I am sure every Canadian shopper now knows about Target buying Zellers with plans to open 100 Targets across Canada by 2013.
Big deal.
Yes.
I said it.
Whoop-dee-doo.
On the surface this sounds very exciting! No more cross border trips to get the items we want but are denied...for 50-70% off, no less! Right?! Right?!????
Wrong.
Walmart is in Canada too....and they didn't bring with them all those things we see advertised but cant buy here. Nor did they bring the US prices with them. Let's not even get into the difference in customer service. You know that bi*chy women who works in the Tim's drive-thru? Yeah, she will be applying for a job at Target. And no doubt the same level of misery we see at Walmart will install itself at Target in Canada soon enough. Just about every cross border shopper I know says the same thing...they go to the US because of the customer service as well as selection and prices so it isnt just me - many are fed up with how we are treated in stores on this side of the 49th parallel.
So while I would love to be jumping up and down squealing with the rest of you, I am just too realistic and jaded to take part. Dont get me wrong...I love Target! I have written more than one post about my shopping trips and what I love to buy there that we cant get here, but, I have seen this before and know how it will go.
For my American friends who are wondering what the big deal is...the Canadian dollar has been hovering around parity with the US dollar for a few years now. This would mean something that costs 1.00 in the US should cost 1.00 here but it doesnt. We are still paying a lot more for the exact same things because the Canadian government puts so many taxes and tariffs on items coming into the country. A great example is books, if you look at the back of any book you will see the US and Canadian prices - very few stores in Canada will honour the US price. When I was pregnant and shopping for baby gear I priced the items I wanted on the Target website and realised everything was double the price here but our dollar was at par. So I got in my car and bought it all in the US. At Target. Where a store employee took my list, gathered everything I was looking for, helped me to the cash desk and out to my car. That kind of customer service is unheard of here.
Living in Canada is great - we are usually unarmed, get free health care, have low unemployment and managed to avoid the latest financial crisis for which we owe Stephen Harper a 'thank you' at the very least but along with all of that comes a certain apathy about service. My goodness if one more shop clerk whines to me about consumerism I think I will lose it!
I may be one of the few Canadians who really loves Americans. Gosh y'all know how to throw a party and have a sale! You smile and have manners and call me ma'am even though I dont think I qualify yet for ma'am. You take pride in your work...even the Target cashiers make customers feel valued - I am afraid we wont get that kind of feeling from our Canadian Target cashiers.
So, is it exciting to think Target will be coming here? Yes. I am sure the stores will be cleaner, brighter and bigger. But that's about it.
Have a fabulous day!
21 comments:
Glad to hear you love us Americans - really, do most Candadias dislike us that much? Don't answer that. :) I am not a Wal-Mart fan at all. I do not like that store. Period. But, I adore Target (Tar-jay). In fact, I need to run by there today. So, here's hoping that the Targets coming to your neck of the woods, along with the customer service, will be just as good as ours. Fingers crossed!
When I first heard that Target was coming here I was pretty excited (not gonna lie!) but I too started to think about it and realized that we won't be getting the volume or variety of products like they have in the US. I can deal with the "canadian prices" but I really hope they introduce the clothing lines they have in the states. I've always thought that Zellers and Target were really similar but they just have so many more cooler brands and products! Fingers crossed that they don't suck!!!
LOL I just read the above comment. Apparently we're all "crossing our fingers!" :)
Yes, I too was one of the people initially excited about Target coming to town. But now that you've shattered every illusion and dream I've had since the announcement, I realize that little will change with shopping except perhaps the products.
You are absolutely right! The cost of the goods and the mostly lousy customer service that we receive is appalling. And the realization that most of the Zeller's employees will continue on at Target? OMG!
I'm another Canadian with her fingers crossed that they won't suck.
Agreed! I'm frankly glad to see Zellers go--it depresses the hell out of me. And I'll shop at Canadian Target, but I don't expect it to compare to crossing the border to shop.
I guess I alway assumed that you had Target! I can see why you're not all that thrilled about Target arriving though, especially if the prices are doubled! How long of a drive is it to the U.S. for you?
Oh Target is my mecca- LOVE it! So much better than Wally World- both in product and customer service. I actually think the last eight years of our crappy economy have made for better customer service in the US. I guess the grass is always greener. Because I am soooo jealous of your National Health Care!
Oh, you are never too young to be called ma'am. It's a sign of respect. Not an age thing. Yes ma'am and yes sir are generally a southern thing but I am a Yankee and have said both my entire life.
Just so you know if you are southern like me anyone who might be 15 seconds older than you is a ma'am we do not mean you look old at all I promise :)
Yikes! I didn't know Canadians don't like us :( Pretty sad about that becuase we all love you guys lol.
Anyways, I hope the Canadian Target experience is a good one. I love me some Target!
I am a former Target HQ employee, and I can tell you that they have a very serious and rigorous training program for their employees, and I KNOW they will hold them to the same standards in Canada, so I DO think that you will get better customer service. I can honestly tell you that Wally World here in the states is TERRIBLY for customer service, but it is because they don't hold it to the high standards that Tar-jay does. So that is one bright spot. I know the whole dollar thing is a bummer, but you guys really know how to throw a Winter Olympics and I am lovin' my mittens!!!!!!!! OH CANADA!
I hope Tar jay surprises you.
I, too, love our "neighbors to the north" as I have always called you. Maybe because the many times we have visited Canada, we were near tourist areas, but I haven't experienced the bi@#y people you speak of. But of course living vs. visiting somewhere is quite different.
I'm sure you won't stop the over the border shopping trips, but here's hoping it may be different.
Ok ... you are the reality to my rose coloured glasses...I know all that you wrote is right on the money... especially the service part. But I'm crossing my figures for the selection, service and prices to be more like our American friends!!!xo HHL
Walmart sucks. Even in the US. There I said it! Hopefully Target will implement the same level of customer service/satisfaction and the same products it does here. Fingers crossed for you!
You are so right about the way commerce is done outside the US. PS--Just wanted to tell you I think (**think**) I fixed the posting problem on my blog. Care to try it once more? Just for me? XOXO
LT
I hope the training program is well received in Canada. Great post. I enjoyed reading it :-)
I COMPLETELY agree about the difference in customer service! I so much better enjoy shopping in the US because the employees are so much kinder, and of course the price difference is so substantial! I still can't believe prices haven't leveled off yet! Although I'm happy that if I must still pay a higher price, I can at least now get the better product offering of Target. They have the cutest office supplies and I love their partnerships with major designers.
I think that Canadians in the service industry could learn a thing or two from their American counterparts. Seriously, if I could get the same level of SERVICE at Walmart (and now Target) that I get in the States, I would be fine with paying the extra high prices, but sadly that is not the case. Instead we get the double 'up yours' and pay high prices and get terrible service. Doesn't seem fair :( We may have GREAT and FREE healthcare, but we have TERRIBLE customer service. I guess it's a trade off!
i'm not a huge fan of Walmart, so hopefully Target will work out for you!!
Golly gee, I had no idea that the super~chains were not stocked the same in Canada as the US. I do so hope ya have good experiences with Target. A helpful hand and a smile goes a long way in customer service. I feel bad for ya.
God bless and have a marvelous day sweet friend!
love the new look!
I knew the prices were higher in Canada, but I had no idea the selection was smaller as well :(. Maybe Target will step up. I loathe Wal-Mart and avoid it at all costs, but Target is my home away from home.
And don't take offense to "ma'am" - just think of it as a term of endearment :)
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