I really can't blame MEC in Toronto for changing its product line. Fewer people seem to canoe camp or hike now. T
With due respect Sturgeon, I would disagree with that statement. (but see at the end of this rant where I agree with you!
). I think its the opposite: more people in the world than ever before canoe, kayak, hike and camp. Its so crowded out there sometimes that parks and trail systems are often jammed up, and provincial parks here have phone and online booking systems, and campsite reservations, etc. There are still parks that have not been discovered by the masses, and you can go days or weeks without seeing anyone, but the trend is more use around the world, not less. We'll see if this trend persists as more and more of us spend too much time on computers (and I am guilty of that too!
) Recent evidence I am aware of demonstrates that when Ontario tourism outfitters advertise and spend money on marketing, they attract outdoor tripping clients from around the world, anxious to experience a Canadian canoe trip.
IMO, MEC sold out long ago and violated its original reason for being and agreement with its shareholders. It is a co-op after all, and they have to respond to membership direction. Instead its board of directors, senior staff, and voting members went off-policy, off constitution, got greedy for growth for growths sake, and decided they wanted to grow forever into a never ending profit-driven system driven by amorphous consumer demand, not focused purpose-driven demand, IMO. Nothing against yoga, but sheesh, this is the last straw. MEC as a yoga store? If they stayed focused on their core purpose, they likley would not grow much and profits would flat line. Flat line is not bad for a co-op. I never signed up for perpetual store growth. I signed up for good quality gear, year after year, that I could not find from the open market that often caters to lowest common denominator. There is nothing wrong in a capitalist free market system to find your niche, stay in it, and not grow. Co-ops after all are socialist organizations.
There is no compelling evidence that to survive as a profitable business, one must grow forever. Big mega companies seem to need tax payer bail-outs more than ever these days.......
I will admit that as a co-op member, I never participated in the co-op democratic process, nor did I ever vote for Board rep's. MEC was always good in alerting members about voting, and inviting members to run for the Board. If one does not vote or participate, I suppose one cannot complain.
Now I see MEC as just another store, where I may or may not find the product that I want. I still buy several hundred to well over a thousand dollars or more from them every year. (e.g. they have the best bulk price for Clif Bars in Canada!
) They are brokers for bringing in the big name brands, who often up their price in Canada, higher than the US prices, just because they can. For our US friend's info, you may not be aware that in Canada we are often forbidden from buying many name brands from US online stores - these stores will not ship to us. Many will not even accept a Canadian credit card number. We do not have free trade, despite what the politicians and pundits say. There are major trade barriers in place, and price fixing by multinationals where the same item in Canada is made more expensive in US dollars and duty, not just by currency exchange rates. We often get gouged here.
I agree with you Sturgeon about the great products and excellent service of the cottage industries, and I have purchased gear from several you mentioned. I really, really appreciate the USA cottage industries that sell direct to us Canucks using their list price, and ship using the US Postal Service without any rip-off brokerage fee courier middle man. I buy gear direct via postal service from many of these USA cottage industries, and I am personal friends with many of the owner-operators whom I can talk on on the phone and on email, all of whom are great guys and gals. More and more these days, I try and support cottage industries in Canada and the USA.
I have a little dream that with advances in 3D printing, and as China starts to raise its average standard of living and wages there increase, that more and more manufacturing will come back to North America, and we will again have a flourishing of smaller manufacturers, and even more cottage industries to select unique quality gear from. Support your local industries!
