Canadian Retail Thread - Page 201

michael_d40 · #**4001** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 4:59 PM**

Luckily Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton will see conversions of their Future Shop stores to Best Buy instead of closures.

ZeDgE · #**4002** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 5:02 PM**

Stopped going to FS years ago. Best Buy is better in every way. The loss of jobs is sad though.

cjones2451 · #**4003** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 7:20 PM**

Good post, there is no easy or good way to do this. If they are getting the same severance as a Target employee, a lot easier this way

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Honestly, they are probably doing a better job of treating their employees, customers and suppliers with respect by doing this.

Their employees all getting severance pay, and help to find new jobs. Their suppliers are being paid, they are honoring all their gift cards, warranties, exchanges etc. at the Best Buy locations. Are the employees in a state of shock or did they expect empty stores to sustain the business.

Compare this to Target, where employees were given notice, but had to work through there severance period or not get paid. They had to work there liquidating the store and dealing with customers who know they are lousing there jobs and spend a good part of the day answering questions from customers about how the store is closing and how Target is a failure.

1overcosc · #**4004** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Just saw on Twitter that Future Shop just opened a brand new store in Cornwall, Ontario this past November. Did they seriously not think about the future (no pun intended) of the chain? I can't help but think they knew they were opening a store they'd be closing anyways in the very next quarter.

In Cornwall? Seriously? That's one of the least attractive cities in the whole province for retail... low income, huge proportion on social assistance, and zero population growth....

I wonder if this will help raise the profile of Canada Computers. They only have stores in Ontario & Quebec IIRC, and they tend to choose urban streetfront locations. They offer much better prices than either Future Shop or Best Buy, almost as good as buying online.

SpongeG · #**4005** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 8:36 PM**

best buy did the same thing not too long ago, they shut down a number of Best Buy stores, i believe most of them were in the west, employees showed up at work and were told their store was closed down permanently

SpongeG · #**4006** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 8:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Honestly, they are probably doing a better job of treating their employees, customers and suppliers with respect by doing this.

Their employees all getting severance pay, and help to find new jobs. Their suppliers are being paid, they are honoring all their gift cards, warranties, exchanges etc. at the Best Buy locations. Are the employees in a state of shock or did they expect empty stores to sustain the business.

Compare this to Target, where employees were given notice, but had to work through there severance period or not get paid. They had to work there liquidating the store and dealing with customers who know they are lousing there jobs and spend a good part of the day answering questions from customers about how the store is closing and how Target is a failure.

most places when you get laid off and are entitled to a severence package you have to work until they say is the last day. Where i used to work, they laid off almost my whole department well over 40 people, they kept 5 i think, we had to go to work for 3 months or we wouldn't get paid out, it was kinda boring but getting paid to sit and play farmville was okay lol

my dad took early retirement from a refinery and the same with him and others they were told a while in advance what was happenning and they had to keep working until a set date to get their package

its different with future shop cause the stores are closed the day they were told

Tropics · #**4007** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeDgE

Stopped going to FS years ago. Best Buy is better in every way.

Stopped going to either one years ago. Memory Express is better in every way.

CanadianCentaur · #**4008** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Is there a Best Buy close by? If not, and it is profitable enough, they might convert it.

There is no Best Buy nearby in downtown Edmonton. But the downtown FS will be converted into one.

matt602 · #**4009** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 10:45 PM**

Although I feel for the workers who have to look for new jobs, thats about where my remorse ends. For the last 5 years I've done pretty much all of my computer hardware and electronics shopping either online through newegg or at stores like Canada Computers. Much better selection, prices and generally more knowledgeable employees. I also don't have to get on a bus for an hour out to the suburbs to get to one.

I'd imagine that in Hamilton the Stoney Creek location will be closing for good with the rest of them converting to BB's.

toaster · #**4010** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 11:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Safe to assume ours won't be converted into a Best Buy.

(Oh Google... like anyone would walk out there...)

Or this one...

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.34591...v_hJZSu34Q!2e0

manny_santos · #**4011** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 11:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I wonder if this will help raise the profile of Canada Computers. They only have stores in Ontario & Quebec IIRC, and they tend to choose urban streetfront locations. They offer much better prices than either Future Shop or Best Buy, almost as good as buying online.

That's a good point - two of the most hardcore computer geeks I know do all their hardware shopping at Canada Computers. They've got a great opportunity right now.

Stores like Future Shop and Best Buy also now have to compete with Apple stores and their authorized resellers, which they didn't have to compete with in the 1990s. The effect of Apple in recent years on shopping habits can't be ignored either.

Pinion · #**4012** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 11:30 PM**

^^Future Shop in West Van had basically an Apple store inside it, wood tables aesthetic and all.

Future Shop was always my fav store. I used to go buy a CD at the Park Royal one every week before mp3 players, and browsed the video games before digital downloads, and marveled at the cool TVs until I could finally afford one myself (65" Samsung h7150). Best Buy was never the same, especially since it was a 30 min drive instead of 5.

Not surprised they're closing the smaller North Van one, I drove right past it myself unless I wanted to avoid Xmas crowds, but it may be the only retail store I'll mourn.

manny_santos · #**4013** Posted **Mar 29, 2015, 12:03 AM**

People on CBC.ca are actually blaming Stephen Harper for allowing Best Buy to acquire Future Shop.

Because Harper was apparently Prime Minister back in November 2001.

casper · #**4014** Posted **Mar 29, 2015, 12:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

Although I feel for the workers who have to look for new jobs, thats about where my remorse ends. For the last 5 years I've done pretty much all of my computer hardware and electronics shopping either online through newegg or at stores like Canada Computers. Much better selection, prices and generally more knowledgeable employees. I also don't have to get on a bus for an hour out to the suburbs to get to one.

I'd imagine that in Hamilton the Stoney Creek location will be closing for good with the rest of them converting to BB's.

There is a national co-op of independently owned computer retailers called Millennium Micro (http://www.milleniummicro.ca/en), most operate under their own local brand. They are like Home Hardware or Best Western in being independently owned. They sell more computer hardware in Canada than Best Buy and Future Shop combined and usually have better prices.

Policy Wonk · #**4015** Posted **Mar 29, 2015, 2:56 AM**

I can't say I'm surprised by this, the two nearest me (Northland Mall and Beacon Hill) in Calgary have been looking like a Venezuelan grocery store for months.

I went to the Beacon Hill location a few weeks ago to buy a new tablet for my mom and they had absolutely nothing in stock, the cages were practically empty.

I asked the salesman when they would have more and he just said "that would be an excellent question for you to ask the manager" and he just walked away.

ToxiK · #**4016** Posted **Mar 29, 2015, 4:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by manny_santos

People on CBC.ca are actually blaming Stephen Harper for allowing Best Buy to acquire Future Shop.

Because Harper was apparently Prime Minister back in November 2001.

Well, he was alive back then. Isn't that enough to blame him?

vid · #**4017** Posted **Mar 29, 2015, 5:34 PM**

In Thunder Bay, Future Shop's temporary closure (it will be reopening as a Best Buy, since we didn't have a Best Buy) is being blamed on the city's new multiplex. According to them, the taxes have gone up so much to plan it that no one can afford to shop at Future Shop anymore, and it is closing. (They don't seem to be aware that it re-opens next Saturday with a different name...)

Blue Blazer · #**4018** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 7:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by manny_santos

People on CBC.ca are actually blaming Stephen Harper for allowing Best Buy to acquire Future Shop.

Because Harper was apparently Prime Minister back in November 2001.

Well the people on CBC need to know that it was Jean Chrétien in power back then. Maybe they should go back to school and do some research before they post stuff like this. Like I need to go to grammer school

Twinkies · #**4019** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 7:14 PM**

The big box stores now offer everything I need with out the hassle of pushy sales people. Plus returning things if need be is a lot easier.

Twinkies · #**4020** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Blazer

Well the people on cbc need to know that was Jean Chrétien in power back then . Maybe they should go back to school and do some research before they post stuff like this

Blue just give it up!