All Future Shop stores in Canada Closing

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Slava

No real job loss or anything though, just changing from Future Shop to Best Buy as I understand?

Some will (the Shawnessy location is likely for example), but cases like Deerfoot Meadows with a Future Shop and Best Buy in the same complex are unlikely to see a conversion.

[PeteMoss]

[Ducay]

Crazy, but semi expected. You can't really get away with the fake competition bit anymore in this day and age with so much internet pressure and information.

Won't be any deals to be had right away, as all the inventory just goes to the fulfillment warehouses to go back out to BestBuy stores as needed.

[StrykerSteve]

Crazy

[albertGQ]

What about the one in Coventry Hills? There's no BB nearby so hopefully it converts instead of closed down permanently.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Crazy, but semi expected. You can't really get away with the fake competition bit anymore in this day and age with so much internet pressure and information.

Won't be any deals to be had right away, as all the inventory just goes to the fulfillment warehouses to go back out to BestBuy stores as needed.

My thoughts exactly, truth be told this move is at least 10 years overdue, the two identical chains with the same owners seems like such a pre-internet way of operating. It's actually baffling that they were able to keep up the transparent ruse this long anyways.

[Resolute 14]

This must have been sudden, because I was in a Future Shop last night and there was no hint of anything amiss among the staff.

Also, I think it is terribly stupid - and shortsighted - of the company to keep the American brand rather than the Canadian one.

[Vulcan]

It looks official.

Dozens of Future Shop stores have been closed across Canada, its parent company Best Buy Canada Ltd. announced Saturday.
The company said it was shutting down 66 Future Shop stores effective immediately. Meanwhile, another 65 stores will be closed for a week while they're converted to Best Buy stores.
It's not clear how many jobs will be affected by the restructuring.
Future Shop was purchased by Best Buy in 2001 for $580 million.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/futu...-buy-1.3013534

[Fuzz]

That was a remarkably well kept secret. I was just browsing the site 30 minutes ago, so I thought this thread was a joke.

[Derek Sutton]

Done.

http://www.futureshop.ca/

[Frequitude]

Combined with Zellers, that's a lot of big box retail space on the market right now.

[Hockeyguy15]

Are they keeping the website running? What about me preordered games?

[Ducay]

FYI 66 will be closing, 65 will become BestBuys

Everything is still being honoured through BestBuy (online purchases can still be made, preorders, etc).

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Are they keeping the website running? What about me preordered games?

Everything bought at Future Shop will be honoured at a Best Buy.


Oh, and if you want to despair for humanity, read the comments in any given CBC thread. They are making Sun commenters look smart. "Hurr durr durr, this is Harper's fault".

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Also, I think it is terribly stupid - and shortsighted - of the company to keep the American brand rather than the Canadian one.

Stupid from a Canadiana perspective, but probably much more efficient from an overall business perspective if you look at it from the point of view of the mother corporation. Best Buy in the US wasn't going to go anywhere, so keeping Future Shop in Canada would mean they still have two big box store brands to manage. Doing everything Best Buy in both the US and Canada means they can run their brand more efficiently, as there's probably a great chunk that can be leveraged across the border.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Northland mall just got deader

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Stupid from a Canadiana perspective, but probably much more efficient from an overall business perspective if you look at it from the point of view of the mother corporation. Best Buy in the US wasn't going to go anywhere, so keeping Future Shop in Canada would mean they still have two big box store brands to manage. Doing everything Best Buy in both the US and Canada means they can run their brand more efficiently, as there's probably a great chunk that can be leveraged across the border.

BestBuy in the states isn't exactly booming either.

That said.. I think most people preferred shopping at Best Buy in Canada due to the non-commission sales people.

[PsYcNeT]

Wonder when a list of closed/converted stores will be available.

That said, I cant think of a single thing ive bought from Future Shop in the last 7 or 8 years. Everything else is cheaper elsewhere or on Amazon.

[White Out 403]

All FS are closing, but the ones that aren't near a BB are becoming a BB from my understanding. Still, a lot of job losses. Lots.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

BestBuy in the states isn't exactly booming either.

Which is exactly why they don't need to have the extra bloat. Best Buy is having enough issues on their own to waste millions managing two similar brands.

All hail the Amazon drones!