That Place is Still Open?

[macker]

Lloyds Roller Rink.....took the kids there recently and realized I hadn't been in that place for 25-30 years....long wait for a repeat customer Remember the days of Lloyds battling it out with Rollerland and Lloyds ultimately winning out. Used to have a video screen and would play videos to the songs that were pumping out but sadly it is not there anymore, likely based on safety issues. Still have the DJ that the kids have fun going up to and requesting songs. Guess it is where you go when you can't find public skating at any of the rinks for the kids...

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Video Game Trader. Baffles me how they stay in business. All their new release stuff is AT LEAST $5 - $10 more expensive then at any other major retailer. And all their old/rare games are always priced at least twice as high as they're actually worth, and you can't tell me there's that many people dropping $100+ on old PSX games. It was a novelty to have a just video game store ten years ago, but with the proliferation of GameStop/EB Games now, plus video games available for cheaper at Wal-Mart/Future Shop/Best Buy, I don't see why anyone would actually shop there.

Not to mention all of the online channels as well, like Amazon and Ebay, and direct download services like Steam.

[Bertuzzied]

acutally how about the Money Mart??

isn't everyone's pay directly put into their bank account? who the hell uses that place and how do they make any money on $5 buck on a hundred?

[Bertuzzied]

Itunes. the worst computer program ever introduced to mankind.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

acutally how about the Money Mart??

isn't everyone's pay directly put into their bank account? who the hell uses that place and how do they make any money on $5 buck on a hundred?

Atleast down here in the US, most of those check-cashing typeo of places are actually owned by pretty big banks, and apparently they make a crap load of money.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Atleast down here in the US, most of those check-cashing typeo of places are actually owned by pretty big banks, and apparently they make a crap load of money.

How though? do they do loan sharking on the side? I have yet to know one single person to ever goto a money mart.

well actually me 3 years ago because my stupid comic art dealer in the states only accepted western union money orders. but besides that. to use that early paycheck service.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

How though? do they do loan sharking on the side? I have yet to know one single person to ever goto a money mart.

well actually me 3 years ago because my stupid comic art dealer in the states only accepted western union money orders. but besides that. to use that early paycheck service.

Unfortunately most of those places are located in areas where people live pay-check to paycheque (so apparently half of Canada), and where having a little money fast beats any long-term savings. They are pretty predatory in general.

A little old, but gets the point across.
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/11/y...or-money-mart/

[Pacem]

Nothing I can add to the list.

Originally Posted by Misterpants

How about Cash Converters? Ever walk into one of those places? Who ever is buying dual cassette boom boxes for $60 needs to get their bargain hunter badge taken away.

Are you refering to the old school 80's style boom boxes? If so, those things sell crazy fast. Check out craigslist, people buy them broken to repair and resell. Some get up to $200 a pop. They've even started making brand new ones that have ipod docks and such.

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

acutally how about the Money Mart??

isn't everyone's pay directly put into their bank account? who the hell uses that place and how do they make any money on $5 buck on a hundred?

Payday loans. 23% on every hundred out here in BC, every 2 weeks. Used to be higher until the government said no.

Lots of people use it. I've had to when I was younger and not so smart. Some people can't or don't have bank accounts cause they've messed things up.

Oh and money mart is on the gold buying train as well. Against the bylaws in the town I live in, but no one does a damn thing about it.

[BlAcKNoVa]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I remember the Video Game Trader when it used to be just the Toy Trader that ran out of a hole in the wall on the south side of 17th, behind where Safeway is. Steve was crazy good to us kids as we rented so many Nintendo Games from him, so as I grew up I always got amazing service and good deals on lots of stuff even after he changed to only video games.

Haven't really done much console gaming in 15 years though, so things might have changed.

Steve was an awesome guy. Was very knowledgable about the games and systems, and was always fair with trade-ins. I haven't been there in years but use to go there quite a lot in my younger days until my late teens/early 20's. Not sure he still owns the place but I would venture a guess and say it's under new ownership now.

I have a quick and cool story about Steve. I was around 16 or 17 at the time, and for the life of me I can't remember what game I wanted to buy (might've been Suikoden 1 for the Playstation), but I eventually came up being short 4-5 bucks. He leaned toward me and just glared at me, then after a few seconds said "okay, I got a good look at you, go home and enjoy the game, but the next time you come in make sure you got the rest of what you owe me". Man was I pumped after I left that store.

When Final Fantasy X came out, a family member supposedly bought it from them for 100 bucks, if not more if I remember as a Xmas gift to me. I went in a few weeks later and asked if they had any Xenogears copies laying around. The guy wanted 200 bucks for it. I walked out and haven't been there since. Was a great store for me in the 90's but I have wondered myself lately why it's still up and running.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

yeah thats pretty sad. They must put some sort of addictive substance into their food because that menu is pretty crappy.

Economically, McDonalds is actually a real estate holding company - that's where most of their profit is derived. They are also one of the largest toy retailers in the world.

Food is actually secondary to their profits.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Pacem

Nothing I can add to the list.





Payday loans. 23% on every hundred out here in BC, every 2 weeks. Used to be higher until the government said no.

Lots of people use it. I've had to when I was younger and not so smart. Some people can't or don't have bank accounts cause they've messed things up.

Oh and money mart is on the gold buying train as well. Against the bylaws in the town I live in, but no one does a damn thing about it.

wait 23%????? i thought it was like 5% or something in their add. it's the one with the pig right?

holy crap. that is loan sharking. haha

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

How though? do they do loan sharking on the side? I have yet to know one single person to ever goto a money mart.

well actually me 3 years ago because my stupid comic art dealer in the states only accepted western union money orders. but besides that. to use that early paycheck service.

If you work out the actual rate, they are charging close to the 60% in CCC. It's not just the annual rate, which may be around 20 or 25%. The real money is made on the service/administrative charges. For example, you want a $400 pay-day loan. You will be charged 20% interest, which is minor, given that it's something like a 10 day turn-around. But the $25-50 admin charge is huge return on investment when you prorate it to an annual interest rate.
There are also people who need to cash a cheque NOW and are willing to give Money Mart $25 (or whatever) because they can't wait out the hold period at a bank. It's a gold mine.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Economically, McDonalds is actually a real estate holding company - that's where most of their profit is derived. They are also one of the largest toy retailers in the world.

Food is actually secondary to their profits.

You mean they own toy stores under a different name? or are they the largest toy retailers by giving up ugly looking shrek and smurf toys?

Also how do they make any money on real estate if they are the only one on the property? it's not like they sell and move locations all the time.

[WilsonFourTwo]

160 posts and nobody has mentioned Fotze's Mom. Amazing.

[trew]

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

The Old Spaghetti Factory
Julio's Barrio
Boston Pizza... or at least SO MANY Boston Pizzas

Man I really don't know how Julio's survives. I rarely see more than 10-20 people in there. It's a huge place, and in an expensive prime location.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

160 posts and nobody has mentioned Fotze's Mom. Amazing.

Nobody's surprised she's still open.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

You mean they own toy stores under a different name? or are they the largest toy retailers by giving up ugly looking shrek and smurf toys?

Also how do they make any money on real estate if they are the only one on the property? it's not like they sell and move locations all the time.

This.

You would be amazed at how many of those things go out every store in a day.

Ever since my kids realized happy meals have toys in them, we cant escape without a meal for each of them.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Rathji

This.

You would be amazed at how many of those things go out every store in a day.

Ever since my kids realized happy meals have toys in them, we cant escape without a meal for each of them.

Yeah but it's not like they are charging any money for them? how do they make any money? buy getting kids to buy 'happy'meals? hehe

[Komskies]

Didn't they used to call the toys "Treat of the Week"? That's what we always used to ask for way back in the day at least.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Yeah but it's not like they are charging any money for them? how do they make any money? buy getting kids to buy 'happy'meals? hehe

Well put it this way, before my kids realized there was toys in them, we used to buy a box of 6 nuggets, med order of fries, and a small drink for both of their dinner if we were going there. Was less than $6 total, or about $3 each. Happy Meals are $4+ each, which is the same thing as far as food + toy.

Not to mention all the times kids want to go to McDonalds over Wendy's etc based solely on the toys.