Tried to buy local

[Tobra]

Smart guy at the counter would have asked you about the job, do you have everything you need, maybe refers you to his buddy at Aba Daba Rentals down the street for some piece of equipment.

Above all, be polite. Be nice, it is free and invariably fails to adversely impact the situation.

[Bugsinrugs]

I have purchased lots of stain and paint from this store over the years. I don’t mind paying more within reason. I had talked to this one salesman over two days but he had a little too much arrogance. He actually challenged me to get it at the cheaper price.

[craigster59]

They stopped selling oil based paint in L.A. County awhile ago. We would drive to Simi Valley to buy it but now it's NLA.

We would also drive to Arizona to buy contact cement for Formica jobs, the Ca stuff just wouldn't work very well.

[Bugsinrugs]

Before
After

[Bugsinrugs]

They seem to have a retail location
https://www.loghomeshoppe.com/about-us

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by tcar

The mail order place isn't paying a salesman.

Isn't paying high rent on a retail store, etc.

Don’t underestimate the costs of building and administering a proper commercial online sales website and dealing with unconditional returns and feee shipping.

Comments like this are funny on an online Porsche parts website... why are you on Pelican in the first place? You could have just bought local...

[asphaltgambler]

Great topic as it relates to the 'salesman's thread. That scenario is a perfect opportunity to counter with an offer of value. If I were the salesperson, I would give a concerned look, and ask I wonder why 'they're are soooooo much cheaper? I don't see how they can sell the SAME product for less they we buy it for (doesn't matter).

Still talking slowly....what happens when you order it but it doesn't arrive when they say it should? What happens to your project and plans then? Or say it arrives on time but you discover it's not exactly the product advertised?

This one's easy to recover from, then ask won't you need some buckets, brushes, plastic sheeting for spills?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

They seem to have a retail location
https://www.loghomeshoppe.com/about-us

I've found that sometimes a local shop will give better prices for online orders than walk-in the door.

For a pair of excavator tracks, I purchased from their eBay store, and said don't ship, I'll pick up..... saved hundreds.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I have purchased lots of stain and paint from this store over the years. I don’t mind paying more within reason. I had talked to this one salesman over two days but he had a little too much arrogance. He actually challenged me to get it at the cheaper price.

That's an instant deal killer for me.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Baz

I practice due diligence when making purchases.

Sometimes I'll pay more if I feel it's in the best interest of everyone involved.

This... I like supporting a local business especially when they try to compete with the online price and provide real service at the same time.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I have purchased lots of stain and paint from this store over the years. I don’t mind paying more within reason. I had talked to this one salesman over two days but he had a little too much arrogance. He actually challenged me to get it at the cheaper price.

If that's how it went down you need to let the owner know . You don't know any background , it is possible the salesman was informed by manager/owner that due to tough times no discounts . Or it's possible the salesman is a dick . Either way let the owner know .

[wdfifteen]

I've been buying local more after experiencing cheap, misrepresented stuff from Amazon. I'll use Amazon for research and then see if I can get it locally. I'll even buy from Lowes and HD if I have to.

[unclebilly]

I like to buy locally but won’t pay more than 10% extra for it. If they have to order it in... I buy online and save the money. For local businesses to earn my business, they have to provide good service and be cost competitive.

Often brick and mortar stores will match online prices, If not they gotta give me a reason to pay more.

I’m also cognizant that it’s local businesses that sponsor my kids ski team, our kart track, the kids ball team etc (Not Amazon) so I preferentially support these businesses.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

If that's how it went down you need to let the owner know . You don't know any background , it is possible the salesman was informed by manager/owner that due to tough times no discounts . Or it's possible the salesman is a dick . Either way let the owner know .

Or he earns minimum wage and has no ability to negotiate

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Or he earns minimum wage and has no ability to negotiate

Good point .

[GH85Carrera]

Every brick and mortar store has utilities, rent, insurance, and most expensive of all, employees.

For most items they have to double the cost of the product for them to sell it at a profit. For Furniture and clothes and lots of other things the markup can be 200% or 500%.

To expect a business to be able to match some internet seller is not always practical, especially if the source will sell to you or that store. The store might get a volume discount but it is not huge.

In the age of the internet everyone is an expert, and they want the best possible deal. Every business understands that. Some employees don't like the job, and are happy to piss of as many customers as possible to get even with the mean boss that made them work on Saturday at 7:00 AM.

[RWebb]

yup

internet sellers have warehouses in lower rent areas (even lower rent than the pioneer of big box in low rent areas: Walmart) and use our transportation network to get it to you

costs can go down even further with autonomous trucking and further robotization of the warehouses

Pelican does that too - drop ship; one of Wayne's clever ideas

Brick & Mortar places have got to go to a value-added model - a guy who knows more and can give advice, or very close to the consumer so the drive (or walk) is not a hassle

fresh produce is hardest to do via internet, but... they are moving in on it

[sc_rufctr]

Invest in Dry Cleaning.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I'm all for buying local, but a 25% price difference? No way

Depends on whether the local stocks it and the online doesn't. Hard to compete when you stock the item and the online retailer doesn't. I never ask a brick and mortar to match an online retailer but I own a business. People call me all the time saying "I can buy that same machine for X$ less than your machine" I quickly tell them "then you better buy it as soon as we hang up, because if I find it, it will be gone"
The reason a lot of places don't budge is because the "I can buy it for less over there" thing is so overplayed. Then you get the asshats that aren't doing apples to apples comparisons trying to beat you down on price when the two items aren't even really the same. I love doing what I do but sometimes dealing with people can become tiresome.

[Bugsinrugs]

All I wanted was a price break. I never asked them to match a price. No budging at all. On line product will be delivered this Friday.