I would love to support local businesses, but...

I would love to be a supporter of my local brick & mortar. I tried, but I'm consistently charged well above MSRP, and the last time I asked them to order something in that they did not stock, it took well over a month to arrive. The owner had said "anything you want... 4-5 days." Bollocks. :grumpy:

From now on, the local shop is reserved for 'gotta have something new now' impulse moments. I'll consider their 'Idiot Tax' as 'Instant Gratification' cost...
 
I'll gladly pay a premium to support a local small business IF the service is good. For example, I can buy archery products significantly cheaper at Cabela's than at my local pro shop. But I'd rather support the small guy and get better service at the pro shop. The service is amazing and I get treated like a valued customer. I try to at least buy something small on every visit because I know what the small guy is up against.

On the other hand, the local store (a higher-end gun shop) with the best selection of knives doesn't seem to value my business. On the few occasions when I have shopped there, I have felt like they didn't care to show me anything and from what I could tell, their knives are priced about 20% over internet pricing. If I received the "valued customer" treatment that I get at my archery pro shop, I'd pay it. But without good service, they have just become a place to handle the products before I start deal shopping.

So I guess I'll say that with good service, I'll pay 20% over internet. With poor service, you'd better give me a monetary incentive to purchase from you.
 
Local knife store? What is that? Haven't seen a local knife store here in a long time. Thanks to this site and youtube I can get a ton of info before I buy online.
 
My local outdoors shop has a poor selection and high prices. If the store had only one of those characteristics, I might make a purchase now and then.
 
You should see baseball cards. I love to support local business, but when I can get the same card for a quarter of the price on Ebay, c'mon.... As far as knife dealers, well I live in NY. so they don't exist.
 
If a knife costs $45 shipped online, and it costs $91.99 at the local brick and mortar, then forget about it. (personal experience)

When that high of a premium is being asked, you are paying for more than just the opportunity to hold the knife, you are paying for the mistakes of a poorly run business. It is like being involved in a win-lose situation.

When I want to support a charity, I'll support a charity.

When I want to buy a knife, I'll buy a knife.
 
The Government said:
If a knife costs $45 shipped online, and it costs $91.99 at the local brick and mortar, then forget about it. (personal experience)

When that high of a premium is being asked, you are paying for more than just the opportunity to hold the knife, you are paying for the mistakes of a poorly run business.

When I want to support a charity, I'll support a charity.

When I want to buy a knife, I'll buy a knife.
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^^^Well said. :thumbup:
 
I'll pay an extra 10% or so to check it out with my own eyes. But yeah, I'm not going to pay $150 for a knife I can get for $100 online.
 
Cynic2701 said:
A brick and mortar store owner might grumble about rent, utilities...and so on.

But doesn't the same apply to the online retailers?

I won't deny the possibility that some of the online stores are little more than an extra garage in some guy's backyard, with a server running in it, but then wouldn't the same costs apply to him as well? Plus, he has the added expense of running a server.
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Uh absolutely not. A guy who has to pay for storefront squarefootage in no way has the same bills as someone who is selling on the net, hence why everything on the net is cheaper. Let's also not forget that people selling online are usually selling below the MSRP set by the manufacturers! Different manufacturers have different requirements as to how much a store can discount from their set MSRP.
 
Between the prices charged (usually full MSRP and sometimes more) and the taxs involved (AZ's is now 9.6%) local stores are quickly going the way of the dodo. Knives are a hobby, not something I have to do. Paying more than necessary is stupid.
 
Since I'm kinda new to the whole collecting thing, I feel someone comfortable paying the store prices only because I'm not super knowledgeable yet and I can put the knife in my hands. I'm a big boy so fit is very important. To me paying a lil more is like giving a good tip to a really good waiter, its rewarding them for having the service I want. I agree though sometimes it is much better to just buy online, especially when your getting a very large discount.
 
This isn't knife related but pertains to this thread. I sell Chevy work trucks for a living. There isn't a single customer I can recall that is willing to pay MSRP for a truck. Everyone wants a deal. Thankfully I'm a fleet manager and don't ever start the price conversation at MSRP. I look at the invoice cost on a truck, factor in what equipment we have installed and base my price on this, along with knowing what inventory other dealers have in stock. Obviously if no other dealer has the same truck, I can charge a little more. I never try to gouge a customer on price, and try to make it a win/win for both of us.

However, there are those customers who always think I'm trying to cheat them and overcharge. I guess that's to be expected in my industry. They tell me that xyz dealer has the same truck for thousands less than my price. I know this isn't true, and wish them well in there purchase from xyz dealer. 9 times out of 10, they'll call me back and see if I can do any better on the price (because xyz dealer has lied to them about his price). I explain to them that I always give our best price upfront, as to not waste anyones time negotiating. Most of the time, they come back and buy from me.

I realize that knives are different than trucks. But like my customers I too want a good deal. I don't expect the local retailer to loose money, but I'm also not willing to pay MSRP for a knife. If the dealer isn't willing to give me a deal, I'll buy it online.
 
Fishstalker said:
...I look at the invoice cost on a truck, factor in what equipment we have installed and base my price on this, along with knowing what inventory other dealers have in stock. Obviously if no other dealer has the same truck, I can charge a little more. ...
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True, having that one particular/unique model will give the Dealership some leverage, and can wait it out.

It's really tougher for Dealerships situated in areas were there are like half a dozen Dealerships of the same brand, all within less than an hour from each other.

Me, I never pay Invoice and/or over Invoice. I shoot for closer to Dealer Cost, and I get it. Also, I never pay full pop for add-on options, nor do I pay full pop for extras in F&I (warranties/maintenance deals, etc...). Btw, I NEVER buy an "Extended Warranty", and I ALWAYS hammer away at the interest rate.

I almost never go for any post-factory/Dealer installed equipment. For some Dealerships, that's were they make a big chunk of their money. It's not just about the added/inflated costs. It's also about the fact that, sometimes, some Dealerships don't use OEM/Geniune parts (which increases their profits).

Fishstalker said:
...However, there are those customers who always think I'm trying to cheat them and overcharge. I guess that's to be expected in my industry. ...
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Not referring to you directly, Fishstalker, but it should be expected, especially with large pickups & premium cars, imo.

Regardless, I think it has more to do with the fact that many customers have become more Internet savvy, and are more familiar with actual Dealer Cost.

(In the past, I've sold new Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, etc, at Multi-Brand Dealerships. (Positions: Straight Sales, Closer [Asst. Sales Mgr.], and Broker.)
 
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I for one will miss the keen insight of Kiltknifeguy. I was at a local outdoors "superstore" the other day and of course checking out the knives. $129 for the Cold Steel American Lawman, $330 for the CS Outdoorsman. Closing in on 2 bills for a Native4. And on and on, not one even remotely in line with actual selling prices.
 
neuron said:
None, to be honest. Thanks to this forum (and the handy search function), I can research a knife, what people's experiences with it have been, and so forth, to the point that I feel completely comfortable purchasing it (or not) without having handled it. And if I do decide to buy it, there are lots of online retailers to choose from with excellent customer service and prices.
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not to mention all the youtube reviews.
 
Although I'm near a city of around 400K people, there are no knife stores. One big-box sportsman store carries a some Kershaw, Benchmade, and Sog models, but that's it and there's nothing higher end than those. The sales guy there knows knives and makes good recommendations, so we've purchased several knives there when I could have gotten them $10 to $15 cheaper online. If that big-box store closes, the nearest shop would be something like 5 hours away.
 
GRS1959 said:
I stopped in a local gun shop today to check their inventory of knives. I've been wanting to buy my first Benchmade for a while now, and would love to buy from a local business.

I asked how much for the 556 Mini Grip and was told $95. When I said that I wouldn't pay full MSRP, the guy mumbled something about rent, utilities, etc. I understand that I would have to pay a premium for buying at a shop like this, but like the instant gratification and the idea of helping a local shop. If he had said $80-$85, I would have bought it with no hesitation.

I told the salesman that they would sell more knives if they had competitive prices and left. Just ordered one from a well-known online dealer (who also has a brick & mortar store and the associated overhead) for $65.49 shipped.

So how much of a premium are you willing to pay to buy locally?
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There was a time when I insisted to myself that I support local business in that manner.
In my city there are three places I know of that have a good selection of knives and two of those places charge ridiculous prices , bear in mind they are towards the richie rich side of town.. Then bring in the fact that one of the three only pays attention to you if they know you or know you are there to spend hundreds on their vastly overpriced firearms.

The hell with em. I take my money online where I can save. I will let the people with lots of cash support those places. In this economy , I am in it for me and mine first , the rest of the world comes in second , third , fourth....
:D

Tostig
 
As a brick & mortar retailer in a different industry this discussion is one I've had over and over, both with customers and my partners. How do you compete with online prices when they are often cheaper than wholesale? What options are avaliabe when your supplier is also an online competitor? For some items on-line sales are a violation of the dealer agreement, for others its no holds barred. I'd like to keep the heat on and pay my emplyee's a little something, but it seems like it's becoming "old fasioned" to sell face to face and back up a product that you believe in. I think eventually I'm going to have to explore e-commerce, but I still like doing business with a hand shake.
 
Kiltknifeguy said:
i will supportmy local shop every time. He usually runs 10 bucks cheaper than MSRP. It is because of people looking out for "Number 1" that this world is going to ----. Yall are a bunch of stuck up snobs that think your way is the only way and this will be my last tiem visiting this forum. Good day to ya, Ya bunch of mall ninja -------.
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(edited for language)

I would like to thank you for your choice to leave. I would like to be able to recommend this forum to people around the age of 13, and your language makes me unhappy.

BTW, your spelling is hilarious. maybe people could take you seriously if you got past high-school level punctuation.
 
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