HBC and Zellers online shopping shut down?

[chump]

I went on www.thebay.com or www.hbc.com which redirects to the former and it appears to be just an information portal now and there is no longer an online component other than for rewards points. The same with Zellers website. I looked at their news page and it seems that they're restructuring and laying off a bunch of people (5% of the workforce), but it does not mention about the website.

Any thoughts? Just a temporary measure?

[Ryan]

Derek made a blog post about this:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/ma...nline_shopping


Word is that they're actually shutting it down and that it won't be coming back (anytime soon at least).

Rather abrupt.

[SAN66]

Their site was never all that good anyhow. They always lagged behind in this department and just started showing a little more inventory.

I really wish they would pull a CT though, keep an online catalogue where you can browse items/see whats on sale in store, then go to the store to pick it up. They have enough B&M presence where shipping is fairly redundant for 90% of the population. Allot of their major competition have great online catalogues and not providing one is a death knell to the company.

[peroxide8888]

The thing was, that their online stores were operated as separate stores (somewhat like Staples). Online inventory/selection was much lower than in-store, and the sale pricing was also different (regular prices seemed to be same as B&M).

e.g. Sale items could be ordered online at 60% off, but in-store was max 30% discount. You could've asked in-store CS to pm the website, but it was always YMMV. Either that, or order for ISPU to get the lower price.

At the very least, I hope they do the Canadian Tire thing (like SAN66 said), and just put info online for research purposes before hitting the nearest store.

[chump]

Thanks for the title update and the quick response. I had shopped online with them and tracked items there from time to time which were on sale or clearance. I'll halfheartedly agree with SAN66 that it wasn't a great website, and it is still a loss to the shopping public.

[speedyforme]

I may not buy online but it's the best way to compare prices and inventory and information re: products I wanted to compare

[YLSF]

I got an e-mail from them 30 minutes ago:

As part of a strategic review, we have decided to suspend the sale of merchandise on our
banner websites - The Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters and Hbc.com as of
Thursday, February 5th, 2009. Over the coming months, we will be developing an
e-commerce strategy for each of the banners and plan to re-launch in the future.

The Hbc Rewards, Hbc credit and other related sites will continue to be available as will
all of the store information.

More information will follow once available.

Sincerely,

Mark Kinnin


Where we going to get our HBC Cineplex gift packs from now?

[shoppingguy]

I got an e-mail from them 30 minutes ago:

As part of a strategic review, we have decided to suspend the sale of merchandise on our
banner websites - The Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters and Hbc.com as of
Thursday, February 5th, 2009. Over the coming months, we will be developing an
e-commerce strategy for each of the banners and plan to re-launch in the future.

The Hbc Rewards, Hbc credit and other related sites will continue to be available as will
all of the store information.

More information will follow once available.

Sincerely,

Mark Kinnin


Where we going to get our HBC Cineplex gift packs from now?

I have seen the HBC Cineplex gift packs in store at Home Outfitters.

[Derek]

That's some news at least. Did they sent it through their newsletter? I haven't seen anything yet.

I got an e-mail from them 30 minutes ago:

As part of a strategic review, we have decided to suspend the sale of merchandise on our
banner websites - The Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters and Hbc.com as of
Thursday, February 5th, 2009. Over the coming months, we will be developing an
e-commerce strategy for each of the banners and plan to re-launch in the future.

The Hbc Rewards, Hbc credit and other related sites will continue to be available as will
all of the store information.

More information will follow once available.

Sincerely,

Mark Kinnin


Where we going to get our HBC Cineplex gift packs from now?

[meeper]

I just got that e-mail too. Wasn't in the newsletter, but sent as a separate e-mail from the Hudson's Bay Company, complete with official corporate logo (as opposed to the Bay, Zellers, etc.).

[YLSF]

Just says "Message from Hudson's Bay Company" . I guess it is because I placed an order from them before.

[meeper]

Sorry for the 2nd post - just remembered reading the other day that the new owners of the company were going to be consolidating back-end services - this must include their warehouses and e-commerce along with stuff like HR and financial departments.

[hjello]

I was just coming here to post about this, as I just visited zellers.com

Too bad. I didn't buy alot from them online but liked browsing and comparing too.

[Cheap Cat]

Wow, first CT now HBC. Isn't online shopping supposed to be expanding and not going the other way? It's 2009 for heaven's sake.

[sunnybono]

You obviously know what these stores are doing. Their strategy is 2 fold. They realize all the lazy wankers on RFD would now have to get off their a**es and shop at the stores!!!! Secondly, it keeps people employed working the stores!!!!

sk