WATCH: Future Shop has announced its shutting down. Stores across the country will either be closed permanently or converted into Best Buy stores. Jill Bennett reports.
When Cori Maedel heard the news that Future Shop was no more, she wondered what would happen to the many products she had recently ordered that were in storage at the company’s Vancouver location on Broadway.
“We contacted our sales person, and he said he was fired this morning,” said Maedel, who had bought $5,000 worth of equipment from Future Shop for home renovations.
“He thought we should come to this store. We’re here, because we want to know if we can get in and get our stuff that’s in here.”
While 13 of Future Shop’s 22 B.C. locations will be converting to Best Buy stores and re-opening April 4, nine have been permanently closed, including the Vancouver Broadway location.
FULL LIST OF B.C. FUTURE SHOP CLOSURES
- Abbotsford – West Oaks Mall
- Coquitlam – Coquitlam Centre
- Kelowna – Orchard Plaza
- Langley – Langley Centre
- North Vancouver – 1076 Marine Drive
- Richmond – Lansdowne Centre
- Richmond – 2780 Sweden Way
- Surrey – Central City Shopping Centre
- Vancouver – 1740 West Broadway
WATCH: What is the future of retail in Canada?
“What I care about right now, as a consumer who has product in the store, you need a number you can call,” said Maedel.
Best Buy says on its website they’ll contact anyone who had products shipped to a closed store. They also say to contact Customer Service at customerservice@bestbuycanada.ca or 1-866-BEST-BUY if they aren’t contacted within three business days of the expected delivery. Anyone with gift cards for Future Shop will still be allowed to use them at Best Buy, who will accept any returns and exchanges for Future Shop orders.
David Ian Grey, a retail analyst with DIG360 Consulting, says the sudden closure of all Future Shop stores is “maybe not surprising, but a little saddening, and sobering.”
“It’s a reminder of what’s going on in retail today. But it’s a logical move for them,” he said.
WATCH: Grey discusses why Future Shop is closing
Around 1,500 employees were terminated across Canada as a result of the closures. The Future Shop employees Global News spoke to were more were shocked, saying there was no warning from the company that the stores would be closing.
“I think it’s hard on everybody, I feel bad for the employees,” said Maedel.
“I understand they had to do what they had to do around the process of relieving staff, which is highly unfortunate. But as a consumer, we need some sort consumer line we can call.”
In their announcement, Best Buy provided a media contact line for more information – but that number won’t be staffed until Monday.
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