High street equivalent
 

Hi there,

We will be arriving in British Columbia in the next couple of weeks and I was just wondering what the high street/grocery store equivalents are. There may not be, but it just helps when shopping, although I do plan to spend a lot of time discovering the various retailers myself. :0) For now, I'd be interested to know what similar brands there are for the following UK retailers:

Marks & Spencer/Waitrose
Sainsbury/Tesco
Currys/PC World/Dixons
Boots Pharmacy
B&Q

Thank you!

Re: High street equivalent
 

M&S - you can order online for delivery to Canada without the issue of import duties I'm told, not really sure of an alternative.
Tesco - Canada Superstore
PC World - Radio Shack?
Pharmacy - Shoppers Drugmart (I think that's the name)
B&Q - Home Depot

Re: High street equivalent
 

The Source and BestBuy are more like PC World UK tbh. Radio Shack is more along the lines of Maplin Electronics.

Re: High street equivalent
 

It's been about 4 years since I had the time to travel around Surrey and Vancity. Never went to the source store. Will definitely check that our when I get there!

Maplin's just closed down here in the UK! (Well a few months really). I needed a bi-metallic thermal switch the other day and had to order from a company in Guildford, UK. Could have used Maplin's then but what can you do?

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Only went to Canadian Tire/Tyre once. I think it was for an overpriced air freshener.

After that ended up going to the dollarstore or $1.25 store which I found quite reasonable.

Re: High street equivalent
 

The Source is basically just a bog standard electronics store. Most stuff in there tended to be overpriced as I recall and could be found cheaper elsewhere (usually from Best Buy). The fact it still exists is testament to Canada's retail protectionism and how little online shopping has been adopted compared to other similar countries.

The UK is at the other extreme end of the spectrum though. High Street retail in the UK is practically defunct at this point for everything except food, household goods and toiletries and the likes of Amazon and Ocado are even trying to take over those few remaining markets. Pretty soon there will be nothing left except for coffee places, chain bakeries and pound shops.

Re: High street equivalent
 

Don't forget the bookies and the loan sharks!

I know the online retail sector like the back of my hand. Primarily what I do.
It has had an effect on the high street but I've found the smaller stores who offer 'real' customer service will survive. A presence both online and in the high street is the way to go. That said, I feel sorry for the Amazon courier who has to go to the toilet in his van as he does not have the time to go in a 13 hour shift.


Judging the recent NAFTA or whatever it is called now discussions, Canada has lost out. It will affect the retail trade. Amazon is already getting its fingers in the Maple Syrup Pie!

Re: High street equivalent
 

I live in Kamloops and we survive on Costco, Walmart, Superstore, Home Depot, Shoppers Drug Mart and Best Buy. The only thing my Wife really misses from M&S are the knickers. Can't get good knickers in Canada apparently.

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Tesco/Sainsburys would be equivalent to Save On Foods and Safeway. They have Costco and if you have a UK membership you can use it out there. Asda and Walmart are quite similar. As for a hardware store Home Depot is similar to B&Q/Homebase.

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There's a good reason for that ;)

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There was, Asda have just been sold to Sainsburys.

Re: High street equivalent
 

:focus: Do try to stick with the OP's questions please.. it's not the place for off topic chitchat about NAFTA / the UK / Amazon working conditions and the like... you can take that to the Maple Leaf Forum :) Thanks.

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I prefer London Drugs over shoppers, they have a more diverse selection of goods vs shoppers, London Drugs even sells electronics although I am not an electronics type of person so never paid much attention. I also find London Drugs prices to be better.

London Drugs isn't nationwide as far as I know, so will be limited to Western Canada.

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And still subject to the Competition and Markets Authority agreeing isn't it?

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Safeway, Save-on-Foods, Costco, even London Drugs for canned and "non-fresh" foods

London Drugs usually has good prices for regular drug store items, plus electronics (we've bought laptops, cameras, small radios and cell phones from there), household items such as cleaners, storage boxes, kitchen tools etc, even furniture, fans, portable heaters. Found in BC and I think Alberta

Shoppers Drug Mart ........... cosmetics, drugs, etc etc

Be aware that pharmacists' dispensing fees can vary from drug store to drug store ......... lots of people say Costco is often the cheapest. I go with MY convenience, and use the local Safeway Pharmacy even though it charges slightly more than other drug stores.

High Street stores are basically non-existent, except in certain areas, replaced by the mall ............. largely a result of the weather conditions, even in Vancouver!

In Vancouver, local "high street" areas could be considered as Kitsilano along 4th Avenue and parts of Broadway, Kerrisdale on 41st from East Boulevard west for about 5 blocks, parts of Main street, Commercial Drive ........... those are areas where the get the individual butcher, bakery, boutique, etc. Chain stores selling mainly clothes are mainly in the malls.

Re: High street equivalent
 

Marks & Spencer/Waitrose - Whole Foods I guess - expensive but probably not as good quality as M&S


Sainsbury/Tesco - Superstore - they have Wal-Mart our here (Asda)

Currys/PC World/Dixons - Best Buy - very over priced. I get my electronics through Amazon

Boots Pharmacy - there is nothing like Boots with their amazing 3 for 2 gifts at Xmas :( pharmacy wise Shoppers or London Drugs but I go to Cost Co to fill prescriptions

B&Q - Home Depot

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It took me so long to find good knickers! I like the ones from the Gap, they have regular sales online and you can get them from $5/pair.

If you have any other knicker related questions (within reason), you know who to call.

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No VPL knickers is what she craves.

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beckiwoo posted ........

Re: High street equivalent
 

Julia

IMHO ........ you'll do far better if you do not try to replicate your English shopping.

Realise that this IS a different country, with different foods, shops, and shopping experiences, and you'll settle faster than if you start to pine for what you are missing.

Re: High street equivalent
 

Alberni Street with Prada, Tory Burch, Escada is def more high end and would be similar stores on Bond Street in London

Banana Republic is not really high end IMO although it is expensive, its more like high end Topshop or Monsoon

I love how better the sales are at A&F and Hollister here compared to the UK. I got a pair of jeans and a hoodie from A&F last week - both cost me $30 compared to their RRP at $140

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It seems that Robson Street is going down hill then :lol: .......

............ most of the shops on Alberni used to be on Robson 5 or 6 years ago! With a few more recent additions that attract the Asian tourists.

Even A&F is going down ............ they were really high priced when they first opened in Oakridge, before the company almost went bankrupt.

Before that, M&S was on Robson, until the company retreated from Canada as they didn't get the sales they expected. There used to be that fancy one (all marble and stainless steel with snooty salespersons) on Robson, one in Oakridge Mall, one in Victoria, and several others across Canada.

Before that, Robson was known as Robsonstrasse in the 70s and early 80s ............... full of funky European newsstands, restaurants, cheese shops. It was a fantastic place to go for cheap good European food, especially German and Austrian, with a couple of excellent high-end French restaurants at the western end.

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:goodpost: Very true that :)


Best not to compare too much, yes there will be the odd thing you will initially yearn for - but most foodstuffs can be found.. better to go with the flow and adapt and adjust :)

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[Nods sadly] T'is true.