Retail - Future Sh** v. Best Buy
Today I received a flyer "Scan & Save". Yeah you are suppose to use their credit card. Then you get up to $500 in discounts. And you must do this between Apr 23 and 25th. (I am out of breath just thinking of this).
But the issue I have is - they appear to be opening another - "In Celebration of Our Markham East Grand Opening".
I remember when Best Buy took them out, the concept was (IS) - keep Future Shop open and "generate" fake competition.
I will say people must be that stupid to think they are different stores. I mean the fact the flyers are almost identical, the flyers use the same models (the same as used with Pizza Pizza promotions) and the prices are the same with the same promotions that appear each week, and last but not least, both share the crappy character terminal POS units.
Like are people that stupid? I think it is wasted energy. Not that they aren't a great company - they are still number one in most books for electronics, but to have such a path in Canada doesn't seem logical to me.
If they were to have a Future Shop as a main stream store and Best Buy comparable to say "Costco" or "Sams" I would say that might be ok (akin wo Walmart v. Sams). But this just seems moronic.
Loblaw - they had in the West end "Fortinos" - and yes the Italians were/(are) fooled. I still don't think seeing PC products they get the link... but that I can see as good branding. I haven't seen much more from them - no Chinese version of Loblaw. Must be something thought of before and has since fizzled (they have shut down the one east of myself. (FYI: When I ask people at my work they thought Fortinos was Italian and were surprised to know that it was Loblaw)
Their discounter is No Frills - someone today thought No Frills was a privately run company and unrelated to Loblaw - oh shock or whorer - I suppose if you can't figure out why most of the "yellow" no name products are the same in both, and that both stock President's Choice, then I suppose people still haven't caught on that Best Buy and Future Shop are the same ....
Question: How many people drive to both Future Shop and Best Buy to compare prices do you think?
SoB
(A: Trick question. Most Best Buys are "literally" and "seriously" around the corner from Future Shop - planned that way - am I crazy? Like isn't that insane? Such an expense. Now Circuit City is coming - I bet if they start building stores - you will see the Best Buy/Future Shop path axed -- but Best Buy might be holding onto a few extra leases they don't want -- perhaps Bankruptcy of Future Shop will follow??)
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."
Tuco (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly)
"An umbrella with holes is better than no umbrella at all."
Dr. Alexander Elder on using stops.
