The Tricolour Outlet reopened Sept. 1 with a revamped online store and revised operations for the upcoming school year.

“We plan to operate fully online for the foreseeable future,” Caroline Uchida, head manager of the Tricolour Outlet, wrote in a statement to The Journal. “While we do not have a set in-store reopening date, we are hopeful that we will be able to reopen in store for the Winter Semester.”

Customers can place orders online with the option of curbside pick-up or flat-rate shipping through Canada Post, according to the Tricolour Outlet’s website.

The website’s refund policy states all items are final sale unless the customer receives the wrong order, or the order is damaged prior to purchase.

Uchida said all orders are assembled and handled by staff wearing personal protective equipment and all packaging stations and high-touch points are frequently disinfected.

“Our opening plan and health and safety procedures were approved by University operations,” she added.

Customers opting for curbside pickup can expect a “1-3 business day processing time,” according to Uchida, and will receive an email after placing their order, asking them to select a date and time for their pickup. Masks are mandatory during curbside pickup. 

Uchida said to avoid large groups and manage the number of customers at any given time, the Tricolour Outlet is offering “staggered, contactless curbside pickup Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30-4:00 in 15 minute intervals.”

All relevant surfaces, including the tabletop and plexiglass, are disinfected after each customer.

Textbook consignment has also been suspended until further notice.

“With the anticipated JDUC redevelopment in May 2021, this was the last year that we were intending on offering the service,” Uchida wrote. “Should we reopen in store, students will be able to purchase any textbooks we still have in store (and students will be paid for their sold books), but we will no longer be accepting new consignments.”

This decision was also supplemented by the anticipation that, given the remote semester, professors will be replacing physical textbooks with virtual readings or access codes.

In a mutual decision with Megabus, Tricolour Express has also been suspended while the store operates online because Tricolour doesn’t have an online platform through which it can sell bus tickets. All purchases would need to take place in-store.

Uchida and her team are hopeful bus services will resume if Tricolour reopens for in-store purchases. In the meantime, bus tickets can still be purchased through the Megabus website.

Custom ordering services are also offered as per usual.

“Despite all these new changes, we are still super excited to reopen,” Uchida wrote. “Though this year will certainly be very different for everyone, we are looking forward to promoting Queen’s spirit in the Queen’s community[.]”

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