The Off Topic Topic

[Josephus]

For a self-styled socialist I do have an aversion to poor people

Its because you don't want anyone to be poor. 

[Josephus]

Josephus, is Giant Tiger still around? And where would you rank it compared to Bi-Way?

I think there's a handful of them in the greater Toronto area and yeah, though I've never been to one (see above) I think they are a similar thing to Bi-Way. Lower than WalMart for sure.

[Jacob]

Saw a piece in the G&M that advanced the theory that middle class shopping outlets are on the way out (in Canada) because people don't want to shop as middle class. Either they go to upper end ones (Holt Renfrew etc) because they're rich or to fulfill aspirational impulses, or they go to low end places because every penny counts (if not in the general budget, then at least for that particular category).

How does that sound to you guys?

[CountDeMoney]

Shopping has always been needs-based or status-based.  The status-based shopping will be increasingly shifted to the internet, as it is becoming a hell of a lot easier.  Unfortunately, trying to destroy the US Postal Service puts a kink in that.

[Jacob]

Shopping has always been needs-based or status-based.  The status-based shopping will be increasingly shifted to the internet, as it is becoming a hell of a lot easier.  Unfortunately, trying to destroy the US Postal Service puts a kink in that.

I'm not sure it'll all go internet... I think that's where the status-from-displaying-the-product* stuff is going, yes.

But there's a whole world of status-from-going-somewhere-upscale-and-being-treated-like-you're-someone** as well, not to mention the status-from-going-to-an-exclusive-place*** kinda deal. The internet doesn't do either of those very well.

*"Oh of course I have a INTERNATIONAL_BRAND_NAME_ITEM, I wouldn't wear anything else. You know me..."

**"Going to UPSCALE_RETAILER makes me feel important and respected, and being seen there establishes that I'm successful in my own eyes and in those who see me there."

***"Oh yes, I got this from SMALL_SHOP_WITH_LONG_HISTORY_AND_LIMITED_OUTPUT after PRESTIGIOUS_PERSONAGE introduced me. It's in GLAMOROUS_AND_SLIGHTLY_OBSCURE_LOCATION."

[CountDeMoney]

Could be.

Or it could be you're hanging out with too many status-oriented people.   

[crazy canuck]

Saw a piece in the G&M that advanced the theory that middle class shopping outlets are on the way out (in Canada) because people don't want to shop as middle class. Either they go to upper end ones (Holt Renfrew etc) because they're rich or to fulfill aspirational impulses, or they go to low end places because every penny counts (if not in the general budget, then at least for that particular category).

How does that sound to you guys?

I think I am an outlier then.  But as Ide has pointed out repeatedly (and correctly) this wouldn't be the first time.  I am not middle class but I tend to shop as middle class.   - except when buying wine and my suits for work.  Then I go all out 1%.

[Jacob]

Saw a piece in the G&M that advanced the theory that middle class shopping outlets are on the way out (in Canada) because people don't want to shop as middle class. Either they go to upper end ones (Holt Renfrew etc) because they're rich or to fulfill aspirational impulses, or they go to low end places because every penny counts (if not in the general budget, then at least for that particular category).

How does that sound to you guys?

I think I am an outlier then.  But as Ide has pointed out repeatedly (and correctly) this wouldn't be the first time.  I am not middle class but I tend to shop as middle class.   - except when buying wine and my suits for work.  Then I go all out 1%.

Well, I don't know if the theory is true, though mid-market retailers do seem to having a hard time these days.

[Ed Anger]

Y'all need Big Lots. There is a shopping experience.

[Capetan Mihali]

I have plenty of love for the dollar store, but you never know exactly which items will be total shit.  Sometimes it's stuff that seems hard to manufacture as poorly as what you get. 

I had about 8 perfectly sharpened, fresh #2 pencils from the dollar store when I sat down for the LSAT...only to discover they couldn't leave more than the faintest discoloration on the page and using the eraser created a huge smeary mess.  So the whole test taken with the one chewed-up half of a quality pencil I miraculously brought anyways.

[Ideologue]

Target's really not that cheap.

That's not its niche.  Target aims to be a fancier Walmart where the customers can use their hands for something other than holding their nose.  Their prices are competitive but not rock bottom.

Yeah, I actually pretty much fucking hate target.  Walmart is a garbage-heap exploiter of labor, but at least they offer proletarian prices--it's sort of a One Who Walks Away From Omelas situation.  Whereas Target, which is also a garbage-heap exploiter of labor, pitches themselves to people who don't want to shop at Wal-Mart specifically because they hate poors, and this forms the basis of the goodwill value of their firm.  Then they have the nerve to drape themselves in crimson.

Also, their blu-rays are way fucking overpriced.

[Ideologue]

I have plenty of love for the dollar store, but you never know exactly which items will be total shit.  Sometimes it's stuff that seems hard to manufacture as poorly as what you get. 

I had about 8 perfectly sharpened, fresh #2 pencils from the dollar store when I sat down for the LSAT...only to discover they couldn't leave more than the faintest discoloration on the page and using the eraser created a huge smeary mess.  So the whole test taken with the one chewed-up half of a quality pencil I miraculously brought anyways.

You'd think a $400 per ass test would provide materials, but you'd be wrong.

[Grey Fox]

Josephus, is Giant Tiger still around? And where would you rank it compared to Bi-Way?

It's doing pretty good in Quebec. Lots of stores have open in regions and outskirts.

To your "what's rock bottom in Canada" question. I don't think anyone really covers that market exclusively. My guess is that the critical mass of super poor people in Canada is not big & desperate enough.

CT is not that cheap and clothes wise Mark's warehouse is not cheap at all.

Rossy comes to mind but I think that's also an Ontario/Quebec thing. There's also Korvette.

[Razgovory]

I've been taking a new medication have been having memory problems I think.  Since I i've taken it I've lost a book, my hat, my glasses and my Kindle.  Today I forgot my PIN number for my debit card and Yi's father's name.

[mongers]

I've been taking a new medication have been having memory problems I think.  Since I i've taken it I've lost a book, my hat, my glasses and my Kindle.  Today I forgot my PIN number for my debit card and Yi's father's name.

Please don't forget www.languish.org