The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I don't think they really need a high profile location. They just want a somewhat central location to showcase their cars for people who actually want to come in to see it.

They could do better. Unfortunately Seymour is kind of a backwater and on that block the Orpheum and surface parking lot kind of kill the street life just that much more. If Polestar wanted buzz they should have negotiated a Robson street location, lots of vacant storefronts there but perhaps the landlords are still delusional.

[svlt]

Definitely an oddball location, not the easiest place to come in and out of. Tesla picked fine locations on Burrard and Robson and Fir and 4th, but then their brand is so famous I suppose they could've been anywhere and might not even need that Robson showcase anymore.

Polestar I think is one of the other main serious EV competitors out and I feel we'll be hearing from them much more soon. Karma is the other player with some presence in Vancouver, but seems like a west coast kind of brand with limited success elsewhere.

[casper]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I've been ordering a lot online from them. The supermarket selection is pretty limited.

As for their quality, they aren't growing or producing their "real" teas. Maybe he is referring to the fruity, artificially-flavoured ones but I buy their organic greens, blacks, and herbals instead.

Tealyra is also good to order from and they have a larger selection than David's.

There is always Murchie's. Local BC owned and operated. The factory is in Delta and they have not shutdown their shops....

https://www.murchies.com/

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Vin

Dreadful? Lol that's pretty dramatic. Care to share about the other "deserving Canadian tea retailers"?

Always Happy to enlighten you Vin although it can be something of a never- ending task.

https://assamteacompany.ca/

https://thechineseteashop.com/

https://granvilletea.com/

https://distinctlytea.com/

http://www.avenue18.ca/

https://www.citizentea.com/

https://treasuregreen.com/

and so many more.......

[SpongeG]

there is a place near Duncan on the island that grows tea. Westholme Tea. The guy used to come into the restaurant I worked at in Chemanius quite often.

Margit and Victor planted their first tea bushes in 2010, adding to their business of importing fine organic teas, blending original recipe teas and tisanes, and creating hand-made ceramics to accompany each unique flavour.

After a decade of passionate work, they have become the first (and only) Commercial Organic Tea Grower in Canada.

To honour the history and geography of the land on which they work, the Westholme Tea Company was named after the valley where the tea garden is planted on Vancouver Island, and where Victor and Margit have grown tea culture in Canada for nearly a decade.

westholmetea.com

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is there where that Dunns smoked meat place was?



from this article:

Dunn's is done. 827 Seymour's windows are all papered up now.



Aug.4 '20, my pics

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

Always Happy to enlighten you Vin although it can be something of a never- ending task.

https://assamteacompany.ca/

https://thechineseteashop.com/

https://granvilletea.com/

https://distinctlytea.com/

http://www.avenue18.ca/

https://www.citizentea.com/

https://treasuregreen.com/

and so many more.......

Nice find. But too bad many of these are tiny tea shops with niche markets not widely available like David's before Covid. How many of them have you actually tried to say they are way better than David's tea? I have personally tried David's, as well as seeing people reviewing about the chain. There have certainly been complaints about their customer service, but not really the quality of their teas per se. I don't know what you drank there, but it was a bit of a stretch calling their teas dreadful.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Vin

Nice find. How many of them have you actually tried to say they are way better than David's tea?

Every. Single. One.

I'm a Tea connoisseur and I get around-quite unlike you.

Originally Posted by SpongeG

there is a place near Duncan on the island that grows tea. Westholme Tea. The guy used to come into the restaurant I worked at in Chemanius quite often.westholmetea.com

Glad to see they're producing crops regularly lately- if Tea can be produced in Russia (and I've had a few different types) surely Canada can do something similar.

[Conrad Yablonski]

edited

[osirisboy]

I like David’s tea. But I’m luckily not a tea connoisseur.

[jollyburger]

New retail Shaw stores to support the launch of Shaw Mobile:

https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-in...-concept-stores-in-western-canada-photos

I still don't understand why Freedom Mobile is still a thing.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

New retail Shaw stores to support the launch of Shaw Mobile:

https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-in...-concept-stores-in-western-canada-photos

I still don't understand why Freedom Mobile is still a thing.

I'd argue why they created another brand that does the same thing, sort of? I still don't even know what Shaw Mobile is. The initial news release was confusing.

I've been a WIND/Freedom customer for a long time. The Shaw takeover has been great as they've been loyal to the brand identity while investing more in the network. I am not a Shaw Internet or TV customer, so if this squeezes me out, they've lost a customer.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I'd argue why they created another brand that does the same thing, sort of? I still don't even know what Shaw Mobile is. The initial news release was confusing.

I've been a WIND/Freedom customer for a long time. The Shaw takeover has been great as they've been loyal to the brand identity while investing more in the network. I am not a Shaw Internet or TV customer, so if this squeezes me out, they've lost a customer.

I mean they've invested a lot in Freedom but it still seems Shaw Mobile has better branding/value to the company. Maybe this is to catch up any Shaw customers that don't know anything about Freedom and might jump from their current provider.

You get 6 free voice/text lines on Shaw Mobile if for some reason you don't use data and the pricing seems sort of in line with Freedom. Shaw is $45 month BYOD for 25GB, Freedom is $55 for 20GB.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

New retail Shaw stores to support the launch of Shaw Mobile:

https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-in...-concept-stores-in-western-canada-photos

I still don't understand why Freedom Mobile is still a thing.

Telus: Telus / Koodo / Public Mobile
Rogers: Rogers / Fido / Chatr / ... others
Bell: Bell / Virgin / Lucky

All of the companies have multiple brands.. Shaw is probably doing the same thing here.

Ron.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

Telus: Telus / Koodo / Public Mobile
Rogers: Rogers / Fido / Chatr / ... others
Bell: Bell / Virgin / Lucky

All of the companies have multiple brands.. Shaw is probably doing the same thing here.

Ron.

I mean except for the pre-paid gas station market, I don't know what the point is at this point to have all those flanker brands.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I'd argue why they created another brand that does the same thing, sort of? I still don't even know what Shaw Mobile is. The initial news release was confusing.

I've been a WIND/Freedom customer for a long time. The Shaw takeover has been great as they've been loyal to the brand identity while investing more in the network. I am not a Shaw Internet or TV customer, so if this squeezes me out, they've lost a customer.

I was a Wind customer and would never go back based on the experience I had with their spotty network. I even had no connection at times in downtown Vancouver.

This rebranding makes a lot of sense if they don’t want to be seen as the bargain, low-quality cell service. I want my connection to be as seamless as possible and I’m not willing to sacrifice that for a lower bill.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I was a Wind customer and would never go back based on the experience I had with their spotty network. I even had no connection at times in downtown Vancouver.

This rebranding makes a lot of sense if they don’t want to be seen as the bargain, low-quality cell service. I want my connection to be as seamless as possible and I’m not willing to sacrifice that for a lower bill.

Some early days were rough but my work and home experience was fine. And it's much better now.

My deal is also grandfathered in with North America wide talk and text, and even 1GB US data (not helpful now!) so whenever I decide to look around at option options it's not even close.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Some early days were rough but my work and home experience was fine. And it's much better now.

My deal is also grandfathered in with North America wide talk and text, and even 1GB US data (not helpful now!) so whenever I decide to look around at option options it's not even close.

I’m seriously considering switching to Shaw mobile now since as their internet customer this would then cut my cell bill in half. The only thing holding me back is the strength of Rogers’ network.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I’m seriously considering switching to Shaw mobile now since as their internet customer this would then cut my cell bill in half. The only thing holding me back is the strength of Rogers’ network.

I think this is their angle. Getting current customers to switch from another "tier 1" provider, and perhaps some incentive to hang on to their customer base.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I was a Wind customer and would never go back based on the experience I had with their spotty network. I even had no connection at times in downtown Vancouver.

This rebranding makes a lot of sense if they don’t want to be seen as the bargain, low-quality cell service. I want my connection to be as seamless as possible and I’m not willing to sacrifice that for a lower bill.

I mean if you are regularly on some remote areas where Telus/Rogers has better coverage then I wouldn't switch, but their network is probably a lot better than it was when it was Wind.

https://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/cancellsites.html