Q: I am from Alberta and I work with a group that teaches at risk children to read. At home, I go, to the several Goodwill stores on a weekly basis and go through shelves of their most recently donated books. They sell their children’s books for $1.00 or less. I rarely go home empty handed and have been able to purchase great quality children’s literature in great condition.

I have literally bought thousands this way. I have been coming to Montreal for years and when I go to these shops here, I only ever find a few ratty books on their shelves. I am looking for mainly English soft cover picture books but some French is okay too. Any suggestions?

A: There is a section in my Smart Shopping Montreal book on used book shops with at least a dozen English ones and more French ones too. One that I know has lots of kid’s books is on the West Island and is called, Book Market, 3343H boul des Sources, DDO. The books are not $1 but maybe if you are buying a lot they will work with you. Second-hand (mostly clothing) chains like the Salvation Army would be: Village Valeurs or Fripe-Prix Renaissance. They have some books.

Montreal has made it very easy to save the planet and re-cycle our old electronics. the Electronic Products Recycling Association  (EPRA) is a not for profit organization. It keeps at least 100,000 metic tonnes of end-of-life electronics out of landfills every year.

Go to www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/qc and you can find lists of what they accept and drop off points all over the island. Since it’s so frigid outside, you have plenty of  time to gather up all your monitors, printers, old TVs, keyboards, video games, phones, car audio systems and  answering machines.

Now is the time to help save our planet.

www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/Qc

Q: I am often asked where one could sell a used fur coat. Very few second hand shops buy them and I have lost my last Montreal contact for this.

A: However, in this month’s Senior Times, there is an ad which says “I buy women’s and men’s fur coats”. I pay cash and pick up anywhere in Canada.

Tel; 514-996-0321
e-mail: recyclefur98@gmail.com.

If anyone uses this service, please let me know how it turned out.

A Black Friday sale for hockey gear is perfect for all the hockey enthusiasts that you know. At Play It Again Sports NDG Graf sticks, regularly $79.99 will be $39.99 and helmets are $69.99 (reg. $99.99 or  shoulder pads $34.99 (reg. 69.99).

Play It Again Sports NDG specializes in equipment for hockey, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and inline skating, etc. They are experts in skate fitting, and they take pride in ensuring a proper fit for each customer.

For over 15 years, this shop has helped parents in the Montréal area save money on new and quality used sports equipment. You can trade-in, consign or receive a cheque for your old ski, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, ringuette, baseball, in-line skates, snowboards or soccer gear.

You also have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of new high value sporting goods. They carry all the top brands you are looking for in a wide variety of active sports – without breaking the bank. They are the first in this region to get the latest pro gear like the lightweight Total One skate.

Each season their staff is trained by Bauer®, Reebok® and Easton® equipment experts to be able to provide your budding athletes with the best possible fit in skates and gear. For a great skating experience, the staff can transform them by heat molding, contouring, doing flat bottom V, or blade and chassis replacement.

You can also buy equipment for snow sports from brands like K2®, Volkl®, Salomon®, Atomic®, Burton® and 5150®, etc. The equipment can be serviced here too: ski and snow boards can be sharpened, waxed, the base repaired, and of course, bindings installed.

Location: 2100 Boul. Decarie
corner: rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Tel: 514-484-5150
Date of special: Nov 28

Q:  Where can I get some skates?  Women’s Skates I mean 🙂

A: On my website www.smartshoppingmontreal.com there are 2 options:

Play It Again Sports might have some second hand ones as well as new ones
http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=311

Zenium is a liquidation store that has some skates now (call and see if they have for women)
http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=310

Looking for an unusual architectural feature? Want to build ecologically? Or maybe you simply adore the sense of history reflected in heritage buildings? archMontréal,retrieves pieces of wood, metal and other architectural elements from churches and buildings in the city which are undergoing renovation or demolition. By salvaging these beautiful architectural artifacts, they are ensuring that these materials and the memories of the buildings they came from continue to live on. You might have known this place previously as Urban Recovery.

Many commercial and private customers shop at archMontréal. Come here to formulate ideas on the re-use of the variety of historical materials such as:
– reclaimed wood (oak, maple, walnut and others)
– floors and beams
– pews, altar pieces
– heritage millwork
– interior fixtures such as lights, doorknobs and grills
– doors and windows
– architectural furnishings such as vintage fridges, cabinetry and screens

In addition to sales, they are always interested in helping members of the community to properly disassemble their abandoned buildings. Please contact them if you are the owner of a property which is decorated with beautiful architectural details.

Using heritage materials is not only a good ecological choice; it also gives your project an historical narrative and allows you to preserve the memory of the building that came before yours.

5524A St-Patrick St., Suite 202 Montreal, QC, H4E 1A8
corner: boul Monk
Tel: 514-788-6007
Tues-Fri 9-5, Sat 11-4 Call before going to have the doors opened

How many times have you gone crazy trying to sort out your home telephone, internet and TV services bill or waited on the phone forever to get someone to help you sort out a problem? Well here is the best answer – you can have your own personal Bell representative  from Redmark. There’s no need to speak to a different agent for each call.

Bell is investing time and money in regaining lost clients while looking to provide better service to existing customers. You can start working with Redmark agents who have YOUR best interests at heart, not salespeople who have sales quotas and work on commissions. New Bell/Redmark clients can receive Bell advantages and discounts not found anywhere else.

If you are an existing Bell customer, send Redmark your invoice for a quick review. They can help save you up to $30 a month without affecting the quality of your services. They can also give you tricks on how to avoid frustration when working directly with Bell Canada Customer Service (from best hours to call, to what to ask for to get exactly what you want a.s.a.p).

– Enjoy Bell Fibe TV, which includes a free home PVR for the whole house, wireless receivers and the most HD content.
– You get dedicated internet lines – which means you don’t share your speed with your neighbours at peak hours.
–  Bell home phone does not cut out during power outages, allowing you access to your phone line in any emergency. Using other phone services, without power you would be left without any means of communication.
– You can get a free smartphone/tablet app for Bell TV subscribers which provides access to up to 30 Bell channels, free On Demand content, Live TV – free over wi-fi. Only$5 for 10 hours of viewing if you want access using your 3G data. Available with any mobility carrier on the App or Play store.

It is possible to be satisfied by the products mega companies provide when you have the right agents to help you along the way.

e-mai: Bell.resume.mtl@gmail.com
www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=321

If you are looking to find some particular music, both new and old, and you enjoy owning the recordings, you can stock up all in one place, Disques Beatnick Records.

It’s right on St-Denis but a bit south of the main shopping area. It’s worth going to for its combination of old and new music in vinyl. To tell them apart, the red or pink stickers indicate the used items and the green means it’s new. Sections for rock, jazz, reggae, soul, 60’s, etc. have bins and there are walls showing off the greats of vinyl; don’t miss the little back room.

Location: 3770 St-Denis St., Montreal H2W 2M1
corner: Ave du Pins
Tel: 514-842-0664
Hours Sun, Mon-Wed & Sat 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-9
www.beatnickmusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisquesBeatnick
E-mail: beatnickmusic1@yahoo.com
Metro Stop: Station Sherbrooke

Antique hunters and lovers of heritage objects will find lots to choose from at the 5th edition of the Old Montreal Antiques Show as 15 well-known antique dealers will show off their wares at the “antique” Bonsecours Market. “The collections include many rare, even unique pieces that tell the story of a people and a country.” says OMAS promoter Nabil Bedjaoui.

This is considered a high-end event for the quality of its pieces and exhibitors, yet it caters to all tastes and budgets. Thus, visitors will find prices ranging from $50 to $100 000 for Canadian furniture, period furniture, decorative accessories, folk art, tableware, jewelry, works of art (paintings and prints), manuscripts, vintage games and toys.

For the first time at OMAS, the Quebec Ceramic Collectors Association, which brings together 150 enthusiasts of antique and contemporary Quebec ceramics, will present industrial pieces from the 19th century and works by master ceramists from the 20th century.

Whether it’s to start a collection, enrich an existing one or simply for the love of antiques, the show is good place to buy authentic, carefully selected pieces.

Location: Bonsecours Market, 325 rue de la Commune Est
Dates: Oct 16-18
Hours: Thurs Oct 16, 6-9, Fr, Oct 17, 12pm-8, Sat Oct 18 11-4
Admission: $15, $45 for the Thursday evening charity cocktail party (ticket valid for three days)

With everyone getting back into the swing of things, including a sporting life, you’ll be looking for gear, and Play It Again Sports is the place to go to buy it. Below there’s a $10 coupon to make the purchase just a little bit sweeter. Right now you can take advantage of their Jackson figure skates at $69.99.

Play It Again Sports NDG specializes in equipment for hockey, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and inline skating, etc. They are experts in skate fitting, and they take pride in ensuring a proper fit for each customer.

For over 15 years, this shop has helped parents in the Montréal area save money on new and quality used sports equipment. You can trade-in, consign or receive a cheque for your old ski, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, ringuette, baseball, in-line skates, snowboards or soccer gear.

You also have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of new high value sporting goods. They carry all the top brands you are looking for in a wide variety of active sports – without breaking the bank. They are the first in this region to get the latest pro gear like the lightweight Total One skate.

Each season their staff is trained by Bauer®, Reebok® and Easton® equipment experts to be able to provide your budding athletes with the best possible fit in skates and gear. For a great skating experience, the staff can transform them by heat molding, contouring, doing flat bottom V, or blade and chassis replacement.

You can also buy equipment for snow sports from brands like K2®, Volkl®, Salomon®, Atomic®, Burton® and 5150®, etc. The equipment can be serviced here too: ski and snow boards can be sharpened, waxed, the base repaired, and of course, bindings installed.

Location: 2100 Boul. Decarie
corner: rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Tel: 514-484-5150
Dates of special: Oct 3-5

The below coupon applies on new items sold at the regular price only.
Le coupon ci-dessous s’applique sur les articles neufs  vendus au prix régulier seulement.