London Drugs
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| London Drugs | |
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| Type | Discount department store |
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| Founded | 1945 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Electronics, grocery, pharmaceuticals, health/beauty products, and housewares. |
| Website | londondrugs.com |
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London Drugs is a large chain of Canadian stores that sells a wide range of products. The store carries products in the range from personal care products to computers. It currently operates 64 stores across the four western provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
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[edit] History
It was founded in 1945 as a small drugstore in Vancouver, British Columbia by Sam Bass. In 1976, the H.Y. Louie Group, under the direction of president Tong Louie acquired the business.[1][2]
[edit] Products
It owns the Certified Data house brand of computer products, which has been in production since 1984. Its advertising slogan is "Nobody Does it Better." London Drugs is known for carrying brands such as Onkyo, Grandview, Stewart Screens, DVDO, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Monster Cable and many more in their Photo/Electronics, Audio/Video Systems, and computer departments. They also boast a full service photo department offering 1 hour development and passport pictures in 5 minuets or less. London Drugs is also one of the largest Apple retailers in Canada, selling the full line of Macintosh computers and iPods.
[edit] Levy
London Drugs is only one of a few retailers who choose to advertise the Canadian Recording industry Levy on recordable media separately on the consumers bill. They do this because the majority of consumers are unaware that such a levy even exists and as London Drugs is opposed to this levy and wants to increase awareness. After a piece of media is rung through the till, the levy shows up immediately after on the bill. Despite the warning and having been in place for several years, many customers are surprised to discovered the increase in price that the levy represents.
For example, CD-Rs have a levy of $0.21 per disk so a 50 pack which has a price tag of $19.99 comes out to $30.49 (plus tax) with the levy applied.
While this "levy" has been in place for several years, staff still continue to take the abuse of customers when they discover this additional charge. London Drugs has been one of the leaders in the fight against this un-fair tax.
[edit] Halted Expansion into East
The company started its expansion eastwards after the initial successes of its first store in Vancouver, achieving successes in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta they continued to expand East. After the arrival of such mega retailers as Wal-Mart and Zellers, competitive forces ultimately forced London Drugs to halt, albeit temporarily its expansion into Manitoba. London Drugs only has one store in Winnipeg, Manitoba and does not presently have any locations in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces.
[edit] Customer Service
London Drugs pricing is, generally speaking, in line with other major retailers on most items. In the event that a product is on sale at a competitor though, London Drugs will match the pricing as long as it is the same product (i.e.: not a different model), the price is verifiable and the competitor has it in stock.
The London Drugs price guarantee also extends for 30 days after the date of purchase as well, meaning if the price of an item drops within a month of the customer purchasing it they can return within that month to claim the new lower price.
London Drugs will also take returns on items up to 15 days after the date of purchase provided the customer has the original receipt and the product is returned in its original packaging with all included accessories present.
[edit] List of Stores
- 02 - Georgia and Granville (BC)
- 03 - New West (BC)
- 04 - Broadway (BC)
- 05 - North Vancouver(BC)
- 06 - Robson Street (BC)
- 07 - Hastings (BC)
- 08 - King George (Whalley, BC)
- 09 - Guildford Mall (BC)
- 10 - Kerrisdale Station (BC)
- 11 - Richmond #3 Road (BC)
- 12 - Kelowna (BC)
- 13 - There is no store 13.
- 14 - Quadra (Victoria, BC)
- 15 - Coquitlam (BC)
- 16 - Clearbrook (West Oaks Mall Abbotsford) (BC)
- 17 - Delta (BC)
- 18 - Langley (BC)
- 24 - Red Deer (AB)
- 26 - West Edmonton Mall (AB)
- 28 - Wessex (BC)
- 29 - Victoria Yates Street (BC)
- 30 - Heritage (Calgary, AB)
- 31 - London Towne Square (Calgary, AB)
- 32 - London Place West (Calgary, AB)
- 33 - Brentwood Mall (Calgary, AB)
- 34 - Gateway Power Center (Grande Prairie, AB)
- 35 - Kamloops (BC)
- 36 - Port Place Mall, Nanaimo (BC)
- 37 - Ladner (BC)
- 38 - Lethbridge (AB)
- 40 - Beddington Towne Centre (Calgary, AB)
- 41 - Chilliwack (BC)
- 42 - White Rock (BC)
- 44 - Park Royal (BC)
- 50 - Davie Street (BC)
- 52 - Richmond Ironwood (BC)
- 53 - 41st and Victoria (BC)
- 54 - Tillicum Mall, Victoria (BC)
- 55 - Mission (BC)
- 56 - Brentwood Mall (BC)
- 58 - Mount Royal (Calgary, AB)
- 60 - Medicine Hat (AB)
- 61 - Gibsons (BC)
- 62 - Saskatoon 8th St (Saskatoon, SK)
- 63 - First Regina East (Regina, SK)
- 64 - First Calgary SE (Calgary, AB)
- 65 - Lawson Heights (Saskatoon, SK)
- 66 - St. Vital Centre (Winnipeg, MB)
- 67 - Courtney (BC)
- 68 - Royal Oak (Calgary, AB)
- 70 - Penticton (BC)
- 71 - Marine Way (BC)
- 72 - North Nanaimo (BC)
- 73 - Campbell River (BC)
[edit] References
- ^ londondrugs.com - Company History
- ^ The Greater Vancouver Book, p.51. 1997, Linkman Press, Vancouver, BC
