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Future Shop Shutting Down, Best Buy Canada Takes Over

By Daniel George

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In an unexpected move, the future of Future Shop is no more. According to reports from local radio stations, including MyFM 101.5 in Orangeville and AM 980 in London, Ontario, all Future Shop stores have closed, effective immediately. So immediately, that employees were only informed today, some learning only as they show up for their shifts.

Unconfirmed are the ratios of stores that will remain operating or shuttered completely, but it appears as though the owners of the Future Shop brand, Best Buy in Canada, will consolidate some Future Shop outlets into new Best Buy locations. “Future Shop and Best Buy are consolidating under the Best Buy brand,” a statement on the company’s app states. “That means, the products, services, and features you have come to expect from FutureShop.ca can be found at BestBuy.ca.” Update: CTV Vancouver has confirmed that 66 stores across Canada will be shut down, while 65 stores will be rebranded.

Furthermore, Future Shop has posted an FAQ on their website, detailing exactly what this Best Buy takeover process will involve. Biggest takeaways, all outstanding orders will be fulfilled, planned home deliveries will be delivered, Best Buy will handle Future Shop returns and exchanges, and sales will be honored. It seems like Best Buy is doing as much as they can for its customers, and a lot more than others would.

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As horrendous as it may be for the customers who have appreciated Future Shop and its many deals and events surrounding video games in the past, it’s a bigger heartbreak to its employees. Dependant on the amount of permanent store closures, hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs are on the line. Plus, those who will now work at Best Buy who relied on commission bonuses at Future Shop will now have to take a basic rate at Best Buy, no matter how well they perform.

The whole rebranding of Future Shop into Best Buy in Canada means one thing; less competition within the Canadian retail gaming marketplace. EB Games, Best Buy, maybe Toys R Us are the remaining big players, while stores like Zellers, Target and now Future Shop (which ran as a separate division under Best Buy previously) are no more. Retail and service oligarchies are becoming more and more common in the Great White North, making it easier to approve decisions to retail $75 games in Canadian stores.

We truly are in the darkest timeline.

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Looking to write about video games? Join us at GameSided! Contact me to apply or if you have any inquiries/tips: daniel.george@fansided.com.

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