Where did Zellers online shopping go?

[Kerri]

The website appears to be different today and you can't shop online anymore...am I wrong or is it set up different now?

http://www.zellers.com/en/index.html

[Hugh Jass]

You also used to be able to buy off HBC, but that appears to have gone too. I guess it wasn't making them money.

[darkprince]

Its probably part of the Hudson Bay job cuts. Bye Bye Webmasters and IT guys for maintaining the websites POS.

[1226]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/main.php/blog/comments/hbc_shuts_down_online_shopping
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=697008

[Fort McMurray]

Canadian Tire is killing their online shopping as well. There is a notice about it on their home page.

[Hugh Jass]

Canadian Tire is killing their online shopping as well. There is a notice about it on their home page.

I hope they still keep product info there, as I find it a great resource when buying tools etc. I usually check it out online, more or less make a decision, then buy it in store.

[maniacshopper]

it might be a recent trend that retailers are scrapping online part of their business.

Sears, FS, BB still have theirs.

[88notch]

Isn't it kind of surprising that some of the biggest Canadian retailers can't make a profit selling products online? I thought online shopping was the way of the future??

[EmperorOfCanada]

Isn't it kind of surprising that some of the biggest Canadian retailers can't make a profit selling products online? I thought online shopping was the way of the future??

Even if they can make money online, it might be losing them sales in-store. Competing against themselves for lower prices and all :p

[kleptodathief]

zellers online was so crappy anyways! i wished WALMART.ca has online! way too many items tho and prolly cost a TON of money to setup/maintain

i can't c FS or BB shutting down online lol

[blainehamilton]

The problem is the retail stores are so disorganized, it doesn't translate well into an online store model.

Most department and big box stores operate on a 'ship truckloads in and shove it out the door' model.

Online shopping requires more accurate inventory control and operations.

It also requires moving products in a timely fashion, and not let it gather dust for years on the shelf. This weekend at Zellers I saw Nintendo SNES and N64 games still for sale, and Star Wars Episode 1 merchandise. This stuff is 8 to 15 years past it's prime.

Any store that can't create, operate, and maintain an online store, is doomed to fail as a b&m business.

A&B sound anyone???

The Bay & Zellers days are numbered anyways...

[CalgaryRunner]

No big loss for me, I thought the HBC sites were mediocre anyway.

I tried them out once, ordering an item from Home Outfitters for pickup in store but they never bothered to contact me when the item arrived at the store. I ended up canceling the order and never ordered from them again.

[emmafb]

I think the problem is, Zellers/the Bay doesn't get rid of the old merchandises at the end of every season, not willing to lower the price to get rid of them.

I recently ordered memory card from BB, only option - home delivery, which it never arrive. It took me over 6 weeks to get them promise a refund. If you have to pick-up at store anyway, why bother shop on-line.

The best thing about FS online is, if certain products on sale with limited quantity, you can order online to reserve it before everyone does and see which store has it in stock.

[Kerri]

I had some really good finds with Zellers online...when they had the Safety 1st products all go on sale really cheap (I was preggers) I went into the store where my parents lived (Truro, NS) and price matched...I got a ton of steals. Especially those diaper genie bags...they are normally $7.48 + tax I got them for $3 each (rare find as I don't see those go on sale very often) I also got a $50 high chair to leave at my parents for $10 and well the list goes on and on. I wasn't so much for the online shopping with Zellers.ca I was more for the price matching. Oh well have to search elsewhere. :(

[Fort McMurray]

Back in my BCom (a little outdated maybe, I gradded in 2004) we had a few sessions on internet stores and such and quite a bit of the analysis and discussions resulted in the resolution that internet shopping would not be a hugely profitable scenario for most companies. This was largely due to the huge upfront costs, costs of maintaining dedicated IT people, and also the handling costs that are typically not added to the price in a competitive environment.

[second2none]

I doesn't suprise me... HBC is so old hat...

They are still living in ealy 80's with regards to progress and technology.

I would fire all management in that company and start over. They can't seem to move on.

Walmart Canada isn't any better. Anyone without online shopping is in the dark ages.

[second2none]

The Bay & Zellers days are numbered anyways...

+1 ... I wish they'd just die off once and for all. You're right about the products... I feel like I'm in a time warp to the past in some stores.

Old friggin JUNK that is worth nothing. Throw it in the garbage and move on.