Walmart Canada selling hockey gear

[Scottish Maple Leaf 0]

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/850164--hockey-market-heats-up

[althoma1 575]

http://www.thestar.c...market-heats-up

They've sold hockey gear for a while, but mainly low end SMU stuff. They may add some more options and mid-level gear, but I don't think we'll see top of the line gear at Walmart or Canadian Tire anytime soon.

[duch 0]

Most of the equipment is low end from my observation. It's fine for starting a young kid out but I'd never consider a majority of what they sell for my thirteen year old. Even if they went middle of the road.

[Dupes 1]

I don't see myself going to these 2 places to my gear lol

[jds 20]

"Canadian Tire Corp., the world’s biggest retailer of hockey equipment...."

I found that line in the story interesting. I had no idea they were that big.

[hamstercaster 2]

"Canadian Tire Corp., the world’s biggest retailer of hockey equipment...."

I found that line in the story interesting. I had no idea they were that big.

They are the biggest chain selling hockey equipment in Canada. Source for Sports and Sportcheck are probably right behind them. When you think about it, there aren't that many hockey shops in Canada, at least not that many that are part of a chain and I don't think any of them can compete with Canadian Tire as of yet. Here in the Ottawa/Gatineau area, including Orleans and Kanata, there must be at least 7 Canadian Tire if not more. You have about 3 sportcheks and 3 Source for Sports. I bought my last hockey bag from Canadian Tire and have been very satisfied with it too. Many stick and puck guys buy their sticks at Canadian Tire as they are many brands at entry level prices. Costco also carries entry level sticks by the way.

[zhaolander 0]

we need a hockey monkey in canada. bought a easton 2 piece from walmart and it was decent, but they don't have much selection and like many have said they're all pretty low end.

[shotty 7]

if those big box stores carry anything BUT low end SMU, it will put a huge dent in the independent retailer's business. smart shoppers will price compare.

the kind of people who actually shop at those kind of places for stuff like that wouldn't see the increase in quality or performance, just an increase in price. wal mart and Canadian tire don't have the personnel to inform customers to the point of driving the sales of quality gear.

I think it would be in the best interest of the manufacturers to stay the course with low end SMU and entry level pricepoint stuff for the general/big box and focus the mid to high end market on the specialty retailers

if they don't, this might be a great opportunity for the higher quality, lesser known brands to earn some shelf space at LHS in place of the top name mid range products the LHS don't want to price match with

[TheGasman 0]

Dont most of the brands use map pricing or is that only on their higher end lines?

[RussianDangler15 0]

Most of the equipment is low end from my observation. It's fine for starting a young kid out but I'd never consider a majority of what they sell for my thirteen year old. Even if they went middle of the road.

I disagree I think it is even more important to have a small child sized up properly for new gear as apposed to a teenager who will already have a general idea of how equiptment should fit.

[jumtao 0]

I think it's great that these guys are offering hockey equipment. Hockey can be a very expensive sport and not everyone is able to afford it. With Wal Mart and Canadian tire, their equipment is usually priced cheaper making it more affordable for kids that come from families with a limited income to be able to buy gear and participate in the sport.

[RussianDangler15 0]

This is true but it also then you have kids who will likely not be fitted properly for gear wich can potentially lead to injurys. I see the benefits but for me the risk outways the reward.

[shotty 7]

Dont most of the brands use map pricing or is that only on their higher end lines?

minimum advertised price is a form of price maintenance, which is "illegal" in Canada. however, some industries, including hockey, employ price protection policies, which is why you see online shops like cyclone Taylor have "in store only" or "call us" instead of listing a price. companies like bauer use the popularity of a product as leverage in their dealer agreements that allow them to legally circumvent some rules so that their key products keep their value.

[tareatingrat 4]

I just want to see some decent prices in Canada, and I really don't care where I buy the equipment.

Down at Hockey Giant in Minneapolis last week:

$70 cheaper on the S19.

$120 cheaper on the SE16

$60 cheaper on the x:60

$100 cheaper on the One95

$60 cheaper on the U+ CL

Can't remember what the other high-end sticks were exactly, but there was at least a $50 difference in most sticks.

That's absolutely ridiculous. Never mind the fact that taxes are practically halved, too.

And while a lot of those could have been on sale, we never have anything close to that on top end sticks here in Winnipeg, even closeouts.

My Bauer 4-rolls were $50 cheaper, too.

I almost wish Walmart would get into the high-end hockey gear business just so gear came down in price. (But I'm being selfish. In reality, I can't stand the way Walmart does business.)

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

IMO, the only reason I'd buy from Walmart/Canadian Tire now is for street hockey sticks/the reasonably cheap street hockey pads. But I do think that Sportchek is getting a bit better. Mine's starting to carry some higher end stuff(10k pads, S19 pads, Franchise gloves) and pretty good sticks.

[puckhoggy 0]

I always go to Walmart for stick tape and clear tape. maybe buy a deodorizer puck or two sometimes...

[x-track 8]

...to be honest , I was at the giant in minnesota last saturday and didn't see any of the sticks you mentioned marked down as desribed ...in fact , I would have taken 3 s 19 if it were as mentioned .....or was it some coupon deal ???

what they had on offer was the x-60 glove for 144,90 .......which is just 20$ more than lettermen sports up in blaine had them !! ...and they wouldn't price match lettermen

[althoma1 575]

...to be honest , I was at the giant in minnesota last saturday and didn't see any of the sticks you mentioned marked down as desribed ...in fact , I would have taken 3 s 19 if it were as mentioned .....or was it some coupon deal ???

what they had on offer was the x-60 glove for 144,90 .......which is just 20$ more than lettermen sports up in blaine had them !! ...and they wouldn't price match lettermen

Those aren't prices he listed - that's difference between his local Canadian shops and the Hockey Giant shop in the US. The reasons for that have been discussed in several threads over the years - the primary reason mentioned is there are more tariffs on items made overseas in Canada.

[duch 0]

I just want to see some decent prices in Canada, and I really don't care where I buy the equipment.

Down at Hockey Giant in Minneapolis last week:

$70 cheaper on the S19.

$120 cheaper on the SE16

$60 cheaper on the x:60

$100 cheaper on the One95

$60 cheaper on the U+ CL

Can't remember what the other high-end sticks were exactly, but there was at least a $50 difference in most sticks.

That's absolutely ridiculous. Never mind the fact that taxes are practically halved, too.

And while a lot of those could have been on sale, we never have anything close to that on top end sticks here in Winnipeg, even closeouts.

My Bauer 4-rolls were $50 cheaper, too.

I almost wish Walmart would get into the high-end hockey gear business just so gear came down in price. (But I'm being selfish. In reality, I can't stand the way Walmart does business.)

I have the same situation here in Ontario. I live on the N.W. side of the GTA and I can drive down to Buffalo ( aprox. 1 hour ) and get skates and hockey equipment at least 30% cheaper. In fact I'm heading down within the next month to get a pair of skates that are $200 cheaper there than here in Canada. Even if I get stopped at the border coming back and (Lord Forbid) I have to pay duty on them, I'm still cheaper off than buying them in Canada. You can bet if I was someone who had to buy a lot of protective I'd buy everything I needed in one shot over there before paying some of the ridiculous prices here at home. We really need at big box store here in Canada that sells hockey equipment at some reasonable prices but my only concern is it would take down a lot of the smaller local hockey shops. That's something I wouldn't like to see because the ones closest to me give me great service so I try to support them as much as possible. I do make an exception with my skates though because I like high end and they are very expensive. I still buy most of my own and my son's protective, as well as my son's skates (their junior and are cheaper) from the local shops. The local shops are having a hard time competing with the on line stores and if you throw a discount big box store in there as well you might see a lot of them finally fold.

[Shayno 1]

I have the same situation here in Ontario. I live on the N.W. side of the GTA and I can drive down to Buffalo ( aprox. 1 hour ) and get skates and hockey equipment at least 30% cheaper. In fact I'm heading down within the next month to get a pair of skates that are $200 cheaper there than here in Canada. Even if I get stopped at the border coming back and (Lord Forbid) I have to pay duty on them, I'm still cheaper off than buying them in Canada. You can bet if I was someone who had to buy a lot of protective I'd buy everything I needed in one shot over there before paying some of the ridiculous prices here at home. We really need at big box store here in Canada that sells hockey equipment at some reasonable prices but my only concern is it would take down a lot of the smaller local hockey shops. That's something I wouldn't like to see because the ones closest to me give me great service so I try to support them as much as possible. I do make an exception with my skates though because I like high end and they are very expensive. I still buy most of my own and my son's protective, as well as my son's skates (their junior and are cheaper) from the local shops. The local shops are having a hard time competing with the on line stores and if you throw a discount big box store in there as well you might see a lot of them finally fold.

+1...for another player in Ontario!!

[AIREAYE 248]

The only gear I got form the States, was, if you can believe it, a pair of One35 pants. I live in the GTA too and we went to Los Angeles to visit relatives, drove down to Anaheim JUST to visit the HockeyGiant store. Pants were about 10-15 cheaper than CND prices and we stuffed them in the luggage LOL

[tareatingrat 4]

Those aren't prices he listed - that's difference between his local Canadian shops and the Hockey Giant shop in the US. The reasons for that have been discussed in several threads over the years - the primary reason mentioned is there are more tariffs on items made overseas in Canada.

Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of "reasons" why prices are so high here, but they don't need to be. There's no way there should be that big of a difference in an 8 hour drive.

Hell, I've found S19's in Grand Forks at $239, and that's only two hours from me.

Aside from bureaucracy, there is no logistical reason equipment should be that much more expensive up here. Maybe I need somebody to give me a reasonable explanation.

But, I don't really think anyone would argue that, so I'm preaching to the choir...

[IniNew 53]

Supply and Demand reasonable enough?

[althoma1 575]

Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of "reasons" why prices are so high here, but they don't need to be. There's no way there should be that big of a difference in an 8 hour drive.

Hell, I've found S19's in Grand Forks at $239, and that's only two hours from me.

Aside from bureaucracy, there is no logistical reason equipment should be that much more expensive up here. Maybe I need somebody to give me a reasonable explanation.

But, I don't really think anyone would argue that, so I'm preaching to the choir...

I definintely don't disagree that prices are higher in Canada than they need to be - I was just telling you the reason that's been given in most of the threads where the topic comes up. There are definitely tarrif and tax differences for products made elsewhere, but it does seem that the price gap is still larger than it needs to be - I definitely avoid paying full Canadian retail myself by picking up things used (either locally or online from both Canada and the US), on sale in Canada, or in the US (either on sale or regular price).

[shotty 7]

company X has operations in multiple countries, all run as separate entities. company X's US entity gets a better deal per unit on sticks because they order more from the factory, plus they pay lower rates on duties and tariffs and other value added taxes because of trade agreements with foreign countries. then they sell to american retailers at a certain margin based on volume, all with certain price maintenance rules in place. that same company's canadian entity orders from the same factory, but significantly less, so they pay slightly more, then they have to pay higher duties, tariffs and VATs because canada's Foreign trade agreement is different than the US's. the company still wants the same or similar margin as their US counterpart so the cost to the retailer is higher, which is again passed on to the end user who was, up until recently on the hook for an extra tax . PLUS, those price maintenance rules used in the US market are illegal in the canadian market, so the prices start higher and stay higher. add third party distributors into the mix, and the prices can go even higher (more mouths to feed/pockets to line).