What I Thought of It

• Chapters Indigo online

  Online Shopping, Retail No Comments

  Chapters Indigo online
  www.chapters.indigo.ca

  Back in February 2008, Chapters Indigo ran a Valentine’s Day promotion on their Web site, which involved buying a $25 Indigo gift card. I can’t remember what the bonus was, but I did buy the gift card.

  For some reason, the gift card never came in the mail, even though the purchase showed up in my credit card statement. I realized this in September 2008, quite long after the fact, but I e-mailed their customer service department anyway.

  I got a response the next day. According to their records, the gift card had indeed become waylaid, and they offered me the choice of a replacement gift card or a refund. I wrote back, opting for the refund, and they again responded promptly, saying it would be processed immediately. Within 3 days, my credit card registered a refund from Chapters Indigo for the right amount.

  Last thoughts: I was impressed by the speed and professionalism with which Chapters Indigo handled my e-mail inquiry. It’s evident that their Customer Service staff are well trained. They must also have efficient workers in the department that handles refunds.

  Some people are hesitant to shop online, because it can be such a chore to get help when a problem arises. It’s reassuring to find out that dealing with an online retailer - even if it’s about a problem - can actually put a smile on your face.

  Service ++++



• London Drugs, Royal Oak Centre

  Drugstores, Retail 1 Comment

  London Drugs, Royal Oak Centre
  #500 - 8888 Country Hills Blvd NW
  Calgary AB  T3G 5T4
  Phone: 403 571 4968

  This past summer, my mom had bought a tube of sunscreen and a tube of SPF lip balm from London Drugs. Afterwards, she realized that she still had plenty at home, but she had already thrown out the receipt. Since she hates dealing with customer service staff, she asked me to try and return her purchases without the receipt.

  I went into the Royal Oak London Drugs expecting to be denied a refund or, at best, issued a store credit. To my surprise and delight, the return transaction was quick and hassle-free. Really! The customer service lady accepted my explanation for not having a receipt, and she gave me cash back (the amount was under $20).

  Last thoughts: Given the rarity of decent customer service in Calgary businesses - due to employees who could care less - my experience at London Drugs was hugely refreshing. As a consumer, I would encourage other retailers to take note of this story. Nothing generates repeat business better than keeping your customers happy.

  Service +++++



• A&W, Northland Village

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  A&W, Northland Village
  5111 Northland Drive NW
  Calgary AB  T2L 2J8
  Phone: 403 286 9205

  Hungry, but not hungry enough to settle for the overpriced food court in Northland Village Mall, I decided to visit the A&W just outside the Mall (close to Future Shop).

  This A&W restaurant looked very cozy, maybe because it’s the smallest A&W I’ve ever seen. There had to be no more than 8 tables in the tiny dining area.

  This time I went for a Papa Burger meal. Unfortunately, this A&W did not serve my root beer in a nice glass mug, so another paper cup ended up in the garbage.

  I didn’t have to wait long for my food, perhaps because business was slow just then, but it picked up nicely while I was enjoying my burger.

  Food-wise, the Northland A&W did a good job. The Papa Burger tasted good, with two nice meat patties on a fresh bun, dressed with ketchup and mustard. Some folks might be disappointed by the lack of greens on the Papa Burger. Okay, I normally do without the greens, but my burger had only two rings of onion and two small slices of pickle.

  And in my opinion, A&W root beer is the best.

  Last thoughts: This A&W is situated great for shoppers after a visit to the mall, and that’s probably why I would go back. The staff was friendly and efficient, and the food was tasty.

  Food ++++
  Service ++++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms ++

  Tags: A&W



• Burger King, 37th Avenue NE

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  Burger King, 37th Avenue NE
  2472 37 Ave NE
  Calgary AB  T3E 8S6
  Phone: 403 215 0640

  After another long work day without lunch, I decided to grab a quick bite around 3 on a Friday afternoon. I went to Burger King on 37th Avenue NE, easily found next to Barlow Trail, between 32nd Avenue NE and McKnight Boulevard.

  Burger King certainly made an effort to make this restaurant look nice. The tall windows let in a lot of light, and the seating arrangement gives you a nice view out the windows.

  Ordering went smoothly, but the wait for my food was long, even though it was well after the lunch rush. Makes you wonder why it always takes so long at Burger King.

  My fish burger tasted like I expect from Burger King, and that always makes me happy.

  Last thoughts: Burger King on 37th Avenue NE has good ambiance and is not very busy. If I am ever in the neighborhood again, this will be on my list of places to go for food.

  Food ++++
  Service +++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms +++

  Tags: Burger King



• Wendy’s, Sunridge Blvd

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  Wendy’s, Sunridge Blvd
  3232 Sunridge Blvd NE
  Calgary AB  T1Y 7G6
  Phone: 403 250 8990

  Needing some quick sustenance after a long tour of Sunridge Mall, we went to Wendy’s just across the street from the mall. This Wendy’s is right on the corner and easy to spot, and it shares a huge parking lot with Rona.

  Wendy’s was busy when we got there. Many of the tables were taken, and there was a small line at the counter. I ordered the Stack Attack combo with fries and a Coke, and my friend got a Medium Chili. Thankfully, the food came quickly.

  The counter lady was friendly enough, but she tried to sell us something else and we couldn’t understand what she was saying. Later we figured out that it was a Halloween coupon book.

  Wendy’s made a nice dining area with little wooden tables and chairs. The wood made everything feel cozy and looked much better than the plastic booths characteristic of most fast-food places.

  Too bad the food was a let-down. Let’s start with the fries, or rather “pre-fries”, as I would call them. Essentially I was served half-done potato sticks. If they had stayed in the fryer a bit longer, while my burger was being made, then they might have become proper fries instead of raw, tasteless starch sticks. The Stack Attack Burger was wrapped in a Chicken Burger sleeve - a bit confusing but maybe a way to tell them apart. I was expecting a slice of cheese on my burger, like in the pictures, but instead I got some Cheese Whiz-like goo smeared over the patty. The burger tasted good after I scraped off the goo. My friend’s chili tasted watered down.

  Last thoughts: Wendy’s has a long way to go before it can compete with any of the fast-food chains. They still lack a system capable of delivering food that consistently meets predetermined standards, such that you know what to expect. It’s unlikely that I’ll go back to this Wendy’s, especially because the fries were too bad for words.

  Food ++
  Service +++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms ++++



• Brita 6-Cup Space-Saver Pitcher

  Products No Comments

  After owning a Brita water filter for a couple of years, I came across this pitcher. It was newer, bigger, and better: The lid has a calendar minder (to keep track of when you last changed the filter) and a little flip-top through which to fill the water reservoir. All for less than $25…almost too good to be true.

  I guess it was.

  This pitcher is made of plastic, as are all the other models I’ve seen, and has a central column where you insert the filter unit. The unit filters 150 liters of water, so you need to replace it from time to time. To keep track of that, you can set the date on the calendar minder on the lid. Curiously, the calendar minder skips some days of the month.

  Using the pitcher is a no-brainer. You raise the flip-top and position it under the faucet to fill the reservoir with water. The Brita Space-Saver immediately starts filtering and the bottom compartment starts filling with great drinking water. No complaints here: The water tastes clean and the filtration makes a difference.

  However, Brita made some major errors in the design of this water pitcher. I’m surprised to find such big flaws in a product from a reputable company like Brita. First, the reservoir (where the tap water goes) has a little notch where it meets the pitcher handle. So, when you fill the reservoir, water can flow out of the little notch into the handle (which is hollow and open at both ends) and out of the handle onto your kitchen counter. Right now, my Brita Space-Saver Pitcher sits on a little absorbent cloth so my counter can stay dry, but it’s only a temporary solution because the cloth eventually gets moldy.

  The second big problem: If you fill the Brita reservoir and, by accident, start using it before all the water has filtered into the bottom compartment, you could be in for a mess. The lid sits loosely on top and can’t be pushed more securely into the pitcher. As you pour, the lid can come off due to water pressure from the reservoir, and everything - including you - will be wet.

  My previous Brita pitcher had a secure lid that never got pushed out by water. After several instances of being doused by the 6-Cup Space-Saver, I secured the lid with some trusty duct tape (see the photo). It solves the problem, but should I have to tape down a Brita water pitcher?

  Last thoughts: If I still could, I would return the 6-Cup Space-Saver Pitcher. But I was overly optimistic and waited too long for that. The filtration works reliably, just as you would expect from Brita, but the pitcher design was not given much, if any, thought. Any 10-year-old could have drawn up a better product prototype.

  Functionality +++
  Design -
  Value for money -
  
  



• A&W, Brooks

  Eating Out, Fast Food No Comments

  A&W, Brooks
  616 2nd Street W
  Brooks AB  T1R 0M9
  Phone: 403 362 7272

  Take-out from A&W in Brooks was what we settled on for dinner. Our hotel was just around the corner, and A&W was close enough that our food would hopefully stay nice and hot.

  This A&W was kind of dead at dinner time. Apart from some people enjoying coffee, there was nobody. A shame, because the dining area looked very inviting. The space was filled with cozy booths and tables, and it was probably one of the biggest A&Ws we’ve seen.

  Using coupons, we ordered two Teen Burgers and two fries. We didn’t get asked if we were staying or going, and the counter boy assumed we were eating in. When we said we weren’t, the two counter staff (boys who looked about 15 years old) became flustered and at a loss for what to do. Eventually our order did end up in a paper bag to go.

  Our short drive back to the hotel took only a couple of minutes, but we found that the Teen Burgers were already cold while the fries were still hot. It seems they weren’t heated enough or were left lying too long. It’s hard to say anything good about the food then, because cold burgers don’t taste like much.

  Last thoughts: Re-visiting the A&W in Brooks is not at the top of my list after this experience of cold food.

  Food +
  Service ++
  Ambiance ++++

  Tags: A&W



• Wal-Mart, Brooks

  Department Stores, Retail 2 Comments

  Wal-Mart, Brooks
  917 3rd Street W (see map)
  Brooks AB  T1R 1L5
  Phone: 403 793 2111

  Wal-Mart is one of my favorite stores to visit. They just seem to have everything I need for the prices I am willing to pay. This time, I was looking for some snacks to take on my car trip.

  The Wal-Mart in Brooks is small, much smaller than the stores I’m used to seeing in Calgary. This of course means that they have fewer choices of products. The parking lot had a big poster advertising Great Value, the “no-name” brand sold at Wal-Mart stores, but I was disappointed to find very few Great Value items on the shelves.

  The lack of no-name selection forced me to buy a more expensive brand, only to realize at the self-checkout that the display price had been wrong (the product actually cost 50 cents more).

  Overall, this Wal-Mart was a mess. It reminded me of a convenience store, with too many products and not enough order, making it almost impossible to find anything or make your way through the store.

  Last thoughts: I will still shop a lot at Wal-Mart, but if I ever return to the Wal-Mart in Brooks, I’ll be sure to price-check my purchases before going to the till.

  Product Range ++
  Service +++
  Ambiance ++
  Washrooms +++
  Tidiness ++

  Find Wal Mart Brooks on the map



• Chicken on the Way, Cluny

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  Chicken on the Way
  2nd Ave (see map)
  Cluny AB

  Driving on Highway 1 from Calgary to Medicine Hat, I was surprised to see signs for Chicken on the Way. Because I’m a huge fan of Chicken on the Way in Calgary, I took this as a sign to stop for some chicken on my way.

  Following the signs will bring you to a small town called Cluny. Cluny is a sleepy sort of town. Aside from Chicken on the Way, there’s only two liquor stores and a bakery across the street. Chicken on the Way is easy to find, especially since there are few buildings nearby. Just turn left onto 2nd Ave when you see the Canada Post outlet.

  I did not expect it to be busy, but while I was getting my food at Chicken on the Way lots of people went in and out. Cluny is also next to a First Nations reserve, and if they’re like me they will become regulars.

  The outside looks similar to Calgary’s Chicken on the Way, with a big sign in red and yellow, but no giant chicken. Cluny’s Chicken on the Way opened in July 2008, so everything still looks fresh and new.

  The service was excellent. The lone lady working was very friendly and helpful.

  On to the food…get ready for a shock.

  The three-piece meal from this Chicken on the Way tasted better than the food I usually get from the parent location in Calgary. The chicken was nice and juicy and not so salty. The fries were also less salty, and they seemed to be cut thinner, which made them crispier. The corn fritter was great, just like the Calgary ones.

  Last thoughts: Chicken on the Way in Cluny is probably one of the few food places you will come across on this route. The best part: The food is great! Unfortunately, Chicken on the Way (both Calgary and Cluny) has no inside seating. It’s interesting to see a food place like this in Cluny, and I’m definitely game for some more chicken on the way next time I’m passing by.

  Food +++++
  Service +++++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms (out of service on our visit)

  Find Chick on the Way Cluny on the map

  Tags: chicken, Chicken on the Way



• Fatburger, Calgary SE

  Eating Out, Fast Food 4 Comments

  Fatburger, Calgary SE
  #1000 - 33 Heritage Meadows Way SE (see map)
  Calgary AB  T2H 3B8
  Phone: 403 255 1144

  Fatburger in Calgary is rated “Calgary’s best burger”, which of course meant that I needed to check it out.

  Location-wise, Fatburger is just behind IKEA and well positioned in the midst of lots of other shopping.

  As soon as I entered Fatburger, I noticed something I don’t appreciate, and that is loud music. The loudness kept bugging me throughout my stay. The music was nice but simply too loud, so loud that it was difficult to hear the servers.

  Ordering is simple: You go to the till, say which burger you want, and dress it to your liking by choosing from the many add-ons available. Then you get a number for your table and you’re ready to go and wait. The counter girl said it would take around 10 minutes, and that’s about how long it took. In the meantime, you can get your choice of drink at the soda machine, maybe even a refill or two.

  The ambiance at Fatburger is nice. They have comfy boots, and the whole decor makes it a great place to sit. I especially liked the color scheme.

  The burger is wrapped neatly in a paper sleeve, which folds open so that you can eat the burger without getting your hands too dirty. Taste-wise, I wouldn’t say that Fatburger has the best burger in town, but it’s still pretty good.

  One minor complaint is that it’s pricey for a burger place. Fatburger’s prices are comparable to places like Montana’s or Ricky’s, and for lunch that’s a bit steep.

  Last thoughts: Fatburger is a great place for a meal. It’s not cheap, but you get a nice experience. It’ll be on my list when I want something better than McDonald’s and can afford the wait and the higher prices.

  Food ++++
  Service ++++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms +++++

  Find Fatburger Calgary SE on the map

  Tags: Fatburger

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