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Canada Only Deals!

jollygreengiant

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Joined
Nov 10, 2013
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2,354
Location
Ontario, Canada
Thanks, I took you up on your RONA suggestion and placed a couple of orders. A couple of things I found weird....pick-up at store only and they only search the contents of "MY STORE" for your order, no others apparently. This is one item they could not deliver on, despite showing four available.


I contrast this with both PAL and Grainger. You place an order and they search their whole Canada wide store network and ship from there for a modest $10 (total) shipping charge in most cases.

Additionally check out Staples and Walmart ( searh lathe accessories, if you have a lathe). You will be pleasantly surprised....W'mart even has free shipping for any amount.

IMO about the only thing the Rona website is good for, is looking up which store has what and the product codes to tell the in store staff. Anything else I've tried to do on that website is aggravating, including online ordering.
 
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Fredartic

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Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
283
Location
Ste-Sophie, Quebec
Thanks, I took you up on your RONA suggestion and placed a couple of orders. A couple of things I found weird....pick-up at store only and they only search the contents of "MY STORE" for your order, no others apparently. This is one item they could not deliver on, despite showing four available.


I contrast this with both PAL and Grainger. You place an order and they search their whole Canada wide store network and ship from there for a modest $10 (total) shipping charge in most cases.

Additionally check out Staples and Walmart ( searh lathe accessories, if you have a lathe). You will be pleasantly surprised....W'mart even has free shipping for any amount.


I noticed that prices are different from store to store because it's inventory sale. I was looking for an electric stove heater that was reduced to $49.99, original price $229. I went in store that showed they have one in stock. When I arrived to pay with one that I thought it was the good one, the price was not the same. The manager told that the one at is reduced is the last year model. An employee came and when he saw that their inventory showed they have 2 in stock but doesn't know where they are, he said "I want one!" He took my phone number and said he will call me back the next day when they will found it... In the next morning, no calls so I made my order online. The manager caller me and left the message that they cancelled my order because they don't have it in stock... Difficult to not thinking that the employee picked up them...
 

AldeanFan

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Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
2,581
Location
Niagara on the Lake
I went to the local Rona Saturday morning and got a few deals on clearance sawblades and drillbits. Thanks garagejournal.

I honestly don’t know how that place is open. The website is difficult, so I don’t expect they do a lot of online sales.
The store was empty. Maybe 4 cars in the parking lot on a Saturday morning. Saturday should be a busy day for sales. I avoid the other home improvement stores on Saturdays because they are packed.
 

jollygreengiant

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Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
2,354
Location
Ontario, Canada
I went to the local Rona Saturday morning and got a few deals on clearance sawblades and drillbits. Thanks garagejournal.

I honestly don’t know how that place is open. The website is difficult, so I don’t expect they do a lot of online sales.
The store was empty. Maybe 4 cars in the parking lot on a Saturday morning. Saturday should be a busy day for sales. I avoid the other home improvement stores on Saturdays because they are packed.

Our local one is always steady whenever I go in there. Actually the 4 within a 30 minute drive of me are always steady if not busy. Though one of those is a full on lumber yard that does a lot of contractor sales. I hope whatever happens with the ownership change that they manage to survive. Any other good option for home reno type stuff is at least a 40 minute drive one way.
 
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JradM

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Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Our local one is always steady whenever I go in there. Actually the 4 within a 30 minute drive of me are always steady if not busy. Though one of those is a full on lumber yard that does a lot of contractor sales. I hope whatever happens with the ownership change that they manage to survive. Any other good option for home reno type stuff is at least a 40 minute drive one way.
In the town closest to my farm, Rona and Home Hardware are the only "hardware store" options. I'm really glad it exists.

When you compare the two, I'm not sure how Home Hardware exists. That place is consistently more expensive and with worse stock, plus their inventory overlaps with other more competitive options like Peavey Mart, Canadian Tire or UFA.

Other than being a bit more expensive than Home Depot - and the one guy in the lumberyard who smokes too much dope - my local Rona is pretty good. Saves me the much longer trip into the "big city". Plus, if there's a big price discrepancy, I can go chat with the sales desk and they're usually willing to adjust for "customer satisfaction".
 

Relax

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Joined
Nov 22, 2011
Messages
441
Location
GTA, Ontario
Haven't spotted too many deals the last couple days. I don't want this thread to die out from inactivity though - I'm still hoping it catches on!

I placed an order for this $28 metric thread restorer kit on Amazon. It's coming from China, so I'll need to wait a couple weeks for it to arrive so I can see whether it's a deal - or just tool-shaped pot metal. I often use regular taps and dies to clean up threads, but I know that removes metal and isn't considered the best approach.

71iSgPCLLPL._AC_SL1001_.jpg

How did that set work out? It's no longer available, but I'll keep watch if it's worth buying.
 

matthew

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Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
I used to draw pictures of the local Revelstoke hardware store when I was a kid - my world was the library, the post office, and going to the hardware store with my dad. I’ve been loyal to Revy/Rona ever since. That loyalty hasn’t translated to the Lowe’s brand - I usually go a little further to go to a Rona branded store. My closest store is ok, the one a few km further does a notably better job of hardware and fasteners than most other stores.

I ordered a few clearance items from Lowe’s and they cancelled most of the orders on me due to no stock, too. While I appreciate that keeping inventory isn’t easy at the best of times, and that there has been more theft since the pandemic, they still haven’t done a great job. I was happier at their cancelling an online order than my going there wasting time looking for it.

Rona seemed to lack a strategy. Then Lowe’s came in and ran them like a purchasing agent - changing vendors but not really keeping the right mix of items or brands. It astonishes me that they clearanced tons of commodity light switches and plugs at 50% rather than depleting stock at a slightly reduced price and replace with new, but on more discretionary items offer small discounts that don’t compete with sale prices elsewhere. Not that it’s about that - it’s just an example of nonsensical execution - really it’s about having the right selection in the first place.
 
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K13

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Oct 24, 2007
Messages
2,223
Location
St. Albert, AB Canada
I just heard that Zellers is coming back.
Did they sell any tools?
Not really and they are not really "coming back". They are going to be a section within select Hudson Bay stores. Its a marketing scheme by the Bay to draw people in and expand what they are offering to things like pet supplies, sporting goods, expanded toys departments etc.
 

Relax

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Nov 22, 2011
Messages
441
Location
GTA, Ontario

PhantomEB

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Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
6,728
Location
Medicine Hat, AB, Canuckistan
Not really and they are not really "coming back". They are going to be a section within select Hudson Bay stores. Its a marketing scheme by the Bay to draw people in and expand what they are offering to things like pet supplies, sporting goods, expanded toys departments etc.
This day and age with people being able to afford less and less, no one can really afford the Bay, i foresee even if Zellers only has a portion of stores, that not much more sales will happen in the Bay side of the Store and they will convert the whole store to Zellers. It’s just a matter of time. Target and Lowe’s came into Canada too hard too fast and not really practical pricing for the typical Canadian, which is why they failed.
 

K13

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Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
2,223
Location
St. Albert, AB Canada
This day and age with people being able to afford less and less, no one can really afford the Bay, i foresee even if Zellers only has a portion of stores, that not much more sales will happen in the Bay side of the Store and they will convert the whole store to Zellers. It’s just a matter of time. Target and Lowe’s came into Canada too hard too fast and not really practical pricing for the typical Canadian, which is why they failed.
The Bay operates the exact same way as Canadian Tire. They constantly have sales. I don't find them any more expensive than anywhere else when comparing like items and with their constant sales often times less. The difference is they don't tend to carry cheap lines of products. So if you are looking to buy a $20 pair of wranglers don't go to the Bay.
 

Fredartic

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Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
283
Location
Ste-Sophie, Quebec
This day and age with people being able to afford less and less, no one can really afford the Bay, i foresee even if Zellers only has a portion of stores, that not much more sales will happen in the Bay side of the Store and they will convert the whole store to Zellers. It’s just a matter of time. Target and Lowe’s came into Canada too hard too fast and not really practical pricing for the typical Canadian, which is why they failed.
Zellers had changed for the last few years they exist. They were overpricy at the end. I remembered good years where we can always find something on huge sale. I hope they will return to their good years but not sure they will...
 

matthew

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Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
Princess has the Osca 500g machinist hammers on clearance for $14.03. I am kinda sorry for that - they are fantastic hammers, my favourite, and I wanted to see them stay around. I just bought another as a spare. https://www.princessauto.com/en/18-oz-machinist-hammer/product/PA0008613762

Also, if you were on the fence about the flex ratchets, they’re down to $22.03. They’ve disappeared very quickly - just a few left online and in a few stores.
 

scooby074

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Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,234
Location
Nova Scotia
Princess has the Osca 500g machinist hammers on clearance for $14.03. I am kinda sorry for that - they are fantastic hammers, my favourite, and I wanted to see them stay around. I just bought another as a spare. https://www.princessauto.com/en/18-oz-machinist-hammer/product/PA0008613762

Also, if you were on the fence about the flex ratchets, they’re down to $22.03. They’ve disappeared very quickly - just a few left online and in a few stores.
Well that ***** if they're dropping tge Osca line. They were great hammers. The Princess strikes again:mad:
 

scooby074

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Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,234
Location
Nova Scotia
Not really and they are not really "coming back". They are going to be a section within select Hudson Bay stores. Its a marketing scheme by the Bay to draw people in and expand what they are offering to things like pet supplies, sporting goods, expanded toys departments etc.

If Zellers doesn't bring back The Skillet and Zeddy they're dead to me:lol:
 
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matthew

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Dec 4, 2009
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Well that ***** if they're dropping tge Osca line. They were great hammers.
They’ve definitely been pruning the offering. Not sure if anything more or not. I’m not surprised if the rock wedges haven’t sold. I’m sure it’s tough to consistently move product on some of the other items, but I’d hope they keep the basics.

I’d really like to see them bring in a few special buy limited time items from Osca, like the interchangeable face mallets and carpenter hammers a few years ago. A rotation of items might be a better way to allocate shelf space.
 

scooby074

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Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,234
Location
Nova Scotia
They’ve definitely been pruning the offering. Not sure if anything more or not. I’m not surprised if the rock wedges haven’t sold. I’m sure it’s tough to consistently move product on some of the other items, but I’d hope they keep the basics.

I’d really like to see them bring in a few special buy limited time items from Osca, like the interchangeable face mallets and carpenter hammers a few years ago. A rotation of items might be a better way to allocate shelf space.

Imho the issue with osca is likely they were too high cost/quality for current PA. I'm not sure what direction PA is trying to go now. For a while they were bringing in higher end product like Makita, Osca and their own Propoint stuff, now it seems they're swinging back to the cheap import products.

They're really pushing Task brand, Titan and Grip. Like that 3 pc set of green Grip deadblows under$20.

Maybe if they could get the Oscas done as a private label and offer them under the Propoint line for lower cost it would work, but honestly at that point I'd prefer if they could get access to Harbour Freight Icon deadblow hammers but I'd imagine HF has their manufacturer in China locked down to sell only to them.
 

matthew

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Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
I had looked at the manufacture dates on some Osca stock, and it was recent. So it’s not entirely dead stock.

It’s also tough having the high end of the market going online. Price competition online is brutal.

I think Powefist is great as a cheap, tough, but a bit rough around the edges brand. And I think it has a niche that CanTire doesn’t serve well. But a $55 ratchet didn’t belong in Powerfist branding.

I like your thought on private label. Although I might argue Osca brand fits with Channellock, Bondhus, Irwin., and they need a few more name brand items (screwdrivers).

I liked some of the ProPoint stuff (no skips socket sets, for example). But there’s a few items that seem gimmicky in that line, which doesn’t build the brand.

Any house brand has a hard time convincing people it’s good until it’s well established. I’d like to see a line from Princess (or even elsewhere) that is promoted as a curated selection from world leading suppliers. On brand name stuff I’m a little less worried about origin, and more about reputation, but on new entrants you don’t have that. So I’d promote in a flyer and in big print on the front of the package “from Japan”, etc. Get items from Irega, Vessel, Tsunoda, Osca, Felo, etc. people would notice they’re good. Trick is to pick the right ones (good, but not premiere brands).

I also noticed a bunch of Performance Tool items now in stock for specialty tools. I suspect part of that has to do with pandemic - some of it looked very much like the Powerfist items it replaced, might just be tougher to get a run of product in their branding right now.
 
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RyanE

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Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
201
Location
Golden, BC
Princess has the Osca 500g machinist hammers on clearance for $14.03. I am kinda sorry for that - they are fantastic hammers, my favourite, and I wanted to see them stay around. I just bought another as a spare. https://www.princessauto.com/en/18-oz-machinist-hammer/product/PA0008613762

Also, if you were on the fence about the flex ratchets, they’re down to $22.03. They’ve disappeared very quickly - just a few left online and in a few stores.

Dang it! I just ordered a bunch of stuff from P-Auto to get the free shipping deal. If I'd known these hammers were on clearance I would have certainly added one to the order. Timing - mine *****!

I've handled the OSCA offerings when at the store and liked them, they just never seem to be on sale when I'm there in person and the nearest store is 300km away from me.
 

Rideless

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Jan 3, 2012
Messages
38
Princess Auto's latest flyer says they're doing free shipping on orders over $25 again - in case you were feeling nostalgic for covid times.
Haha, was about to post this - I made an order today for some things that were out of stock in-store and some smaller items. Some good clearance scattered through the categories (and surprisingly quite a bit of powerfist stuff that seems like staple product.)
 

kidrubicon

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Apr 2, 2017
Messages
60
Most but maybe not all Canadian Tire has the 18-piece 0 degree offset non-reversible ratcheting wrench set on clearance at $49.93.
I prefer reversible ratcheting wrenches since with a non-reversible ratcheting wrench there are awkward cases that you could back the fastener against an obstacle and trap the wrench on the bolt. Nevertheless, this is the lowest price I know for this set. And metric wrenches go from 8mm to 19mm, only skipping the (mostly useless) 9mm - 7/16 inch is about 11mm.

Here is a tinyURL link since the original Canadian Tire link is notoriously long.


Or search the item number 199-8883 on their website.
 

scooby074

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Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,234
Location
Nova Scotia
Most but maybe not all Canadian Tire has the 18-piece 0 degree offset non-reversible ratcheting wrench set on clearance at $49.93.
I prefer reversible ratcheting wrenches since with a non-reversible ratcheting wrench there are awkward cases that you could back the fastener against an obstacle and trap the wrench on the bolt. Nevertheless, this is the lowest price I know for this set. And metric wrenches go from 8mm to 19mm, only skipping the (mostly useless) 9mm - 7/16 inch is about 11mm.

Here is a tinyURL link since the original Canadian Tire link is notoriously long.


Or search the item number 199-8883 on their website.
I have those wrenches and they're decent. not on sale here in NS though, still $149
 

matthew

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Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
That’s a good deal, and I like that style of wrench, but if I buy any more wrenches i think they’re going to need to give me a different capability than I’ve already got…

I just wish CTC (or other retailers) would quit selling only wrenches that have one open end. There’s so many variations, and I certainly don’t need more any more of the same open ends. I’d be more willing to buy a 5 piece double ended set than a 10 piece set that look like combos.
 

scooby074

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Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,234
Location
Nova Scotia
That’s a good deal, and I like that style of wrench, but if I buy any more wrenches i think they’re going to need to give me a different capability than I’ve already got…

I just wish CTC (or other retailers) would quit selling only wrenches that have one open end. There’s so many variations, and I certainly don’t need more any more of the same open ends. I’d be more willing to buy a 5 piece double ended set than a 10 piece set that look like combos.

CT Does have double box end ratchet wrenches, flex and fixed (iirc). They come on sale 50% off a couple times a year


 

jollygreengiant

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Nov 10, 2013
Messages
2,354
Location
Ontario, Canada
Princess Auto's latest flyer says they're doing free shipping on orders over $25 again - in case you were feeling nostalgic for covid times.


Well I guess I better go check out the PA site lol. I noticed a few weeks ago that they had raised it to $100 for free shipping so hadn't looked at their site in a while.
 

matthew

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Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
CT Does have double box end ratchet wrenches, flex and fixed (iirc). They come on sale 50% off a couple times a year

I had forgotten those. And without a doubt the long pattern box end / ratcheting flex would be the ones I’d want if I didn’t already have the open end / flex ratcheting.

Even so, I wish double end with the same conditions were more ubiquitous. I’d rather have flex ratcheting / flex ratcheting. Or zero degree / zero degree. Reversible / reversible. It is so much more space efficient, and easier to add only the variations I want.
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