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Sony Closing All Its Stores in Canada

Sony will sell and support its products through authorized retailers.

532 Comments

Sony is shutting down all its stores in Canada, the company has announced.

Sony confirmed the news to the CBC News, saying that it will close all its stores in the next six to eight weeks, and that it will redirect all of its business through its national network of Sony retailers, its online stores, and the "Sony-trained Telesales team," which handle sales by phone.

“Our network of Sony authorized retailers offer a full range of Sony products and will be supported by our in-store Merchandisers and Product Trainers on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that our past customers have continued access to knowledgeable Sales consultants who can support their ongoing Sony electronics needs,“ the company said in a statement.

Sony announced the news on the same day that Target announced its shutting down all its stores in Canada as well, two years and more than $1 billion after it first opened in the country. Target said it was "unable to find a realistic scenario that would get Target Canada to profitability until at least 2021."

The PlayStation 4 was the most sold console of 2014 in the US and globally, selling 18.5 million units in the 14 months since its launch, but Sony has had issues with its other divisions. In February 2014 it announced that it's selling off its VAIO PC brand and restructuring its TV business.

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xantufrog

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xantufrog  Moderator

Yikes. That being said, those boutique stores (Apple, Windows, Sony) feel pretty ridiculous to me (yes, I know the apple store in particular is a) very popular, and b) has some utility as a service center for the comparatively hard to work on hardware/software they sell)

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >> We've never had an Apple store in my city. I don't really see the point in these single manufacturer shops when they can sell their products in other stores and let them worry about overhead of brick and mortar.

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FallenOneX

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<< LINK REMOVED >> The idea is that the sales people will be more knowledgeable about the products and be able make the customer feel more at ease. Try going to buy a game where none of the employees actually play games, and you'll know what I mean. Also, 1st party accessories always make a company money.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I pride myself in doing researching a product when I purchase it, but it is very unsettling when you know more about the product than the actual people who sell it.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Sometimes I listen to the sales reps at Future Shop when they are pitching PC's and other electronics to customers. I have a major urge to step in and set them straight. They know very little about electronics. Anyone who tries to sell you a $300 HDMI cable for its "superior signal" should be avoided.

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Not_thebigo3d

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> especially because the only reason they are selling the 300 dollar cable is because it brings in 30-50 dollars in commissions for the employee where as the cheaper cables only pay $2.00

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> It's been proven that there is no statistical difference b/w a $10 cable and a $100+ cable.

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FallenOneX

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I have let items in a store after overhearing some of those conversations.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> They offer a service, if you have any problem with an apple product, you just bring it to the store and they will trouble shoot it for free. They will even open it up all all for free without voiding the warranty. People like the idea of taking their product to fixed by a "face" rather than shipping in to god knows where by god know who. Also its brilliant marketing to have a huge glass store selling all your shiny new products.

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neowarrior793

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> bullcr@p bubba_1988 the storm front stores (apply stores) dont know j@ck about apple products, there blue shirt idi0ts. they know nothing of the OS and they know nothing about the hardware PER-IOD. i once brought in an ipad with a faulty power button, there diagnostic? buy a new one.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> In that case I'm glad we don't have one here. Fixing electronics is 90% of my business. o.O

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gamer20482

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A lot more business might pull out of Canada if it keeps losing ground to the us dollar

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canuckbiker

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Yeah, because it's not like our dollar was significantly lower in 90's, or anything. This has nothing to do with the state of our currency.

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Zombunny

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I can see all stores closing and it just being online retailers, lots of job loss, more birth rate, postal workers in demand

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Actually where I live home delivery of mail is coming to and end. It will be just community mail boxes.

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GamerOuTLaWzz

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> quebec?

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canuckbiker

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British Columbia.

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yumyumnomnom

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At least you guys have Burger King who moved there recently. That's something I guess...

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Burger King sucks. My ex worked there when we were still in school. What they do to their burgers. Ugh!

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HumdingerMarkie

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

Actually cook them?

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah, they cook them ahead of time then steam them and sometimes microwave them when things are slow. At least they did back when she worked there.

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> whoppers are good, try not to eat at fast food chains often, but when i do get a whopper it's yummy!

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Oh they taste good. I just got turned off by the things my ex told me while working there. I was a shift supervisor at Swiss Chalet/Harvey's while going through Post-Ed. The place was very clean and the food was prepared well. I ate there before and after I worked there. Neither myself or my ex go to BK or take the kids.

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> i tend to believe (working in many kitchens myself ) that it all depends on the individual restaurant and the manager who runs it, when it comes to practices in cleanliness.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> For sure. All restaurant chains have their bad apples. Tim Horton's does secret food testers and their head office does surprise inspections. A friend managed one here in Canada before moving to the U.S. to open his own. They kept things clean because they never knew when head office would pop in. More chains should do that.

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> yeah, years ago i could see worse practices then today, i always say it comes down to two things, for me at least.


a busy restaurant is a restaurant with fresh food....and always go to the washroom before you order, chances are is the washroom is nasty, they kitchen is also.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> We've had BK for decades.

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canuckbiker

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The company just merged with Tim Hortons, and moved its head quarters to canada.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Well their "head quarters" are in Canada for the sweet tax breaks. But all the big wigs and the important stuff still happens in the US.

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sampson3121

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i live in canada and can tell you i nor anyone else even knew sony had stores here.

no reason to have them, it's a smart move on their part.

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Snyper22

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I knew they had a long line of stereo systems and TVs even PCs but yeah I've never seen any of their stores either ( In Ontario).

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skootbootz

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah I didn't even no there was such thing as sony stores. One would hope the sony products would be cheaper inside.

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canuckbiker

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Nope, quite the opposite actually. I could never find one deal whenever I looked around in one.

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gajbutler

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Sony make amazing cameras, they pretty much supply everyone with camera sensors, their TVs are so good and best for gamers as they have the lowest latency for their money by far. Their Xperia Z phones are really good, they've done some good tablets and their new action cam is just amazing and owns Go Pro by miles.


None of their stuff sells because people don't care about quality, they care about price and marketing fluff. A Sony TV might be £500 and £200 more than a £300 one, but on the face of it they both look to offer the same thing and the consumer buys the cheaper one. However when you compare their benchmarks, the picture quality is way better and the latency difference is like Sony 16ms and Samsung 40ms.


Sony need to just start making shiet cheap products and not aim for quality any more.

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MG_SORA

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I recently tried the A7/A7R and, oh boy! They feel great. Great build, incredible sensor indeed. I come from Nikon magnesium pro bodies, and I certainly could use the reduced weight!

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vannacut

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<< LINK REMOVED >> don't know about the cameras but for the tvs and projectors definitely the sony is the best .

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I have a Sony surround system. Have bought Sony sound systems for years. Except speakers. I prefer Polk audio speakers.

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vannacut

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> yes I have a sony surround too, im very pleased with it.

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HumdingerMarkie

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

"Nikon makes amazing cameras" ftfy

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Great camera bodies. I prefer Canon lenses though.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I used to do Wedding and portrait photography. I still sell photo art pieces now and again. I never used Sony cameras. Never liked them. Canon lenses all the way. Canon and Nikon then Sony third I'd say.


Canon T90 is still one of the most sought after cameras today. I own one and I get offers for it all the time despite using film. It takes amazing pics for a 35mm.

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MG_SORA

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Gawd damn, the nostalgia. I recently had a Canon T90 lent to me by a friend, but after what seemed like a year, I had to give it back. I loved the viewfinder. Them feels u_u

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yes, its an awesome camera. Getting hard to find film for it though. I used to do my own B&W development but, getting supplies is just too hard to bother anymore. I have a Canon EOS for digital but, it just isn't the same as film.

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MG_SORA

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I recently took a Nikon film camera with me as my only camera on a trip to Disney. I figured, what the heck, I don't want to carry a bunch of bodies and lenses, I want to enjoy myself!


Long story short, amazing experience, can't wait to get the film developed.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I have a really old Olympus OM-10 I still take on hikes and stuff. Nice small, quiet camera. And not a big deal if I drop it while fishing and such.

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Monsterkillah

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Canada is a low density population country

Only around 35-46 mill/2014 and although they have big cities most of the country there distributed in much rural area

Retail stores prob not really effective since it probably hard to reach for many people so they leave it to online stores

The opposite tactics seems to work in high density places in us europe and asia mind you ps4 games are consistantly dominating sales chart week in week out if you checked vgchartz i wouldnt worry too much about this as the online store also have bright future

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >> their are a ton of retail stores that are highly profitable, toronto has the 3rd or 4th largest market in north america.


main reason target left.......WALMART.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Most of the population is distributed in cities, you know like the rest of the world.


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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> There are major centres sure but, there are many rural areas and smaller cities spread out over large areas. Especially where I live in North Eastern Ontario. Lots of small cities half an hour or so apart.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >> More of the population lives in cities compared to small towns and rural areas. This is even true of African countries and southeast Asian countries.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Of course but, there are still a lot of rural areas and smaller towns that make up a good chunk of the population.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yup, Im just trying to sway people from thinking Canada is just a bunch of small towns in the sticks.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> lol, people really do think we live in igloos. Our Inuit make up less than one percent of the population. And they live in small villages with regular housing.

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bubba_1988

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> And a lot of them will be getting broadband soon too. << LINK REMOVED >>

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Pretty much this. We have a huge land mass and a relatively small population. Online shopping is killing brick and mortar. Sales in my shop have been going down year over year and, I mostly rely on servicing now. Might get out of resale all together.

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Flyincloud1116

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> You need an online store too.

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BDRTFM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I've been sort of working on getting an eBay store up and running. Been talking with local shippers to see what they can do for bulk shipping.

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sladakrobot

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I wished i lived in the same city as you,i would support you by buying your stuff

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