Rocket Talk: When's the TTC Going to Roll Out More Fare Collection Methods?
Newsstand: November 9, 2009
Zack Taylor in Disney Mama Drama
Santa's Weston Workshop
The Daily Photoist: November 9, 2009
Dear Winners,
We at Torontoist have always been a fan, simply because we can’t avoid your selection. The constantly-changing flow of merchandise is every shopaholic’s dream: Will this be the day that we find our size in half-off Earnest Sewn jeans? Or will you finally have that pair of Steven shoes we saw at Brown’s? Everyone loves a Winners—because everyone loves the cheapy prices on coveted brand name items from other stores in Toronto.
This summer, however, we started to notice a trend in your accessories section. Amongst your usual selection of pleather purses were a few B-list designer handbags. Dooney and Burke leatherwear was spotted at a few different locations, but with their $199.99-299.99 price tags (a pittance of a discount!) they didn’t exactly fly off the shelves.
We know, Winners, that you’re trying to establish yourself as more up-market discount than outlet, so we gave you the benefit of the doubt.
However, after this season’s aptly-named “Designer Event” we have had enough! Forget the pushy crowds and bad renditions of Holt Renfrew attitudes at your College Park store—we’re really just annoyed at the not-so-discounted selection of haut couture.
Yes, it’s fun to browse through handbags that normally are locked away or hidden in display counters. We enjoyed the soft touch of Jimmy Choo’s pebble grain leather. We got a kick out of finding a Gucci bag hidden behind something cheap, plastic, and ugly from XOXO. We toted a Lindsay Lohan-worthy Tod’s handbag around the store as we shopped. But do these items really belong in Winners?
Simple answer: Not. At. All.
Sorry, but if we had $1699.99 to spend on a purse (the price Winner’s tagged on the Jimmy Choo) we would not be searching for it in an impulse-buy bin next to the check-out line. We would be sipping complimentary champagne and having a cute salesperson in tailored clothing bring us a selection of options. Torontoist wonders if there are any regular Winners shoppers out there who have the luxury of spending over a thousand dollars on one item—we think they shop elsewhere.
Winners we love you, but the designer mayhem has got to go! We are not interested in spending more than a month’s rent on a manhandled designer handbag at a store, no less, which also sells blatant knock-offs. You either have to find a better presentation for your A-list items, or drop the prices to what your customers expect.
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I'm not sure which made me feel more nauseous - these photos, or Dollerama's performance at the Torontoist Back to School party last night ;)
(thanks for having me, I had a fun time!)
hahahaha!
I agree! I love the designer stuff, but I can't afford it, so if I'm just gonna look, I might as well look at Holt Renfrew. Nobody will push me there.
Anything over $200 really doesn't belong at Winners... so lower those prices. I covet them bags.
Say nooooo to Dollarama hatin' on!! I'd like to see YOU rock phat beats with a plunger & a cheese grater !
All I can remember about Dollarama is "WHYYYYYYYYYYYY....WHYYYYYYYYYYYY". That's because it gave me nightmares last night. And could also attribute to my suddenly being sick as a dog.
To be fair, Dollarama was much more musical than they've been in the past.
Everytime I see them I am thouroughly suprised and entertained, because I expect 3 year olds banging on tupperware, and I get teenage class clowns with ADD pretending to be a noise rock band.
Keep your expectations low (really, really low), and they can be appreciated.
Ahh, $999 for anything you wear is wrong!
"Say nooooo to Dollarama hatin' on!! I'd like to see YOU rock phat beats with a plunger & a cheese grater !"
The question is, why on earth would you try?
Watching Dollarama was a lot like watching the beginning of the film 2001: A Space Odessey. If you've seen it, you'll likley know what I mean without further explanation. ;)
There was something very Daniel Clowes about the act of watching Dollarama... like I was in Ghost World or Art School Confidential or something, and trying to be polite and appreciative of a well-intentioned and naïvely ambitious piece of performance art but still feeling vaguely embarrassed for the performers and for me for watching them embarrass themselves.
Then, frankly Johnathan, you have entirely the wrong attitude and take them more seriously than even they do themselves.
It's not meant to be arty.
It's meant to be silly.
It's meant to make fun of exactly what you're talking about.
Being polite is pretty much the opposite of what you should be doing.
There, now you're in on the joke and next time you can heckle and laugh instead of twitter nervously.