Buy Local
 

Went to the Honda dealership yesterday to get some brake pads, which is less of a dealership and more of a local motorcycle store.

Called first, they've got the pads. Drive over, they don't have the pads. been wanting a Scorpion Evo 700 Burst (red/black) helmet for a while, but out of budget. I offhandedly quipped that driving over and not having the pads, they should give me 10% off on a helmet.

they said, "let's do it."

Scorpion Evo 700s are $219.95 everywhere, no exception on the Burst. After a little discussion, walked out with one for $199.50 tax included and the pleasure of supporting a local business.

Years ago, same deal on my Miller 135. Could have gotten one cheaper on eBay, but buying local got a free set of gloves and a spool of wire and some good advice along with a hearty handshake.

Buy local.

Agree and if you buy everything off of the internet, eventually there will be no local stores and we are then stuck.

I still buy loads of stuff locally and try to get them to match internet prices if able.

Joe

Shopping sucks. I go online for anything I can. Usually the shipping costs are a lot less than the sales tax (even today). With a brick-and-mortar retailer, you still pay the shipping costs of getting the merchandise delivered to the store, they're just rolled into the price. I also save the time/aggrivation and gas costs of driving to a store. I guess I'm just too much of a "guy" perhaps - I don't get much pleasure out of shopping at all. It's a chore, drudgery and it puts me in contact with the general public. Three things I don't care to do with my time.

I get what you're saying but honestly I don't see what "buying local" for a lot of stuff really buys me. Most stores aren't "local" anymore anyway - most are chains or otherwise HQ-ed out of town/state/country.

Well I have a local Harbor Freight, does that count ??

shopping at Harbor Freight is like writing a check as a campaign contribution to the Chinese Communist Party.:D

So what are you saying Shaun ? I should start dating Chinese chicks ???:D

Ok I"m off to probably buy one of these babies used today ( smoking deal can't pass it up) http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/arc_welding_equipment/arc_eq_category_page/q/display_id.id43628b95b17926.87197711/category_id.112/path.arc_welding_equipment_mig_equipment_cv_indust rial_equipment_migmaster%C2%AE_250_compact

It's USA made right ?

looks like a nice box Todd, and yes, Chinese boxes are good too.;)

I make a point to buy some of my music stuff at my local dealer, even though I know I can find it 15% cheaper at the Guitar Center that's the same distance from my home.

One time my amp broke and I called up my local guy; he kept the store open 20 minutes late till i got there, let me pick out any amp I wanted, and let me BORROW it for 2 days, free of charge. I'll try him first whenever I can.

There is a small camera shop near where I live that I have been doing business with for the past few months. The owner lets me borrow lenses or filters to test and has told me "If you like it come back and pay me"

He alsocleaned a bunch of dust out of the camera body free of charge, and showed me how to break down the camera for easier cleaning.

I know I can get the equipment much cheaper at BH etc. But the level of service the local shop gives, far outweighs the discount I get from BH

Local stores have to compete against the lower prices of chains, so their customer service is often better. I've had clerks talk my ears off with advice on how to do a job better. They get the repeat business whenever possible.
The local independant Ace has about 50 heavy equipment rentals, usually available, and is less than a mile away. After going through HD fiasco of finding someone who knows anything, the choice is a no-brainer.

Locals/independants often have the advantage of buying power. They can sell they typical stuff, but they can also stock and/or order nice and unusual products the big chains don't carry. It depends on the purchaser(owners wife).

Ummm, local is not always best. I had four goes at getting a distributor cap for a Toyota Corolla from the Local agent. I couldn't believe it. In New Zealand Toyotas are the most common car and most of them are Corollas, and a distrutor cap - well it's not very exotic. Jeez, they even phoned me and said sorry about the mixup yesterday and we have the part in front of us if you would care to come and collect it. Even then they didn't have the part. I now drive for 45 minutes to the next dealership without even calling in. I don't know how many potiential customers I've put off going there.

We certainly work with people at our fitness facility.

If someone comes in and says "hey I can't afford to do a class every week but if I sign up for three classes a month for the next three months can I get the fourth for free each month?". Because we want to bring people in and because we believe our purpose is to make fitness affordable we will help people out.

Try doing that at 24 Hour Fitness or one of the other big box gyms.

I do agree that it is important to find vendors who provide quality and weigh that against the price savings or premium.

I need tires for my bike. I phoned the local shop last week, and the parts girl said she would check their inventory and phone me back. She never did.

A few days later I phoned back to discover that they don't carry the tires I need. (Honda dealer, Honda bike) However, they could order them and have them to me in a week.

OR, I can order them online myself, have them here in about the same time, and at $78 cheaper than the local dealer (and yes, that includes shipping charges).

The local dealer can pack sand.

yeah, unfortunately for a lot of kinds of things, local shops just aren't competitive anymore. I don't mind paying a little extra at a local shop (and it usually does cost more), but the biggest problems is selection and availability.

I've had that same problem, I call "yeah, we have that," I get there and they don't. A few of those trips, and it starts to get really annoying. Then other times, I'll need a part so basic, and so common, that I just go over without calling, "Umm, yeah, we just sold our last one yesterday" or whatever.

yeah, unfortunately for a lot of kinds of things, local shops just aren't competitive anymore. I don't mind paying a little extra at a local shop (and it usually does cost more), but the biggest problems is selection and availability.

I've had that same problem, I call "yeah, we have that," I get there and they don't. A few of those trips, and it starts to get really annoying. Then other times, I'll need a part so basic, and so common, that I just go over without calling, "Umm, yeah, we just sold our last one yesterday" or whatever.

Not that on-line places don't have their annoyances.

like when you post once, but it appears twice.

but that is free

I patronize local stores that have good service. I *never* go there to check something out then go buy it online...unless I got terrible service. Almost all of my cycle gear was bought at local shops. I could have gone local to check sizing and then order online, but there are a few good shops that take their time and provide value so they get my business. Other things like tank bags that no one stocks I will order online.

Brick and mortar has to provide value-added. If they don't, they die. Part of that value is immediate gratification, but the other part should/could be professional salespeople who help you make an informed purchase.

You should be all over that!

On the other hand, the internet has been a god send for those of us that don't live in a big city that gives us lots of shopping options.