Buy Canadian (not American)-Buy this not that!

Forum Sponsor
I am not buying anything "product of USA" at the grocery unless there is absolutely no alternative. A few times, this has meant switching brands. Yesterday it meant buying a bag of Ontario-grown onions instead of one "product of USA" in the individual-onions bin (I only needed one, but they'll store well enough until they get used). The grocery has started putting up labels indicating country of origin ... although they're sure focusing on the ones that are not from USA. At this point, I am assuming that if there's no prominent country-of-origin label, it's probably American, "do not buy". I bought a bag of grapes from Mexico.

I am skipping a track day in Michigan that I've been invited to this coming June.

Our group that usually goes to Deals Gap every September is probably not going this year. We haven't had the official meeting and discussion to make the call, but it's still early. If we don't go, we'll probably stay in Canada.

The next big vacation will be in Europe; decision hasn't been made yet.
 
nakkers said:
Has the tariff threat changed the way you shop or do business? We expect the government to learn from this and history has shown it typically doesn’t. However, are you mindful to what businesses you support or products you purchase?


How about travel plans? Sure the dollar can discourage a trip south but, let’s say things start to look good from that stand point. Will you plan to stay in Canada? Travel past USA to South America or across the pond?

For me, I’m taking less for granted. I’m giving things more thought than I typically would. We rely on other countries to be successful so, I’m not adopting a pro Canada only approach. I can’t avoid cheap Chinese products for a lot of things but, there is a lot of daily habits I can change to support local and independent business.

We aren’t out of the woods yet and expect instability for a while. How are you affected or not?
Click to expand...
No change at my house.

I have always supported domestic suppliers when they offer the same value as an import. I won't typically pay a premium for a me-too item just because it was assembled in Canada.

My primary car/truck vehicle has always been a North American-made. I've owned import cars, but they have been purchased used. I did own an Rupp and 2 CanAm dirt bikes in the late 70's.

I won't change my travel plans or deprioritize travel to the USA at this point. I see lots of Americans dropping travel $$$ into Canada, and lots of Canadians dropping travel $$$ into the USA. I see no reason to upset that balance or create ill will with the average American today.

Should we get into a trade war, I'll do my patriotic duty with full vigor.

Can I put Maple Syrup on Poutine?
 
I always have paid a bit more for direct flights to south of the US anyway so that won’t change. Changing flights in the US was always a pain in the ass plus I always felt like their immigration control/customs was a bit fascistic in attitude. The dollar conversion rate has kept me away more recently anyhow so this won’t change either.

What will change going forward is that I’m going to be careful of what I buy. Where possible I won’t buy American anymore. Maybe I’ll switch to the red state goods later, we will see. One thing is absolutely for sure, there will be zero Musk goods/services in my house. That guy is poison.
nakkers said:
Has the tariff threat changed the way you shop or do business? We expect the government to learn from this and history has shown it typically doesn’t. However, are you mindful to what businesses you support or products you purchase?


How about travel plans? Sure the dollar can discourage a trip south but, let’s say things start to look good from that stand point. Will you plan to stay in Canada? Travel past USA to South America or across the pond?

For me, I’m taking less for granted. I’m giving things more thought than I typically would. We rely on other countries to be successful so, I’m not adopting a pro Canada only approach. I can’t avoid cheap Chinese products for a lot of things but, there is a lot of daily habits I can change to support local and independent business.

We aren’t out of the woods yet and expect instability for a while. How are you affected or not?
Click to expand...
 
jc100 said:
I’d like to thank Trump for one thing. Looks like our vacation destinations for this year have narrowed down to Panama or Denmark!
Click to expand...
I hear the Dim Sum quality is rising in both those countries.
 
nakkers said:
Has the tariff threat changed the way you shop or do business? We expect the government to learn from this and history has shown it typically doesn’t. However, are you mindful to what businesses you support or products you purchase?


How about travel plans? Sure the dollar can discourage a trip south but, let’s say things start to look good from that stand point. Will you plan to stay in Canada? Travel past USA to South America or across the pond?

For me, I’m taking less for granted. I’m giving things more thought than I typically would. We rely on other countries to be successful so, I’m not adopting a pro Canada only approach. I can’t avoid cheap Chinese products for a lot of things but, there is a lot of daily habits I can change to support local and independent business.

We aren’t out of the woods yet and expect instability for a while. How are you affected or not?
Click to expand...
I'm being more anti US than anti China.

A trip to New Zealand is on my bucket list and I was advised by a frequent traveller to NZ that one must be careful to transit through Vancouver instead of LA. If you so much as set foot in the USA the travel insurance cost is far higher. I have yet to check prices.

NZ apparently partially covers tourists with accident but not illness medical coverage. If you have a heart attack because you fell you're covered. If you fell because you had a heart attack. Sorry, have your own coverage.

I would like to see a joint effort by all countries with a social medicare program to have some form of reciprocity. It could be a boost to the "Anywhere but the USA" movement.

My Kiwi half sister was surprised our coverage didn't follow us on travels.

Putting on my worry wart hat, I wonder what would happen if an emergency diversion meant the airplane landing rough in the USA and passengers being injured.

With us being so used to our costs being covered by OHIP it's hard to realize that victims of crime in the USA are largely on their own.
 
I dislike Walmart. I can live without their grocery section. I'm far enough ahead to buy clothes elsewhere and it works out cheaper. The shoes I got from Walmart were garbage. Decent ones were three times the price but last six times as long. Dollarama is a Canadian retailer of Pacific rim goods. Princess Auto is similar but also carries some US brand names.

Milwaukee Tools is owned by TTI out of Hong Kong. Ryobi is similar but Home Depot from the USA seems to be their only outlet.
 
nobbie48 said:
I dislike Walmart. I can live without their grocery section. I'm far enough ahead to buy clothes elsewhere and it works out cheaper. The shoes I got from Walmart were garbage. Decent ones were three times the price but last six times as long. Dollarama is a Canadian retailer of Pacific rim goods. Princess Auto is similar but also carries some US brand names.

Milwaukee Tools is owned by TTI out of Hong Kong. Ryobi is similar but Home Depot from the USA seems to be their only outlet.
Click to expand...
I don't buy a thing from Walmart I hate the place. There is nothing there I can't get elsewhere. They are nothing but huge destroyer of job in Canada and the US.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
 
Scuba Steve said:
I don't buy a thing from Walmart I hate the place. There is nothing there I can't get elsewhere. They are nothing but huge destroyer of job in Canada and the US.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I used to think about Walmart that way, I don't any more.

Across Canada and the USA there are Walmarts in almost every regional center. They serve people trying to stretch a dollar and employ a lot of people directly and indirectly. Despite the stories you may hear from vendors, they have more vendors looking to do deals with them than vendors looking to undo their deals.

Without Walmarts, you'd have Gaelan Westons feeding you and Hudson's Bay clothing you. Don't think other retailers wouldn't be gouging consumers -- check prices at Canadian Tire locations where there is no local Walmart.

Walmart keeps grocers and consumer goods retailers honest. They don't mess with higher-end or boutique products, they sell staple goods at low prices. I've seen a few places where Walmart left the scene -- there were a lot more people upset about them leaving than there were when they came.
 
Last edited:
Mad Mike said:
I used to think about Walmart that way, I don't any more.

Across Canada and the USA there are Walmarts in almost every regional center. They serve people trying to stretch a dollar and employ a lot of people directly and indirectly. Despite the stories you may hear from vendors, they have more vendors looking to do deals with them than vendors looking to undo their deals.

Without Walmarts, you'd have Gaelan Westons feeding you and Hudson's Bay clothing you. Don't think other retailers wouldn't be gouging consumers -- check prices at Canadian Tire locations where there is no local Walmart.

Walmart keeps grocers and consumer goods retailers honest. They don't mess with higher-end or boutique products, they sell staple goods at low prices. I've seen a few places where Walmart left the scene -- there were a lot more people upset about them leaving than there were when they came.
Click to expand...
I feel somewhat the same as they also employ Canadians. Their groceries are not cheaper though, like you would think. My Mom loves Walmart and of course knows every flyer item for at least 5 grocery chains. She even figured out how to get online flyers. Sure there are a couple of loss leaders but on average they are not the best. For that she gives the checkered flag to Food Basics.
Can’t beat Walmart for the 15 pack wild bird suet cakes, made in Canada 🇨🇦
 
Mad Mike said:
I used to think about Walmart that way, I don't any more.

Across Canada and the USA there are Walmarts in almost every regional center. They serve people trying to stretch a dollar and employ a lot of people directly and indirectly. Despite the stories you may hear from vendors, they have more vendors looking to do deals with them than vendors looking to undo their deals.

Without Walmarts, you'd have Gaelan Westons feeding you and Hudson's Bay clothing you. Don't think other retailers wouldn't be gouging consumers -- check prices at Canadian Tire locations where there is no local Walmart.

Walmart keeps grocers and consumer goods retailers honest. They don't mess with higher-end or boutique products, they sell staple goods at low prices. I've seen a few places where Walmart left the scene -- there were a lot more people upset about them leaving than there were when they came.
Click to expand...

Giant Tiger does the same and is Canadian.
 
Evoex said:
Can't recall the last time i saw a Giant Tiger..oh wait in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

They sell groceries?
Click to expand...

They're all over the place. They're just not big and flashy, so they're not on a lot of peoples radars.

I have 2 within 20 minutes of my house.

And yes, they sell groceries and all sorts of other daily needs stuff. Well worth the stop.
 
jc100 said:
Giant Tiger does the same and is Canadian.
Click to expand...
Giant Tiger is Great, but they are only in small towns. I think they have an awesome business model.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom