‘Prices were still high,’ Canadian shoppers are disappointed with Hudson’s Bay liquidation sales

Canadian shoppers are frustrated with Hudson’s Bay Company’s liquidation sales, as many feel lowballed by high-priced items amid the clear-out. 

Hudson’s Bay, which includes both its iconic department stores and TheBay.com, recently announced plans to liquidate its entire business earlier this month. This follows the company’s inability to secure enough financing for a restructuring plan, Hudson’s Bay disclosed in a Mar. 14 press release. In court documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Hudson’s Bay revealed that it had exhausted efforts to find a solution, and now the company is preparing for a store-by-store liquidation process, which officially began on Monday. 

Currently, the company is closing 80 of its stores, but six will remain open for now – the flagship location on Yonge Street in Toronto, one at Yorkdale mall and another at Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, Ont.

The remaining three are in the Montreal area, including the downtown location as well as the Carrefour Laval mall and Pointe-Claire, Que. stores.

But as the sales start, many customers who flocked to the store are now voicing their disappointment. Many shoppers who had anticipated taking advantage of major discounts claim to have been met with underwhelming five to 10 per cent off promotions and nearly empty stores, and are expressing their frustration online. 

“I went and not really much. When I got there, there was a lot of people walking out and nothing in their hands,” one Facebook user said on the platform. 

“Even though some things were marked down those prices were still high,” they added. 

“Stock is very limited. At least in housewares. There were no pillows, dinnerware, barware.. and a lot of the small appliances look to have been pulled off the shelf already,” another user wrote.

Others have noticed a more significant percentage off at some locations, but note the discount barely reflected a drop in pricing. 

“Their sales items are on sale for $114-$200, after 40% discount,” one user on X said. “No wonder they’re going out of business.” 

“I visited two Bay stores yesterday and the “liquidation” prices are like The Bay’s everyday sale prices, nothing special,” another user said.

Now Toronto reached out to Hudson’s Bay Company for comment and has yet to receive a response. 

The company has not disclosed the range of discounts it will offer, but it is expected to expand over time. Sales at Hudson’s Bay are expected to wrap up by June 15.

Similarly, when department store Nordstrom shut down operations in Canada in 2023, shoppers were also surprised with liquidation sales which began with discounts of between five and 10 per cent. The discounts eventually grew, but a limited selection of items were available by the end.

Founded in 1670, Hudson’s Bay has become a significant part of Canada’s retail landscape for centuries with a presence in malls across the country. The closure of its stores could affect more than 9,300 people, and its future is uncertain as it struggles to secure the financial support needed to continue operations.

Despite the liquidation announcement, Hudson’s Bay remains hopeful that a last-minute restructuring could still save parts of the business. The company is calling on landlords and other key stakeholders to come together and explore alternatives that might allow for a restructuring that preserves jobs and keeps more locations open.

For now, shoppers can still find products in Hudson’s Bay stores and online, but once the liquidation process begins, all sales will be final.