Canadian Tire money

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The main denominations of Canadian Tire money

Canadian Tire "money" (CTM) is a loyalty program by Canadian Tire. It consists of coupons, issued by the company, which resemble real currency (although the coupons are considerably smaller than Bank of Canada notes), and can be used as scrip in Canadian Tire stores. The notes are printed on paper similar to real Canadian currency, by the same private companies. In fact, some privately owned businesses (in Canada) accept CTM as payment (see history below), since the owners of many such businesses shop at Canadian Tire.

1 History and dynamics
2 Denominations
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History and dynamics

CTM was first introduced in 1958, as a response to the promotional giveaways that many gas companies offered at the time. It was only available at Canadian Tire gas bars, but was so successful that in 1961 it was extended to the retail stores as well, and has become the most successful loyalty program in Canadian retail history.

Canadian Tire money is given out for purchases paid for by cash or debit, usually at a rate of 1.5% of the pre-tax total. This is much less than in years past, when the pay-out rate was 3, 4 or 5%, depending on the market size of the store. Customers can use Canadian Tire money to buy anything in the store. (Older CTM coupons state that they are redeemable at Canadian Tire stores and gas stations, however CTM coupons produced during at least the last 15 years lack this wording and are therefore redeemable in the stores only.)

The "money" can also be used to cover the sales tax on the purchases, since it is accepted as cash after the taxes are calculated. Also, even if a purchase was made entirely in CTM, it is also considered as a cash purchase and more CTM will be calculated and paid out.

In Ontario the Retail Sales Tax law and Bulletins stated that the "Coupon must be reimbursed by the franchisee". And by submitting them to other merchants, the merchants were in essence breaking the laws of Ontario when they failed to include the discount in the value of the goods being calculated for being taxed. Some merchants were accepting CTM as a discount, but then were not calculating and remitting the sales taxes, as required by law, and then were getting fined for the practice.

For this reason, among others, another loyalty programme provided in the 1960's was terminated. It was the S&H Green Stamps that were no longer available in Ontario following the changes in the Retail Sales Tax Act that prohibited a Retailer from redeeming a coupon that was not issued by itself or a Franchisor.

[edit] Denominations

CTM coupons are currently produced in 5-cent, 10-cent, 25-cent, 50-cent, one-dollar, and two-dollar denominations. In addition, Canadian Tire money can now be earned electronically on Canadian Tire credit cards and the Canadian Tire Options MasterCard. The latter can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted and earns Canadian Tire money no matter where it is used to make a purchase As of July 12th 2006 Cardholders no longer receive a bonus for using the Canadian Tire Card or Canadian Tire Options MasterCard at Canadian Tire Associate Stores. Before this change cardholders would receive 20% more CTM than they would by paying cash, now they earn the same 1.5% as if it was cash or debit. Many customers find this to be a more convenient means of storing Canadian Tire money. CTM is treated as real currency by the franchise and can not be directly exchanged for real Canadian currency for customers. If an item bought with Canadian Tire Money is returned the customer receives either Canadian Tire Money back or is given the amount on a Gift Card.

[edit] Trivia

An unusual incident occurred in Moncton, New Brunswick in late 2004, when several customers at a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ATM were dispensed a total of 11 bills of Canadian Tire money instead of real bills. They were compensated by the bank. (Source: CBC)
Contrary to popular belief, the man on the "money" is not Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald; he is actually a fictional creation named Sandy McTire.
Canadian Tire dollars are the main topic of the song La Chute du dollar by popular Quebec singer Mononc' Serge.
Culturally, Canadian Tire money is sometimes referenced by comedians: perhaps as a national version of "Monopoly money", perhaps invoking a pejorative comparison of the value of Canadian dollars against U.S. dollars (currency of a dominant Canadian trading partner), or perhaps as a misunderstood exotic element of Canadian society (cf. Ron James' comedic reference to the person depicted on the bill as "our king").
Canadian Tire Money is one of 12 forms of payment explicitly listed as allowed for use by sellers on the Canadian version of the online auction site eBay. (Source: eBay)
In the mid 1990's, a man in Germany was caught with up to C$11,000,000 in counterfeit Canadian Tire money. It was recovered before he left for Canada to redeem it.