80's Kids.... Dont you miss getting the Consumers Distributing Mag....

[links1981]

Its that Time of year again
(For this thread at least to be bumped up and redone)

N00bs welcome and Welcome Back old posters!
this will be the third year I keep this Memory lane going, And I have added More pics!

ENJOY!

=========================
EDIT- It would seem I'm only allowed 10 pics per post? (LAME)
So MORE PICS on page 9


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers_hanheld_80.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears_pong_76.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/shoprite_atari_81.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/simpsons_intelli_81.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1988-pg614-SMS_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1988-pg615-NES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1990-pg1446-NES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1990-pg1447-NES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1990-pg1448-GB_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1990-pg1449-TG_full.jpg

[B40]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/1979-CONSUMERS-DISTRIBUTING-STORE-CATALOG_W0QQitemZ250043777860QQihZ015QQcategoryZ11 8259QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[Captin Howdy]

lol i remember those, they were awesome!

Remember getting up Saturday morning and going through the mag and writing down all the things i wanted....those were the days.

Remember when they were closing down? They had some really great deals

Don't forget those tiny blue pencils!!

[MkmBandit]

I was talking about this not too long ago. I had the whole catalogue memorized. Too many OOS incidents put them out of business. Sad story.

[Cyber6]

I was talking about this not too long ago. I had the whole catalogue memorized. Too many OOS incidents put them out of business. Sad story.

That reminds me of S....... :twisted:

I wonder if they will be going out of business. ;)


C.

[bug]

I was talking about this not too long ago. I had the whole catalogue memorized. Too many OOS incidents put them out of business. Sad story.

I think they re-opened with a new name --- Stooples :lol:

[jason9945]

LOL, oh boy, Consumers Distributing. Always OOS

[MkmBandit]

I think they re-opened with a new name --- Stooples :lol:

I wouldnt be half surprised if that was the case. If I remember correctly they were very quick to declare bankruptcy, and that was around the time of the whole 'depot' craze (you know, home depot, office depot, crap depot, etc).

[3weddings]

My dh and I were just talking about it...

all those six digit numbers memorized...the Sears Wishbook doesn't come close!!!

[BlackEros]

I remembering buying stuff at Consumers Distributing beating it up so badly then returning it when I was finished with it. They must of had the most lax return policy in the history of stores. I remember exchanging my watch every 2 weeks one summer just so I had a new watch. Why did they go bankrupt again? :cheesygri

[winner2000]

CD had the stupidest store-format I've ever heard of...I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

[CanadaBoy]

What is this ?

[rhainman]

When I was a kid I worked for Star-Ways in Toronto (anyone remember them?) and I had to deliver the Consumers catalogues to people's houses. I rued those days, as I made like 2 cents for each house I delivered a catalogue to. I needed a bundle buggy just to haul the catalogues around. But what other options were there when you're 10.

I remember saving up forever to amass $20 to buy an Atari 2600 game at Consumers. Those were the days...

[winner2000]

LOL check this out...funny pics lol

>> http://www.moonie.ca/glenap/cd/cd.html (don't let moonie throw you off)

This was a funny quote (which explains their demise):

Upon hearing that Consumers Distributing was most likely closing (thus putting him out of work!) he decided to return some items that he bought in the last little while (5 or 6 years) to raise some cash!Some of these items were a tent (he _only_ used it for a few years!) , his Nintendo, and a breadmaker. Especially since he didn't have any reciepts for these items (only about $1200 worth or so) our District Manager was just a little bit upset with him!

5-6 year old items were being returned? LOL!!!!!!!!

[CSK'sMom]

Canada Boy must be a youngin'! If we told you we'd have to kill you! LOL! :D

[Defiant]

Yep, the consumers catalog was a staple part of childhood Christmas.

Every year in Nov, my grandparents gave me the catalog to pick what I wanted for Christmas. I pretty much circled everything :) But seriously, it must have been great for my grandparents, they knew exactly what to get - even the obscure stuff.

[UrbanPoet]

CD had the stupidest store-format I've ever heard of...I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

Well...it was very successful in the 80s. this was before rapid globalization. Free trade was a mulroney thing!


I remember this mag..... Looking @ all the things i couldnt have lol... it was the next best thing when i was a kid. I remember getting super nintendo games off it.

[mrsmagoo2001]

I remember back in the dark ages when I first was old enough to drink, the local LCBO had this same format. Go look at the catalogue then fill out your form to get your booze. Kept the five finger discount under control.

[ragin_pyro]

Oh man, I'm an 88, almost 89, so I have some faint memories of the place..I remeber wanting so many things :cheesygri

[marvelus10]

Yeah I do. Its funny that you cut out the stuff you want, hahaha me too.

[CanadaBoy]

Canada Boy must be a youngin'! If we told you we'd have to kill you! LOL! :D

Only 16 :|

[BadDrafter]

I like polish girls from Poland. It's my goal in life to mary a polish girl from Poland.

But with regards to consumers distributing; they had all the products that nobody bought but everybody was interested in. Like the SEGA Mastersystem, Atari Lynx and the TurboGrafix 16. I think I was there at a grand closing sale. The CD store became a Sleep Country Canada in my area.

Thank God for emulators.

[Rokkin]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/1979-CONSUMERS-DISTRIBUTING-STORE-CATALOG_W0QQitemZ250043777860QQihZ015QQcategoryZ11 8259QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Damn!...Can't believe those catalogues still exist.

I bought an 18 speed mountain bike from there when I was about 17. Still have it after 20 years. Those were the days when they were made of heavy duty steel and weighed a ton. That thing is still rock solid and gives a good work out pedalling all that weight, but the gears help.

I bet that's where most people bought their York 2001 weight set as well. I can't be the only one.

I frequented the Duffering Mall location and one near Gerrard Square on Carlaw.

[goob3r]

I remember how I got so angry that my parents wouldn't buy a Nintendo for me at CD cause they said I hadn't been good enough! :mad: I got one out of them eventually.

Oh and just sitting with that catalogue on my lap looking through all the toys that were there that I would never get. I used to salivate at the Power Wheels.

And the little pencils. I joy to any child.

[CanadaBoy]

I like polish girls from Poland. It's my goal in life to mary a polish girl from Poland.

But with regards to consumers distributing; they had all the products that nobody bought but everybody was interested in. Like the SEGA Mastersystem, Atari Lynx and the TurboGrafix 16. I think I was there at a grand closing sale. The CD store became a Sleep Country Canada in my area.

Thank God for emulators.

Ditto about the bold stuff :)

[t3359]

Man, yeah, I remember them. I remember carrying the catalogue around the house with me, with items circled... that was before the "add to your shopping cart" button was created.

bjl

[reqle55]

haha...i remember getting my 1st Gen. gameboy from there. Parents would'nt buy it for me, so i would ask them to buy just the games...haha so after 3-4 games, i told them it was useless without the gameboy so eventually they got me one!

[gmark2000]

Kids these days won't even know what a typewriter was.

[Brownbear]

i remember this store
im born in 87, but i was old enough to remember them

They had a store @ parkway mall on VP and Ellesmere, right beside the foodcourt!
i think?

I also bought a tennis racket... a damaged racket at that!

[Deal_Princess]

oh CD my father used to take me there all the time.. to the one on Yonge street n cummer which is now a Canada Computers.

[mlc2000]

That catalogue carried 'personall massagers'.
yea, you know what I'm talking about....good for relieving tension...;)

I knew 2 people who worked in that store and whenever anyone ordered the phallus-shaped item, everyone in the back would come to see who bought it !!

LMAO !!

[insanity]

Yup used to go to the one at Kennedy/Sheppard a lot. The excitement of finding out if your item was in stock was just too much :lol:

[Firebot]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Distributing

[McLaren]

Wow this catalogue was a kids dream come true. Got to window shop through a book. I remember they had all the GI JOE figures and vehicles pictured with scenery and all!

I cut up all the toys i wanted and put them in an envelope with a mailing address to Santa Claus in the North Pole. Turns out I only got a GI JOE tomahawk (a giant twin blade helicopter) Dropped it on the kitchen floor the first night and it shattered to pieces. >:(

[links1981]

They had a store @ parkway mall on VP and Ellesmere, right beside the foodcourt!

thats the one i always went to

[IceMan77]

Oh man, i can't believe this was brought up. I had forgotten all about CD. Like many of you, as a kid i used scan through the entire catalogue and dream of the toys I was never going to get.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. :lol:

[maximum328]

Yup used to go to the one at Kennedy/Sheppard a lot. The excitement of finding out if your item was in stock was just too much :lol:

ha!.. i was just having this conversation with a friend the other day!...

I totally agree with the excitement of finding out whether or not your item was in stock.

filling out those card things, bringing it up to the cash and seeing your item come out from the back... it was like christmas!... although the paying part... not so much.. :cheesygri

[raptorfan]

Oh man, i can't believe this was brought up. I had forgotten all about CD. Like many of you, as a kid i used scan through the entire catalogue and dream of the toys I was never going to get.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. :lol:


And buy cheapie gifts for my parents! I went to the one at Shoppers World in Brampton.

[frogger]

I wanted that Lego castle so bad... Never did get it. Spent countless hours with those catalogues every year.

[mlc2000]

They had the most awesome collection of LCD digital watches.

The memories are flooding back, like other have said, so many toys no boys would ever get...

[lip1978]

That catalogue carried 'personall massagers'.
yea, you know what I'm talking about....good for relieving tension...;)

I knew 2 people who worked in that store and whenever anyone ordered the phallus-shaped item, everyone in the back would come to see who bought it !!

LMAO !!

I was wondering if anyone else remembered those. I had no idea what they were really used for for a long time.

[mlc2000]

I was wondering if anyone else remembered those. I had no idea what they were really used for for a long time.

They always showed a woman massaging her neck with it.
Like to see some woman whip that out on the bus after a long day at the widget factory.:D

[feiticeria]

I remember Consumers! haha, whenever I'd get bored, I'll flip through the magazine of things I'd wish I could have :lol: I remember my dad taking me to buy a game for my Genesis when I was 9 or 10, spent a few minutes choosing between Mortal Kombat & Street Figher (went with MK ;)) ... also times when we'd tell them what we wanted and the guy would go to the back and bring out the item.

ahh...good times.

[MkmBandit]

They had the most awesome collection of LCD digital watches.



Calculator watches.. the new 128k handheld organizers.. this place had em all

Wasn't there a CD at McCowan/Hwy7 where swiss chalet now is? I also remember one at Dufferin Mall, Eglinton Square, and warden power centre.

[gordholio]

Actually, I think it's a unique and effective way of doing business.
You don't have to have tons of items on display.
As long as you have nearly everything in stock, it will work; otherwise it won't.
I shopped there a couple of times - bought a calculator with metric conversion on it for about $55. Now you could buy the same calculator (if they have one) for about $10 probably.

[plymouthhater]

any1 have some old Scans of it to bring back some toys/Video game Memories?


Enjoy - here's a scan from Luria's a south eastern USA equivalent - I still have their old catalogue. My kids get a chuckle looking at the old video game adverts.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5600/project1ba7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[mlc2000]

Towards the end of CD, there was a fire at their distribtution centre in Milton.
My friends and I joked that the fire went out quickly because there was no stock on the shelves.


Interestingly enough, Lee Valley stores operate in the same manner,
with the exception that most of their product is in stock :D

Lots of tall desks with catalogues, order slips and little pencils.
They have stools so u can sit and gaze at the catalogues.

You bring your slip to the counter and wait for them to pick it from stock.

[links1981]

Enjoy - here's a scan from Luria's a south eastern USA equivalent - I still have their old catalogue. My kids get a chuckle looking at the old video game adverts.


Cool!

Scan more if you can....

[sunnybono]

Oh how I loved consumer distributing. Literally bought everything from there. But if you remember that far, how about Shop Rite. Same concept as CD, but didn't last as long!!!!!!!

sk

[nalababe]

Had you asked earlier, I could have scanned in some pages....We just threw out a collection of CD and Sears catalogs from the 80's--my wife is a pack rat and was a kid as well.

Of course, we also found a merlin and little professor in pristine condition...along with a whole collection of Tiger beat/teen beat magazines....

[links1981]

Heres another Scan........
(May not be from CD but.... )


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/sms-gen.jpg

[Carpe Diem]

Great Thread. My memory of CD is the waiting and waiting...Wait for a teller then wait for your stuff to come up from the back, Then wait for a teller again and then wait in line to pay. Brutal way to run a shop!

[bubble.tea]

Oh maaaaaaaaaaaann.

don't remind me...the memories are gonna start FLOWING back.

The good ol' days.

[Punky Hunky]

Oh man. This really brings back memories. I was told by my parents that when I was 2, we took a trip to Hong Kong and all through the flight there and back I would just look through the catalogue all the way there and back. Really brings back the memories.

[TenzoR]

I still have a sega master system ...

[kingfencer]

bought badminton rackets there,then loblaws gobble their land up >:( , yeah, i remember the mag, never had enough money to buy anything in it.

[Blackjack]

Got my first computer from CD, an Atari 400 and the famous Pacman game. Funny I seem to remember the prices: the Atari 400 was $388.88 and the game cart was $68.88.
http://www.vintage-computer.com/images/atari400.jpg
http://capri1979.tripod.com/Atari400-800/jeux/pacman.jpg

[winner2000]

Wow I didn't know Sega Genesis was so expensive...$300!?! Wowzers

[that_staples_guy]

Great thread, brings back lotsa memories...

After weeks of pestering my parents I finally got the Magna Doodle...

Then in '93 I got the Thomas the Tank Engine set, came with Thomas, Edward, Toby and Mavis...

Good God I actually remember the train's names.

[MrDisco]

CD was the best. always used to flip to the back and drool over the TF, GI Joe, and lego dioramas they had setup.

[Paolo]

I remember there being one in Square One mall in the part of the mall that is now been closed down, and renovated into the new mall expansion. I used to think that was the only Consumers Distributing that existed? or atleast to me I was only 4 or 5 years old, never knew there was a consumners in scarborough, or never even knew what a scarborough was.

[PCDawg]

OMG...that CD mag brought back so many memories!!!

It was a kid's dream magazine during xmas time (besides the Sears Wish Book).

The full lineup of gi joe, star wars video games and transformer toys!

The watch section was the best as well! During that time the Casio electronic gadget mini computer watches was the craze and it was cool looking and thinking which one to pick.... sigh....

[mlc2000]

I remember there being one in Square One mall in the part of the mall that is now been closed down, and renovated into the new mall expansion. I used to think that was the only Consumers Distributing that existed? or atleast to me I was only 4 or 5 years old, never knew there was a consumners in scarborough, or never even knew what a scarborough was.

There was another one in Mississauga, on Dundas, just east of Hurontario...

[Talamasca]

There was another one in Mississauga, on Dundas, just east of Hurontario...

Yep, about one block east. I think a Dollarama is there now.

This thread sure brings back the memories. I remember getting my Atari 2600 and various games from Consumers. My family bought all sorts of stuff there (small appliances, dishes, etc.). And like most of you, I used to pore over the toy section in the catalogue and dream about all the toys I would never get. Those Transformers photos were awesome. I remember wanting to get PredaKing so badly but he cost something like $59.99.

[links1981]

come on PPL


WE NEED MORE SCANS!

[bubble.tea]

.....never even knew what a scarborough was.

hehe., funny guy.

[Talamasca]

it sure was a weird way of doing business. dont remember there ever being sales there. but then again i was not paying for it. did anyone pm them? LOL

Consumers failed because their business model wasn't able to change with the times. When you think about it though, online shopping like Amazon works pretty much the same way except you don't go to the warehouse in person.

[MkmBandit]

Consumers failed because their business model wasn't able to change with the times. When you think about it though, online shopping like Amazon works pretty much the same way except you don't go to the warehouse in person.


Thats not THE reason why they shut down. They closed way before online shopping was introduced

[bubble.tea]

I heard that it was because of mismanagement., or basically running it into the ground?

[Feneant]

Man, Xbox 360 games are cheaper than those Sega Genesis games! With inflation they are a lot pricier.

Although we did have one of these in Moncton, I don't recall ever buying anything from there...

[langong]

lol I still have the Sega Master system and all tittles cartrides on the ads - I still remember filling out the form then bring to the counter and wait until they call out your name , good time :)

[sammy]

forgot all about consumers distributing. it was fun to look at the catalogues as a kid. my first love bought me a ring from them and i still have that ring which i've put away. i think they closed down in the early 90's? i've bought shower gifts and my rowing machine from them too. good times!

[plymouthhater]

Anybody here remember "Shoprite" - HBC's short lived attempt at competing with Consumer's Distributing?

[MadCow]

Does anyone remember Consumers being one of the first stores to advertise that they would beat the price of a competitor if the Consumers' price was higher? I remember them advertising they would beat the price by 5%. It wasn't much, but helped me in my sales pitch to my parents to buy me something.

I used to price match there all the time as a kid, because I would compare the prices of toys with the flyers from Toys R Us, the Bay, Sears, Zellers, K-Mart and other department stores.

As it turns out, I researched prices more as a kid than I do now. I guess I was just careful when spending my parents' money.

[Ojam]

I remember buying micro machines there, a whole set with a garage and everything. Thats probably where my parents bought my NES system for christmas too. Looking at the price of the Sega is crazy, my Wii cost less then that!

[jeepee]

Guess what? I bought 2 Nintendo Virtual Boys at 100 bucks each before they went out of business here in Montreal. Me and my brother still have our Virtual Boy Systems in the original box! Hmm maybe I'll go buy 6 AA batteries to play with this system until I find a Wii!!

[Amuse]

Ahhh the good old days... I remember always looking through the catalogue looking for things that I wanted, especially at Christmas. I remember my dad bought a basketball hoop and a hockey net from there :)

[bubble.tea]

Does anyone remember Consumers being one of the first stores to advertise that they would beat the price of a competitor if the Consumers' price was higher? I remember them advertising they would beat the price by 5%. It wasn't much, but helped me in my sales pitch to my parents to buy me something.

I used to price match there all the time as a kid, because I would compare the prices of toys with the flyers from Toys R Us, the Bay, Sears, Zellers, K-Mart and other department stores.

As it turns out, I researched prices more as a kid than I do now. I guess I was just careful when spending my parents' money.

quit bragging about being the first RFDer.

[Bortman]

Hell yeah I remember! Actually, every now and then when I'm driving down Albert St. and see the old building I remember all the crap I saved up to buy there when I was a kid lol. I remember even back then that prices seemed way to high lol.

[_leech_]

Thought i'd give this thread a little bump, some more scans would definitely come in handy! Especially the early 90s stuff :)

[mrG]

This thread just reminds me of how poor my parents made us think they were. I remember my friends picking out like $1000 worth of stuff for xmas and everything on our list had to be $100. I used to think $100 was *so* much money! My allowance was $2.50 a week!

I think my parents plan to make us all frugal backfired though. Now that I have my own money I quickly make up for lost spending time in my youth!

Christmas things I got from CD: 10-in-1 master workshop (cheapest POS in the world). Another year I got this talking laptop-looking thing, where you can play word games and stuff -- which I still think is a pretty kickass xmas present for a future geek :). Another time (not xmas) I got a Ouija board (I think it was the cheapest thing in the catalogue, it was around $10. I saved up 4 weeks of allowance and then I hated the damn thing, so my parents bought it off me out of pity.)

I was young but I still remember the store front. Dumbest idea ever :cheesygri

Ah... good times.

[mxhp00]

I still have sega master system along with the genesis!!

Consumers was the best, I remember I got a Thomas Train toy from there. (You know, that train from shining time station?)

[plymouthhater]

Here's some more scans :)


1990:

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/5214/consumers5jj3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8523/consumers6rf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2033/consumers4td1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



1996:

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7738/consumers1sj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/359/consumers2am3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4101/consumers3fg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[jason9945]

Wow,
Thanks for the post

[Sprite_TM]

haha yah i remember those days. i didnt really like buying toys there because i had to wait but parents said it was cheaper

[D-Roc]

I use to work there for 6 years right to the end. I wish I kept the catalogues.

The most famous item for thos who worked there was the 407-122.

There is a facebook group for former employees.

[links1981]

Just thought I'd BUMP this thread.....

[KorruptioN]

Just thought I'd BUMP this thread.....

It was a good thread to bump (quality content), but at least add something to the thread :rolleyes:

I often went to the Keele/Wilson location with my dad. It was always a big occasion as I often got my games from them before they closed.

[links1981]

It was a good thread to bump (quality content), but at least add something to the thread :rolleyes:

I added to this thread by Updating the first post

[KorruptioN]

I added to this thread by Updating the first post

I completely didn't realize you were the OP, oops ;)

$85 for Super Mario Brothers 3... probably the most I've ever seen a game at.

[stuff352]

CD at martingrove and albion, yea i still remember k-mart too at albion mall (turning on the blue light and running)

[mingming]

props to the OP for bringing back these memories. I remember really wanting that Deluxe Megazord so bad.

http://www.collectiondx.com/gallery2/gallery/d/4774-4/DXMegazord1.jpg

[UrbanPoet]

Anyone remember the Pape & gerrard Location?
pretty ghetto.

[Ben31]

I remember seeing the following page in a Consumers Distributing catalog and wanting items A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,T and V.....oh the days...:)

http://tfu.info/issue01/catalogs/constf.jpg

[Ben31]

There was the following page also...that I wanted many of the items...especially 2 and 17...:)

http://www.klrtech.com/canada/gijoeconsumers84.jpg

[Spare-Flair]

I wish my parents didn't throw these out. My whole childhood could be neatly archived in a collection of Consumers Distributing.

Totally poor system of delivery of product, but the catalogues just made you salivate and weep.

[ccdude]

I remember the Christmas I begged for an NES So my parents gave in and off they went to Consumers Distributing. But of course OOS.

So on December 25 I ripped open my presents and there was a brand new
Atari 2600. Someone at CD told them it did the same thing!



IT DOESNT DO THE SAME THING MOM :(

I think I need Therapy

[poppa]

props to the OP for bringing back these memories. I remember really wanting that Deluxe Megazord so bad.


I remember that...it was around $89.99-99.99. >:(

[links1981]

I remember the Christmas I begged for an NES So my parents gave in and off they went to Consumers Distributing. But of course OOS.

So on December 25 I ripped open my presents and there was a brand new
Atari 2600. Someone at CD told them it did the same thing!



IT DOESNT DO THE SAME THING MOM :(

I think I need Therapy


OMG!

After reading your story, I'm Seeing RED myself! :evil:


For you Kids out there that may be reading this.... ALWAYS WRITE DOWN THE EXACT NAME of what you want.
and send the rents off to the store with the paper

[blainehamilton]

Nice. TG16 ftw!

[Jin-n-Juice]

Thanks for resurrecting this old thread! Awesome memories! :)

[cadave]

I'm an 86 kid but I definitely remembered CD!

I used to love filling in those order forms and then watching the products roll out on the big conveyor belt thing...

The Ottawa one was at Westgate I think... which has turned into a sad excuse for a mall ever since CD went out of business.

[isom3tric]

HOLY CRAP Sega Genesis was once $299! and cartridges were $59!

I bought my Sega for $50 at like 1996 at zellers

[Starkicker]

I remember CD. I used to hate it because I'd always end up getting a damaged box of whatever I would want my parents to get me.

Now, being old and supposedly wiser - I get a similar rush leafing through the IKEA catalog :)

[DaVibe]

I was talking this thread over with my family ... they think we have some catalogs around the house, probably in a box somewhere, at least 1.
Now I have something to do when I'm bored :D

[links1981]

I was talking this thread over with my family ... they think we have some catalogs around the house, probably in a box somewhere, at least 1.
Now I have something to do when I'm bored :D

nice!

Get the game pages scanned, I'll put them up on the first page

[WildPegasus]

The Ottawa one was at Westgate I think... which has turned into a sad excuse for a mall ever since CD went out of business.

There were multiple ones in Ottawa.

There was one on Merivale Road where Audiotronic is now located.

The one at Westgate also had a huge (at the time) toy store that was owned by CD. That area was the video game mecca for me growing up with the big toy store and just west of the Acura dealership was Video Warehouse that had tons of video games.

The toy store later closed and they reopened it as a CD but with a big selection of goods on the floor.

[jonkaho]

i loved going to this store to buy video games, they never have the game i want in stock!

[Steeve Urkel]

I totally remember that store.
You had to wait forever to get your items usually.

I also remember the Sega Game Gear and still have one of those here, it stil works well too :)

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

OLDsCHOOL!

[D-Roc]

I worked at CD for 6 years. Most of that as a Manager.

CD went under due to rapid expansion without the funds to back it up. Essentially the Parent company (can not remember who they were) hired this young CEO who turned out to be a hired gun to intentionally close down companies. We found out all of his previous postions, those companies also went under.
There were also accuastions of illegal activity.


Not sure if any of you would remember the number of the most popular item there. I do. KE 407-122

[tritium4ever]

I got the Sega Genesis version of Street Fighter II: Turbo at CD...it had just been released, I spent like $100 on it, and it was worth every penny.

BTW I kick ass with Guile. All you Ken players ain't got nothing on me!

[cmge]

There were multiple ones in Ottawa.

There was one on Merivale Road where Audiotronic is now located.

The one at Westgate also had a huge (at the time) toy store that was owned by CD. That area was the video game mecca for me growing up with the big toy store and just west of the Acura dealership was Video Warehouse that had tons of video games.

The toy store later closed and they reopened it as a CD but with a big selection of goods on the floor.

*tear*... memories... those catalogs were always a good time waster for dreaming up of things u can never have.. :S

[Psylocke]

OMG! This thread brings back memories! :cheesygri I used to LOVE browsing through the Consumers Distributing catalog and checking off what I wanted.

The store set-up sucked though... I was always waiting near the catalog display kiosks while my mom waited in line for the associate to bring items up from the back.

[Narci]

I loved the transformers section and GI Joe section.

[CSAgent]

Whoaaa I totally remember this.. I loved drooling over the Micro Machines, the vehicles and the sets, especially the military ones. I wanted to command my own army and rule the world!! I got exposed to Star Wars and would replay the Imperial March over and over and over again while playing with them.. I marched them in formations, infantry first, then the armored vehicles.. I staged mock combat scenarios even complete with flying in reinforcements and air strikes... Hmm, methinks I should have joined the military...hahahaha..

(Speaking of which, WHERE ARE MICRO MACHINES NOW??), I was a kid and had like no $ to buy any of it. Now I'm older with a career, I could buy their entire line without breaking a sweat, yet they're nowhere to be found. :cry: :cry: :cry:

[S_G]

Oh jeez, for the love of all that is good and holy... That Virtual Boy was a real eye strainer.

[BD006]

Wow, thanks for this thread!
I was just thinking about CD a few weeks ago.

I was always glued to the Ninja Turtles page, and pretty much the rest of the back of the catalogue, where all the toys, board games and video game stuff was.

In Scarborough, I remember two locations I would visit:

-Markham and Lawrence, which is now a SDM
-Malvern Town Center, right next to Zellers (or, well, what used to be Zellers now)

After many, many tries... my brother still never got his Super Slider Curve Ball. :lol:

[1jVu]

i remember i wanted the new spiderman toy that you can move the arms and legs in any direction!! it was oos every CD i went to =(

[97gst]

The most famous item for thos who worked there was the 407-122.

Was that the "personal massager"?

I'll admit, I was too young to fully understand at the time. :confused:

[imoo2u]

If my memory serve me right, CD was taken over by Provigo Inc ( a Quebec corporation) and then pawned to some asian owned co after running into heavy debts which eventually closed CD for good. Hope one of those big box companies should re-start this type of retailing into profitable business as theft and waste by customers is at minimal ... just write the item code from the catalogue and the employee get the order for you while you pay at the cash.

[gordholio]

Consumers Distributing was started in 1957. I remember it in the Seventies - it was pretty big then too (as well as the Eighties).
I didn't buy much there, since the closest store to Midland was Barrie (half an hour drive). I think I bought a calculator there once.
I didn't know what happened to it at the time when it closed; it just seemed to disappear.

[links1981]

Oh jeez, for the love of all that is good and holy... That Virtual Boy was a real eye strainer.

I really dont see why PPL say this?

I had one (for 1.5 years)
And I played it all the time.... along with SNES...

I have no prblems with my eye's and never had a problem playing VB for Hrs. at a time...

[GangStarr]

oh man, turbo grafix 16 with Bonk's adventure brings back memories!

[Oni-kun]

They never had the damm Gameboy in stock!

[dgmorr]

brings a tear to my eye to see that again.

[links1981]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1990-pg1450-TG_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1990-pg1451-Genesis_f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg498-GameBoy_fu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg499-GameBoy_fu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg500-Lynx_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg501-GG_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg502-NES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg503-NES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg504-NES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg505-TG_full.jpg

[links1981]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg506-Genesis_fu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg507-Genesis_fu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg508-Genesis_fu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg509-SNES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg510-SNES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1992-pg511-SNES_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1994-pg732-CDI_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sears-catalog-1994-pg733-CDI_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sms-games.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sms-games2.jpg

[links1981]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sms-games3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sms-gen-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/sms-gen.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/back.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers1sj8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers2am3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers3fg9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers4td1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers5jj3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/consumers6rf3.jpg

[links1981]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/pg62.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/pg63.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/pg64.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/pg65.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/pg66.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/links1981/Old%20Mag%20Scans/pg71.jpg

[UrbanPoet]

wow... thats some pretty nostalgic stuff.

[Barayolayosa]

Ha! Annual bump, links? Thanks!

I read through the thread and i'm very interested in the personal massager.. LOL

[Gloaming]

Wow- I'm 27 years old and I actually recognize MANY of those pictures...

[watching]

Classic :D

http://photos-577.friendster.com/e1/photos/77/57/55037577/1_358472478l.jpg

[Spray]

Jesus...

Doom was over $100 with tax!

[angy]

laff... i pre-ordered killer instinct for $110 that came with the killer cuts cd, these flyers sure bring back memories

[tojo]

Does anyone remember the store in Main Square (Main and Danforth)? Use to take the old Red Rocket there. Things I bought include Citizen brand electronics (clock radios, tape players), a bicycle, dumbbells that leaked sand like crazy, telescope, watches...nice memories from the late 70's and 80's. Was in Stratford, UK last year and there was a store there that operated the same way - shopping by catalogue. Thought the concept was dead but guess it still works somewhere.

[links1981]

to the top.

[molala]

Wow....this brings back a lot of memory....I think my brother and I own most of those consoles back in the day...and of course..now is Wii and PS3 is on the list ;)

[3rdcourtesy]

Wow!! I remember alot of these pics also! I even still have the Philips Magnavox CD-I in my storage room!!!!:o

[3weddings]

Does anyone remember the store in Main Square (Main and Danforth)? Use to take the old Red Rocket there. Things I bought include Citizen brand electronics (clock radios, tape players), a bicycle, dumbbells that leaked sand like crazy, telescope, watches...nice memories from the late 70's and 80's. Was in Stratford, UK last year and there was a store there that operated the same way - shopping by catalogue. Thought the concept was dead but guess it still works somewhere.

That was our local store!!! I spent a lot of allowance there. My fave buy,
the LadyBug game for our Colecovision system in 1981!! I was 14 and lived for that stupid game!!!

[at1212b]

Remember some items, esp the games that were the hot item.. seeing that picture just made you as a kid overcome with excitement, then you read the small print (not available until xxx later or limited quantities or something like that) or you had to find out the hard way when your parents may have tried to buy it, but it was not available due to the above mentioned.

You also knew in later years, when it started to get thinner and thinner, and prices and stock weren't as good, that the company was going under (also the fact that we were all getting a bit older so it was easier to notice stuff like that) :o

[ipxxx]

haha awesome!

[links1981]

Wow!! I remember alot of these pics also! I even still have the Philips Magnavox CD-I in my storage room!!!!:o

You'll love this vid then...

AVGN - http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/?p=519

[CSR]

Wow, thanks for taking me down memory lane. Damn those systems were expensive!

I had the handheld turbo graphics, Sega Genisis, PS1, gameboy

[twotterdhc6]

For some reason, I still think 1990 was only ten years ago. Good times

[3rdcourtesy]

You'll love this vid then...

AVGN - http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/?p=519

Hilarious!!! He sums up the CDI perfectly :D

......but now I have the sudden urge to hook it up for another look. Maybe I'll let my 5 year old have a go at it so he can laugh at dad for buying such a relic....:o

[Jucius Maximus]

Ah, memories ... The calculator I got at Consumers in the 9th grade finally gave up after 9 years of service.

[mlc2000]

The digital watch section was like 10 pages, it was awesome perusing those pages.

[DeimosBeros]

Wow. Thanks for bringing back those childhood memories of longing for things my parents could never have bought me.
Almost brings on a couple of tears :cry:

[links1981]

Wow. Thanks for bringing back those childhood memories of longing for things my parents could never have bought me.
Almost brings on a couple of tears :cry:

Well said,

That's what this thread is about.
Bringing back the good times.....and maybe a bit of the bad for some.

[links1981]

Well, Looks like this thread is not moving this year...

[billdozer]

Well, Looks like this thread is not moving this year...

Just let it die already....stop living in the past. Get over it Uncle Rico! :lol:

http://www.rickperry.ca/images/various-rick-perry-pictures/unclerico.jpg

[frogger]

Hehe "the good old days". I remember looking for gifts for me for my birthday and xmas so I could tell my parents what I wanted. Budget was $40.

Could never afford a console (atleast my parents would never buy me one), but we did get a commodore 64 when they came out at Word of Commodore show.

[zoolander]

Staring at that roller conveyor after submitting that stupid slip... hoping.... hoping.... jeez, call my number already!

[thecharlie]

Staring at that roller conveyor after submitting that stupid slip... hoping.... hoping.... jeez, call my number already!

The worst is seeing other kids getting the toys that I WANTED off that damned conveyor belt. I was so jealous.

[Stock R]

Wow. Thanks for bringing back those childhood memories of longing for things my parents could never have bought me.
Almost brings on a couple of tears :cry:

Ah. So true...

I'm not sure whether it makes me happy or sad thinking back about it.

Although seeing the prices of everything now helps me understand why I never got anything. Grew up poor and even w/ today's dollar with a decent job, I don't think I could go out and buy some of those gaming systems...

I think the only thing my parents ever did buy for me there was a skateboard. I REALLY wanted a skateboard back then so we got this gimmicky one w/ handles :P I never used it. It sucked. It's still in my garage.

I still recall the last time my family ever went to CD. CD had just put out the price match policy. Walmart had just rolled into town. We wanted to buy one of those electric toothbrush/water squirter systems. It was cheaper at Wally's. We went to CD to price match it and they wouldn't match it. They said they'd only match it if we could show them a receipt from Wally's that we could buy it at that price. We bought it at Wally's, brought the item and receipt over to CD. They still wouldn't price match it!

I remember it well because it was the first/last time I've heard my dad swear.

[Emancipated]

I remember browsing through the catalogue looking at G.I.Joe. I loved how they do the product placements. They were all decked out in gear in sand and water and the catalogue was great for fantasizing what to buy come Christmas.

[mself084]

As if Earthworm Jim was $89.99 for SNES... I remember getting that game for christmas one year. it was awesome. i really don't remember the prices of video games being that high, especially for the times. i guess i was a spoiled kid!

CDI was awesome... i remember going with my dad a few times. there was one in bells corners here in ottawa. something about filling out the little sheet that was awesome. getting a NES or gameboy game, then going home and having to blow into the cartridge/system so that the game would play. :D

[Emancipated]

As if Earthworm Jim was $89.99 for SNES... I remember getting that game for christmas one year. it was awesome. i really don't remember the prices of video games being that high, especially for the times. i guess i was a spoiled kid!

CDI was awesome... i remember going with my dad a few times. there was one in bells corners here in ottawa. something about filling out the little sheet that was awesome. getting a NES or gameboy game, then going home and having to blow into the cartridge/system so that the game would play. :D

You were spoiled in the 80s if you had the following:

Your parents dropped you off in the family Volvo station wagon/sedan
You wore polo sweaters
You had cool lunch boxes with 2 juice box at lunch
Your parents baked cup cakes and cookies for the faculty (equivalent of a soccer mom of the 80s)


Haha

[Digital_Domain]

getting a NES or gameboy game, then going home and having to blow into the cartridge/system so that the game would play. :D
http://5.media.bustedtees.com/bustedtees/mf/2/5/bustedtees.61a447c28817dc5d7e45ab358670985a.gif

[ricoboxing]

Didnt get my first video game system till i was 14 (had to buy it myself)

played street fighter II till my thumbs got sore. i even use to wake up early so i could play before school

Dwn, R, Up, L, Y, B

[Digital_Domain]

played street fighter II till my thumbs got sore. i even use to wake up early so i could play before school

Dwn, R, Up, L, Y, B
Ok, it's pretty bad I still remember that cheat code is for the same player fight mode in Street Fighter 2, haha.

Any ads from the 90s? For those younger generations here.

[jopojo]

Man, I remember getting my SNES from there. Whenever we went there, it was always OOS.

One day, my dad tried it randomly, the one near Kipling and the Queensway, where there's a Winners now. He ordered it and handed in the slip and we waited, and waited, and waited. When it came out of that conveyor belt, my brother and I screamed out of happiness in the store.

But then I remember the last time we bought something from there. I begged my parents to buy me Donkey Kong Country 2, and when my dad went into the store and found out it was $89.99, he was steamed!!! lol but he still bought it anyways, and to this day, is probably one of my favourite gaming moments as a kid.

[links1981]

Ok, it's pretty bad I still remember that cheat code is for the same player fight mode in Street Fighter 2, haha.

Any ads from the 90s? For those younger generations here.

Page 9 dude, A Crap load!

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366262&page=9

[Digital_Domain]

Page 9 dude, A Crap load!

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366262&page=9
No idea how I missed that, lol, thanks.

[mlc2000]

wow - TurboGrafx16....I had every game and every attachment.
(I worked for NEC)

They were the first ones to have a CD drive, before Sega.
Also the handheld unit used the same game cards as the base station.
Oh yea, the hand held unit had a tv tuner too.

Too bad they didn't market it, it was miles ahead of Sega.

[links1981]

wow - TurboGrafx16....I had every game and every attachment.
(I worked for NEC)

They were the first ones to have a CD drive, before Sega.
Also the handheld unit used the same game cards as the base station.
Oh yea, the hand held unit had a tv tuner too.

Too bad they didn't market it, it was miles ahead of Sega.


Damn, Wish I were you man....
I WANTED a NEC Express so bad!
It was THE system in your hand... WAY TO ahead of its time
(Just think, it would be like having a 360 in your hand on the go today)

http://www.computercloset.org/NECTurboExpressBox.jpg

[links1981]

BTW, AVGN CDI Review vid part 2 is up
http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/?p=561

[ES_Revenge]

How did I miss this thread?!?

I remember Consumers alright, I even mentioned them before on here but I never saw this thread until now...

I remember that after they got more "advanced" you didn't even have to fill out the stupid little forms, you could just go up and ask the counterperson what you wanted and they could find it no problem. Of course it was always OOS anyway so it didn't matter :lol:

In fact that's how I found that out--one day I filled out the little form with numbers all carefully went up to the counter and gave it to the girl. She was like "sorry we don't have this, but is there anything else you want instead" and I replied saying how I'd have to go back and get the number and fill it out again and she was like "oh no you don't have to do that just tell me what it is and I'll find it". Despite them eventually being able to do that, the pencils and silly little forms never did disappear LOL.

Another funny Consumers-related story... My sister used to work in Sears Catalog back in the 90s. As most people know when you order something from a Sears Catalog you order it and then you wait 'till it comes in and then you come pick it up (they didn't "have it in the back" like at Consumers). Some people didn't understand that though...

So one day some lady comes in to order something from the Sears Catalog and my sister says, "okay we have your order we'll give you a call when it comes in!" The lady replies asking why she couldn't just go get it now, "out of the back". My sister was like "oh no it doesn't work like that" and the lady was like "yes it does!". So eventually after explaining, she asked the lady "did you think this is like Consumers or something?" And then added, "but even if it was like Consumers we wouldn't have it anyway" :lol: Apparently the lady didn't get the joke though, LOL.

[wavyhair]

Oh man, one of my fave things as a kid was circling all the stuff I wanted from the catalogue. My family didn't really celebrate Christmas so I never got any of it, but it was nice to dream. When I was 12, I bought myself a watch from there and I was SO proud of it. This was at the Bathurst/Bloor location (where the Swiss Chalet used to be, I think).

[girlstar]

I used to LOVE seeing all the toys I wanted!

Thinking back to the store it was weird...I remember buying my first watch when I was in gr 4, a Timex. You had to like fill out a form and then wait for it?

[ES_Revenge]

Thinking back to the store it was weird...I remember buying my first watch when I was in gr 4, a Timex. You had to like fill out a form and then wait for it?
Yep and then most stores had a conveyor belt where the order picker in the back would put your item and you would see it roll out before your eyes.

The only thing was probably 8 times out of 10, anything you filled out your form for, they didn't have (always claimed OOS). But I think the real reason most of these stores didn't ever have any stock has been revealed now (well if it wasn't obvious before--wasn't to me when I was a kid I guess)... Some stores after closing down turned into something else and usually when the locations were renovated they broke down the walls and stuff that separated the ordering area from what would hav been the stock area. The resultant renovated new stores were still never that big, indicating that the "stock area" they had at Consumers stores was never really large enough to carry most of the goods they had in the catalog. I'm sure some locations had much larger stock areas than others, but from the OOS stories that are told nearly universally about Consumers, I think the majority of stores simply did not have a stock area large enough to hold much relative to the catalog.

[D-Roc]

Yep and then most stores had a conveyor belt where the order picker in the back would put your item and you would see it roll out before your eyes.

The only thing was probably 8 times out of 10, anything you filled out your form for, they didn't have (always claimed OOS). But I think the real reason most of these stores didn't ever have any stock has been revealed now (well if it wasn't obvious before--wasn't to me when I was a kid I guess)... Some stores after closing down turned into something else and usually when the locations were renovated they broke down the walls and stuff that separated the ordering area from what would hav been the stock area. The resultant renovated new stores were still never that big, indicating that the "stock area" they had at Consumers stores was never really large enough to carry most of the goods they had in the catalog. I'm sure some locations had much larger stock areas than others, but from the OOS stories that are told nearly universally about Consumers, I think the majority of stores simply did not have a stock area large enough to hold much relative to the catalog.

I use to work for them and every store had enough space for all items that were in the cataloge.

[ethansmith]

My local CD is now a pub. I remember getting the catalog each year, picking out stuff, then going to CD to pick it up with my mom. Good times! Thanks for the reminder. :D

--Ethan

[ES_Revenge]

I use to work for them and every store had enough space for all items that were in the cataloge.

Again, judging by stores that had closed down and been converted to something else I have to doubt that. Look at the size of the average Wal-Mart store (where nothing is "in the back" and stock is kept on the floor)--much larger than most Consumers location I've seen. Even if you narrow up the lanes (because for a warehouse it doesn't have to be as large as a general shopping area) I still don't buy it.

Consumers catalogs as I recall were not tiny. Perhaps if they only had to stock one of each item, then sure LOL. No wonder they were always OOS.

[texedomel]

I just remembered getting a sony walkman from CD. It was my b-day (or X'mas) present can't remember. It came with NiCd rechargeable AA batteries and the charger. Lasted me 5 yrs....ah the good memories...

[brunes]

CD was before it's time. If they had the same store format TODAY (with online and catalog orders and you can go pick up at the local store), they would be super-popular with low overhead.

[brunes]

Jesus...

Doom was over $100 with tax!

The thing that strikes me most about P9 is the amazing game variety. Nowadays 2/3 every new console game is a FPS. So boring. This is why I refuse to get a 360, they don't seem to know how to do anything innovative. I have a Wii but am still waiting for the killer game for that to come along too...

[slippy]

This makes me want to buy a SNES, Sega Genesis and TG16 and play all the old games! Not to mention Lynx and Game Gear!

[links1981]

This makes me want to buy a SNES, Sega Genesis and TG16 and play all the old games! Not to mention Lynx and Game Gear!

Just get a modded Xbox 1, Plays All Emu's (Systems) Perfect!
With Every game ever put out for them...

Add in a Wireless Controller and thats one hot Classic gaming system.


...Also... The PSP is GREAT for playing Emus on!

[Sanhedralite]

I remembering buying stuff at Consumers Distributing beating it up so badly then returning it when I was finished with it. They must of had the most lax return policy in the history of stores. I remember exchanging my watch every 2 weeks one summer just so I had a new watch. Why did they go bankrupt again? :cheesygri

Maybe that's why they went out of business? LOL.

[mic2074]

This makes me want to buy a SNES, Sega Genesis and TG16 and play all the old games! Not to mention Lynx and Game Gear!

PM me - I have a mint condition one, probably find the original Consumers Distributin receipt too :D

[dairymandip]

ah I remember this, the blue pencils filling it out, waiting in line while the person goes to the back and brings it out.

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

-
Half of you won't remember these stores, but for the other half, do you miss them? Why or why not? You would order things from a catalogue and somebody would fetch it for you from the backroom.

What I liked about these stores was that they had electronics and gadgets not found in other stores. Anybody knows why they closed them down? Did they went bankrupt?

[blakjak]

After they closed down, I lost my supply of 3" pencils!

I was cleaning my attic the other day and found about half a dozen of their catalogs in a box. It was quite nostalgic (and humorous) looking at some of the stuff in the catalogs. One thing I definitely do not miss about them was X-Mas shopping. I remember it used to take forever for your order to come sliding down the conveyor, while waiting in a crowd of people by the counter waiting for their orders.

[avp77]

Yeah, these were pretty awesome, I always loved flipping through the catalogue and filling out those little slips. It was a unique way of doing business.

[gfong]

Use to go there all the time. Fill out your piece of paper and always put down the other choice as you did not know if it was in stock or not unless they had written it in the catalogue or another customer wrote it down in the catalogue! :)! If they did not have the items they would send you back around to the desks and you would start all over again. They did have some rather unique items. You could always count on them having a vast array of small appliances and summer gear.

I remember the red and yellow stickers on the pages that use to mark the percentage off sales!

[SAN66]

They went bankrupt in 1995, which is kind of a tragedy as had they lasted another year or two they would have probably flourished as an online retailer since their business model was essentially the same just with non electronic catalogues, they would have had a leg up on other retailers.

[Kenny Blankenship]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366262&highlight=consumers+distributing

[adblink182]

I don't remember them but sounds like its the same way Lee Valley currently does their business? I like their store and the way it operates, I've never had a problem when I do there. Plus they sell some really cool/unique things!

[infared_vision]

i would go to the one @ finch and albion all the time......got alot of crap from there.

[Menace]

KK, you are old :D You remember that place :lol:

Walmart killed Consumer's Distributing :cheesygri

-
Half of you won't remember these stores, but for the other half, do you miss them? Why or why not? You would order things from a catalogue and somebody would fetch it for you from the backroom.

What I liked about these stores was that they had electronics and gadgets not found in other stores. Anybody knows why they closed them down? Did they went bankrupt?

[thrifty1]

Ah yes , the small pencils... reminds me of another store that used these same small pencils, something about the code 86b. Mind you this store stayed in business , one might even say prospered , but they gave up on the small pencils. In so far as wallyworld having anything to do with their demise, I think not. They just went the way of Sayvettes and their skywalk... market trends and not willing to change I suppose.

All long before my time , must be memories imparted from some aunt or other... fond memories just the same ;)

[jm1]

Awesome catalogs, especially for toys. For kids/teenagers, you didn't have to flip through a tree's worth of clothing pages (eg. Sears) to get to the toy section.

Do I miss them? Going to the store, searching for the lone dinky little pencil in the store that isn't completely dull, writing out your order, then waiting a 1/2 hour while the employee went back to the warehouse to finish watching A-Team, then coming out to tell you they're out of stock. Then, going to another Consumers and repeat above. Nah, I don't miss them.

I've seen this business model in my European travels the last couple of years. I think in London? I passed by a store with a lot of people flipping through catalogs, then placing orders through a hole in the wall.

The business model was somewhat of a precursor to today's warehouse stores. Don't worry about fancy displays, make most of your floorspace a warehouse, just have decent prices. Costco/Price Club went beyond that by actually letting customers into the warehouse to pick things off the warehouse pallets themselves. I think Consumers would've lasted if they actually had stock.

[bountyh]

Always loved looking at their catalogues!!!

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

KK, you are old :D You remember that place :lol:

Walmart killed Consumer's Distributing :cheesygri

I was a kid and would go there with my Mom, got my first expensive watch there, about $89 but it had everything on it, even a calculator. My Mom would also buy me cool-looking Walkmans there, they were Sony knock-off models, yellow in color and allegedly "water-proof" but they were not :D

We used to go to the one in Dufferin Mall, right where the Winners store is currently located.

[Initial_C]

I remember it too. I loved their catalogues. It was fun to look through them. I recall there was one at Peanut Plazza at south of Don Mills & Finch... I might be wrong. I was pretty young then and anything farther than 2 blocks was world's away to me then. :)

[darren22]

Theirs was always my favorite catalog to look through - and the odd way their stores operated definitely added something to the experience.

Man, I'd completely forgotten about that place.....

[ferkel]

everyone liked the page where the "vibrators" were for sale...

the bad thing about Consumers was that after waiting 30 mins for your order, they would tell you they can't find it, or its out of stock!!!!

[pkguy]

But you have to be even older to remember Shoprite and Horizon which were Eatons and The Bays catalog shopping stores version of Consumer Distributing.

[annebos35]

I hated Consumers - the one at Main/Danforth - never had any of the stock in, when you went to fill out the forms - waste of time .... this is my own personal experience, so it's no wonder they went bankrupt.:D:D

[D-Roc]

I remember CD as I use to work for them. I worked there for 6 years Many of those as a manager. Yes they did go Bankrupt, but due to a change of CEO. After CD was sold to a Germany Company, he was hired to essential close it down while giving the impression of growing by opening CD Superstores.

Yes there was a store in the Peanut Plaza. I worked there a few times.

The "personal massager" (vibrator) is every ones favourite and I still remember the code for it.KE 407-122. Sadly it was discontinued about 1 year prior going bankrupt.

Waiting 30 mins for your item was when it was extremely busy. Usually it took no more than 5 to 10 mins. Depending on the number of orders.

[Jon Lai]

everyone liked the page where the "vibrators" were for sale...

the bad thing about Consumers was that after waiting 30 mins for your order, they would tell you they can't find it, or its out of stock!!!!

Does it look remotely similar to the ones on DX? :lol::lol::lol:

[lorax1284]

They went bankrupt in 1995, which is kind of a tragedy as had they lasted another year or two they would have probably flourished as an online retailer since their business model was essentially the same just with non electronic catalogues, they would have had a leg up on other retailers.

+1 times infinity! Or should that be plus infinity...

anyway, the point being that if they HAD survived, and got their inventory online properly, you could have ordered it online and gone to pick it up, saving shipping charges... imagine... an "Amazon pickup" at every mall... and they could route merchandise from stores that DO have stock to the store near you.

That was long before the days of just in time ordering and these sophisticated inventory management systems... but maybe there's room for that business model to return... but you go online at home, and by the time you arrive at the store, it's been picked and "binned" for you to pick up. Print a thing with a barcode, bring it, hold it up to a bar code reader, and a machine could drop it onto the conveyor: someone at the door checks your purchase as you leave.

ALMOST NO HUMAN INTERVENTION! That would be AWESOME!

[dairymandip]

ah the small blue pencils, I used to go to the one I think across from agincourt mall.

[J8]

Whoa, memories...I remember flipping through the catalogues, checking out all the cool toys and video games...lol. They always came out in late August (if my my memory is right), just before the new school year would start. My folks brought me to the one at Keele/Wilson or Jane/Finch...memories. :cheesygri

[hightech]

After they closed down, I lost my supply of 3" pencils!

I was cleaning my attic the other day and found about half a dozen of their catalogs in a box. It was quite nostalgic (and humorous) looking at some of the stuff in the catalogs. One thing I definitely do not miss about them was X-Mas shopping. I remember it used to take forever for your order to come sliding down the conveyor, while waiting in a crowd of people by the counter waiting for their orders.

Ah the memories!

I was a wee lad when I used to go with my dad to Shoprite and Consumers. Loved the catalogs and the little pencils.

[litebrite]

I got my first stereo system there as a Gr. 7 graduation present! I remember flipping through the catalogue and I had even price-matched my stereo there. :razz:

Otherwise I don't think I bought anything else there... the catalogues were fun to look through when you were young though.

[Wallly]

Yes I remember CD and I all so remember going to the liquor store and filling out a slip to buy vodka.

[Miike]

I got my Power Rangers Megazord from Consumer's. Man, that sure brings back the memories.

[Miike]

props to the OP for bringing back these memories. I remember really wanting that Deluxe Megazord so bad.

http://www.collectiondx.com/gallery2/gallery/d/4774-4/DXMegazord1.jpg

Hahahahahaha
I wanted that same megazord and i got it! :P

[Magoo]

hahah the memories...

I wonder who was the genius that thought up this store format.

haha

[ES_Revenge]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366262&highlight=consumers+distributing
x2 Repost.

Amazing how the OP (with 3k posts mind you) didn't bother to search before making a thread. :rolleyes:

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

x2 Repost.

Amazing how the OP (with 3k posts mind you) didn't bother to search before making a thread. :rolleyes:

You only found that old thread AFTER I made this one, so even you didn't know it existed (amazing how someone with 5,000k+ posts could not find it before he read mine), so please spare me the lame observation.


-

[Cheap Cat]

I loved Consumers Distributing. I liked Shop-Rite even better probably because we had one around the corner. I always found them cheaper too. Even as a kid, I was always looking for a deal. I couldn't wait to get the catalogues, Shop-Rite, Consumers, Eatons, Simpson-Sears and mark off the pages with all the things I wanted. Boy, I sound old. Consumers would have been great as an online retailer.

[Frankie3s]

Waiting for merchandise, usually out of stock, staff with an attitude, glad to see them go. Imagine if all retailing went this way? You fill out cards, stand in line with tons of other people to only find out that the product is not in stock. And when the item is in stock and they bring it to you, the staff person stands there asking you if you're going to buy it every couple of minutes. Very hard to look things over without pressure.

Good Riddens but their business model would've worked on the web as some had suggested earlier.

[tomtomtom]

With the coming of shopping over the internet, this business is deemed to fail.

When was the last time you see a copy of Sears catalogue dropped off at your front door?

[Astin]

Still have the dual-alarm clock radio on my nightstand I bought from there.

Loved that catalogue. Got a Casio databank watch, mini tape recorder, toys, and more. Six-points in Etobicoke!

[appleb]

The best part of the Consumers Distributing catalog was the last 20 pages. I used to spend so much time looking at the coolest GI Joe and Transformers toys there.

[Cheap Cat]

With the coming of shopping over the internet, this business is deemed to fail.

When was the last time you see a copy of Sears catalogue dropped off at your front door?

The failure of Consumers had nothing to do with internet shopping. Fourteen years later, we still have a long way to go with internet shopping in this country.

I get Sears catalogues all the time. My mother gets even more than I do. She is always complaining about the number of catalogues. Sears doesn't widely distribute catalogues, they distribute them to customers only. If you place an order every 6 months (not sure if the time frame has changed), you will receive all the catalogues. My delivery guy seems to hold on to catalogues and deliver several at once and for some reason doesn't deliver the larger catalogues.

[milhouse6]

My family left a copy in the bathroom and we had all our Christmas gifts picked out by August.

And I thought they were red pencils. You say blue, hmm?

I'm sure it's not just consumers that miss this kind of store -- imagine a world where the price of merchandise stayed stable for a year or longer. I look at the TigerDirect catalogues they send every few months -- I laugh and divide all the published prices in half to get an idea of what I actually might pay.

[Cheap Cat]

Waiting for merchandise, usually out of stock, staff with an attitude, glad to see them go. Imagine if all retailing went this way? You fill out cards, stand in line with tons of other people to only find out that the product is not in stock. And when the item is in stock and they bring it to you, the staff person stands there asking you if you're going to buy it every couple of minutes. Very hard to look things over without pressure.

Good Riddens but their business model would've worked on the web as some had suggested earlier.

I had the exact opposite experience at the CD stores that I frequented. Stock was usually available and fairly quickly. The only problem I had was that they brought out the item but it took forever to get the clerk to come back so you could pay for it. Like I said, the opposite experience.

[Jaremy T]

wow I was just thinking of them the other day as well! There is a Visions here now that was also a part source. That building has seen some cash from me over the years :cheesygri

[cheapmeister]

I liked their cataloge but they were usually out of stock.

[cyder]

I remember CD as I use to work for them. I worked there for 6 years Many of those as a manager. Yes they did go Bankrupt, but due to a change of CEO. After CD was sold to a Germany Company, he was hired to essential close it down while giving the impression of growing by opening CD Superstores.

Yes there was a store in the Peanut Plaza. I worked there a few times.

The "personal massager" (vibrator) is every ones favourite and I still remember the code for it.KE 407-122. Sadly it was discontinued about 1 year prior going bankrupt.

Waiting 30 mins for your item was when it was extremely busy. Usually it took no more than 5 to 10 mins. Depending on the number of orders.
out of curiosity what was shrink like at the store? I know employees tend to cause the most theft, I was wondering if it was less so there.

[speedyforme]

OMG I was talking about this store during the holidays and I couldn't remember the name for the life of me!

I remember as a kid ordering this stuff, then me and my mom would go where we pick up my games and they would come out from a conveyor belt or something!

[veejam]

I got my Power Rangers Megazord from Consumer's. Man, that sure brings back the memories.

SAME HERE! I remember my dad would take me to every Consumer's and they were sold out each time until finally one day I lucked out. As a child, seeing the toy I just ordered to come out on that conveyor belt was like Christmas lol.

[thrifty1]

I got my first stereo system there as a Gr. 7 graduation present! I remember flipping through the catalogue and I had even price-matched my stereo there. :razz:

Otherwise I don't think I bought anything else there... the catalogues were fun to look through when you were young though.

The first thing that I remember buying there was an eight track stereo for my 65 Rambler.... oooohhhhh ... something about those front seats. And the first tape that I put into it was a CCR tape. You know, I think that compared to what I drive now that car was not as old.

[thrifty1]

x2 Repost.

Amazing how the OP (with 3k posts mind you) didn't bother to search before making a thread. :rolleyes:

The post we are now in is nothing about " 80's kids "

[RTM]

Ah... I remember going to the Consumers Distributing outlet in Champlain Mall over in Brossard, Quebec... wayyyy back in the (very) early 80s. Fond memories of a unique business model.

I would say it was Web 0.1...

[caltran]

I don't remember them but sounds like its the same way Lee Valley currently does their business? I like their store and the way it operates, I've never had a problem when I do there. Plus they sell some really cool/unique things!Yes, but remove the great service you get at Lee Valley, and add 45 minutes to the time it takes for them to find your stuff and you have CD.

I bought a stainless steel pitchfork from Lee Valley last spring. The thing is simply awesome.

[D-Roc]

out of curiosity what was shrink like at the store? I know employees tend to cause the most theft, I was wondering if it was less so there.


The shrink was nothing too out of the ordinary, but that was mostly dependent from the location of the store. There was many items that manufacturers would not take back damaged and we ended up throwing out (actually returning to the main warehouse in Milton to be destroyed). If I remember correctly they were called the 94's.

[BinaryJay]

I bought my Sega CD from them... I remember being pissed that it just came in a plain cardboard box, but I was too young and stupid (I spent every last cent I had saved on the thing) to say anything about it, thinking that was normal for the store (was it?).

Still have the thing in a storage box, works like a charm even after all these years. :P

[yiujun]

omg.. i LOVED getting the consumers catalogue through the mail!
i was like 7 then and i would basically flip through every page and point at the stuff that i want and bug my mom to get it for me
of course i didnt get EVERYTHING i wanted... i basically pointed @ half the toys in the book lol

those were the days... :D