Hi smart shoppers! All of your Mom’s have to shop, so why not give them the tool to save money all year round? There is no reason to waste time shopping for price when the job has already been done by me in my book, Smart Shopping Montreal, now in its 14th edition.

Shopping local is what the book is all about – so stay green and help a Montreal family business at the same time. Those with less time for shopping will enjoy sitting in a comfy chair with the book,  calling stores to ask questions in advance.

Save time by planning instead of  cruising expensive malls or wasting earths’ resources by having online orders shipped here. By saving a minimum of 20% on most purchases, you are in effect gaining a pay raise – as you will have more disposable income.

http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/index.php?p=buy

Q: I have loved your books for years now. I was wondering if you knew of any repairmen that could fix the mechanics of aluminum guillotine windows.

A: Thank you for your kind words. The new edition #14 is available (www.smartshoppingmontreal.com). I don’t have anyone special that I know that fixes windows however on my site there is a fabulous home inspector and perhaps he can offer you some suggestions: Morris Charney: http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=56

For over 49 years and still going strong, despite the big box stores, Radio St-Hubert has survived with old-fashioned, patient good customer service and sales people who have been there a long time. Major brand names are stocked: for TV’s or DVD’s, it’s Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp or JVC.

For speakers you can buy Paradigm, Klipsch, Monitor Audio or Epos, as well as high end sound equipment by Creek, Pioneer Elite, Cyrus, Integra, Moon, Sunfire, Sugden, Bel Canto and Anthem. Look for the Sonos wireless home music system, Tivioli and short wave radios, and Videotron or Bell Express View options.

Custom installation can be provided, you can buy hard-to-find connectors and cables, and there’s an affordable in-house service department (no charge for estimate).

Location: 6278 St-Hubert
corner: Bellechasse Tel: 514-276-1413
Hours: Regular
www.radiosthubert.com

Q: J’aime beaucoup ce que vous faites, votre livre, depuis sa sortie, a toujours été un guide précieux, compte tenu de mon petit budget. Vous êtes mon dernier espoir, je crois, pour ce nouveau projet.
Je voudrais faire mon propre abat-jour mais je ne trouve pas de structure. J’ai l’impression d’avoir tout essayer ( Oiseau bleu, Bouclair, Fabricville, Homesense (les deux) les grosses quincailleries, Abats-jour illimités) sur internet les structures viennent de l’Australie mais je ne veux faire qu’un seul abat-jour car j’ai reçu un magnifique papier japonais. Avez-vous des suggestions?

A: In my book, Le Consommateur Averti Montreal, there are 5 other lamp and lamp shade repair shops (starting on page 151). They would have parts and pieces of lamps: You have gone to stores that sell finished products so they would not have “structure”. Here’s one from my book, Abat-jour Marie-Elizabeth Tel: 514-695-0045.

– Another idea would be to go to a flea market, like Marches aux Puces St-Michel, http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=23  buy an old lamp, take it apart and use the part that you need.

– In fact you can buy any new lamp too and take off the shade and put on your Japanese paper.

– Here’s another idea, call Au Papier Japonais (page 167) Tel: 514-276-6863 and find out if they have any artisans who cover lamps with the paper

Q: Hi Sandra, I was wondering if you can help me to find a second hand store that sells turntables. I would really want an old one because I believe that years ago they made a better system.

A: In my book, on page 150, there’s  Radio Hovsep, 5945 Ave du Parc which has been taking care of radios and audio equipment for 52 years. He might have some turntables. Also inside the St-Michel Flea Market, there is definitely a booth that sells them. They’re on my site: http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=23

Mere Helene is a mom and a sewer who knows exactly how diapers need to be made, with 100% cotton or bamboo (as opposed to cloth, which may contain rayon, felt, polyester, etc.), so she sells them. Also, pregnant women can bring in any pair of pants, and for only $25 she will adapt them for your pregnancy. Great money saving idea!

Her diapers come in one size (fits 7-30 lbs.). The cotton ones are 2/$36 and the bamboo ones are $22 each, and they are both pre-folded with elastic and velcro. Covers are $12 and close with velcro or snaps or are pulled on.  Premature babies can use her 4 -15 lb size diaper, and she also makes larger sizes for children or for adults who require them.

Tops for breast-feeding moms are here too, along with Graco products.

Locations: 7577A Edouard, Lasalle, Tel: 514-368-2959
or 5840 boul. Taschereau, Tel: 450-812-5522
Hours:  Sat-Wed 9:30-5, Thurs & Fri 9:30-7
www.merehelene.com

It’s just a little walk upstairs to Willy’s Handbag Repair. The woman who runs this little repair depot can do all kinds of interesting fixes and I was surprised to learn that (like Houdini?) she can open combination locks!

The rest of the time she can replace zippers, locks and wheels on luggage and repair fabric and vinyl luggage. Tricks she has learned (the shop has been open over 48 years) allows her to fix handbags, tote bags, straps on strollers and jeep windows.

5456A Westminster, suite 206, Montreal Ouest
corner: ch. Cote St-Luc
Tel: 514-481-8446  514-481-8446
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-5

After all the cooking for the holidays and New Year’s Eve parties, your stove is probably a bit messy right now. What better place would know about cleaning appliances, than an appliance repair shop?

At Centre de Pieces et Services DB, on their counter by the cash, they sell Weiman cooktop cleaner in two sizes for $5.99 or $10.95. Right next to that, is Sany stainless steel cleaner for $10.95 and that’s it.  Sany is a Quebec product so that’s even better.

In this parts store, around for 20 years, you can find the piece you need for most major brand name (GE, Maytag, Frigidaire, Roy, Gibson, Kelvinator, Amana, Whirlpool, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, LG, Inglis, Kenmore, Nutone, Venmar) appliances to do it yourself of use their repair service.

Parts are in stock for refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, microwaves, freezers or dishwashers up to 5 years old and you can buy a few here too.

Some small appliances (mixers, irons, coffee pots, toaster ovens, processors, vacuums) by Sunbeam, Oster, Breville, Black & Decker, Krups, Tefal, Bionaire, Electrolux, Broil King and Eureka as well as their parts are sold and are reparable here.

Locations: 8000 Pie IX, Montreal-Nord (514-374-4500); Laval, 3300 boul. St-Martin O. (450-680-1333).
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 8:30-1
www.piecesdb.com

Q: Love your website. Do you know of anyone that repairs snowblowers either shops or home service? Need help…..

A: There is an entire 20-page section in my book Smart Shopping Montreal for Repairmen. Under “Sharpening” you will find: Jean Guglia & fils at 10,344 Boul. St-Laurent. They sell and fix snowblowers as well as many other tools. They must know what they are doing as they have been open for 58 years. http://jeanguglia.com/