Tried to buy local
 

I’m doing a recoating of the cedar siding on my house. The product I use is Sikkins Cetol 23. The local paint store wants almost $80 a gallon including tax. I asked the salesman if he had any room to move on the price since I shared with him I could get it for $60 a gallon free shipping and no tax. He told me to pound sand. I’ll wait a few days for delivery to save $100 bucks. I tried to buy local but the least he could do was meet me in the middle. Oh well.....back to power washing.

drop a line to the Owner about the salesman

Profit is not a dirty word

Let me guess. That paint "is known to the state of CA to contain" ...... Not the salesperson's fault.

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

What's the tax rate in Nevada City, 8.375%? So the local guy was under $73.80 for the coating? Maybe the owner will work with you some, so a call to the owner might be worthwhile. I think the online seller not charging tax is an unfair advantage, personally. I thought tax free online purchases were over. How's the local guy supposed to compete with a tax free seller? At least with the local guy you have recourse vs the hassle of shipping back to someone if there's a problem.

First the big box stores wreck the mom and pop stores. Now the online sellers are wrecking the big box stores.

The thing that bugged me is that the salesman was calling my bluff. But, I wasn’t bluffing. I want to buy local however I don’t want to be insulted either.

25% delta is way low for car parts.

I just pulled up walk-in retail at Advance Auto for a single loaded front strut on a 2012 Odyssey. $250. Rock Auto $150. 40% cheaper same part number.

Lets say you buy the strut online and something is wrong. You fat fingered something, you got the left rather than the right, oil is seeping from the strut or it's not functional otherwise.

Now what? Online is beautiful until it sucks.

That said, the Sikkens guy should have shaved a few bucks off. You know their cost is $30-ish and that is probably fat.

I may or may not know of a person who bought paint in Nevada to use in California

I can neither confirm nor deny helping a member here find the right county in CA under federal law vs CA state law to buy Glasurit 22 line and use the paint in a state law county.

I had quite an amusing buying experience too. I saw a price online for a particular Lincoln welder so I phoned the local NZ Safety Blackwoods store and asked if they would like to match the price. I got a very certain "NO" so I bought it online. It arrived from another NZ Safety Blackwoods store 500 miles away with free shipping. Duh, what a bunch of losers.

Guessing if there was a problem you could have returned it to the local Safety Blackwoods store for replacement.

I suppose so.

Nevada County is one of two counties in the state of California where one can still buy oil based stains and paint.

I need to redo my house and I have a similar cetol log and siding product on there... pressure washing! That’s how you are stripping it and not sanding?

Tell me more...

I practice due diligence when making purchases.

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

yup

I also do what the OP did - ask if they can get close

vageen - usually you spray a stripping chemical on & pressure wash it off

I used Sikkens on my cedar shakes and man did they darken!

My original process was power wash with a mixture of tide,tsp,bleach and hot water. Spray on with a Hudson sprayer. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Then pressure wash. Apply one coat Sikkens stain then two top coats of Sikkens Cetol 23 in light oak color. After 5 years power wash after spraying said mixture. Apply one coat Cetol 23. My cedar has darkened over the years but after the entire process is done it looks pretty good.

You tried to buy local , you gave them first shot and it didn't work out . No sweat you have other options . Today's brick and mortar stores can only survive with internet purchases by providing either superior selection or prices or knowledge/advice . Head to head they can't compete solely on price . But in your scenario I am guessing if he had met you at 70.00 a gallon you would have purchased . At 70.00 a gallon he would have still made a good margin , would have probably sold you some brushes/rollers/drop cloths etc. which is where they really make high margin . His loss . I give you an A for at least trying to support local :D