to fully drain them, pack them up nicely, go to Canada Post and then ask RA for a shipping credit.
For $100 on $1200 I'll shop local every time.
Any time I need major work it seems cheaper when you're adding to cart but the shipping is brutal - at least to my rural post code.
I did a full brake job on my truck (4 calipers, 4 rotors, F+R pads). Half decent/"Daily Driver" parts from RA were about $800 (inc core). But shipping was $300! Locally it came to around $1200. To be fair I do get a discount at my local because I order a lot of parts through work.
And then there's the hassle of a core... I can go into my local guy and just hand him a caliper in a plastic bag and he doesn't give a damn (in fact he usually credits me the core when I buy the parts because he knows I'm good for it, but that's not what everyone can/should expect).
With RA you have to make an effort to fully drain them, pack them up nicely, go to Canada Post and then ask RA for a shipping credit.
For $100 on $1200 I'll shop local every time.
ObnoxiousFumes
Well-known member
And I don’t care what you think. Lol
Depends what you're ordering too. I spent ~$2500 ordering parts to restore my 1976 Ford Courier. Most of the stuff was about 1/2 price compared to ordering in Canada, and Rock Auto had things I couldn't find domestically at all.
Some stuff was crazy cheap. For example, I got oil filters for $1.04 (so I bought 22 and cleared out their stock - because why not?).
On the other hand, when doing the brakes on a 2016 Ford Edge for my mom, like Daithi, I found there was negligible savings to be had. When I needed some sensors and a fuel pump for my 2003 F150, Rock Auto was more expensive.
Some stuff was crazy cheap. For example, I got oil filters for $1.04 (so I bought 22 and cleared out their stock - because why not?).
On the other hand, when doing the brakes on a 2016 Ford Edge for my mom, like Daithi, I found there was negligible savings to be had. When I needed some sensors and a fuel pump for my 2003 F150, Rock Auto was more expensive.
FWIW, my Rock experiences -
Bought a wire connector. Hard to find part. No issues. 5/5
I did a couple of brake calipers this year. One was the same price from Rock as local, plus shipping, plus the cost and hassle of core return. I bought local. The second time it was about $50 from Rock for a close out, no core return required.
I’ll say that both rebuilt calipers had a slightly different but similar issue in the machining. I had to do a little work, I was happy at $50 but wouldn’t have been at $150.
I bought some brake pads. Some came in branded packaging, some in white boxes. I don’t think they aren’t genuine, probably just destined for generic brake shop distribution. I haven’t really liked the pads, but they were a pretty good deal.
I bought oil filters for $2-5. I think Wix and Denso are probably better than the Fram that always show up here. I hate to take the regular consumables and not buy local, but it is well outside of my 20% pricing handicap rule, and partly about the selection here not being good. Shipping was fine, but only because I bought a few and played with it until I found ones shipping from the same place.
I’d either give Rock 3.5/5 or 4/5 depending on when and what I’m looking for.
Bought a wire connector. Hard to find part. No issues. 5/5
I did a couple of brake calipers this year. One was the same price from Rock as local, plus shipping, plus the cost and hassle of core return. I bought local. The second time it was about $50 from Rock for a close out, no core return required.
I’ll say that both rebuilt calipers had a slightly different but similar issue in the machining. I had to do a little work, I was happy at $50 but wouldn’t have been at $150.
I bought some brake pads. Some came in branded packaging, some in white boxes. I don’t think they aren’t genuine, probably just destined for generic brake shop distribution. I haven’t really liked the pads, but they were a pretty good deal.
I bought oil filters for $2-5. I think Wix and Denso are probably better than the Fram that always show up here. I hate to take the regular consumables and not buy local, but it is well outside of my 20% pricing handicap rule, and partly about the selection here not being good. Shipping was fine, but only because I bought a few and played with it until I found ones shipping from the same place.
I’d either give Rock 3.5/5 or 4/5 depending on when and what I’m looking for.
AldeanFan
Well-known member
Anyone else having trouble getting on the Princess auto website? It’s been giving me issues for a few days.
Working good for me. Try clearing your cache.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Hell most of the girls at mins know me by name. I love teasing the one cashier, you know my phone number too yet you ain’t texted me yet lol.
scooby074
Well-known member
Good one. There's actually a few Wera items:
I wonder if Princess Auto bought some surplus - or if they brought these in as special buys?
scooby074
Well-known member
Im going to guess surplus from somewhere. The numbers are pretty low. The Stubby bit screwdriver only shows 2 available at my store.
It would be pretty interesting if they brought in the Wera line. We havent had any brick and mortar dealers here since Lee Valley dropped them a few years ago.
Again, this comes back to PAs new management not knowing what exactly they want the stores to be
CanTire still has some Wera in stock, although that seems to have been thinning.
Wera Christmas items are not a bad fit for PA as special buys. Even knowing they bring in special buys of higher end stuff wouldn’t be a bad strategy, but that’s a little different than a come and go change of strategy.