yeah… keeps all the juices in… nice and tender 
Nah, I bet Astro wrapped the little guy in Saran wrap, put on some Barry White and . . .
Astrothug, I thought you’re going to sell that little guy to me…
I’m enjoying the ‘local merchant scam’ debate, I’m one of them here. As a matter of fact, we won the Cup*.
I don’t think you can walk into a big-box and buy a ‘basic replacement computer’ for $299. Or a copy of XP for $139, or Office 2007 Small Business for $319.00
But you’d actually have to come in and look to see that, which most won’t cuz they already know we’re only there to cheat them.
I also know Staples charges $40 more for RAM than I do, and I don’t engage in deceptive advertising by deducting mail-in rebates from the ad price. The big box all do that, and 99% of buyers are too fucking stupid to figure that out or too intimidated to complain.
Fuck that, let’s tell the truth. The same one that goes into your local store and pushes his way between you and the clerk to interrupt, or taps their nails on the counter impatiently because they’re 2nd in line and shouldn’t EVER have to be 2nd with a scumbag local retailer like you will get to the till and pay the full price plus tax at Future Shop, and if they’ve even got the guts to ask why will squeak meekly and pay it. Then they will LIE and say they paid the advertised price PLUS got a rebate in the mail.
*Years ago, the merchant next door Eve’s Essentials and Max decided we were going to make a trophy cup out of aluminum foil and whoever closed first would call the newspaper and present it to the other as being “the oldest non-franchise retail in Fort St. James”. Eve’s had enough of the bi-monthly boom and bust scaring away buyers. She’s got a big closing out sale and it’s disgusting but she’s packed now. Almost like they’re going “oh boy another local business is shutting down! Now we can buy their stock for pennies!”
The other side of the coin, of course, are the local merchants who insist that they deserve your business just because they’re local. No attempt at customer service or at even competing on price. There are local merchants in Rupert that have the attitude that you’re anti-Rupert if you don’t pay their 100% markup.
Sorry, there’s supporting local business, and there’s being gouged. The informed consumer will shop locally, but not when he knows he can pay half price if he drives to Terrace or orders from Vancouver.
Herbie, if your shop is losing so much money, and people don’t seem to want to patronize your store, and you can’t compete with Staples, how do you stay in business?
Personally, if I ran a computer shop, I wouldn’t WANT the customers who go to Staples (or Futureshop!). Those guys would end up costing you more in warranty support, wouldn’t they?
I’ve even stopped giving advice about where to buy computers or what kind to buy. People keep expecting me to somehow be responsible for their computers for years just because I said “yeah that computer looks ok” when they show me a printout from Dell. Now I say “I don’t give advice, sorry.” I’d hate to see how bad that gets when they actually buy the computer from you. So yeah, you’re probably better off without those customers.
Here is a price list of items I have bought in town.
1 game for wii at Zellers $19.00 the same game in the source $59.00.
One remote helicopter at the dollar store $30.00 the same remote helicopter at the source is $60.00 dollars.
Now don’t get me wrong I buy from the source all the time, but I also shop around to make sure I get the best possible deal.
And if that lead me to shop on line or in another town so be it.
woah, those are some pretty big statements… i hope you have evidence to
back that up.
lets first ask mig,
-Who in town is charging %100 mark-up? (or even %75 for the matter)
-besides gas stations… what stores are gouging???
Please show everyone here some proof of stores in rupert who are
gouging. you must have lots since you speak like the majority of them
are.
This is just flat out slander and its against your own neighbors.
If you think you have a valid reason to make such statements
then please reveal your findings to everyone so people can
form rational opinions rather then you dictating them like
god revealed the truths to you and we should all just follow you
with blind faith.
Now, show us… we are all waiting 
Look on the post above you for some examples.
Here’s another: HDMI Cable – cheapest in Rupert is $79. I bought one outside of Rupert for $7. Delivered.
There are a lot of local businesses who realize people aren’t stupid, and those are the ones I tend to patronize. But there are businesses in town that think that I should shop there otherwise I’m anti-rupert and anti-neighbour.
So now that I’ve given you an example, “Jesus_evolved” how about you answer a question for me:
What’s the threshold at which I should shop out of town? If a product is 10% cheaper in Terrace, should I buy it there? 20%? 100% ? Where’s the cut-off for you?
[quote=“Jesus_Evolved”]
besides gas stations… what stores are gouging???[/quote]
Well, you accept that the gas stations are gouging? Really? I don’t think 10% markup compared to Terrace is gouging, but you do?
Well, that changes things, doesn’t it?
By your definition, there’s a lot more gouging going on than I’d have thought.
[quote]Herbie, if your shop is losing so much money, and people don’t seem to want to patronize your store, and you can’t compete with Staples, how do you stay in business?
Personally, if I ran a computer shop, I wouldn’t WANT the customers who go to Staples (or Futureshop!). Those guys would end up costing you more in warranty support, wouldn’t they?[/quote]
It’s not losing money. There is a solid core of extremely good customers who know that some stuff is priced better, or that the convenience of getting it NOW for a couple bucks more is worth it. But that’s only 1/3 of the available market. The difference between scraping out a living, and making a decent one.
On the other hand, look at it the other way: If I sell a computer system, I’m lucky to make $100 on it, and the warranty’s on my ass. There’s better potential in servicing the Staples computer buyers here, on my terms.
Even if they have that Staples or Future Shop warranty:
It’s $50 gas and five hour’s drive to GET it in for warranty. Then only the biggest fools (a lot of them here though) think the Staples guy is going to fix it right there and then while they wait. You’re looking at another trip to go get it back, in some cases weeks later.
The other thing to realize is that the big box specialize in brand name budget P.O.S. computers. In almost every case there is more than one warranty claim. What the fools didn’t realize on trip one, they know on claim 2.
That’s where the money is. Service, not retail.
Retail is in the ink cartridge, they know a Canon costs $35 in the big box, so therefore they know in their black little hearts it will be $50 in our store. Until someone else tells them we only carry the compatibles for $11 and they paid $24 more plus gas.
I earn a living off the ones who know I don’t bullshit them that a gold-plated $40 Cat6 cable in a shiny box is gonna transfer their files on a 10/100 network faster than a $9 Cat5 in a bag. Or that the Yankee brand name on the box means it’s ‘better’ than a Shining Path Glorious Chairman model.
Take someone from a big box for a beer, they’ll admit when the boss isn’t around that the only ‘good’ computers in the store are the ones with the Apple on them.
And I have an advantage the gas stations don’t. I get to set prices. Those ‘better’ prices in Terrace aren’t from Rupert sellers ripping you off. They’re subsidized by the oil company. Safeway or SuperStore will give a big rebate, and Chevron and Shell will fight back for their own dealers market share. I was in William’s Lake in 1982 when the gas wars got so intense, if you showed up with a small car they’d fill you up and give you a buck. None of the stations went under. Go to Abbotsford and see real, endless gas wars. I think it’s 86.4 today.
Well-said, herbie!
The exceptional service that I receive on my PCs at Data Boy keeps most of my technology dollars in PR. Apple will get my money for the next computer that I buy…I can’t wait. 
Whats really neat about Prince Rupert is the hight number of independent stores
we have here… What my problem here with this is that, The Source is a Chain store
whos prices are the same at all their stores… and yes the source is expensive but
its not the people who manage who are at fault, its the chain itself…
also, yes i hate the oil business is general and they gouge where ever they can…
its not something unique to rupert… as pointed out in burnaby, these gas prices arnt
set by the local people here in rupert but by there head office somewhere eles…
now lets shed some more light on these business.
The source is an american chain, your money spent there goes
to feed there corporation.
The majority of the gas stations are american chains, and are most likely the
ones setting the treads for gas prices while petro-can,huskey just follow in there path.
What ill say in conclusion is, dont let these corporations shed negative light
on our towns independent merchants. i guess i should of made my point about
independent vs. corporation a little more clear.
Corporations by their own definition is a soulless individual who
only cares about the bottom line and its shareholders.
*and to address your question about the “cut-off” ive never had a problem
going into a independent store in town and asking them to beat or match a
price i found somewhere eles. but, if you go to a chain store like the source…
your just going to get laughed at for asking…
If a local merchant is charging significantly more than you can get something on line or out of town, most folks with patience will order out of town. If you want something as soon as it comes out or can’t wait the three or four days shipping time then you’ll pay whatever the local vendor is charging simply because you want the item.
Same thing goes for selection, if they dont’ stock your item ie: lets say you want the new Springsteen recording (and you’re not inclined to download for free 
) you can wait until the local folks decide to bring in more than one or two copies or you can purchase it online at amazon.ca or any of the other shopping portals. Depending on the amount of things you buy the shipping charges can be waived so the only investment then is your time. Most likely less than a week. In most cases the price of the CD, DVD etc, is less, some times significantly less than the local places.
Not sure about the rest of your research on all of this, but as far as the gas pricing goes, it seems to me that Petro Can has regularly increased their prices first in Rupert, normally by at least a day or two before everyone else gets around to it.
So the idea that they’re just following the crowd doesn’t really wash, most times they’re setting the trend locally, unless of course the others don’t follow, in which case the folks that filled up at Petro Can on those “high days” are the only ones to get hosed…
My rule of thumb the last couple of years or so has been; if Petro Can raises its prices head downtown and fill up quick as you have about a day’s grace before the price jacking begins.
I’ve entered the local computer shop and walked out. No selection. Sorry DB. Empty stores are a turn off. The last two computers I’ve ordered are from Dell. Best decision I made. Outstanding customer service and prices that big or little box can’t compete with. I’ve taken the order lists into stores and have had CSR’s tell me they can’t compete.
As for books, I order from chapters or Amazon. I get free and fast shipping for orders over $39.00 and I don’t get the attitude that the local guy gives off. Also, I get to choose from a massive inventory and way better prices.
The local hardware stores are terrible. Usually slow and rude service, prices for the most case, are quite a bit more than CDN tire or Wal-Mart. Just check out flourescent light bulbs for example. Very limited selection of goods.
Zellers countrywide suck but the one here is the worst. No prices, selection, or service. I needed a rental carpet cleaner. I lined up to ask the price. Got to the CSR, and asked how much? She looked at me and the rentals. She saw there was no price and sighed. She then asked if I really needed to know. Now that is the typical Rupert experience. I said “no” and walked out.
There is a bright light here though…the local tire guy is great. I’ve nothing but good things to say. Very honest man.
I want service, value, and selection and I’ll go where I must. Case closed.
Just drove by 7-11, it’s at 1.06. Husky is 1.04. PetroCanada is still 1.10.
Interesting to see if 7-11 lowers its price to 1.04 or if Husky raises it to 1.06. That will be very revealing of “forces” operating on gas prices in Rupert.
Petro Can was down to 1.06 at 2:30 today…
I’ll tell you something about that local tire guy, you can’t get service that good here in calgary, plus, if you catch him on the right day, he has one hell of a rad nascar mullett going, though he’s not much in the way of a bowler.
how can you possibly expect small buisnesses here to compete with bigger stores which buy in bulk from the supplier therefore giving YOU the customer a better deal. small buisnesses have to make their money somewhere and they cant even match the amount of product the big chain stores buy.
as for service. i have never ever gone into a big box store like walmart or canadian tire and gotten good service. all i get is rude teenagers who dont know what theyre talking about. when i walk into a store i expect to be greeted and asked if i need any help. THAT is a sign of a good buisness! the employees must be poised to sell their product. and with big box stores that just doesnt happen.
maybe its because my father is a salesman i dont know. but i walk out of stores who dont pay any attention to the customers who walk in the door.
[quote=“P.LAO”]
I’ve entered the local computer shop and walked out. No selection. Sorry DB. Empty stores are a turn off.[/quote]
LOL! What do you need anyway? And besides, not all computer shops are filled with stocks up to your standard.
Tell me, how come DB can survive without filling up the store with random crap while CS and Goodbytes closed their doors for good (both of them have stores filled with crap)?
Well, good luck with your new Dell PCs.
bubbasteve735, I totally agree with you about customer service. It’s extremely important. Just as important as price and selection.
I just wish some of PR’s stores would get the message.
金正日, thanks for the Dell wishes.