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

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.

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

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.

No VPL knickers is what she craves.

beckiwoo posted ........

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.

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

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

............ 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.

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

[Nods sadly] T'is true.