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Black Friday and Boxing Day - a tale of two countries


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#61 57WestHills

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Posted 25 November 2016 - 09:04 PM

I bought most of big-box Christmas gifts in Alberta at full price last week, with no PST. Today I did a Langford rounder and price matched them all. $$$ it was a good day.


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#62 Coreyburger

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Posted 26 November 2016 - 09:26 AM

Yes, and they pay massive property taxes.

 

Per sq m property taxes are far lower for a big box store than they are for high-density commercial space. As servicing costs are similar, the problem become immediately apparent.

 

And as for local vs non-local, local businesses do keep more in the local economy. This has been borne out by many studies of the issue across many jurisdictions.



#63 Matt R.

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Posted 26 November 2016 - 11:35 AM

It's reasonable to state that shopping at a locally owned business can keep more money in the local economy, but it is not reasonable to make this statement:

 

“If you spent just 10% of your money locally, and everyone can do that starting today, it keeps 25% more money here” says Gayle Robinson, owner of Robinson’s Outdoor Store. “It stays and it turns here. When you shop at big box stores, it never touches down in Victoria. It’s gone.”



#64 RFS

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Posted 26 November 2016 - 11:42 AM

right cuz everyone who works at big box stores is flown in on a daily basis and they remit all their pay back to big box landia
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#65 spanky123

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Posted 26 November 2016 - 11:48 AM

It's reasonable to state that shopping at a locally owned business can keep more money in the local economy, but it is not reasonable to make this statement:

 

“If you spent just 10% of your money locally, and everyone can do that starting today, it keeps 25% more money here” says Gayle Robinson, owner of Robinson’s Outdoor Store. “It stays and it turns here. When you shop at big box stores, it never touches down in Victoria. It’s gone.”

 

And Gayle buys all of her merchandise from Canadian manufacturers as well?! I have no issues paying a little more for good service. Robinson's generally has good service so I shop there occasionally. I think that should be her angle to focus on rather than the guilt trip about profits going to a US head office instead of her pocket.


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#66 Greg

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Posted 26 November 2016 - 12:53 PM

I'm happy to shop local if I can find what I want and the service is good. But some of these marketing pushes are a joke. If I save 10% on my purchase getting it from Amazon.ca then I just kept 10% of my money VERY local.
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#67 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 08:16 AM

During the past weekend, more and more U.S. shoppers decide to skip the mayhem in stores and buy online. Consumers spent $3.34 billion US shopping online on Friday, a 21.6 per cent increase from the same day last year, according to Adobe Digital Insights, which tracks online retail transactions.

 

 

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...pping-1.3870569


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#68 LeoVictoria

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 08:37 AM

In the US some of the prices are incredible, $150 for a 49" LED HDTV, $799 for a 60" ultra hd 4k TV, can't afford not to pick a couple up.


Except it's a scam. Those are often models made specifically for Black Friday with fewer features and worse quality than the standard models.

#69 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 08:40 AM

Except it's a scam. Those are often models made specifically for Black Friday with fewer features and worse quality than the standard models.

 

 

2. Deals on TVs that are manufactured specifically for Black Friday

We’ve already mentioned that some retailers offer deals on gadgets that are manufactured specifically for them. But did you know that sometimes items like TVs are made especially for Black Friday? These models are made to be offered at what looks like a heavily discounted price. So in the case of TVs, they often have things like lower-quality displays, or they lack features that most other models have. If you’re thinking of buying a TV on Black Friday, research the model number. If it’s only offered by one retailer, you might want to think about skipping it and buying a new television at another time of the year. (Perhaps think about purchasing one in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, which is a great time for discounts.)

http://www.businessi...-friday-2016-11


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#70 Mike K.

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 08:57 AM

I've found that most national retailers sell some electronics exclusive to their stores so that they don't have to price match or provide discounts because of prices elsewhere.

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#71 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 08:59 AM

I've found that most national retailers sell some electronics exclusive to their stores so that they don't have to price match or provide discounts because of prices elsewhere.

 

Yes, that happens.  But get into the fine print and you can usually march specifications and see what's what.


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#72 lanforod

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 12:03 PM

I've been looking for a laptop, and have been very unimpressed at the sale prices. Guess I'll see if boxing day is any better.



#73 Dr. Barillas

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 03:31 PM

Incredible.

 

http://q13fox.com/20...riday-shoppers/


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#74 sebberry

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 07:59 PM

I've been looking for a laptop, and have been very unimpressed at the sale prices. Guess I'll see if boxing day is any better.


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#75 lanforod

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 08:17 PM

Core i3+, 128gb+ SSD, 8 gb+ ram, 13-14" fhd screen. Under 700 ideally.

So many are 15.6 WXGA. Junk.

Edited by lanforod, 28 November 2016 - 08:17 PM.

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#76 Matt R.

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 09:29 PM

Picked up an Anova 800w immersion circulator online today for $130 incl shipping, about $80 off.  

Matt.



#77 sebberry

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 09:50 PM

Core i3+, 128gb+ SSD, 8 gb+ ram, 13-14" fhd screen. Under 700 ideally.

So many are 15.6 WXGA. Junk.


If you're willing to go bigger, $700 will get you an i7/8GB/1TBHDD/15" 1080p. That's what I did last year (with an i5) and swapped the HDD for an SSD)
The 14" screens at 1080p seem to be what's pushing the price up.

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#78 lanforod

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Posted 28 November 2016 - 09:52 PM

If you're willing to go bigger, $700 will get you an i7/8GB/1TBHDD/15" 1080p. That's what I did last year (with an i5) and swapped the HDD for an SSD)
The 14" screens at 1080p seem to be what's pushing the price up.

Too big and heavy. I did find one or two like that though, but yeah, too big and heavy. Smaller screen means lighter, better battery...



#79 lanforod

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Posted 29 November 2016 - 12:53 PM

If you're willing to go bigger, $700 will get you an i7/8GB/1TBHDD/15" 1080p. That's what I did last year (with an i5) and swapped the HDD for an SSD)
The 14" screens at 1080p seem to be what's pushing the price up.

Hmm... http://h20386.www2.h...pt=ABL&sel=NTB 

 

Just out of stock... but hits all my spec points.


Edited by lanforod, 29 November 2016 - 12:54 PM.


#80 AllseeingEye

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Posted 29 November 2016 - 06:57 PM

Not meant to come across as a rant so I apologize in advance if its interpreted that way, and I'm certainly not judging anyone least of all on this forum; and I realize I am probably a dinosaur on the subject but this entire Black Friday phenomenon in this country frankly mystifies me: my question is this - why do we care in the Land of Moose and Maple Syrup?

 

Why are we emulating and buying into a gimmick the American marketing machine has come up with and tagged on to an American holiday? Is the point to 'get a deal' on gifts for others for Christmas, or is it simply and entirely so consumers in general can get a 'bargain' on yet more material stuff for themselves that in all likelihood they don't truly_really need?

 

We have Boxing Day after all - which (full disclosure) I completely ignore as well from the shopping madness standpoint: I prefer to spend the time over Christmas with family or friends rather than imitating a lemming in a mall, however I digress. The question stands - given the Boxing Day shopping gong show yet to come - not to mention all the heavily discounted price points on virtually everything from bed linen to cars starting in January, post Christmas - why do we bother with importing "Black Friday" to encourage, in addition, yet more frenzied, rampant zoo-like consumer behaviour?

 

Some of the shopping shenanigans I've seen in the US but also in Canada on various media outlets is disgusting, disgraceful and appalling, simply put. The "Spirit of Christmas" indeed.....

 

I'm old enough to remember when this time of year was all about family, friends, toasting good health (for those VV's under 50 trust me this one becomes more important than ever once you hit the big 5-0), kids - always the kids of course - too much good food and 'cheer' (especially 'cheer', in my parent's house anyway!), celebrating the birth of some guy in a manger long ago: whether you were a believer or not you went to church because Mom insisted. And above all schmaltzy but nonetheless worthy ideals like peace and goodwill towards all people everywhere. Seems to me we've somehow lost something over time in terms of the real meaning of this time of year and some of the key messaging therein. Kinda sad IMO....



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