Excuses, excuses....

[Ffish]

What excuses have people come up with for trying out gear at (say) Quicks, and then choosing not to buy from there, in favour of getting a cheaper deal online?
It seems terrribly mean to spend time at the shop, use the shop assistant's time and experience, and then buy elsewhere - but at the end of the day, we all want the best deal we can get, and invariably online prices are usually better than (say) Quicks.
Anyone ever done this, and what sort of reaction did you get?

[CALOR]

I can honestly say I have never done that - because the extra say few pounds you have to pay to get the right advice, and know you have the right gear is worth every penny.

[clickerati]

Having gotten to know Peter Champion and the folks at Quicks, I really like them a lot. They've been very good to AIUK and to me specifically. Peter wound down my limbs and redid my serving for free. Then let me shoot for free on the indoor range for an hour.

I take up a lot of their time when I'm there and they are always friendly and helpful. They don't care if I'm just buying a pack of vanes or buying a basket load of stuff (like I did a few weekends ago). The even spent a few hours ringing round to get me a price on the Protex case I was interested in.

I know I can go in there anytime and be welcome, even if I don't buy anything and just pick their brains. Sometimes service is worth the cost.

[Ffish]

I have to add, neither have I, but I'm sure someone out there has!

[clickerati]

I bet if you wanted something that they carried, say a certain riser, but they didn't carry your colour, they wouldn't be opposed to you trying the riser out there if you up front with them.

This kind of thing gets done all the time and not just with archery. I know women who buy clothes, wear them out once and take them back. I'm sure retailers are aware that people do this.

[JohnK]

Ask yourself whether the few quid you save is actually worth losing the good will and service from the shop. People come into my local shop and do this all the time, and believe me, retailers are experienced at watching for this sort of thing. One story occurs that always makes me chuckle whenever I think of it:

Bloke and son come to local shop, and ask for quotes for some basic recurve gear. They get the quotes for Hoyt GMs with W&W Challenger limbs, and then head off.

A month or so later, they pitch up at the shop with all their kit that they bought from a certain well-known online retailer. While they're buying a few small accessories, the shop owner asks them where they got the kit and how much it was. Turns out they'd saved about a tenner on the risers and limbs. Then the dad explains that both sets of limbs had proved too heavy for him and his lad, so he called the online retailer and asked to exchange them, but he refused (!). Instead of reminding the retailer of such things as statutory rights, he bought two more sets of lighter limbs from him.

In other words, because he wanted to save a few quid by buying online, he ended up paying for four sets of limbs rather than two.

There's one born every minute.

[Kae]

Although the place I go (BowPlus Archery) aren't the cheapest (and aren't the most expensive by a long way), I'll buy all my stuff from them, because I enjoy the trip. The conversation is worth the visit, and flexing the flexible friend is always fun too

[Cimbian]

Okay, I'm a sales guy (electronics test equipment to industry) and I know that I have done demos on-site (a few hours drive each way and a couple of hours on-site), I have configured a line-up and quoted (sometimes another couple hours work) against the assurances from the customer that they will buy from me only to find that they went to an online dealer who undercut me on the same product. I even had one idiot do this and then call me for technical support as the online dealer didn't even know how to switch the damn thing on!

It is a reality that people will shop around and the web is both a blessing and a curse for this.

I have bought bow sports equipment from an online archery dealer and been very happy with the result, but only for items that I had researched on the web or spoke to club members about and felt that the risk of it being unsuitable was minimal (this rules-out bows, limbs, arrows (unless duplicating existing ones), long-rods etc.) Clickers, rests, fletching jigs etc. are all safe (ish): IMHO, of course. The exception is when you have had the chance to try-out the same items at your club.

I have bought all my remaining kit (and my son's) from Quicks. They are not the cheapest, of course, but I do believe they try hard to help and this has a cost... a cost that 'alternative' methods of selling simply do not incur.

I contacted one of the alternative online suppliers as I needed delivery of an item in a tight time-line but they were not willing to even commit to this... Customer service was ZERO!

That is not to say I have a blind-loyalty to Quicks, they are just the most local and are very knowledgeable... Were there another shop in the area then they would get a fair crack at securing my business too.

I have to say that if I had demos/trials at a shop then I would not buy elsewhere UNLESS I felt the shop was taking-the-Mickey with excessive margins, in such cases they don't deserve the business. In this case the online shops can be a good resource to check prices BEFORE going to the shop where the guys are on a mission to close, of course... Forearmed and budgeting is how to stay in control.

Just remember that service has a value and a cost, and that includes pre-sales service, not just when things go wrong and that sales guys also have mortgages, just like you! If you want the service then be prepared to pay for it; if not then caveat emptor!

Sermon ends

[Wrexham Exile]

Originally Posted by Ffish

I have to add, neither have I, but I'm sure someone out there has!

i will admit i have doen this on occasion. however i have always bought something at the shop while i was there and wouldnt do it and then just leave empty handed.

[cliveanne]

I will go to the dealer who keeps what I want in stock. See what's on offer on line, & where it is. The savings in equipment cost can be swallowed up in petrol or postage. I have 2 accounts, one for the club, & one for myself. These are used for the purchase of target faces, & other things that do not need me to be at a retailer.
Q: Why do I need another riser I have 2?
Q: I have 3 bows R, L/B, C. I need more?
I make my own strings (Exept compound)
I don't ruin many shafts, replacements can be posted along with the accessories, if required.