Judging by the lack of snow clearing supplies in stock at stores across the Sault, the heavy snow and ice at the ends of driveways across the city has caught many retailers by surprise.
"We were as prepared as could be for the upcoming winter season but the magnitude of last Friday's storm caught everyone off guard," said Chris Beilhartz, owner of Heritage Home Hardware Building Centre on Second Line East.
Snow shovels, roof rakes and snow blowers are among the items in demand, said Beilhartz, but one of the products most in demand and seemingly impossible to find across the city are shear pins for snowblowers.
Shear pins are one of the cheapest parts for most snowblowers, but are also one of the most vital safety features. It is a small pin that is made to break when something like ice or a foreign object gets jammed in a snowblower so the much more expensive engine parts remain unharmed.
Checks with Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Soo Mill and Home Hardware made by SooToday on Sunday confirmed the approximately $10 part is nowhere to be found within city limits.
"For us at Home Hardware, it was unfortunate timing as our weekly order day is Thursday," said Beilhartz. "We will receive our shipment tomorrow. With processing time they should be back in stock by mid-week."
A tour of local hardware stores reveals there are generally some snowblowers in stock, but they tend to be smaller models probably more suited to a southern Ontario winter than the current heavy snow conditions in the Sault.
Beilhartz said, as a locally-owned smaller store, Home Hardware doesn't always have as much stock on hand as some others, but it is able to source parts and draw from other stores within the chain.
"We’ll do everything in our power to get our customers what they need in a timely manner," he said.