Z. found a great deal on an Asus notebook computer on his local Craigslist in Florida. “I am now in Toronto,” the seller explained before going through with the transaction. Z. and his mom ignored every anti-scam warning posted on Craigslist, and just sort of assumed that this meant the seller was on a trip to Toronto and had taken the computer with her. Z. is underage, and his mom used Western Union to wire the money. They waited. No computer came. [More]
canada
Best Buy & Future Shop Suddenly Shut Down A Bunch Of Canadian Stores Today
By 1.31.13
UPDATE: Best Buy Canada has posted a list of Best Buy and Future Shop stores that are closing in Canada. [More]
Call Service Employee Creates Game About Daily Frustrations Of His Job, No Longer Has That Job After Bosses Find Out
By 1.30.13
Late last year, a customer service rep for the Canada Revenue Agency launched a game titled “I Get This Call Every Day” that lets players experience the frustration of working in a call center. But now he no longer has to fret about this problem, as he’s without that day job. [More]
All Maple Trees Are Not The Same: Botanists Say Canada’s New Currency Features Wrong Leaf
By 1.18.13
Canada is having a rough go of this whole “print new money and make sure it won’t melt” thing already, and now it sounds like there’s even more currency confusion. Botanists up north are claiming that the government put the wrong dang maple leaf on the country’s new polymer bills — a Norway maple leaf instead of the native Canadian maple. Ruh-roh. [More]
Still Want Twinkies? Move To Canada
By 11.21.12
Like walking through the wardrobe to Narnia, crossing the border into Canada transports you into a land where Twinkies and Wonder Bread are in full supply, without any imminent fear of vanishing. [More]
If You’ve Ever Wanted To See How McDonald’s Makes French Fries, Your Prayers Have Been Answered
By 10.22.12
The folks at McDonald’s Canada are on a big transparency kick these days. The latest pulling-back-the-curtains video from our fast food neighbors to the north tries to dispel the idea that its french fries are made from processed potato bits. [More]
Canadian Authorities Have Recovered The Stolen Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve
By 10.5.12
Last month, some maple miscreants made off with millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup from a secure warehouse in the Canadian province of Quebec. We can all breathe a sweet, sweet sigh of relief: authorities may have recovered the syrup. They discovered somewhere between 600 and 800 barrels of unknown origin with an importer in New Brunswick. The investigation continues, but the syrup is safe. It’s currently under police protection. [More]
Canadian Mint Decides It Doesn't Really Need To Fine Musician For Photos Of Pennies On Album Cover
By 9.14.12
While there are many opponents of the lowly penny, including a store in Vermont and soon, the entire country of Canada, one musician was about to be punished by the Canadian mint for his love of the little guys. The folk singer featured a photo of pennies scattered on a counter as well as a large penny on the back, and the Mint warned him that he was violating the government’s copyright on the currency. Say what now? [More]
Apparently There's A Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve, And Someone Stole It
By 8.31.12
First, let us reassure you: there will be no maple syrup shortage this year. Repeat: there will be no maple syrup shortage. However, police in Quebec, Canada are trying to determine the whereabouts of millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup that disappeared from a warehouse in the town of St-Louis-de-Blandford. It wasn’t just any warehouse full of concentrated tree sap that was burgled: it was the temporary storage site of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers’ global strategic maple syrup reserve. Which is apparently a thing. [More]
Washington Costco Customers Want Canadians To Shop On Their Own Side Of The Border
By 8.15.12
We don’t like to be alarmist, but we sense the next huge international skirmish brewing on the border between Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia, where discount-hungry Canucks (is that an insult? We’ve heard it is, but then there’s the hockey team, so…) are apparently making the border crossing to shop at Costco — and where some locals are all “Hey, stop buying all the dang Huggies!” [More]
A La Carte Cable Channel Pricing Is Coming… To Canada
By 7.24.12
Today’s media consumers are so picky. They’ve come to resist the idea that they must pay hundreds of dollars every year to receive three hundred cable channels when they only watch maybe five of them. A recent government regulatory board decision means that consumers will have more choice over which specific channels they subscribe to and pay for in the near future. The bad news: It’s the Canadian government. [More]
This May Be The Greatest Drugstore Promotion Ever
By 7.17.12
Colin, one of our readers over the border in Canada, noticed what he thought was a hilarious coupon at chain London Drugs. “Super-bizarre!” he wrote. It does seem random at first…if you’re not equipped with a uterus. If you are, then you know that a promotion offering a free chocolate bar along with certain brands of sanitary pads and tampons is the greatest idea ever. [More]
Niagara Falls Businesses Make Millions From Bogus “Destination Marketing Fees”
By 6.14.12
Niagara Falls is a popular tourist destination and home to many non-existent girlfriends of nerdy high schoolers. Equally imaginary is the 3% “destination marketing fee” charged by numerous area businesses. [More]
People Of Nunavut Tired Of Paying $30 For Coffee, $65/lb. For Chicken
By 6.11.12
Almost four years ago, we marveled at the ridiculously high grocery prices in Nunavut, the largest and northernmost Canadian territory. Now, after years of paying $35 for a bottle of V8, $28 for cabbage and a whopping $65/pound for “Best Value” brand chicken, the folks in Nunavut are fighting back. [More]
Canada Decides It's Sick Of Pennies, Will Stop Making Them
By 3.29.12
The Canadian “give a penny, take a penny” tray industry has just been hit with some sad news. The new federal budget for our neighbors to the north has done away with the coin that costs more to make than it’s actually worth. [More]
O.B. Tampons Apologizes To Canadian Customers… In Song Form
By 12.2.11
As many of you may remember from this time last year, o.b. tampons became one of many Johnson & Johnson products to disappear from store shelves. And for many, many months, store shelves remained o.b.-free, until they gradually began showing up in the spring. Now the tampon makers are saying “we’re sorry”… at least to its Canadian customers. [More]
TJ Maxx Subsidiary Kicks Out Girl With Service Dog, Apologizes, Then Kicks Her Out Again
By 10.28.11
After an autistic girl and her service dog were wrongly kicked out of a discount clothing store owned by TJ Maxx, the district manager profusely apologized and gave them a $25 gift card to pick out anything she liked. When she returned and tried to use the gift card, store staff kicked her out for having a service dog again. Looks like someone didn’t get the memo. [More]
Middle-Class Canadians Terrified Of Thrift Store Customer Horde
By 10.12.11
If a thrift store opened up down the street from you, what would you do? Would you say, “How convenient!” and stop by daily? Or would you lament, “There goes the neighborhood,” dreading all of the poor people sure to traipse by, looking all poor and stuff and committing crimes? That’s what the residents of an upper-middle-class neighborhood in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan think is going to happen once a Value Village store opens there. But only when they get to share their thoughts anonymously. [More]
