Bad customer service experience from Canadian Tire

Pros: Good deal on buy 1 tire and buy 2nd tire at 1/2 price.

Cons: The customer service is as bad as you would get, leaving you bad mood for the rest of your day. In the other words, you pay to get the bad taste.

My advice to other drivers: Think twice before you bring your car to Canadian Tire. There are many other automotive repair shops provide better service. Even your dealer does better job than Canadian Tire.

During the last auto check-up, my mechanic recommended me that my brake and tires are at the end of their life. I flipped thru flyers and found that Canadian Tire is having good deal on buy 1 tire and buy 2nd tire at 1/2 price. I was thinking since I am already getting my new tires at Canadian Tire, might as well I get my brake done there too. This will save me a trip to my mechanic .

On June 9, 2009 7:45am, I brought my car to Canadian Tire for the new set of tires and brake change. The service advisor who served me, Mr. M, didn't seems to have a good mood that day, and didn't seems too happy to answer my questions. As he explained to me the cost for the new set of tires, there was a $16 charge for the warranty (free tire repair, etc). I pointed it out on the flyer that my new set of tires will get this warranty for free, and the $16 was removed from the charge.

Because I have to get the brake inspection done first, I would have to sign and agree on the cost of the tires and brake inspection. I know exactly I am paying for my tires. Although not feeling right with the customer service experience, I was still calm.

1.5 hours later, I was called that my brake inspection was done, and I have to pay $1100+ for my new bill. I was surprised with the amount. After going thru the recommendation from the technician, I removed one recommended diagnostic which made the cost down to $1000+. The cost is still high and way beyond my budget. Since it is a 3-page bill, with 1.5 pages details and pricing from the tires, I requested Mr. M only to show me the total cost of the brake so that I have better understanding of how much I am paying for the brake. He refused my request in such a bad attitude, and started raising his voice, and repeatedly told me "I've shown you the details and told you the cost is about $500". I attempted to let him know that I would like to know the exact amount I have to pay for the brake, he was angry and refused it. I also attempted to see if he could help me to separate the bill into 2 bills since my tire installation has been done, so that I could pay my new tires bill first and have some time to figure out the second bill for the brake. He refused me again in a disrespectful way.

Since I have to pay for the brake inspection.(which would be free if I install my brake with them) I have no other better option. I unwillingly signed and agreed on the total cost of $1000+ for the tires and brake, without knowing how much exactly I am paying for the brake.

After that, I spent 3.5 waiting for the brake installation. It was my worst and longest 3.5 hours in many years. I was so unhappy with the encountering. During the wait time, when Mr M is away, I went to talk to another service advisor (Mr R). Mr R is nice, printed a copy of the bill for me at my request, explained to me that I actually saved $56.24 with Canadian Tire that I will get the brake pad for free. I think this is the kind of service I am expected at Canadian Tire.

After that, I noticed on the printed bill only charged me $900+. I wanted to ask that but Mr. R was busy and Mr. M is around, I suppress my question for this since the bill seems to be making sense after Mr. R explained it to me. While waiting, I recalled that I forgot to ask if my new tires were directional or non-directional, and hope to ask this question during my check out.

On the good side, the technician who serviced my car (David) saw me repeatedly stopped by the window to see my car, gave me an quick 30 seconds update on the status. I really appreciate that.

Well, to my dismay, during check out, Mr. R was not around, and I have to deal with Mr. M again. I didn't ask my question on my new tires. I totally don't have any idea how to rotate my tires without this information. I think I will have to check that out on the Good Year website.

With recommendation from the customer relations at Canadian Tire, I filed my complaint to the Kanata's Canada Tire General Manager Mr. Malcomson. Mr. Malcumson seems to care about my encountering, and promised to look into the issue. Mr Malcomson also suggested to have Mr. R to call me but I rejected his kindness as I was really not having good mood to deal with Canadian Tire anymore.

During my call to Mr. Malcomson, I didn't tell him all the detail as I described here. I was very unhappy at the moment. What made me sad is that I never thought of this kind of encountering in my favorite store. It may be not fair to Canadian Tire as a store, (as there are still many good service person out there), but Mr. M represents Canadian Tire.

Mr. Malcomson did not offer me any compensation on my bad customer service experience at his store. Well, my wife did recommend that we have our dinner at my favorite restaurant last night, and we did have a great dinner to offset my bad mood.

I guess the "Tell 3 people when you got a good service, and tell 8 people when you got a bad service" normal reaction applied here. Today, I've told four of my colleague about my experience at Canadian Tire, all of us agreed customer service experience at Canadian Tire's Automotive Center is the worst of all.

As of today, :
1. I still don't know if my new Goodyear Allegra tires are non-directional or directional tires.

2. I still have no idea why the bill I signed unwillingly with Mr. M was $1000+, and the bill Mr. R printed out for me (the one I ended up paying) was $900+. I have no complain on the final bill I paid as it had been explained to me by Mr. R and I was willing to pay for it. However, I still don't have a clue why I was charged $1000+ with Mr. M (It was $1100+ with further idler pulley diagnostic which I declined).

Would I recommend anyone to Canadian Tire's Automotive Service Center? Definitely not.

Am I still a Canadian Tire's customer? Yes. Although I got bad taste in my mouth, I am still a loyal Canadian Tire shopper.

Never allow children to go near an exercise machine without an attending adult

FYI...

 

Best Practice:  Never allow children to go near an exercise machine without an attending adult.

 

 

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2009/05/25/sp-tyson.html

 

Mike Tyson's daughter, 4, on life support after treadmill accident
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson's four-year-old daughter, Exodus, is on life support after she was found with her neck ensnared in a treadmill cable Monday, Phoenix police said.

 

7-eleven Speak Out Prepaid phone

How do I contact Customer Service?

Dial 611 - Free call from cell phone

Dial 1866-310-1023

 

How do I check my balance?

Dial *777

 

The prepaid system will notify you to refill your account when:

- balance is below $2

- 10 days left expiry

- balance too low to make a call

 

How do I check my voicemail?

1. Press and hold 1 key on cell phone.

2. Turn off cell phone, call the 10-digit cell phone number. Then press # key.

WHO IS RICH & WHO IS POOR

WHO IS RICH & WHO IS POOR

 

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

 

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son.

 

How was the trip?
It was great, Dad.
Did you see how poor people live? the father asked.

Oh yeah, said the son

So, tell me, what you learned from the trip? asked the father.

 

The son answered: I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end…

 

…We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond

 

…We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them

 

The boy's father was speechless
Then his son added,
Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are

 

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?
Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have

 

Appreciate every single thing you have!

成为能吃干粮的人 (希伯来书(5:12-6:1)

看你们学习的工夫、本该作师傅、谁知还得有人将　神圣言小学的开端、另教导你们．并且成了那必须吃奶、不能吃干粮的人。 凡只能吃奶的、都不熟练仁义的道理．因为他是婴孩。 惟独长大成人的、才能吃干粮、他们的心窍、习练得通达、就能分辨好歹了。 所以我们应当离开基督道理的开端、竭力进到完全的地步．

鄭秀文的見證 - I will follow Him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhR6UiyOiE8&NR=1

每個人都有一些優點

每個人都有一些優點 ~~
試著去欣賞它 ......  世界會變得很美好~
   每個人都有一些缺點~~~
  試著去改變它 ....  世界會變得很美好 ~~
  逃避它~~~   這個世界還是不會因你而改變的 ~~~
 我看後有所驚醒，因我也忘記箇中道理了。
請照主旨之順序讀 :

1.誤會； 2.釘子； 3.且慢下手； 4. 寬大


1.誤會 :

早年在美國阿拉斯加地方，有一對年輕人結婚，婚後生育，

他的太太因難產而死，遺下一孩子。

他忙生活，又忙於看家，因沒有人幫忙看孩子，就訓練一隻狗，

那狗聰明聽話，能照顧小孩，咬著奶瓶餵奶給孩子喝，撫養孩子。

有一天，主人出門去了，叫牠照顧孩子。

他到了別的鄉村，因遇大雪，當日不能回來。

第二天才趕回家，狗立即聞聲出來迎接主人。他把房門開一看，到處是血，

抬頭一望，床上也是血，孩子不見了，狗在身邊，滿口也是血，

主人發現這種情形，以為狗性發作，把孩子吃掉了，

大怒之下，拿起刀來向著狗頭一劈，把狗殺死了。

之後，忽然聽到孩子的聲音，又見他從床下爬了出來，

於是抱起孩子；雖然身上有血，但並未受傷。

他很奇怪，不知究竟是怎麼一回事，再看看狗身，

腿上的肉沒有了，旁邊有一隻狼，口裡還咬著狗的肉；

狗救了小主人，卻被主人誤殺了，這真是天下最令人驚奇的誤會。

註：誤會的事，是人往往在不瞭解、無理智、無耐心、缺少思考、

未能多方體諒對方，反省自己，感情極為衝動的情況之下所發生。

誤會一開始，即一直只想到對方的千錯萬錯；因此，會使誤會越陷越深，

弄到不可收拾的地步，人對無知的動物小狗發生誤會，

尚且會有如此可怕嚴重的後果，這樣人與人之間的誤會，則其後果更是難以想像。


2.釘子 :

有一個男孩有著很壞的脾氣，於是他的父親就給了他一袋釘子；

並且告訴他，每當他發脾氣的時候就釘一根釘子在後院的圍籬上。

第一天，這個男孩釘下了37 根釘子。慢慢地每天釘下的數量減少了。

他發現控制自己的脾氣要比釘下那些釘子來得容易些。

終於有一天這個男孩再也不會失去耐性亂發脾氣，他告訴他的父親這件事，

父親告訴他，現在開始每當他能控制自己的脾氣的時候，就拔出一根釘子。

一天天地過去了，最後男孩告訴他的父親，他終於把所有釘子都拔出來了。

父親握著他的手來到後院說：你做得很好，我的好孩子。

但是看看那些圍籬上的洞，這些圍籬將永遠不能回復成從前。

你生氣的時候說的話將像這些釘子一樣留下疤痕。

如果你拿刀子捅別人一刀，不管你說了多少次對不起，那個傷口將永遠存在。

話語的傷痛就像真實的傷痛一樣令人無法承受。

註：人與人之間常常因為一些彼此無法釋懷的堅持，而造成永遠的傷害。

如果我們都能從自己做起，開始寬容地看待他人，

相信你（妳）一定能收到許多意想不到的結果.... 幫別人開啟一扇窗，
也就是讓自己看到更完整的天空 ....

3.且慢下手

大多數的同仁都很興奮，因為單位裡調來一位新主管，據說是個能人，專門被派來

整頓業務；可是日一天天過去，新主管卻毫無作為，每天彬彬有禮進辦公室，

便躲在裡面難得出門，那些本來緊張得要死的壞份子，現在反而更猖獗了。

「他那裡是個能人嘛！根本是個老好人，比以前的主管更容易唬！」

四個月過去，就在真正努力為新主管感到失望時，

新主管卻發威了－－壞份子一律開革，能人則獲得晉昇。

下手之快，斷事之準，與四月表現保守的他，簡直像是全然換個人。

年終聚餐時，新主管在酒過三巡之後致詞：

「相信大家對我新到任期間的表現，和後來的大刀闊斧，一定感到不解，

現在聽我說個故事，各位就明白了：「我有位朋友，買了棟帶著大院的房子，

他一搬進去，就將那院子全面整頓，雜草樹一律清除，改種自己新買的花卉，

某日原先的屋主往訪，進門大吃一驚的問：『那最名貴的牡丹哪裡去了？』

我這位朋友才發現，他竟然把牡丹當草給剷了。

後來他又買了一棟房子，雖然院子更是雜亂，他卻是按兵不動，

果然冬天以為是雜樹的植物，春天裡開了繁花；

春天以為是野草的，夏天裡成了錦蔟；半年都沒有動靜的小樹，秋天居然紅了葉。

直到暮秋，它才真正認清哪些是無用的植物，

而大力剷除，並使所有珍貴的草木得以保存。」說到這兒，主管舉起杯來：

「讓我敬在座的每一位，因為如果這辦公室是個花園，你們就都是其間的珍木，

珍木不可能一年到頭開花結果，只有經過長期的觀察才認得出啊！

4.寬大 :

這是一個甫自越戰歸來的士兵的故事。

他從舊金山打電話給他的父母，告訴他們：「爸媽，我回來了，可是我有個不情之請。
我想帶一個朋友同我一起回家。」「當然好啊！」他們回答「我們會很高興見到的。」
不過兒子又繼續下去「可是有件事我想先告訴你們，他在越戰裡受了重傷，

少了一條胳臂和一隻腳，他現在走投無路，我想請他回來和我們一起生活。」

「兒子，我很遺撼，不過或許我們可以幫他找個安身之處。」

父親又接著說「兒子，你不知道自己在說些什麼。

像他這樣殘障的人會對我們的生活造成很大的負擔。

我們還有自己的生活要過，不能就讓他這樣破壞了。

我建議你先回家然後忘了他，他會找到自己的一片天空的。」

就在此時卻l掛上了電話，他的父母再也沒有他的消息了。

幾天後，這對父母接到了來自舊金山警局的電話，

告訴他們親愛的兒子已經墜樓身亡了。警方相信這只是單純的自殺案件。

於是他們傷心欲絕地飛往舊金山，並在警方帶領之下到停屍間去辨認兒子的遺體。

那的確是他們的兒子沒錯，但驚訝的是兒子居然，只有一條胳臂和一條腿。


故事中的父母就和我們大多數人一樣。
要去喜愛面貌姣好或談吐風趣的人很容易，

但是要喜歡那些造成我們不便和不快的人卻太難了。

我們總是寧願和那些不如我們健康，美麗或聰明的人保持距離。

然而有些人卻不會對我們如此殘酷。

他們會無怨無悔地愛我們，不論我們多麼糟總是願意接納我們。

今晚在你入睡之前，請試著去接納他人，

不論他們是怎麼樣的人；請用心去了解那些不同於我們的人。

每個人的心裡都藏著一種神奇的東西稱為「友情」，

你不知道它究竟是如何發生何時發生，但你卻知道它總會帶給我們特殊的禮物。

朋友就像是稀奇的寶物。他們帶來歡笑，激勵我們成功。

他們傾聽我們內心的話，與我們分享每一句讚美。

他們的心房永遠為我們而敞開。現在就告訴你的朋友你有多在乎他們。

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

 

 

"I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables
===================================

 

I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted

 

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

 

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So much different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

 

渥太华国语培灵会2009

耶和华的荣耀必然显现
赛40：1－5
40:1你们的　神说、你们要安慰、安慰我的百姓。
40:2要对耶路撒冷说安慰的话、又向他宣告说、他争战的日子已满了、他的罪孽赦免了、他为自己的一切罪、从耶和华手中加倍受罚。
40:3有人声喊着说、在旷野预备耶和华的路、〔或作在旷野有人声喊着说当预备耶和华的路〕在沙漠地修平我们　神的道。
40:4一切山洼都要填满、大小山冈都要削平、高高低低的要改为平坦、崎崎岖岖的必成为平原。
40:5耶和华的荣耀必然显现、凡有血气的、必一同看见、因为这是耶和华亲口说的。


你是否期待看见神的荣耀？
出33：18 "摩西说、求你显出你的荣耀给我看。"

 

1. 神的荣耀是可以看见的

－ 以赛亚看见神的荣耀。

－ 耶稣向马大说：你若信必看见神的荣耀

 

2. 神的荣耀是什么？

－ 神的本性

－ 神的创造

－ 神的临在

－ 神的作伪

 

3. 神的荣耀显现是有条件的

赛40：5

(NIV) And the glory of the Lord will be revealed.

(NASB) Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed.

 

条件是：

赛40：4

一切山洼都要填满、大小山冈都要削平、高高低低的要改为平坦、崎崎岖岖的必成为平原。

 

(A) 主怎么说，我就怎么作

(B) 凡是神所不喜悦的，我就不想、不听、不看不说，也不做。

(C) 主啊！我没有什么坚持是你不能改变的。

 

4. 神的荣耀在何处显现？

代下7：14"这称为我名下的子民、若是自卑、祷告、寻求我的面、转离他们的恶行．我必从天上垂听、赦免他们的罪医治他们的地。 "

 

5. 神荣耀彰显的实际：

a. 改变生命，神的荣耀必然显现

b. 持续悔改，神的荣耀必然显现

c. 单纯的顺服，神的荣耀必然显现

d. 行动的信心，神的荣耀必然显现

e. 真诚的爱心，神的荣耀必然显现

 

结论：

该2：9 "这殿后来的荣耀、必大过先前的荣耀．在这地方我必赐平安．这是万军之耶和华说的。"

听道笔记：十个关乎神的谎言

"十个关乎神的谎言"

(主题经文: 以弗所书 1 : 15 ～ 19)

 

1. 神可以任随你意
 我们是不是已经把神当成阿拉丁神灯里的Genie ? 我们是主，神是为我们办事的。
 
2. 条条大路通向神

约14:6 "耶稣说、我就是道路、真理、生命．若不借着我、没有人能到父那里去。 "
 
 3. 神比过去更宽容
 希13:8 "耶稣基督、昨日今日一直到永远是一样的。 "
 
4. 神从没有亲身经历过苦难
 赛53：4－5 "他诚然担当我们的忧患、背负我们的痛苦．我们却以为他受责罚、被　神击打苦待了。那知他为我们的过犯受害、为我们的罪孽压伤．因他受的刑罚我们得平安．因他受的鞭伤我们得医治。 "
 
5. 神必须拯救其他宗教的信徒
 罗1:20 "自从造天地以来、　神的永能和神性是明明可知的、虽是眼不能见、但借着所造之物、就可以晓得、叫人无可推诿． "
 
6. 神不需为天灾负责
 诗135:6-7 "耶和华在天上、在地下、在海中、在一切的深处、都随自己的意旨而行．他使云雾从地极上腾、造电随雨而闪、从府库中带出风来． "
 
7. 神不预知人的决定
 诗139：1－3 "耶和华阿、你已经鉴察我、认识我．我坐下、我起来、你都晓得．你从远处知道我的意念。我行路、我躺卧、你都细察、你也深知我一切所行的。 "
 
8. 人的堕落破坏了神的计划
 弗1:9-10 "都是照他自己所预定的美意、叫我们知道他旨意的奥秘、要照所安排的、在日期满足的时候、使天上地上一切所有的、都在基督里面同归于一。 "
 
9. 我们必须在神和自己的喜好中做出抉择
 诗16:11 "你必将生命的道路指示我．在你面前有满足的喜乐．在你右手中有永远的福乐。 "
 
10. 神助自助者

罗4:4-6 "作工的得工价、不算恩典、乃是该得的、惟有不作工的、只信称罪人为义的　神、他的信就算为义。正如大卫称那在行为以外、蒙　神算为义的人是有福的。 "

Marriage checkpoints

1. 无所不谈
2. Habit not change, do I live with her.
3. 欣赏对方的性格
4. Admire对方
5. Understand each other
6. 会把爱及快乐给对方
7. Forgiveness

Breast feeding best for mom's heart

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/21/breastfeed-heart.html

 

因为我是为这事出来的 (马可1:38-39)

耶稣对他们说、我们可以往别处去、到邻近的乡村、我也好在那里传道．因为我是为这事出来的。于是在加利利全地、进了会堂、传道赶鬼。

不要怕．只要信 (马可5:35－36)

有一个管会堂的人、名叫睚鲁、来见耶稣、就俯伏在他脚前、再三的求他说、我的小女儿快要死了、求你去按手在他身上、使他痊癒、得以活了。耶稣就和他同去、有许多人跟随拥挤他。 ... 还说话的时候、有人从管会堂的家里来说、你的女儿死了、何必还劳动先生呢。耶稣听见所说的话、就对管会堂的说、不要怕．只要信。

IKEA TO SELL CARS

以弗所书 6:6-7

不要只在眼前事奉、像是讨人喜欢的、要像基督的仆人、从心里遵行神的旨意．甘心事奉、好像服事主、不像服事人。

Driving cars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZlhpfCdyS4&eurl=http://comefromchina.net/space-525-do-blog-id-1446.html

The Wisdom In Hot Chocolate.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion.  They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them.

 

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships.

 

Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups.  Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite.

 

He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.

 

"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones."

 

"While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."

 

"The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."

 

"What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate.  You did not want the cup . . . but you consciously went for the best cups."

 

"And soon, you began to eye one another's cups."

 

"Now friends, please consider this . . .

 

 "Life is the hot chocolate . . . your job, money and position in society are the cups."

 

"They are just tools to hold and contain life."

 

"The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living."

 

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us."

 

Always remember this . . . . . . . . . . God brews the hot chocolate, He does not choose the cup.

 

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have!!

 

Live simply . . . Love generously . . . Care deeply . . . Speak kindly . . .

 

Leave the rest to God. ~ and  remember ~ The richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least. Enjoy your hot chocolate!!

Believe in Yourself

 

Baby seats are no place for sleeping

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/02/04/mtl-carseat-sleeping-0204.html

 

Parents should not leave young infants sleeping in car seats for long periods of time, said a Quebec coroner who looked into the death of a two-month-old boy who suffocated when his mom placed him a car seat after a restless night.

 

The recommendation comes two years after Montreal researchers warned very young babies are vulnerable to sudden infant death syndrome if they spend too much time in a seated position.

 

'The head of the baby is heavier than the body. The neck muscle is not straight enough to let the neck rise. So, it falls.'