Stores running low on AC units as Vancouver hit with first wave of summer heat
Metro Vancouver is experiencing its first stretch of hot summer weather this weekend and people are scouring stores looking for air conditioners and fans to cool off – some being met with empty shelves.
Sharina Seseene and Tyler Lotzeselle, a couple who recently moved to Vancouver from Edmonton, said they went to three stores looking for a portable AC unit.
"At Home Depot, they don't have any in stock anymore. So, we found this at Canadian Tire," said Seseeme, pointing to her new unit.
They consider themselves lucky to have found one in time.
"We heard last year it was a hot summer, so we're just getting ahead of it," said Lotzeselle.
And they're not the only ones getting ahead.
Thomas Lai, the general manager of Vancouver's Visions Electronics, said he's received dozens of inquiries over the last few days from customers looking to purchase an air conditioner.
"I would say anywhere between 30 to 40 phonecalls a day. When it gets really hot, it can go up to hundreds," he said.
His store only started selling AC units a few years ago after he noticed an increased demand.
"The weather is just getting unpredictable, but I think it's going that way. It's getting hotter and hotter every year now," said Lai.
Even then, not many were prepared for last year's record-breaking heat dome that killed more than 600 British Columbians.
"Last year, we didn't have enough stock. So that's why this year, we have a lot more to get ready for the rush," Lai said.
Some local residents are taking advantage of these warm temperatures and upselling their AC units online.
The Tosot Portable Air Conditioner sells for $649.99 on the Best Buy website, but one seller on Facebook Marketplace tried selling it used for $1500 before marking it down to $500.
Many businesses expect to sell out of their AC units in the next few weeks and urge customers to purchase one immediately before they run out.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.