Future Shop Canada Exclusives

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Well, most countries have tried protectionism at one point or another, and it doesn't work.

Canada is a strong country by many measures. However, it has a rather small population for a country of its size. Unless Canada experiences a population boom, many businesses will require foreign investment in order to survive.

Like I said, I can't get into it here. The MODs will surely have something to say about the direction that conversation would go in.

I would appreciate it if MifuneFan would stop trying to make me out to be some kind of bigot towards the USA though.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yes, clearly you haven't been making this a US vs Canadian thing. Where could I possibly have gotten that idea from?

Oh FFS... I'm using the context in which this very specific scenario is the point of discussion. You could substitute any company from any country into those statements.

In fact, this is actually verging on a bullying scenario. I would appreciate it if you stopped targeting me with insinuations that do not exist.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I would appreciate it if Mifune would stop trying to make me out to be some kind of bigot towards the USA though.

It's your own words . When you made general statements about these things happening, you could have easily said you're disgusted when a foreign company does this to a Canadian one, but you specifically referenced when US companies do it each and every time. Again, I'm not making you a bigot (nor do I think you're one), but other people can clearly read what you've written, and judge for themselves how you've framed this. By your own words you're biased about this because it's a US company that did this, and not a Canadian one. I'd have more respect for your sentiments about this great company disappearing if it weren't for how you framed it. I'll just leave it at that.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's your own words . When you made general statements about these things happening, you could have easily said you're disgusted when a foreign company does this to a Canadian one, but you specifically referenced when US companies do it each and every time. Again, I'm not making you a bigot (nor do I think you're one), but other people can clearly read what you've written, and judge for themselves how you've framed this. By your own words you're biased about this because it's a US company that did this, and not a Canadian one. I'd have more respect for your sentiments about this great company disappearing if it weren't for how you framed it. I'll just leave it at that.

Fair enough. But I've since clearly expressed that it was a discussion that I was trying not to have wander off into larger opinions that weren't related to this specific scenario. Therefore I was actually being very careful in trying to keep it related to this situation. And yes, I am biased, but NOT because it was specifically a US company.

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Such a sad day. It is always sad when another great Canadian iconic brand gets swallowed up by a US company. However, such a prominent Canadian iconic brand now being eliminated under the umbrella of a US company? It sickens me.

Um, Bestbuy bought them in 2001 - they haven't been Canadian since then. I worked there for a few years up until just before Bestbuy bought them - employees knew it was coming at some point, it just sucks that they closed it the way they did. But anyone who didn't think this was coming wasn't paying attention - you had stores literally next door to each other. It does suck that we lost another retailer but I didn't hear anyone complaining when Zellers was bought out by Target. It's business - these companies didn't want to compete with Walmart so they lost out.

With the exclusives, my guess is Bestbuy will fulfill anything Future Shop promised like Interstellar since usually that stuff is done so far in advance that it really doesn't make any sense in cancelling it - they probably already paid for it. Chances are if you go to Bestbuy, both their exclusives and Future Shop's exclusives will be there. Doubt there will be a liquidation sale like with Target since they can just ship it to a Bestbuy instead.

[cdittmer]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Indeed. I know how a business transaction works. I am always disgusted at the seller when a U.S. company buys a Canadian company. But, when that U.S. company then eradicates the Canadian brand, it's utterly revolting. FutureShop had a proud Canadian heritage behind it and a U.S. company just up and decided to excise it from our national cultural landscape. Why couldn't they have gone the other way? Why not turn all Best Buys into FutureShops across Canada? They could have had some semblance of respect for the cultural significance of the brand.

What proud Canadian heritage did FutureShop have behind it? As a frequent FutureShop customer (both before and after the Best Buy acquisition) my experience with FutureShop was spotty at best. Outside of their famous Boxing Day sale and a few other sales scattered throughout the year there was nothing remarkable about FutureShop. In fact, they were well known around here for taking returned / defective electronics, repackaging them and then trying to sell them again. In my case I purchased a $2,200 plasma TV from them only to discover when I got home that the TV had been used and was broken (there was water under the glass). I know other people who had similar experiences. I refused to purchase electronics from FutureShop as you never knew what "surprises" were waiting for you in the box. I personally thought the acquisition by Best Buy was a good thing given how FutureShop had previously operated. I am actually surprised this move to close FutureShop took so long as the stores were essentially the same as Best Buy. I don't like what they did to their employees, that seemed unnecessary.

[blonde_devil]

Have to agree with cdittmer. I've seen their ups and downs but having worked there, it isn't surprising the way things happened. I don't know what happened once Bestbuy bought it but before, it was a mess - salesmen scooping sales, store management telling you things that went against store policy and against what regional management told you, total lack of common sense. I had the store manager taking prizes I won from corporate contests especially done for the music and software staff. Later I was in charge of the warehouse at one store and I didn't even had a passcard to get into it but my assistant did. It doesn't have some grand legacy, it was lucky to still be in business because of stuff like that. I was sad when A&B Sound closed as it was a cool store but this, sad to lose another retailer but I'm not shedding any tears over it.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

I had the store manager taking prizes I won from corporate contests especially done for the music and software staff.

Wow, just wow.

[neoz]

Good morning everyone. Back on topic please.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by neoz

Good morning everyone. Back on topic please.

You partied too hard last night, huh?

[neoz]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

You partied too hard last night, huh?

I watched The Walking Dead. Then went to bed. Now I'm out and about helping a buddy get stuff for redoing his roof.
I would much rather be back at home then looking at this small phone screen. God I hate typing on this thing.

[jscoggins]

I'm moving Exclusives that haven't been released yet into the Best Buy thread.