Don't Spend It, Honey
January 12, 2012 3:37 AM Subscribe
The Canadian Tire Money Mystery... solved!
("The Canadian Tire Money Mystery" sounds like a long lost Gordon Korman book)
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 4:06 AM on January 12, 2012 [6 favorites]
("The Canadian Tire Money Mystery" sounds like a long lost Gordon Korman book)
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 4:06 AM on January 12, 2012 [6 favorites]
Just the popularity of a retail chain that sells more than just automotive stuff called Canadian Tire is what's been a mystery to me.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:09 AM on January 12, 2012
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:09 AM on January 12, 2012
I lived in Canada for a while with some friends, and yes, I was confused for a long time about 1) why my friends needed so many automotive supplies and 2) why people seemed to care a lot about some random store loyalty program.
I now understand my mistake with the former. The latter I'm still a bit befuddled by.
posted by kmz at 4:24 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I now understand my mistake with the former. The latter I'm still a bit befuddled by.
posted by kmz at 4:24 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
"The Canadian Tire Money Mystery" sounds like a long lost Gordon Korman book
This is the most Canadian thing I will read today.
Sir, I salute you.
posted by mhoye at 4:48 AM on January 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
This is the most Canadian thing I will read today.
Sir, I salute you.
posted by mhoye at 4:48 AM on January 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
’There’s always something you need from Canadian Tire'
Not me. Canadian Tire treats all their customers with suspicion--from the use of one-way turnstiles at the entrance, to the requirement that you show photo i.d. if you use a credit card. They also distribute a shitload of full-color flyers to every household in Canada once a week.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 4:51 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not me. Canadian Tire treats all their customers with suspicion--from the use of one-way turnstiles at the entrance, to the requirement that you show photo i.d. if you use a credit card. They also distribute a shitload of full-color flyers to every household in Canada once a week.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 4:51 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
("The Canadian Tire Money Mystery" sounds like a long lost Gordon Korman book)
Or the latest Daniel Pinkwater title.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:41 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Or the latest Daniel Pinkwater title.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:41 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Have you ever actually been behind someone in line at Canadian Tire who is paying with their funny money? They might as well me counting out effing nickels!
posted by Brodiggitty at 5:48 AM on January 12, 2012
posted by Brodiggitty at 5:48 AM on January 12, 2012
I remember when the Canadian Tire near me had a Grand Re-opening after some remodelling. They had one of those money booths where you step inside a booth with a fan at the bottom that blows a bunch of Canadian Tire money into the air, and you have a couple of seconds to try and catch as much of it as you can.
I happened to be in the Canadian Tire that day, and by the time I'd gotten there there was barely any money in it left. So it was basically a procession of older people desperately clutching handfuls of air, trying to grab what I figured was a grand total of a dollar in CT money.
posted by chrominance at 6:14 AM on January 12, 2012
I happened to be in the Canadian Tire that day, and by the time I'd gotten there there was barely any money in it left. So it was basically a procession of older people desperately clutching handfuls of air, trying to grab what I figured was a grand total of a dollar in CT money.
posted by chrominance at 6:14 AM on January 12, 2012
There's a bar in Toronto that accepts Canadian Tire money as tender for your tipple.
The Dunn Right Inn, on Queen W., almost kiddy corner to the east corner of Trinity Bellwoods. 'Cause you might've been wondering.
posted by emilycardigan at 6:37 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Dunn Right Inn, on Queen W., almost kiddy corner to the east corner of Trinity Bellwoods. 'Cause you might've been wondering.
posted by emilycardigan at 6:37 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
In 2004 an ATM in New Brunswick dispensed Canadian Tire money mixed with the real stuff. The bank said it must have come from business customers who package their own cash. Sure. Like the bank doesn't look at the money it loads into the machine? Maybe the person loading the ATM thought most people don't count ATM money, and they likely have CT money in their wallet anyway. I can't imagine them thinking they wouldn't get caught.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:59 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:59 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
$30 gets you a signed copy of the album, and any donations of $50 or more get you a signed copy with your name in the package.
Buddy's going to be waiting a long, long time. Last time I counted out the Crappy Tire money in the jar on top of the fridge, I had, what, fourteen bucks? With one glorious fifty-cent bill in there?
Thirty bucks seems like a pipe dream. Already, I'm guessing I need to make an appointment to spend fourteen bucks in Crappy Tire money all at once. The studio is going to walk in with twenty grand in five cent bills? And spend it on what? Four riding lawn mowers?
Wake me up when it happens. Nice viral campaign, though.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:06 AM on January 12, 2012
Buddy's going to be waiting a long, long time. Last time I counted out the Crappy Tire money in the jar on top of the fridge, I had, what, fourteen bucks? With one glorious fifty-cent bill in there?
Thirty bucks seems like a pipe dream. Already, I'm guessing I need to make an appointment to spend fourteen bucks in Crappy Tire money all at once. The studio is going to walk in with twenty grand in five cent bills? And spend it on what? Four riding lawn mowers?
Wake me up when it happens. Nice viral campaign, though.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:06 AM on January 12, 2012
I think Renault raises an interesting point. How many wheelbarrows full of Canadian Tire money would it take to buy a wheelbarrow?
posted by Jode at 7:18 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Jode at 7:18 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think it's a pretty clever idea. Who doesn't have stacks of Canadian Tire money in various drawers and cupboards around the house? I NEVER remember to bring the stuff with me on the very rare occasions I actually go to Canadian Tire.
Anyway, it's generated a buzz and people are sending him real money now so he gets to do his album. I may even go to the Tranzac on January 24th to see the live show he's recording, and I hadn't even heard of him before today.
Way more interesting buzz-marketing idea than that "live" video of 5 people covering a Gotye song on one guitar. Man, I'm sick of that.
posted by chococat at 7:59 AM on January 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
Anyway, it's generated a buzz and people are sending him real money now so he gets to do his album. I may even go to the Tranzac on January 24th to see the live show he's recording, and I hadn't even heard of him before today.
Way more interesting buzz-marketing idea than that "live" video of 5 people covering a Gotye song on one guitar. Man, I'm sick of that.
posted by chococat at 7:59 AM on January 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
Canadian Tire is actually pretty nice to my friend's Christmas toy drive every year. They collect the funny money, and whatever amount they raise is matched by the store (usually over $500), and they receive discounts on all the toys they buy to drop off at fire stations. The video of lots of shopping carts full of toys going down the cart coaster is a sight to behold. (Here, if you can see it.)
That softens my heart toward Canadian Tire when I have to walk all the way to the back of the store to buy one 35 pound tub of ice-melter (as an American living in Canadia, I don't know how many kilos that is), and carry it all the way to the register at the front - because even though it's January, it's no longer in the "seasonal" section at the front of the store. Because the seasonal section is for the patio furniture that they start putting out after Valentine's Day (just past the turnstiles).
That said, I'll still happily send some his way - it's the second week of January and I've already accrued $4.25 this year. And I'll take any excuse to stop by the Cameron.
posted by peagood at 8:03 AM on January 12, 2012
That softens my heart toward Canadian Tire when I have to walk all the way to the back of the store to buy one 35 pound tub of ice-melter (as an American living in Canadia, I don't know how many kilos that is), and carry it all the way to the register at the front - because even though it's January, it's no longer in the "seasonal" section at the front of the store. Because the seasonal section is for the patio furniture that they start putting out after Valentine's Day (just past the turnstiles).
That said, I'll still happily send some his way - it's the second week of January and I've already accrued $4.25 this year. And I'll take any excuse to stop by the Cameron.
posted by peagood at 8:03 AM on January 12, 2012
As a USAian, I know of Canadian Tire only though a brief mention in Scott Pilgrim. The line made no sense (about buying batteries or something) at a Tire store, so I had to google it to find out its not just a tire/automotive store.
posted by SirOmega at 8:09 AM on January 12, 2012
posted by SirOmega at 8:09 AM on January 12, 2012
I usually just shove my Canadian Tire money into a bin at the front of the store on my way out the door, because I don't buy enough things at Canadian Tire to make it worth collecting, but I'm Canadian so I'm still constitutionally obligated to love everything to do with Canadian Tire money.
My particular favorite is visiting bars and restaurants that have walls of International currency they have collected and checking to see if they have any Canadian Tire money up.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:16 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
My particular favorite is visiting bars and restaurants that have walls of International currency they have collected and checking to see if they have any Canadian Tire money up.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:16 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
How many wheelbarrows full of Canadian Tire money would it take to buy a wheelbarrow?
Did bakers in Weimar Germany accept CTM for bread?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:20 AM on January 12, 2012
Did bakers in Weimar Germany accept CTM for bread?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:20 AM on January 12, 2012
Has anyone written a post-apocalyptic novel set in Manitoba where the Central Bank of Canada has failed and the only universally accepted method of trade (beyond simple barter) is based on Canadian Tire money?
posted by benito.strauss at 8:28 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by benito.strauss at 8:28 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I love Canadian Tire. I have this weird thing where on the day I absolutely totally need some recondite tool to finish a job, I got to Canadian Tire, and it's marked down from, y'know, $150 to $35. It's spooky how often this happens.
Going to Crappy Tire on the weekend is as Canadian a ritual as any I know.
posted by unSane at 8:32 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Going to Crappy Tire on the weekend is as Canadian a ritual as any I know.
posted by unSane at 8:32 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Fuzzy Monster: "("The Canadian Tire Money Mystery" sounds like a long lost Gordon Korman book)"
Oh man, I loved Bruno & Boots when I was a kid.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:53 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh man, I loved Bruno & Boots when I was a kid.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:53 AM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's spooky how often this happens.
Absolutely. Also spooky is how the tiny, old, unrenovated Crappy Tire down the street is guar-an-teed to have what I need, when the giant white box stores Crappy Tire never, ever will. They'll have six dozen of the thing I don't need, but never ever that one thing I do.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:07 AM on January 12, 2012
Absolutely. Also spooky is how the tiny, old, unrenovated Crappy Tire down the street is guar-an-teed to have what I need, when the giant white box stores Crappy Tire never, ever will. They'll have six dozen of the thing I don't need, but never ever that one thing I do.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:07 AM on January 12, 2012
Going to Crappy Tire on the weekend is as Canadian a ritual as any I know.
Make sure to hit Tim's on the way back and get me a double double.
posted by ODiV at 9:18 AM on January 12, 2012
Make sure to hit Tim's on the way back and get me a double double.
posted by ODiV at 9:18 AM on January 12, 2012
I feel pretty safe saying that whatever Corin Raymond wants to do, we should all let and/or help him.
posted by Mike Smith at 10:17 AM on January 12, 2012
posted by Mike Smith at 10:17 AM on January 12, 2012
Canadian Tire treats all their customers with suspicion--from the use of one-way turnstiles at the entrance, to the requirement that you show photo i.d. if you use a credit card.
They also make returns very difficult.
I like CT money as an artifact of Canadiana, but I hate having the stuff around. There's probably a way to decline it, but when I think of it it's already too late and on my receipt. They actually ask for their stupid 5c/10c back when you return something, so I staple my Canadian Tire money to my receipt.
(I only shop there because there's one near my house, and it's open later than Rona!)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 10:57 AM on January 12, 2012
They also make returns very difficult.
I like CT money as an artifact of Canadiana, but I hate having the stuff around. There's probably a way to decline it, but when I think of it it's already too late and on my receipt. They actually ask for their stupid 5c/10c back when you return something, so I staple my Canadian Tire money to my receipt.
(I only shop there because there's one near my house, and it's open later than Rona!)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 10:57 AM on January 12, 2012
This wheelbarrow from Canadian Tire can hold 6 cubic feet (10368 cubic inches)
The volume of a dollar bill is 0.0689092 cubic inches.
Assuming that a Canadian Tire bill had the same volume as a dollar bill, the wheelbarrow would hold 150458.864708921 of them.
Which is valued at $7522.94323544605.
Which will buy 107.485972788199 wheelbarrows at $69.99 each.
So you need 0.00930353956018521 Canadian Tire wheelbarrows to hold enough Canadian Tire 5 cent notes to buy a Canadian Tire wheelbarrow (assuming optimal stacking of notes to fill the volume of the barrow, and no bills stacked higher than the top lip of the barrow).
posted by idiopath at 11:56 AM on January 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
The volume of a dollar bill is 0.0689092 cubic inches.
Assuming that a Canadian Tire bill had the same volume as a dollar bill, the wheelbarrow would hold 150458.864708921 of them.
Which is valued at $7522.94323544605.
Which will buy 107.485972788199 wheelbarrows at $69.99 each.
So you need 0.00930353956018521 Canadian Tire wheelbarrows to hold enough Canadian Tire 5 cent notes to buy a Canadian Tire wheelbarrow (assuming optimal stacking of notes to fill the volume of the barrow, and no bills stacked higher than the top lip of the barrow).
posted by idiopath at 11:56 AM on January 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
I like CT money as an artifact of Canadiana, but I hate having the stuff around. There's probably a way to decline it, but when I think of it it's already too late and on my receipt.
Pay with a credit card.
posted by ODiV at 12:43 PM on January 12, 2012
Pay with a credit card.
posted by ODiV at 12:43 PM on January 12, 2012
Idiopath, thank-you. That is some mighty fine note-stacking right there.
posted by Jode at 1:58 PM on January 12, 2012
posted by Jode at 1:58 PM on January 12, 2012
Please stop that "USAian" nonsense. Canadians call you "Americans" and know the difference.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 2:38 PM on January 12, 2012
posted by ethnomethodologist at 2:38 PM on January 12, 2012
the requirement that you show photo i.d. if you use a credit card
Huh ? I always pay by credit card at my local CT in Toronto and I've never been asked for photo id.
posted by maudlin at 4:00 PM on January 12, 2012
Huh ? I always pay by credit card at my local CT in Toronto and I've never been asked for photo id.
posted by maudlin at 4:00 PM on January 12, 2012
My Dad had bought a chainsaw with crappy tire money. And also a cement mixer. You don't get much more canadian than that.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:49 PM on January 12, 2012
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:49 PM on January 12, 2012
Or the latest Daniel Pinkwater title.
But that would have to be Hoboken tire money.
posted by chapps at 9:35 PM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
But that would have to be Hoboken tire money.
posted by chapps at 9:35 PM on January 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I like this guy and like the tranzac, and am willing to go on teh 24th with you chococat
posted by PinkMoose at 10:00 PM on January 12, 2012
posted by PinkMoose at 10:00 PM on January 12, 2012
Just the popularity of a retail chain that sells more than just automotive stuff called Canadian Tire is what's been a mystery to me.
You should totally buy yourself a laptop computer on the cheap at London Drugs and investigate this singular phenomenon.
posted by gompa at 8:32 AM on January 13, 2012
You should totally buy yourself a laptop computer on the cheap at London Drugs and investigate this singular phenomenon.
posted by gompa at 8:32 AM on January 13, 2012
Wow-- Corin Raymond's Quest has been picked up by CBC's The National!
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 11:17 AM on January 16, 2012
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 11:17 AM on January 16, 2012
Corin now has over $1,000 in Canadian Tire money. Here's the grand finale from his live show as captured by NOW Magazine.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:50 AM on January 27, 2012
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:50 AM on January 27, 2012
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As a USAian myself, formerly married to a Canadian, the phenomenon of Canadian Tire is still a bit of a mystery to me.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:59 AM on January 12, 2012