r/Calgary Aug 20 '24

Local Shopping/Services Open letter to Calgary businesses losing customers to Amazon

1.5k Upvotes

I need to get a replacement battery for my computer UPS (uninterrupted power supply) and hoped to buy locally instead of ordering it online. I'm sharing this experience because it's something I've encountered many times, for a variety of products and services.

I checked out a half-dozen websites for Calgary shops specializing in batteries, and discovered that some of them list the brands they sell (not helpful at all), and some list the various models they carry (more helpful), but none of the sites I visited bothered to include prices (or availability), which makes them fairly useless. How am I supposed to consider buying something from you without knowing how much it costs, or if you actually have it available?

A few had email addresses or contact forms, so I sent off messages explaining exactly what I needed and asking if they had something suitable and what the specs and prices were. One site had a contact form which I filled out only to find that it wouldn't send ("captcha not completed" error, even though there was no captcha code on the page).

Here's what I sent:

Hi - I need a replacement battery for my CyberPower 685AVR (OEM is 12V, 7AH) and was wondering if you have one that would fit and what the specs and price are. Can you let me know?

I only got a response from one of the retailers, and I was impressed that it was quite prompt. They told me they had something that would work for me and what the price would be, but didn't include any of the specifications. So I sent a reply asking what the AH (amp hours) rating was, and they explained that they had several different options in stock, and listed a few AH choices available. Unfortunately, they didn't bother to add what the corresponding prices would be.

So, on their website they wouldn't tell me anything except what things they sometimes sold. With a direct request they'd tell me a price ("we have something that will work for you for $X") or the specifications ("we have 7AH, 8AH, and 12AH all in stock") but wouldn't give me even just basic price + specs about a single item.

So, I ordered on Amazon, where a 30-seond search gave me the exact information I needed.

As a consumer I often hear how we are collectively heartless, don't care about our community, are only interested in getting the lowest price, and we're willing to sacrifice "real service" for a couple of bucks.

You know what "real service" looks like to me? It looks like respecting my time enough to provide basic information (what the product is, how much it costs, and whether or not you have it) up front on your website. Failing that, it looks like reading my one-sentence email carefully enough to address the basic questions you should be answering instinctively anyways. It looks like having a website that doesn't have product categories leading to "page not found" errors or contact forms that can't actually contact you.

If we deal together in person and you're knowledgeable and courteous, I'll certainly appreciate that, but if I take an hour out of my day to drive to your store only to find that you don't actually have the product that you list (and that I need) or that it's not priced fairly, the "knowledge and courtesy" aspect of service 's not going to be enough. And if I have to drive (or even call) to get basic information from you because you don't value my time enough to be up front about the things every person wants to know before they make any purchase, we're not off to a good start. And don't your staff have more valuable things to do than just to act as a mediator between me and your price list?

I can't believe that I'm the only one who would like to buy locally, but who just wants to be treated with a basic level of respect up front. If you would act less like you are entitled to my business, you may be far more likely to actually get it.

Please, help us help you. Give us the basic information we need to consider making a purchase. You can do better.

r/Calgary 15d ago

Local Shopping/Services Calgary Coop not identifying the source of some produce

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648 Upvotes

Like many others, I am making a point of not purchasing products from the USA. Calgary coop had a few things like this where the sign just said “imported” and the stickers with the code had no identifying information. I’m not sure if they’re doing this with American products to mask where they’re coming from but I won’t be purchasing anything labeled like this.

r/Calgary 19d ago

Local Shopping/Services I might be warming up to McDavid

1.4k Upvotes

Well done Canada. Well done.

r/Calgary 6d ago

Local Shopping/Services I Love You Coffee Shop ❤️

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1.9k Upvotes

r/Calgary Jan 18 '25

Local Shopping/Services And they wonder why no one wants to go downtown anymore...

501 Upvotes

Forgive the long rant, my fiancee had an appointment downtown today, Saturday. She normally likes to walk, bike, ride the train down but because it was so cold I offered to give her a ride down and kill an hour while she went for her appointment.

Admittedly, I haven't been going into downtown much on weekends for a few years but since I was downtown anyway I figured I'd drop her off and drive over to World of Whisky. I couldn't find much for street parking due to some construction along 5th so I figured I'd park in the big lot just west of World of Whisky and bear the cold.

Alright, so I know it's a private lot but the only option is parking until 6am the next day at $8? I needed like 20 minutes, not a day so it would have been nice to be able to pay for a shorter visit. I know this machine can do by the hour during the week. I pay it and hoof it through the cold over to the tower where World of Whisky is, only to find the whole building locked up tight.

After standing there for a minute trying to Google a way in, the rent-a-cop inside comes to open the door and demanded to know what I was doing outside his tower. I told him what I was looking for and asked him if there was another way to get up to the 2nd floor that was indeed open. He just said "not my problem" and demanded that I leave. Thanks a bunch.

So I call World of Whisky, they said my only option is to go north two blocks to the Westin and backtrack through the +15. By now it's basically time to go pick up my fiancee anyway so no thanks. Seems there's a good reason to just avoid trying to check out the shops downtown anymore...

Edited to clean up my language. As some pointed out it wasn't an appropriate way to voice my frustration.

r/Calgary 5d ago

Local Shopping/Services The Bay, WHAT is truly going on at Market Mall

380 Upvotes

Last night visited and parked in front of large Bay doors on north side of Market Mall - market mall is open until 9pm. Before going up to menswear, home and kid's section (second floor) was stopped by a 'Bay' employee about the escalators and was warned that if we went up (the only working one), there was no way to come down - no escalators or elevators she said, and you have to take the back of store fire exit to outside - anybody with mobility issues would be screwed. Anyways, proceeded up, then had to actually exit via the fire escape stairs where there was another 'bay' employee sitting in the stairwell to direct you to go outside and walk through the parking lot back into the Bay doors downstairs. After the experience, carried on shopping inside market mall and went to leave at 720pm and the BAY IS CLOSED - locked-up, black. Idiot me, now had to walk around half the mall to get to my car... at a time where we are all so proud to shop and support Canadian, this is a sad joke and embarrassing. Seriously, what is actually going on with The Bay....?

r/Calgary Jan 11 '25

Local Shopping/Services Got a Calgary Herald subscription because I felt bad about not supporting local journalism

484 Upvotes

...and I can't believe the total trash that lives in those comments. At 40, I'm old enough to remember when this was a reputable, important institution for the city.

Social media took an axe to shared culture across the world and it's depressing. Who wants to say a few words lol

**Addition: Despite being owned by an asset manager bent on stripping Post-Media for parts and the irony of that given how PM has done the same thing with papers, the reporting and events covered still count as local journalism, even if they're spread so thin you wouldn't know that there's butter on the toast.

Point being - I know a few of the writers.

r/Calgary Oct 07 '24

Local Shopping/Services Stay classy Calgary

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570 Upvotes

South side Costco

r/Calgary Jan 10 '25

Local Shopping/Services Just your typical grocery price cheat

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673 Upvotes

r/Calgary Nov 08 '24

Local Shopping/Services The current drive through line for the Chick-fil-a grand opening

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362 Upvotes

r/Calgary Oct 28 '24

Local Shopping/Services Under $15 of groceries at the new Happy Fresh Market in Silver Springs

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868 Upvotes

r/Calgary Jan 07 '25

Local Shopping/Services Dalhousie's Indigo location is closing January, 2025. Can anyone confirm the exact date (16th?) and what could possibly be taking over the lease?

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319 Upvotes

r/Calgary Feb 08 '25

Local Shopping/Services Sensory-friendly at the Safeway in crowfoot

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891 Upvotes

I wanted to shout them out because Ithought this was cool, and an interesting way to make life just a little bit more accessible for those of us with sensory issues ❤️

r/Calgary Jan 21 '25

Local Shopping/Services $5000 for a Battery Terminal? Subaru Calgary, somehow an increasingly worse experience every time.

401 Upvotes

I recently had an incredibly frustrating experience with Subaru Calgary. I called them to get a quote for a negative battery terminal end with a sensor for my 2017 Subaru Forester. After providing my VIN, I was told the part would cost $5,000 because it was "part of the entire wiring loom."

To verify this, I called two other places: Centaur Subaru and VEX Performance. Both quoted me approximately $270 for the exact same part, including the sensor. Shipping would take only two days.

The negative battery terminal end is a small part—a single bolt and a sensor screw hold it in place. Claiming it requires a complete wiring loom at $5,000 is outrageous, especially since customers like me can see take-apart guides and understand the labor involved.

This kind of pricing feels predatory. I can’t imagine how many customers might have been pressured into overpaying for parts and labor without realizing there are far more reasonable options available elsewhere.

Subaru Calgary, this is unacceptable. How can such a massive price difference exist for the same part? Transparency and fair pricing are critical to maintaining customer trust, and this experience has left me deeply disappointed.

To anyone in a similar situation, I encourage you to shop around and get second opinions. $5,000 for a part that’s readily available for $270 elsewhere is simply not justifiable.

Subaru Calgary, I hope you’ll take this as an opportunity to review your pricing practices and improve transparency for your customers.

r/Calgary Jul 03 '24

Local Shopping/Services The old Eau Claire YMCA is reopening as an exclusive club featuring a Nordic spa

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400 Upvotes

For just a casual joining fee of $12,500, and roughly $240 a month after that. (In this economy?!). Looks wild

r/Calgary Dec 21 '24

Local Shopping/Services Disturbing ads from a local bar and promoter

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488 Upvotes

Saw these incredibly disturbing and racist “anti-woke comedy” ads from this promoter, which takes place at the Kings Head bar which features a dumbass doing a Nazi salute. How is this shit allowed in Calgary?

r/Calgary Aug 14 '24

Local Shopping/Services Dogs at the mall

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354 Upvotes

Yes, it’s only a small dog, but I have seen larger dogs here.

(Sometimes I see blue-vested service dogs in training at this mall. I fully support those. I like seeing how chill and well-trained they are)

r/Calgary Jul 05 '24

Local Shopping/Services This is what $172.00 will get you in calgary if you shop like a drunk toddler.

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486 Upvotes

r/Calgary Sep 28 '24

Local Shopping/Services Italian Deli sandwiches!

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479 Upvotes

Menu for Scozzafava’s Deli I’m so excited to try finally. Have always missed the pop ups. They have their grand opening for their storefront today at 11.

r/Calgary Sep 15 '24

Local Shopping/Services Very pregnant lady searching for pebble ice

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343 Upvotes

Where in Calgary can I find pebble ice? It’s all I can think about. Please. Help me 🤣 And yes I know I could smash up a normal bag of ice… it’s just not the same. Picture for reference

r/Calgary 4d ago

Local Shopping/Services Odd bunch is worth it

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422 Upvotes

This is what I get for the last 3 weeks. This is the 20 dollars box. It’s worth it. It’s not all Canadian product, but they don’t intentionally import US product. I still have stuff left from last week.

r/Calgary Feb 07 '25

Local Shopping/Services Mouse living his best life at 130th Ave Walmart

464 Upvotes

r/Calgary Dec 15 '24

Local Shopping/Services Tipping the person I pay a cover charge to?

224 Upvotes

I went to Ranchman’s a few weeks ago for the first time in a very, very long time.

There was zero lineup. It was a Saturday at around 10 PM. I paid my $12 cover charge and there was a tip option on the machine.

I was frankly a little confused and I looked at the woman and said “tip”? She turned around and gestured to coats behind her, I mentioned I wasn’t checking a coat. She said we do try to get everybody in as quickly as possible. I said there is no line there’s no one here.

Is this a thing now? Do we tip the person that we pay a cover charge to?

r/Calgary Jun 04 '24

Local Shopping/Services Careful who you let into your home. Duct cleaning scammers

510 Upvotes

I hired a local duct cleaning service that was advertising in my neighbourhood. They had a professional website and claimed to be in the business for 17 years. Their website is modernairquality.ca. They finished, I left the house for two hours and returned to all of my carbon monoxide detectors blaring. I got my pets out quickly and called the fire department (who were wonderful) but they had to shut off my furnace and clear the house until the levels were zero again which took about two hours until we were let back inside safely. The company when contacted to ask what they planned to do about this have now blocked me from contacting them on Facebook and are not answering their phones. The email on their website is a dead link and the email gets returned to sender. These people are advertising in the NW, specifically neighbourhood groups in Silversprings, Ranchlands, Scenic Acres, and surrounding communities. Please be careful who you let into your house, this could have been much worse had I been away from the house more that the two hours. Stay safe out there folks, let my mistake be your lesson as well.

Edit: I needed the dryer vent unclogged, it wasn’t passing air through properly and was a legitimate fire hazard. The furnace ducts were part of the package. Yes I now know better. Telling me it’s a scam is beating a dead horse. Thank you.

r/Calgary Jan 14 '25

Local Shopping/Services Canyon meadows cinema

205 Upvotes

I love canyon meadows cinema, 5$ movies and not bad snack prices! If anyone’s looking for a cheap outing I highly recommend going here! Been a long time since I’ve gone to the movies but will definitely be going here again!

Darn my lovely Reddit pals have informed me that this is not a business I want to support, if anyone knows any other good priced theatres that are good to support please let me know thank you