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Opinion
The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
News / Opinion / Letters to the Editor

Letter: Hi-School from bygone days

By Tom Knappenberger, Vancouver
Published: July 30, 2024, 6:00am

The closing of Vancouver’s last Hi-School Pharmacy is disconcerting to those of us who’ve lived here for years. But the real story must not be missed.

Hi-School was a place where friendly clerks who knew their merchandise were glad to help. And they carried nearly everything.

That stands in sharp contrast to Vancouver’s shopping world today: Fred Meyer has hired hands checking your receipt on leaving — guilty until proven innocent. Fewer checkers, more self-checkout. And stockers clogging the aisles during shopping hours.

Target locks up everything from toothpaste to aspirin to soap.

We all go along because we need the stuff and we’re in a hurry. Annoyances. Slippery slopes. What’s next? Frisking?

I’m sorry we’ve come to the point where theft has made these things a thing. And I long for the days, not so long ago, when happy Hi-School clerks directed you to unlocked shelves, checked you out themselves and didn’t make you prove you are not a shoplifter.

We encourage readers to express their views about public issues. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for brevity and clarity. Limit letters to 200 words (100 words if endorsing or opposing a political candidate or ballot measure) and allow 30 days between submissions. Send Us a Letter
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