A story from CTV says that Sweeping cuts may be ahead for Canada Post as the Crown corporation faces a $327 million operating loss.
Canada Post is considering the following options to reduce their costs and stay afloat as less people use traditional mail
- reducing home delivery from five to four, or even three, days
- closing some of the 6,500 retail outlets across the country
- consolidating its 21 sorting centres to just major cities.
While the changes could be several years into the future as a result of contracts and bargaining agreements, they will not be able to sustain those losses for the years it will take for those agreements to end.
Personally, I have used Canada Post less, not because of email but because locally they are so slow. I sent and received several expedited parcels and xpresspost envelopes last week and only 1 of 6 arrived on time – Canada Post is refunding the cost of those packages as they guaranteed dates that were not met but I know the company I work for will be greatly impacted by mail arriving only 3 days (and will likely mean our mail room staff will be dropped to part time so the job cuts will be wider than just Canada Post).
How do you feel about these changes (and please remember that we have Canada Post workers who are members of SmartCanucks and be respectful of that).
Thanks for the better CTV link dlee
After finally getting product back on the shelves after the shortage before Christmas, Novartis has issued a recall on a number of Buckleys, Triaminic, Neo Citran and Jack & Jill products for coughs, colds and flu.
The products are safe to take, but if you have children in your home, the child proof mechanism on the cap may be faulty allowing children to open the bottles. For recall information, consumers can contact Novartis Consumer Health Canada Inc. at 1-888-788-8181 (available 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST).
Find a list of products here
Some workers were laid off as of last Friday, others showed up to work today to find notices on the door that the Best Buy or Future Shop location they worked at was now closed.
The Best Buy stores that are now closed or will close soon are:
- Queensborough
- Nanaimo
- Victoria
- Langford (Westshore Town Centre)
- South Surrey, British Columbia
- Lachenaie, British Columbia
- Sherbrooke (SmartCentres Sherbrooke), Quebec.
and the Future Shop stores:
- West Kelowna, British Columbia
- Montreal (Forum Entertainment Center), Quebec
- Laval (First Pro Ste-Dorothee), Quebec
- Winnipeg (Regent), Manitoba
- Calgary (Macleod), Alberta
- Ancaster, Barrie South, Ontario
- Mississauga (Erin Mills), Ontario
More store closures may follow as the company move to smaller concept stores in an effort to combat overhead as customers visit stores to try out items but shop online for cheaper deals.
As of 4:15 PM Eastern, VISA are experiencing a Canada-wide processing issue with most transactions being declined. This is confirmed to impact TD, CIBC and RBC but all cards are likely impacted. If shopping on your way home, you may want to get some cash out or use debit/Mastercard. This includes VISA debit and prepaid credit cards processed on the same systems.
Click here for more information or updates
Update 5.10 PM Systems are back up (source)
Were you impacted by this outage?
Target made an announcement today with some of the brands they will be carrying in the new Canadian stores
- Pixi Cosmetics (more info here)
- Roots Clothing
- Giada De Laurentiis Kitchenware (more info here)
- Nate Berkus Decor (more info here)
- Archer Farms & Market Pantry Foods (own brands)
- Accessories by Shaun White
- Threshold Decor (more info here)
- Kate Young Clothing (Natalie Portman’s designer)
- Sonia Kashuk Makeup (more info here)
- Some items from their Up & Up (USA) line of own brand items from diapers, baby formula to toiletries and plastic containers
With stores due to open in about 2 months, what are you most looking forward to at Target?
“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” – Brad Paisley
Happy new year to all our readers, new and old.
Wishing you all a great new year filled with amazing sales, coupons, savings and new SmartCanucks friends.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays loyal readers from all of us here at SmartCanucks!
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
Wii U ! Available now at Future Shop, usable internal memory limited due to system software. Wii U is trademark of nintendo.
Today Sunday, November 18, 2012 you can get your Wii U from Future Shop and enjoy.
Several of our forum members have shared the news that as of December 1st, Shoppers Drug Mart will not be accepting American Express cards for any payments.
This news never surprises me, AMEX fees for retailers are generally higher than VISA or Mastercard fees so it cuts into their profits.
Each year, SmartCanucks holds Secret Santa gift exchanges for the holidays. you need to be a forum member to participate in these exchanges and have at least 500 posts.
There are just a few days left to sign up if you want to participate. Visit the threads here for more information, rules and sign up information.
Official Secret Santa Member Exchange
Official Secret Santa Kids’ Exchange
Leon’s has announced that it bought it’s rival The Brick for $700million.
The CEO of Leon’s said: … the transaction will give the brands access to national buying opportunities in merchandising and marketing and a national distribution network that will enhance online shopping capabilities.
They will continue to operate as separate businesses but this deal means The Brick, United Furniture Warehouse and Leon’s will all be owned by the same company – likely not something that will make them consumer and competition friendly despite increased marketing power.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
– John McCrae
We will remember them.
Holt Renfrew Canada is launching a new hr2 store in March, 2013. The retailer hopes to provide “new and unique designer product selection at great value”. The first hr2 store will open in Quebec at Quartier DIX30 with another location planned for Ontario in early 2013. Ultimately, Holt Renfrew hopes to expand to Calgary where they feel hr2 is a perfect fit among the outlet style malls and younger population.
Will you shop at the new hr2? Do you think it will equal the existing Holt Renfrew stores?
Johnson & Johnson Canada has announced that their website Living Well Canada will be shutting down on December 3, 2012. Here are the fine details from the livingwell.ca webpage:
An Important Message
for LIVING WELL Members
On December 3, 2012, LIVING WELL will be shutting down. To replace it, Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies has created an exciting new program called HEALTHY ESSENTIALSTM.
As thanks for your loyalty over the years, all LIVING WELL members may sign-in with their LIVING WELL credentials to gain exclusive access to valuable coupons, exciting contests and promotions, and helpful tips and tools found on HEALTHY ESSENTIALSTM.
Click here to begin enjoying
The HEALTHY ESSENTIALS™ program provides information, solutions and exclusive offers.
Don’t forget to bookmark the above link to continue getting great coupons, freebies and health tips from the folks at Johnson and Johnson.
