Gas is expensive right now… really expensive.

Metro-Vancouver gas prices are currently the highest in North America, with the going rate at some pumps being 209.9 cents per liter last Sunday.

The previous record for gas prices was also set right here in Metro- Vancouver, which was all but two days prior.

As someone who takes public transit most of the time or drives his mother’s electric vehicle, I feel more empowered than usual. Instead of using my newfound validation as a pedestrian, I would like to draw your attention to a few of the other things that we pay too much for as residents of the lower mainland. Gas prices may be “enjoying” the spotlight right now but there other contenders out there that I feel compelled to pay tribute to.

Why should gas get all the credit?

After all, if you didn’t overpay for it, did it even come from Vancouver?

White Spot

One of my best friends and I like to joke that we “grew up” at White Spot. We’ll neither of us ever worked for the chain; going to White Spot became our thing after we met in our first lecture in our first year at SFU.

As a total aside, how the hell was that seven years ago?

Like most 18-year-old university students, we were pretty cash-strapped and hungry all the time. White Spot was where we didn’t have to pay much to get a sizeable portion of fair-quality food. It was a consistent, safe, and comforting choice that was always there for us. Many long days of studying were concluded with great conversations at the White Spot on North Road near Lougheed Mall. That restaurant was part of the backdrop that facilitated the growth of our friendship.

 

Nostalgia is a powerful thing, so I guess it’s hardly surprising that all these years later, White Spot is still a place I hold pretty dear to my heart. These days instead of it being a post-study thing, it’s an apres-ski or late dinner after bouldering at the climbing gym.

It was just a few weeks ago, after an evening of climbing, that we decided to go to White Spot and “opened our eyes .”I swear, maybe they changed the font on the menu, or I was looking for something to complain about, but I was horrified that the price of a “Double Double” was now $19.49.

It’s wasn’t just the price.

The food wasn’t really the same either. The burger itself was noticeably smaller, the buns were comically oversized, the fixings (especially the lettuce) were as close to their best before as you could reasonably expect without sending it back, and there was hardly any Triple-O Sauce. The burger didn’t look good either; you could tell that it was hastily thrown together. If the food wasn’t cold, maybe I could have looked past everything else.

I understand that these are challenging times for restaurants; almost everywhere has raised prices or cut portion sizes to an extent. Unfortunately, when White Spot becomes the same price as Earls ( a “Bigger Better Burger” is only $18.75) I take notice. When White Spot then also cuts its portion sizes and lowers its standards, I take issue. This isn’t a one-time mishap either, I may have just woken up to the price, but I have noticed the quality take a step back over the last few years.

It seems White Spot has gone the way of all things that are “properly” Vancouver: overpriced.

Vancouver Clothing Brands 

There are some great local clothing brands. In all honesty, I have never bought local and had any concerns about quality, durability, or attention to detail.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been a few times where I felt like I overpaid for a piece of clothing from a Vancouver brand, in spite of the quality. Tentree, Lu Lu Lemon, and Arcteryx are the victims of my ire. I have zero negative things to say about the quality of the products that I have purchased from any of these brands. They have and continue to serve me well, and they look good as well.

That said, why does a Ski shell from Arcteryx, not even a fully insulated winter jacket, have to cost me $850?

Why does a pair of joggers, even if my purchase went towards planting ten trees, cost me $100?

But there can be no doubt that the most extensive beatings my wallet has suffered have come at the hands of LuLu Lemon. It’s hard to compete for the distinction of being Vancouver’s most overpriced brand when Lu Lu Lemon is charging nearly $80 for a humble workout shirt.

I won’t stop buying from these brands, not just because I support local but because the quality is always there.

I won’t stop complaining about the price either.

Capilano Suspension Bridge 

Want to pay $60 to walk across a bridge?

Christmas lights or not, can somebody explain this to me in a way that makes sense? Until they do, you will never see me there again unless someone else pays for it.

I will stick to the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge.

Houses

No explanation is required.

Our Ski Hills 

I know it seems like I have it out for the North Shore, but I feel somewhat vindicated after this year.

So long as I live in the lower mainland, I will continue to ski regularly at our local hills, but the crowds this year (parking, traffic jams, lift lineups) , on top of the moderate hassle of making it out to the North Shore or West Vancouver from the Tri-Cities, made me think about the price for the first time.

The hills are always busy, but this year they felt busier.

Going up and down Cypress Bowl Road and Mt Seymour Road was a nightmare, and that’s without the battle of finding parking.

The wait times for the Grouse Mountain gondola were extra-long.

Skiing felt more like a chore at times this year.

It makes paying up to $95 for a lift ticket a hard pill to swallow.