Canadian Retail Thread

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by toaster

Doesn't bother me if someone doesn't want to use self-checkout, actually it usually means there is a shorter wait for me to use the self-checkout. Older people aren't in a rush, they don't mind waiting, they like interacting with a person. Why does something like that bother you?

Plus they have an expectation of receiving the service that they're paying for. Now, for annoying, let's talk about the women (always women, istm) who don't start rummaging in their purse for their wallet until after the cashier has told them how much they oww.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I still think there is a niche for a discount store that is nicer than Walmart and Giant Tiger, but the execution doesn't seem to work.

I went back to Target last week... it has gotten even nicer over the past few years. It pains me that we had it, but then had it taken away so soon. Zellers wasn't and won't ever be that.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I still think there is a niche for a discount store that is nicer than Walmart and Giant Tiger, but the execution doesn't seem to work.

Oh, I agree, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a return of Zellers, but they should be standalone stores rather than a discount section in preexisting Bay stores.

In particular, Zellers could do very well in mid sized Canadian cities where the only real competition is Walmart. With the current rollout, mid sized cities are missing out.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Oh, I agree, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a return of Zellers, but they should be standalone stores rather than a discount section in preexisting Bay stores.

In particular, Zellers could do very well in mid sized Canadian cities where the only real competition is Walmart. With the current rollout, mid sized cities are missing out.

I can't imagine such a Zellers competing with Walmart on price.

[MolsonExport]

The Bay must have a lot of underutilized space, or perhaps they are just desperate to generate some traffic, hoping to convert some of those Zellers shoppers into buying a Bay thing or three.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I can't imagine such a Zellers competing with Walmart on price.

Price isn’t necessarily everything. There’s also selection, atmosphere, nostalgia, and the little extras like the old Zellers restaurants. This can build customer loyalty.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Price isn’t necessarily everything. There’s also selection, atmosphere, nostalgia, and the little extras like the old Zellers restaurants. This can build customer loyalty.

Maybe I'm wrong, but to the Walmart/Costco crowd, I would have thought that price is indeed everything. They'd be hard for me to explain otherwise, although Costco does have that additional gross quantities thing going.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Maybe I'm wrong, but to the Walmart/Costco crowd, I would have thought that price is indeed everything. They'd be hard for me to explain otherwise, although Costco does have that additional gross quantities thing going.

Walmart has a certain "cache" about it (Google "people of Walmart" sometime).

I find Walmart offputting. I much preferred Zellers (and Target when they were here). I don't think I'm alone in this.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Walmart has a certain "cache" about it (Google "people of Walmart" sometime).

I find Walmart offputting. I much preferred Zellers (and Target when they were here). I don't think I'm alone in this.

Have you forgotten how bad Zellers was, or at least how derelict it had gotten by the end? The only reason anyone ever stepped foot in one was because that side of the mall parking lot always had ample space.

[urbandreamer]

I've noticed Walmart, Dollarama and SDM has replaced their mostly local part time staff with South Asian TFW types, and aggressively brought in self checkouts. What happened to the previous black, white and Latino workers?

Oh and for all you guys complaining about Galen Weston Inc. Last year I worked briefly at their distribution centre - I quit because they're very noisy, polluted places surrounded by constant idling trucks and have very high turnover of staff. Anyway, it's obvious they're an extremely inefficient organization and Walmart/Costco could easily put them out of business if they get their grocery supply chains in order. Instead of ranting about self checkouts and GW, why don't you complain about their blatant disregard for their lowest paid, arguably hardest working employees?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Walmart has a certain "cache" about it (Google "people of Walmart" sometime).

I find Walmart offputting. I much preferred Zellers (and Target when they were here). I don't think I'm alone in this.

I too find Walmart offputting, although I zip in from time to time when I know what I want to pick up, but I will never forget going in to the Zellers on St Laurent in Ottawa in the years before they closed - it was absolutely the most depressing shopping experience I've ever had. Not the Walmart "cache" (sic), just a collection of the downtrodden and oppressed. It could have served as the set for a post-apocalytic movie.

[theman23]

as off putting as Wal Mart may be, I bet every single poster on this forum still shops there “from time to time”. OTOH I’d wager very few ever bothered to go to Zellers in the years leading up to its closure.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I've noticed Walmart, Dollarama and SDM has replaced their mostly local part time staff with South Asian TFW types, and aggressively brought in self checkouts. What happened to the previous black, white and Latino workers?

Oh and for all you guys complaining about Galen Weston Inc. Last year I worked briefly at their distribution centre - I quit because they're very noisy, polluted places surrounded by constant idling trucks and have very high turnover of staff. Anyway, it's obvious they're an extremely inefficient organization and Walmart/Costco could easily put them out of business if they get their grocery supply chains in order. Instead of ranting about self checkouts and GW, why don't you complain about their blatant disregard for their lowest paid, arguably hardest working employees?

One of the side effects of the Trudeau policy of flooding out universities with foreign students who are given points towards PR applications if they work is that stores here in Kingston are now overwhelmingly staffed with international Queens students, mostly South Asian. It's a bit of an odd sight as the local permanent population here is still very white although its gradually becoming more diverse. There's something discomforting about being at Home Depot and every single customer in line is white while the staff are all brown. It makes the city feel like some sort of colonialist economy.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by theman23

as off putting as Wal Mart may be, I bet every single poster on this forum still shops there “from time to time”. OTOH I’d wager very few ever bothered to go to Zellers in the years leading up to its closure.

Zellers in the 80s/90s was good. At the end (before Target abysmally planned takeover) most Zellers stores had been run into the ground, whereas Walmart was constantly expanding and a lot of areas had newer layouts with the grocery section.
The Zellers at Calgary's 2nd largest mall had rodents running through it during the day while shopping. Can't even make this up. Tried to let corporate know about it.

There's 2 Walmarts in my area. One is an absolute traffic cluster**** and the other had a great next-in-line cashier queuing system but they ruined it installing way too many self checkouts and sparse cashiers.
Suffice it to say, I've only been to Walmart once in the past 3-3.5 years.
Canadian Tire has a lot of things I used to pickup at Walmart (cleaning supplies, kitchen things, etc).

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

One of the side effects of the Trudeau policy of flooding out universities with foreign students who are given points towards PR applications if they work is that stores here in Kingston are now overwhelmingly staffed with international Queens students, mostly South Asian. It's a bit of an odd sight as the local permanent population here is still very white although its gradually becoming more diverse. There's something discomforting about being at Home Depot and every single customer in line is white while the staff are all brown. It makes the city feel like some sort of colonialist economy.

It's the exact same thing in Timmins as well except we have a significant local Indigenous population. There are SO many South Asian Northern College students here who make up almost all of the workers in large stores and fast food restaurants. One sad thing about it is that francophones here can't be served in French in so many places anymore.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Loco101

It's the exact same thing in Timmins as well except we have a significant local Indigenous population. There are SO many South Asian Northern College students here who make up almost all of the workers in large stores and fast food restaurants. One sad thing about it is that francophones here can't be served in French in so many places anymore.

Didn’t you vote for this?

[casper]

Originally Posted by theman23

Didn’t you vote for this?

I did. We are facing a major demographics crisis if it were not for immigration.

One million immigrants has make a major dent in correcting for this and we need more.

As for major employers brining on indigenous workers. It is about time.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by theman23

Have you forgotten how bad Zellers was, or at least how derelict it had gotten by the end? The only reason anyone ever stepped foot in one was because that side of the mall parking lot always had ample space.

I tend to remember an older Zellers, before it was in it's agonal death throws. This older Zellers was simply a good quality lower end general department store with reasonable prices, broad selection and a generic but predictable diner.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I too find Walmart offputting, although I zip in from time to time when I know what I want to pick up, but I will never forget going in to the Zellers on St Laurent in Ottawa in the years before they closed - it was absolutely the most depressing shopping experience I've ever had. Not the Walmart "cache" (sic), just a collection of the downtrodden and oppressed. It could have served as the set for a post-apocalytic movie.

Worst for me was undoubtedly the Sears Outlet in beautiful London Ontario, just before they closed for good. The place might have once been a Woolco or Kmart or something, and it had absolutely no renovations since opening in the 1960s. In it, was nothing but shopworn floor models, scratch & dent appliances, and expired fashion. Most customers were "seniors on a budget". Absolutely soul-sucking.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I tend to remember an older Zellers, before it was in it's agonal death throws. This older Zellers was simply a good quality lower end general department store with reasonable prices, broad selection and a generic but predictable diner.

Everyone always mentions the Zellers diner but I always remember them being completely empty save for a couple of seniors and maybe a worker on their break. I think once in my adult life did I ever eat there, and I don't remember it being impressive or even decent value for the money... I went back to eating in the mall food court after that.