Quebec vows to block U.S. takeover of Rona

Good.

Bad.



Rona sucks.

And since everything now comes from China, the products won't change anyway.

Well, as long as they are still CANADIAN owned they will get my business before I'll go to Home Depot (who also carry goods manufactured in China). I have home renos to do in the very near future.

Shitty enough that we are losing, and have already lost companies to US overtakings (The Bay, now Zellers).

IMO just good to see a Canadian-based company trying to hang on.

It would be nice to see a Canadian Company hang on but out here the independant Rona outlets are going down the tubes faster than Mitt Romney's credibility on the world stage, which means that the corporate ownership has to take them over likely leading to increased costs and loss of profit for the parent company.

And the reason the franchises are going out of business? A poor business model, overpriced stock, a much smaller inventory than the big box stores and poor service. So, if Rona can't get it's franchisee's to be successful how is the company as a whole going to succeed?

Whether you like it or not, Rona will be bought out by the Americans at some point simply because the Americans have the money and business model to make these types of stores successful whereas Rona, well, not so much.

I hate Home Depot too and pray for the day a Lowe's opens up here but I think we'll have to wait awhile since they're really just starting to appear in Canada. Until then I'll keep dealing with our local Island building supply store as much as I can without hurting my wallet or sanity.

Be careful what you wish for. We have a Lowes in town and their prices are 10-25% higher than Home Depot or Rona. Lots of choice but it is mostly crap!

I don't give a shit where the company is owned, retailers like Rona have to start to compete and treat customers & contractors properly and not just rely on the "Canadian Company" mentality to get them through. Treat customers properly!

Rona, Lowes and Home Depot all carry the same products so while Rona may drop in a few Canadian made items, the majority of their items are the same ones at other retailers.

We've seen it with Zellers and now Rona. BTW, the Bay and Zellers are owned by the same American company and have been for the last 6 years.

Speaking from the commercial side, my father who owns a construction business has all but stopped using Rona because they're so poorly run they often don't have the basic construction materials. Plaster, 2x4's, screws, drywall, corner bead...etc.

Last year, one of the VP's from Rona's head office called my father to ask why his account was so low in terms of spend and he offered to meet my father at a store in Toronto so he could show him what was wrong with the store. This is because they're losing an account of 250k-400k per year.

They walked around, my father pointed out to the man the basic necessities of contractors were typically out of stock and that's why he and others in the business have started going elsewhere.

Despite all that, the situation never improved.

Rona is stronger in Qu�bec, pretty easy to understand why and a lot of people around here are very loyal to the name.
The Quebec pension manager has 14.2% of Rona.
Investment fund Fonds de solidarite FTQ is also a shareholder.

I've been to Home Depot, prefered Rona.
I've been to Lowe's, absolutely hated it.

Why is the Quebec government interfering with the actions of private businesses? Don't they realize it's this kind of shit that's driving businesses out of Quebec? If I was Lowe's I'd be suing the Quebec government for illegal interference.

The government had nothing to do with this. Rona itself refused the offer on the grounds that the deal wouldn�t be in the best interest of the company�s shareholders. I know two of the large shareholders and I'm sure they're all for keeping it here.

The board of directors is very Qu�becois, and includes one from the Molson family, maybe that has something to do with it.

I don't give a shit where the company is owned, retailers like Rona have to start to compete and treat customers & contractors properly and not just rely on the "Canadian Company" mentality to get them through. Treat customers properly!

Rona, Lowes and Home Depot all carry the same products so while Rona may drop in a few Canadian made items, the majority of their items are the same ones at other retailers.

We've seen it with Zellers and now Rona. BTW, the Bay and Zellers are owned by the same American company and have been for the last 6 years.

Speaking from the commercial side, my father who owns a construction business has all but stopped using Rona because they're so poorly run they often don't have the basic construction materials. Plaster, 2x4's, screws, drywall, corner bead...etc.

Last year, one of the VP's from Rona's head office called my father to ask why his account was so low in terms of spend and he offered to meet my father at a store in Toronto so he could show him what was wrong with the store. This is because they're losing an account of 250k-400k per year.

They walked around, my father pointed out to the man the basic necessities of contractors were typically out of stock and that's why he and others in the business have started going elsewhere.

Despite all that, the situation never improved.
Depends on the store I guess. My fishing budy has a handyman business (does renovations, landscaping etc) he says he puts about 100k a year through the local Rona. They gave him the best price break. Home hardware wouldn't even budge for an account his size.

I personally like Rona the best out of the big box stores (Home Despot and Lowes).

Home Despot has the best prices, Lowes has some really good selection (especially in kids stuff), but if given the choice, I generally buy at Rona.

They typically have the best selection of things I need - be it lawn furniture, Christmas decorations or hardware. Plus they offer air miles.

The only problem I have with Rona is that their prices are 15-25% higher than everyone elses.

Notice no one even thinks of Canadian Tire anymore ?


Geez, it was bad, surfing around, everything at Home Depot 10 - 15% cheaper
than anywhere else, and better service imo.

Hate to say but Lowe's can always look to the US Commerce Department to enforce NAFTA which allows for companies to acquire cross-border assets. Rona's executive board is, of course, free to refuse a buyout, but Quebeck is not free to interfere in trade. Quebeck's government seems to forget sometimes that they have no special status outside of Canada.