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Future Shop Canada stores now closed

Jebusman said:
This is what I never really understood. Best Buy bought them out back in 2001, but kept the name and branding the same. They stocked the same products, at the same prices
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Not completely true. Future Shop had a better selection when it came to 'higher end' electronics especially audio and video equipment. There were many occasions where I would see/buy an item of interest at Future Shop which BestBuy did not carry.
 
Shocking but not surprising. Their is a future shop and a best buy just one or two blocks from one another. It was only a matter of time.
 
Jebusman said:
This is what I never really understood. Best Buy bought them out back in 2001, but kept the name and branding the same. They stocked the same products, at the same prices, and were almost always located within sight of each other. Really there wasn't much need to keep Future Shop open other than the illusion of competition, and name recognition. They probably realized now that name recognition doesn't mean much anymore, there's no sense in keeping up the illusion of two separate stores.

One place I know it did hurt is my hometown, as there was only a Future Shop, no Best Buy. That's getting closed too. It might end up "reopening" as Best Buy at some point, but I'll have to wait and see.
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The big differentiation was that FS employees were on commission and theoretically had more incentive to research product knowledge and cut deals with customers.

BB was more of a Wal-mart, with staff being essentially flat rate cashiers.

Obviously they were very similar on the surface, though.
 
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Q&A up on Future Shop's site.

Best Buy accepting returns of FS products.

Existing FutureShop.ca Orders

I bought an item from futureshop.ca and I can no longer access the website, are you going to fulfill the order?

Yes, all outstanding orders placed on futureshop.ca will be fulfilled.
Customers can access their order details through futureshop.ca, or please contact our Customer Service Centre at: customerservice@bestbuycanada.ca or 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
I had a Home Delivery service scheduled by a store that is closed. What do I do?

Any previously scheduled home deliveries will continue as planned.
If you need to update your Home Delivery date, please call Home Delivery Toll Free at 1-866-585-4494
I placed an order online that was shipped to a closed store. Where and when can I pick up that product?

We will contact you directly by phone once the item is ready to make arrangements.
You can track your order within your order details.
If you have not been contacted within 3 business days of your order’s expected delivery date, please contact our Customer Service Centre at: customerservice@bestbuycanada.ca or 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
I have placed a pre-order, but the store has closed. How do I get my item?

We will contact you directly by phone once the item is ready to make arrangements.
Or please contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289)
I have an item on Layaway, but my local store has closed. How do I get my item?

We will contact you directly by phone once the item is ready to make arrangements.
If you have not been contacted by April 2nd, please contact our Customer Service Centre at: customerservice@bestbuycanada.ca or 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
I placed a Reserve and Pick Up order and the store is closed. Where and when can I pick up that product?

For temporarily closed stores, we will contact you directly by phone once the item is ready to make arrangements.
For permanently closed stores, please place a new order on BestBuy.ca
Visit our store locator to find the store nearest you.
How will you contact me?

Customers may be contacted by phone or by email.
We may ask you basic questions to verify your identity but we will never ask for information such as your password or payment information.
If you have questions or are asked to provide inappropriate information please contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
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Returns, Exchanges, Gift Certificates, Warranties and Protection Plans

I want to return or exchange an item I purchased at Future Shop or FutureShop.ca. What do I do?

Best Buy will be happy to accept returns and exchanges for Future Shop orders as governed by the identical policies.
Visit our store locator to locate any Best Buy store in Canada.
If there is not a Best Buy store near you, please contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289)
I was going to return an item to my local store after the reopen date, but the store is still under renovation and the return date has passed. Will you honour my return?

Yes, we will gladly extend our return policy period by one week to cover the time that we were closed. Standard return policies and conditions apply. Full details of our return policy can be found on BestBuy.ca.
I have unused Future Shop gift cards. How do I use them?

You can use Future Shop gift cards in-store or online at BestBuy.ca or any Best Buy store in Canada.
Will my Future Shop eCertificates work on BestBuy.ca?

Future Shop eCertificates will work on BestBuy.ca. If you are unable to redeem online, please contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
Will my Future Shop Protection Plan or manufacturer’s warranty still be honoured?

We’ll gladly honour Future Shop and Geek Squad protection plans in full at any Best Buy store in Canada.
We are also happy to assist you at our Best Buy locations with the manufacturer’s warranty on any products purchased at Future Shop or FutureShop.ca.
Please contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289) if you have any questions.
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Geek Squad

I have an item in for repair/servicing at a store that is now closed. How do I get my item back?

We will contact you directly by phone to make arrangements once the item is ready.
If you have any questions please contact Geek Squad at 1-800-GEEKSQUAD (1-800-433-5778)
I have an appointment booked with Geek Squad. Will it need to be re-scheduled?

In most cases, there will be no impact to your appointment.
Any customers whose appointment times will need to be rescheduled will be contacted individually by our Geek Squad Call Centre team.
If you have any questions please contact Geek Squad at 1-800-GEEKSQUAD (1-800-433-5778)
Is my Geek Squad Installation (after service warranty) going to be honoured at Best Buy stores?

Computer Services & Connected Home (In Home Service): Any after service warranties (installation/repair guarantees) for services previously performed (installations, setups, repairs, etc.) will be eligible for support at any Best Buy store in Canada (subject to the original terms/conditions of purchase).
Autotech: Visit our store locator to locate the closest Best Buy store with the service you require. Or contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
If you have any questions please contact Geek Squad at 1-800-GEEKSQUAD (1-800-433-5778)
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Store Information

How do I know if a store near me is closed or if it will be reopening soon?

Many stores are expected to re-open on April 4th, check the store locator for details about the store nearest you.
In the meantime, signage has been displayed on store windows indicating the reopen date for that location.
To inquire about the status of your local store please contact our Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
The store near me was temporarily closed and has re-opened, but it still says Future Shop on the signage. When will the store be completely rebranded?

Renovation progress can vary on a store by store basis. The transition process may take up to several months to complete.
During this transition time, you could continue to see some Future Shop signage in-store. Thank you for your patience during this renovation process.
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Additional Questions

I wanted to buy a product advertised by Future Shop, will you honour the sale price at Best Buy and BestBuy.ca?

Yes, Best Buy will honour Future Shop prices. For more information please see our Lowest Price Guarantee.
I have a Future Shop Credit Card and always visit the store in-person to pay my monthly statement. What are my options now?

You can easily take care of your balance at any Best Buy store location, online via your bank's online banking website, at your bank's branch, ATM, or via telephone if offered by your bank.
Please note: Ensure your payment is made to the correct payee: Future Shop Chase PLCC.
Please allow 3 to 5 business days for the payment to be applied to your credit card account.
I wanted to buy an exclusive product from Future Shop that you don’t carry at Best Buy. How do I buy it now?

Please visit any Best Buy and one of our Product Specialists will do their best to find a comparable item. We should be able to find a solution for you that will meet your needs.
Our online assortment continues to grow. There is a good chance that the specific item you were looking for will be available on BestBuy.ca in the near future.
Will I still be able to use my Future Shop.ca mobile app?

Since Future Shop and Best Buy are consolidating as Best Buy, the products, services, and features you’ve come to expect are now available from Best Buy.
For all your shopping needs, please download the Best Buy app. Feel free to delete the Future Shop app from your device(s)
Best Buy Canada app for iOS
Best Buy Canada app for Android
I’m a Reward Zone member; can I use my Reward Zone card at Future Shop stores undergoing rebranding?

Along with renovations happening in store, our I.T. team is also working on updating in-store system to enable such features. In the meantime, you can contact Customer Service Centre at: 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289) to apply Reward Zone points to your purchase.
What is happening with information that I have provided to Future Shop or futureshop.ca?

Information you have provided to Future Shop and futureshop.ca will continue to be in the care of Best Buy Canada Ltd. Our commitment to protecting your privacy and personal information has not changed, and is governed by our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Manager.
Have a question not answered here?

Contact our Customer Service Centre at: customerservice@bestbuycanada.ca or 1-866-BEST-BUY (1-866-237-8289).
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Click to expand...
 
I hope Bestbuy will honor everyone's pre orders. I my self have extended warranties on a few things from there. I stopped shopping there since they closed the one in Newmarket over a year ago. It was basically the same as bestbuy anyways so the really was no point to have redundant stores next to each other.
 
Robcat said:
I hope Bestbuy will honor everyone's pre orders. I my self have extended warranties on a few things from there. I stopped shopping there since they closed the one in Newmarket over a year ago. It was basically the same as bestbuy anyways so the really was no point to have redundant stores next to each other.
Click to expand...

They will. See above.
 
DoctorWho said:
That's mine. lol.
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I figured that FS location's days were numbered with the Best Buy moving into the new Stockyards village. I'm honestly surprised the entire FS chain has lasted this long since BB bought them in 2001. No real impact now since they all had the same products and sales. It's a shame another Canadian company goes down, but they haven't been Canadian for a long time. :(

BTW, I'm at St. Clair and Dufferin. Where are you?
 
Arkham said:
I figured that FS location's days were numbered with the Best Buy moving into the new Stockyards village. I'm honestly surprised the entire FS chain has lasted this long since BB bought them in 2001. No real impact now since they all had the same products and sales. It's a shame another Canadian company goes down, but they haven't been Canadian for a long time. :(
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It's also really amazing that, despite being under the same umbrella, customer service can range from incredible at Best Buy, to obnoxious and commission-chasing at Future Shop. It's a night and day difference going between the two stores.
 
I wonder what's going to replace the Yonge-Dundas FS in Toronto. With a Best Buy 2 blocks away there's no way that location is converting.
 
Looking at my E3 chart seems like most of my orders are from BB, still have some FS ones though from years back...

End of an era though. Both BB around here (Halifax/Dartmouth) are within viewing distance of a FS and with the recent news some smaller FS locations were already closing (not the ones by those BB I mentioned) that's a lot of stores to see close.
 
nobodyshero said:
It's also really amazing that, despite being under the same umbrella, customer service can range from incredible at Best Buy, to obnoxious and commission-chasing at Future Shop. It's a night and day difference going between the two stores.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that too. I've had exactly 2 highly exceptional service experiences at FS but in general their product knowledge and service skills were severely lacking compared to the average BB interaction for me.
 
nobodyshero said:
obnoxious and commission-chasing at Future Shop
Click to expand...

This always made me hate going into Future Shop. In the past I've had cases of them chasing me around, made me feel really uncomfortable. Lately I mostly just go to Best Buy first, and if I decided to go to FS I would stick earbuds in my ears so that none of the sales people would talk to me.
 
Black Republican said:
lots of tweets, but it seems pretty official according to the sites and their users.

looks like some will be re branded as BestBuy stores ofcourse while the worse performing ones shut down permanently.?

http://orangevilletoday.ca/default.asp?pid=7314205&wireid=00625_FUTURE_SHOP_CLOSING_075527


#Futureshop #Bestbuy



hopefully the Futureshop guys who work there get severance pay similar to some of us Target Canada employees
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There's no margin in anything anymore, they don't make money on the stuff they sell, the staff don't get enough spiff and there's no point buying warranty on a laptop that's like 400-500 bucks, everything can be bought online for cheaper, they're getting outpriced by places like canada computers and tiger direct, it's kind of sad, really.

Retail is very, very difficult to make a living in now that people just buy online and they can return stuff if they don't like it.
 
nobodyshero said:
Any signs outside the Vancouver Future Shop?
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I would think so.


More importantly, which of the Vancouver branches could be turned into BB and which ones won't?

It'd suck if I have to go all the way to downtown or Richmond now. Broadway was always so convenient.
 
How the hell is my futureshop card going to work? I still have payments on that. Does that automatically convert to a best buy card?

What a fucking mess of a way to handle things. Fuck best buy, never shopping there again.
 
My thoughts go out to all the people that lost their jobs as a result of this. I remember I traded like 5 random bargain bin games for a 3ds xl under their promotion. I also got bf4, cod Ghosts, Assassins Creed black flag for ps4 for next to nothing with another one of their promos.
 
A lot of FS and Best Buy locations are within blocks of each other. Hell, I can think of one of each that share a parking lot with each other.

Not a huge loss really, they just gave you a second option for sales or another place to look for a new release.
 
Went to Future Shop today and it was closed. The sign on the door there said that it'd be reopened on April 4th.

EDIT:
Peterborough, Ontario.
 
nobodyshero said:
It's also really amazing that, despite being under the same umbrella, customer service can range from incredible at Best Buy, to obnoxious and commission-chasing at Future Shop. It's a night and day difference going between the two stores.
Click to expand...

You buy something at best buy, the mark-up goes to best buy, you buy something at future shop, some of that mark up goes to the commission of the person helping you so he or she can FEED HIS OR HER FAMILY (yes unfortunately people have families to feed, rent or mortgage to pay, gas to buy for the car, diapers for the baby, etc, etc.), good salespeople generally make a bit more at Future Shop.

So yes, that USB cable you buy, those ink cartridges, the laptop, the warranty (if you decide to get it), a part of it goes to pay the guy who did the sale at Future Shop, while most of that goes right to Best Buy when you shop at Best Buy (I'm sure there's a bonus structure but it's night and day), it might be "obnoxious", but they're just trying to make a living, yeah so when you're running around with that $10 USB cable or HP toner and some salesperson is tailing you and asking if he can help you with cashing it out, he's not trying to be "obnoxious", he's just trying to make that lousy $2 spiff on it (sad but every dollar counts, you return the damn cable the next day and it gets taken right back out of his pay), good luck getting any kind of service if their performance is not directly linked to their compensation, one day you might find that when you walk into a store, there are no human beings in the building and nobody for you to talk to because you like companies that don't like paying people to talk to people.
 
I walked into a Futureshop (specifically the one near Yonge & Eglinton in Toronto) to get tax software bullshit for my parents. It's a weird feeling knowing the employees I saw there having a laugh over something will be out of the job for a while. Though I'd imagine that FS is probably just gonna get rebranded.

But that FS at Yonge & Dundas smack dab in the middle of downtown Toronto. There's gonna be a pretty hefty chunk of retail space open now.

Also thank fuck the FS pre-orders are safe. I pre-ordered Operation Abyss from FS
 
I have friends who were scheduled to work at FutureShop today- they were still in the meeting about the closure as the news was breaking. Some were reading about it on Twitter before they made it to work.
 
LifeLike said:
-Sony Stores
-Sears
-Mexx

...

Why Canada? I don't know.
Click to expand...

  1. Retail is a fairly low margin business
  2. Retail business is getting harder for certain items (electronics...) due to competition with online retailers, especially Amazon
  3. Retail in Canada is heavily dependent on importing products, which has gotten a lot more expensive due to the depreciation of the Canadian dollar
  4. Any increase in prices due to CDN dollar changes drives customers away from purchasing stuff
  5. Canada looks like its about to enter another recession, that's even less money for spending on luxury goods
 
I got confused with the FAQ

I have a FS item to return within the 30 day limit and no Best Buy here with this one turning into a BB slim.
 
DeathByBacklog said:
Wow. Surprised that people were surprised. If they already had posters ready to go...
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I'd imagine they were set to do this for a while. They probably should have done all this consolidating back in 2001 though. The part that always gets me, is when shit like this happens:

Xbudz said:
I have friends who were scheduled to work at FutureShop today- they were still in the meeting about the closure as the news was breaking. Some were reading about it on Twitter before they made it to work.
Click to expand...

Where you find out your job is in jeopardy or you're gonna be in for a rough few weeks, and you find out from TWITTER NEWS instead of being told by management directly
 
1500 people out of a job, fucking terrible. Not that Walmart or Costco would just take these people but going from making decent scratch at FS (most of these people are already overqualified and underemployed for the most part in these shitty sales jobs) to one of those jobs is going to be really depressing.
 
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