65 replies to this topic

[NMP]

How about Costco open a location closer to town

Here is opposite view on that, second post on this page: http://forum.skyscra... ... 090&page=2

Just to add another dimension...

[G-Man]

I assume you are referring to Miketoronto's claim?

I agree with his position. I wish that people would not shop at places like that and instead choose a more local venue for there money but I am afraid that is unlikely. Still I vote with my wallet even if I am in the minority and don't go to Walmart and Costco. I will admit to shopping at Real Canadian Wholesale in Esq. and also to Home Depot in GH. But I can say with pride that I have not made a right hand turn onto Millstream in at least almost a year and that was to go to Bear Mountain not to shop.

[Mike K.]

I can get by with local shops for everything I need but if I had a family the Costcos of the world would be the only affordable options for continually consumed items like food.

[NMP]

^^There are many points in his post I agree with. Read the discussion down that page and you'll see many arguments for both sides, many of them are fully valid too.

Not sure though how you decide which chains you kindly grant your patronage to and which you so proudly cast aside... either this is a matter of principle or convinience, not both

Also, you seem to advocate both mutually exclusive sides, no? Place big boxes in dense areas per your post/keep them in suburbs per miketoronto post which you agree with... I am confused about your preferences

[Holden West]

^If box stores are to be in urban areas, make them urban by building to the sidewalk.

I suspect there is data to show that shopping at box stores encourages excess consumption (especially goods like low-nutrition, processed snack foods).

Unless you are a savvy, disciplined shopper, you're in danger of spending more at these places for vast quantities of unhealthy food shipped long distances (bad for the environment).

[Mike K.]

Oh come on Virtually every consumer item we buy at any store is shipped a long distance (what isn't made in Asia these days?). But food isn't shipped nearly as far because manufacturers tend to have regional or local plants.

Coincidentally popular ethnic foods consumed by healthy-conscious folks are shipped in from across the world.

[G-Man]

Not sure though how you decide which chains you kindly grant your patronage to and which you so proudly cast aside... either this is a matter of principle or convinience, not both

Also, you seem to advocate both mutually exclusive sides, no? Place big boxes in dense areas per your post/keep them in suburbs per miketoronto post which you agree with... I am confused about your preferences

My preferences are as follows:

Walking distance - I will obviously choose places that I can walk to in in 5 or 10 minutes first. So that means either chains or locally owned. For example for groceries I will first go to Wellburns (locally owned) but for movie rentals I will go to Movie Gallery (chain). That does not mean that I think that movie gallery is great but it is convenient.

Locally owned - If there is a choice between a chain and a local company that are equidistant I will choose the local company first. An example would be that if I am buying coffee downtown I will forgo Starbucks to go to Mirage.

Specialty - I will go out of my way if I think a place offers exceptional quality. For instance I prefer UVic's library to Downtown. Or for Italian speciality I like the place in Cook Street Village over Italian Food Imports. This is pure personal preference.

Availiability - If there is something I cannot get close by or at a locally owned place than I will drive or ride my bike somewhere to get it. But this is rare. There was some tool recently that they did not have at either the Cook Street Do-It centre or Rona in Vic West and so I had to go to Home Depot (If I lived in Gordon Head and could walk to Home depot as per the list I would go there first).

Anyways I think that we all make decisions based on our personal beliefs. My basic principle is Walk first.

[NMP]

So, it's still a matter of convinience, prices and goodies availability and this

I wish that people would not shop at places like that and instead choose a more local venue for there money.

not this

I can say with pride that I have not made a right hand turn onto Millstream in at least almost a year

have not much to do with principle.

Sorry for what may seem as digging into your personal convictions, it's just I haven't seen too many people who would sacrifice convinience and prices for principle, so I got interested...

[G-Man]

I guess it would depend on what you consider a principle.

I base most of my decisions on the ease of life without a vehicle.

I do still own a vehicle but it only gets used on weekends, if necessary. Mostly it is used in the summer for vacations, Camping etc.

[Galvanized]

I for one try to shop local/canadian as much as I can. Although convenience is a consideration as well, if it's close by or within walking distance I'll go there but still if the choice is Starbucks vs. Blenz or Serious Coffee I'll choose the latter two.

If I ever go out to sprawlville to shop I'll time it so I am not just going for one item and make an afternoon of it, I also try to time errands etc that are on the way out there. I also find with places like Costco etc I end up bringing home stuff I never intended to buy because they were a "deal" but now I've become pretty good about getting in an out and not ending up that jumbo pack that will never get used up before it goes bad. I try to avoid Walmart altogether though I do end up there 1 to 2 times a year because it was on the way to somewhere else.

[Baro]

I have a small garden for food and a simple tool and die factory out back. Sometimes I have to import iron from my neighbour's mine, but for the most part I'm totally self sufficient.

[Caramia]

I'm the same way as G-Man and Galvanized. I grow a lot of my own veggies in the summer, try to buy local, choose not to drive a car, and make my consumer choices based on walkibility, local stuff when I can, emotional attachments to the stores/storekeepers, fair trade when I can. I don't really have a problem paying a bit more for something if I feel good about shopping there, I just buy less, which is fine.

I'm not hard core or anything, I'll still happily wolf down a McBurger if the mood strikes me. It is just a tendancy based on some cultural preferences and values I was raised with.

[Scaper]

I'm the same way as G-Man and Galvanized. I grow a lot of my own veggies in the summer, try to buy local, choose not to drive a car, and make my consumer choices based on walkibility, local stuff when I can, emotional attachments to the stores/storekeepers, fair trade when I can. I don't really have a problem paying a bit more for something if I feel good about shopping there, I just buy less, which is fine.

I'm not hard core or anything, I'll still happily wolf down a McBurger if the mood strikes me. It is just a tendancy based on some cultural preferences and values I was raised with.

I know of people who have grown their own plants too in their houses...and they don't mind paying more for lots of things even expesive cars...but then again...I don't think they were growing tomatoes!!! :shock:

[Caramia]

See now, and when you grow your own, you avoid that whole nasty black market, illegal transaction, organized crime link!
Wholesome!

[Scaper]

I guess they must of over grew their own needs and being ones to waste they must of thought it was best to share their blessed crop of veggies.

[Caramia]

Sharing is good.

[Scaper]

too funny!!!

[ressen]

You too can live on Sunshine terrace for the low price of $359000.

[Savannah]

Has anyone else pondered the new, uh, house? that is going up in the Sunshine Terrace area? It's squeezed onto a lot between the existing houses and the Millstream sidewalk. It's unusual looking, and awfully squished into its location. I keep meaning to take a picture, but I've always been driving and unable to stop.

[G-Man]

Weird that they are actually adding a house there. I guess that street is there for good.