A&B Sound closes in Vancouver

[dave31]

I lined up a few times for their boxing day sales years ago. Those were the good ol days.


Goodbye to a retail legend
VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980)

8/13/2008

A former music powerhouse no longer calls Vancouver home.
A&B Sound has closed its Vancouver stores. The locations on Seymour Street and Marine Drive have been shut down. There are still stores in North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows and Abbotsford.

Three years ago, the retailer had 21 stores across Canada. Only five are left.

The company pioneered door-crasher Boxing Day sales which had customers camping out to get the best deals.

The company blames plunging sales on big-box retailers like Wal-Mar

[disqx]

Not unexpected, unfortunately.

[classic_queen]

yeah we've been sorta watching this for a while.  We're getting some of the A&B Sound salesman out of it.

[Username]

Wal-Mart will obliterate many retail chains.

  Kev

[jefferino]

My family bought lots of stuff from A&B Sound over the years. Sad to see them go.

[Keiichi]

It's so sad.

Soon the world will be dominated by only a select few companies.....

[classic_queen]

I think that the MP3 downloading might have helped killed them.  I loved them for their CD selections but CD sales are dropping and I've never been approached about price beating them so I can't imagine their prices being too stellar.  Granted they did carry Yamaha and Denon and Panasonic which we don't carry but hopefully we can pick those up from the smoldering mess that is A&B Sound now.  It is sad to see another Canadian retailer close it's doors due to American companies like BB and FS.  Let's hope that doesn't happen to us!

[tonyzoomzoom]

I remember those Boxing Day lineups in downtown...

It's too bad but with competition from FS, Walmart, etc., electronics is a tough business

[dmogx]

i found that out yesterday when i finally decided to stop by a&b just to find out that they were closed on that exact date..

[abnormal3]

Prices of electronics have come way down ,wasn't too long ago a computer was thousands of dollars ,big screen TVs were 5x-6x what they are now ,even CDs prices have dropped significantly.

[thechix0r]

Not surprising but the one in Cap mall is still there... it's tiny compared to the one in Burnaby or the one downtown though.

[HeaTransfer]

I used to love A&B, but when people started accepting the FS/BB big box model as the way to shop, it was lights out.  I'll just stick to specialty high-end retailers going forward. 

FS has sucked and will suck.  Just MHO.

For those that defend the Whore-mart big box model - this is what you get... low prices and a lack of diversity. 

---

Way back in the day I remember when FS first started carrying music - this was early-mid 90s.  A FS drone came into my work and pronounced "there's gonna be blood - and it's gonna be type A and B".  Well, FS didn't kill them on music.  Physical media killed music.  Ever try buying a non-mainstream CD these days?  Difficult.

[Username]

I remember those Boxing Day lineups in downtown...

It's too bad but with competition from FS, Walmart, etc., electronics is a tough business

The grocery industry is next

  Kev

[M-Ziggy]

Hmmm, speaking of which....why is Save-on-Foods allowed to charge sooo much more for the same groceries that are found elsewhere for way less? I don't get it.

[HeaTransfer]

Hmmm, speaking of which....why is Save-on-Foods allowed to charge sooo much more for the same groceries that are found elsewhere for way less? I don't get it.

Because suckers like me will go and buy stuff from them, cuz their bakery rocks.

Actually, I find Cave-On-Foods a bit cheaper than Safeway (which I find the most expensive).  Stuporstore is definitely cheaper but I find that they really push bulk volume - ideal if you're shopping for a family and need that much but less so if you're just feeding yourself.  Also, their deli and bakery are, IMO, lower quality than Cave-on.

I generally avoid buying produce from the large supermarkets however (save T&T).  The neighborhood greengrocers are usually qutie a bit cheaper and it's good supporting hardworking folk who just wanna make a living.

[dave31]

I agree that Save-On is quite a bit cheaper than Safeway and has a really good selection. Usually end up at Safeway for convenience, and IGA in desperation.

[M-Ziggy]

I really like save-on but I only ever by my fruits and veggies there...sometimes dairy but that's what I find ridiculously expensive. Safeway I'll go to out of desperation cause they are even more retarded. It should be criminal to charge a higher price for the exact same product.

[tonyzoomzoom]

Safeway steals from seniors.

They have two brands of milk.  One is Lucerne, the other is Diaryland (I think).  Both are in the same section of the refrigerator; side by side; and have the same color labels.

Except that Lucerne is like $4 a jug and the Diaryland one is almost $6 !   

[Heavenclosed]

Safeway steals from seniors.
They have two brands of milk.  One is Lucerne, the other is Diaryland (I think).  Both are in the same section of the refrigerator; side by side; and have the same color labels.
Except that Lucerne is like $4 a jug and the Diaryland one is almost $6 !  

Yeah, but the expiration date on Dairyland tends to be a later date, therefore can last longer.  I shop at Safeway and Price Smart stores.  Best values and have want I want.

[niteron]

Until Stupid-store came along, Pattison really only had to compete with Safeway. Now with Costco and Stupid store around, he got desperate to compete with them, hence he started switching stores to Pricesmart. It's too bad to see everyone at A&B lose their jobs though.