VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Fifteen Best Buy or Future Shop stores are closing across Canada, many of them in BC, as more consumers opt to shop online. A retail consultant predicts this is only the beginning.
Blame the ‘showroom effect,’ says Jim Smerdon, a retail consultant with Colliers International.
“The stores pay rent, hire staff, have specialists on the floor to describe and sell, ideally, products to the consumers,” he points out, “and then people when they’ve done their research go and buy cheaper online.”
“This is more likely round one of additional closings that are likely to come,” he believes. “People have the opportunity to buy goods online for discounted prices from retailers that don’t have to pay rent in shopping centres or in high stream locations.”
There’s also more cross border shopping.
Smerdon says while hundreds will lose their jobs with more box store closures, he believes Walmart and Target will likely be there to hire.
The Best Buy stores closing are:
Queensborough, BC
Nanaimo, BC
Victoria, BC
Langford (Westshore Town Centre), BC
South Surrey, BC
Lachenaie, QB
Sherbrooke (SmartCentres Sherbrooke), QB
The Future Shop stores closing are:
West Kelowna, BC
Montreal (Forum Entertainment Center), QB
Laval (First Pro Ste-Dorothee), QB
Winnipeg (Regent), MB
Calgary (Macleod), AB
Ancaster, Barrie South, ON
Mississauga (Erin Mills), ON
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There is no BC retailer that can compete with USA retailers when it comes to buying products where consumers want the most bang for their bug. I have been shopping over the border for the past three years since we bought a house 15 minutes from the crossing and we save on average $300 a month in gas and food compared to shopping within BC. We work hard for our money, pay our taxes in every cheque and pay property taxes so we have done enough for people who do not pay taxes whether thru laziness or cheaters of the system. I have been in both Future Shop and Best Buy in different locations over the years and each time with the exception of once have been ignored by staff and I just walk out without spending an dime. I have expereinced this in other stores of their size and walk out. Its not about money, or location, or product thats somethings big box stores forget till they close down. Its about customer service!!
awww, no more Future Shop and Best Buy ads to line my cat litter box with. What will I do now?
Have you ever tried to contact customer service at Best Buy? They spread themselves too thin trying to make the almighty buck, but what about what the customers want or need? I got a gift card and tried to make a purchase online but needed customer service, it took over an hour to get someone to help me. I was on hold for 16 mins, and forwarded to 3 people, then on hold for another 10 mins and by the time the one hour mark hit trying to make my purchase I gave up and wrote a letter to their corporate office asking for my money back on my gift card…..that was 4 days ago and no one has bothered to contact me about it…….gonna sell my gift card and shop somewhere else.
Have you ever tried to contact customer service at Best Buy? They spread themselves too thin trying to make the almighty buck, but what about what the customers want or need? I got a gift card and tried to make a purchase online but needed customer service, it took over an hour to get through to someone who could help me. I was on hold for 16 minutes, and forwarded to 3 people and by the time the one hour mark hit trying to make my purchase I gave up and wrote a letter to their corporate office asking for my money back on my gift card…..that was 4 days ago and no one has bothered to contact me about it…….gonna sell my gift card and shop somewhere else.
People in Vancouver have no idea what high taxes are. Try living in Europe. Vancouver is not one of the most expensive cities to live in. Many countries in Europe have higher taxes and insurance rates. See the global picture before you start complaining. Where do you think the government gets their money from? Trees?