Corbetts Ski + Snowboard — Local services in Oakville

terrible shopping experience recently: irresponsible handeling of online order, rude staffs, discriminative, bullying "final sale" policy.

I live in Windsor, Ontario. 3 hours drive away from the store. I ordered a pair of race skis and bindings one week before a planned road trip to Toronto, selected in store pick up, hoping to pick them up and get the bidnings installed on my way home. The website promised 2-4 days process time for on-line order, but I didn't hear from them for a week. I went to Toronto without my boot because I didn't know if the skis and bidings would be ready for pick-up. On my way home, I decided to called them to figure out what was go on with my order. It turned out that my order has not been processed because they did not have the skis in stock at all, and they did not inform me until I called.

The guy named Chris in the online store department was apologetic and offered two options of racing ski+biding combo for the same price. I took one of the offers and picked them up from the online store warehouse, then I took them to the retail store, which is 8 km away from the online warehouse, hoping to get the biding installed. I am a decent skier, getting into slalom racing in local beer league, I did demo biding installation and din setting myself all the time but this would be the first time I deal with biding installation on race plates, so I was not comfortable doing the installation myself. I knew I was supposed to have my boot, but I knew my boot model and size, and they have the exact same boot on display, I beged them for help so that I don't have to drive 3 hours again or pay extra to get them installed in Michigan. The guy named Brayley refused and insisted that they can only do installation with my own boot due to legal liability issue, then I expressed my wish to buy a pair of boots: once I buy it, the boots are legally mine, which would clear them from any liability. One of the younger staffs tried to help me, but Brayley assumed that I was going to return the boots and he threw me a trolling “policy” that whatever boots I was buying that day would be final sale! Can you imagine? they annouced in front of all the people in the store to exclude me from their return policy, whatever I was buying, at whatever price would be finale sale! I spent over 1K in their store, instead of helping me, they tried to bully me away. Even after I told them I could use a pair stiffer race boots, it wasn't my intention to buy and return, they said " nope, whatever you buy would be final sale"

During the negotiation, one of the staff members, who seemed to be in charge, made an offer that I ship my boot from home and they installed the bindings and shipped them to back to me, he was visibly upset and abruptly said :” I am offering a solution, shipping them would cause us over 100 bucks, you just don’t appreciate it”, making it sound like I should be grateful and he suggested that it was my fault not planning it ahead of time. I didn't bother telling him I didn't bring my boot because of irresponsible handeling of my online order on their end, and my purchase was entiled to free installation and free shipping anyway.

I told them my idea twice that if I can't get the bidings installed, I would return everything. The first time around, Brayley told me to go back to the online warehouse. Only after they enfored the "no-return" policy on me and the argument intensified, he then processed the return in the store, a clear indication that he delibrately make things hard for me the first time around, they could have helped but they were just too arrogant to help me out.

Now 5 days after I left the store, I still don't get my refund, not even a confirmation of return of goods. Brayley wrote an email in front of me and asked me take a photo, but I never receive the email, not sure if he was trying screw me up again.

so think twice before you buy anything: they may not have every items listed online, the online store is not very responsive, they would delibrately make it...

I want to share my experience with Corbetts Ski and Snowboard and a specific employee by the name of Joe. Long story short... Corbetts and Joe are top notch. Courteous, professional, knowledgeable, and organized.

Long story Long...my wife recently wanted to get back into some of the wintersports that we had practiced before our business and family became our priorities in life.

With the pandemic quashing almost 100% of any indoor activities she was encouraged by family and friends to get back out on the slopes.

She ended up going to Corbetts for ski's bindings and boots because her gear was now at leat 15 years old and just didn't fit right.

She ended up interacting with many of the Corbetts team, all of which were professional, helpful, informative and over all a fountain of useful information and support. The store is exceptionally stocked and well organized and they have tons of people making sure the store runs smoothly and safely.

One individual did shine above the others. This gentleman is Joe.

I was regailed with tales of Joe's helping nature, patience, calm personality and quiet confidence, so much so that a few days later I went to Corbetts to see if I could find solutions to my cold weather problems. You see, due to a medical condition and the medication I take for it, I run cold!! To the point that with multiple layers of clothing from head to toe, heavy gloves, hats and footwear, I am still often uncomfortable being outside even for short periods of time.

I explained all this to Joe, who listened and then went off to multiple corners of the store, each time coming back with specific items that he was confident that would fulfill my needs.

I never felt rushed and a couple of times he brought me options (generally with respect to colour) that were discounted or reduced to see if I liked them and maybe save a few bucks to boot.

It had been a while since I had felt so well taken care of.

So, I purchased the items and tried them on the next day for a hike in one of the Halton conservation areas. I was warm and comfortable and happy to be outside again.

Since then I have gone back to Corbetts to make other purchases...yes the wallet is thinner but the body has been exercising, the blood has been pumping and once again I have been able to share quality time with my wife and son and friends in the outdoors and I have been comfortable, warm and not a grump.

Thank you to Joe for his ability to listen, for his professionalism, and compassion. He is a credit to Corbetts and a credit to himself. Confident to the point that if he doesn't know something he is not afraid to ask fellow team members for help (Though, that only happened once).

Long story short... Corbetts and it's team is a throwback to old-school customer service. Great service, great organization, and a kind and respectful group of individuals.

Kudos to you...

I ordered some ski poles online from Corbett's Ski Online. I placed the order a day before the Canada Post strike. I was given confirmation that transaction had been completed but was never given a tracking number. Knowing that there would be delays to follow, I patiently waited for the package to arrive. A couple weeks later I received an email notice from Canada Post that my package had been shipped back to Corbett's as it had not been picked up at the postal office. I had never received a notice from Corbett's that the package had even been shipped, nor had I received notice from Canada Post that the package had arrived.

So I called up Corbett's online and talked to the online manager. After calling me a "dude" several times, which I didn't appreciate, he then told me that he was prepared to ship me the poles back when they arrived back at the store, but that I would have to pay for shipping. He told me that I was likely a busy guy and forgot to pick up the poles at the postal office. How can I pick up something that I don't even know had arrived???? He was a complete piece of work to deal with. He told me that if I didn't like the fact that I had to pay for shipping then I should go buy poles elsewhere. The reason why I wanted those poles is because they were last years model (unavailable elsewhere) matching my daughter other equipment, which was important to her. Only after some back and forth phone calls did he finally agree to ship me back the poles free of charge. For me it wasn't about the cost of shipping it was the principle of the situation. He made me feel like everything was my fault, taking no responsibility for their actions, blaming myself and Canada Post for the mix up.

So the poles finally shipped out this time via UPS. This experience was no better as the poles got lost and delayed for another week. I contacted, another Chris at Corbett's who is supposedly the owner. He said he would get to the bottom of the situation. He provided me a tracking number. When I finally got the package, the pole guards that I also ordered with the poles had missing hardware. I was blown away. Completely embarrassed by the poor performance of his team, Chris asked me to see if I could find nuts and bolts somewhere to solve the problem. So I did.

I spent hours on the phone trying to find my package, arguing with the online manager to get the package. It was a horrible experience. Corbett's does not put the customer first.

I don’t have additional room here to describe the extremely negative experience I then had with the owner which left me appalled.

I never though buying a pair of ski poles could bring forth so much frustration, and wasted time.

I will never buy another thing at Corbett's based over a month an a half of BS I have had to deal with involving Chris (owner)...