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bmgard
Jun 21, 2002, 8:16 AM
Post #26 of 28
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Registered: Apr 24, 2002
Posts: 112
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Back to Dot coms. I love my local outdoor store. It has a great climbing selection and the employes are a wealth of information. I'm also like most consummers. If i can find a good deal online I will, and have, opted to save money. That said i have spend most of my money at the local store. I like the instant satisfation and the ability to inspect the gear before i pay. It also helps that all the gear is priced at or belowe Rei's prices. But the big kicker is that I get 20% off of that. All i had to do was spend $50 and I was in the climbers club. Just like almost every other climber in this town. Hell they've even let my girlfriend use my membership for some of the things shes bought. I just don't get it why can this guy sell me a DMM wirelock for $8, or a Trango Flex Cam for $32 and still make a profit but I've never heard of any other store doing this. They special ordered a set of Forged Friends (they normally only cary the Tech friends) for one of my friends and still gave hime the 20% off. This guy is right on Main street and rent isn't cheap but he is running strong. It makes me wonder about all these other "poor" little shopes and what thier profit margins really are.
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rico
Jun 21, 2002, 9:37 AM
Post #27 of 28
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Registered: May 30, 2002
Posts: 127
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I think that's o.k. that european dot.coms sell this staff at lower prices. Look, normally it is the other way round. All the small shops in europe have to close the doors because we can buy a lot via internet in the US. So what's the matter? Only because some europeans are starting the same business like you started years ago??
And it's also good for europeans. we profit as well. Of course it's bad for the small shops around. I appreciate it that I have a really good shop 20 minutes from home. But still, I don't have that much money to spend allways for climbing gear.
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a4naught
Jun 22, 2002, 3:45 AM
Post #28 of 28
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Registered: May 28, 2002
Posts: 66
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I'm not sure what the issue is with the foreign versus domestic online/retailers is but every time I have looked into buying online from a foreign company, the "much cheaper price" is a lie. Why? Because of the vastly increased shipping! Sure a $56 GriGri sounds great. But the shipping starts at $12! Let's see. That's what I'd pay walking into the dang BAM store!
I read that editorial, but think it is somewhat misguided, as more than a few of these online stores also have BAM locales as well. The difference, as in the cases of GearExpress and such is that they are very small and, obviously, only in one or two places often. That place is not often near you, the buyer. So, actually, they are expanding their potential market dramatically by going online in addition.
I am an inveterate online shopper, but buy a mix of best price, need/want quickest, or most hands on fit/advice/hands on product. Often times, I find that the usual BAMs simply don't have the wide array of choices or even the specific item that I want. On at least three occasions in the last year I have sought out particular products that turned out to be devilishly hard to get because, tho they were listed as being sold by many local retailers online and off, they didn't actually carry that item at all. Just one or two things of that make! In fact in a couple cases I actively sought to make a special order at REI (which I dearly love to cruise) only to find out they simply didn't carry my size, for love OR money! In that case REI lost out on selling me an $125 item that I could literally only find at summithut.com. Geez! If companies want our business, they've got to at least make their products AVAILABLE for us to buy!
European companies like La Sportiva (hiking boots) are particulary hard to find in my experience. And ordering from anyone? Major distribution issues. What a pain! I just don't see the Europeans "taking over" the market due to these basic issues: Shipping time & money, lack of hands on or even info often, availability for love or money in the U.S. It's great to see a wonderful review of something in Backpacker mag or Climbing, but then go and try to find it! But perhaps in climbing gear it is easier than for other outdoors sports.
[ This Message was edited by: a4naught on 2002-06-21 20:52 ]
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