Support local or go online?

[James3shin]

I'm interested in buying a new fly rod and have the choice of going online or supporting my local tackle shop. I want to (and do) support my local tackle shop with this purchase but I could save ~$50 if I buy online by not having to pay tax. Which would you do? I am pretty new to this shop and they are really helpful and friendly but the extra dough would be nice in my pocket - GAH!

 

[Schadenfroh]

Unless I need it immediately, I go for the cheapest possible solution. Usually, this option is an online vendor.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Ask the local shop whether they can knock $50 off the price to keep the sale? Or make it up with extra gear or store credit.

 

[JS80]

No such thing as local anymore.

 

[Leros]

It is tough. I had this problem when I was into the aquarium hobby. I wanted to support my local fish stores, but the prices were so much cheaper online. Now one of the two stores in my town has closed. The other store is close to closing too. It sad.

 

[Bignate603]

Is there any chance that you could have any issues with it down the road where it would be helpful to have somebody to take it to locally?

I find for some stuff it's better to pay a bit of a premium to buy locally just so I have somebody to bring it to if I have a problem.

 

[olds]

Years ago I bought a mobo from newegg for $135. It died and was out of warranty. I just wanted the same mobo for ease of set up so I went to a local shop. I asked him to match my price. He told me that he couldn't get it for that price. He took me into his office and I showed him newegg. He probably started buying there.

 

[Matthiasa]

Well is the time saved in getting it worth the extra cash, if not get online.

 

[Scouzer]

i could not give a rats ass about local merchants, i do whatever is cheapest for me

 

[Red Squirrel]

Consider what the shipping will be as well, if it's only a 50$ difference then by the time you tack on shipping costs and wait time it might be insignificant.

 

[Soundmanred]

Years ago I bought a mobo from newegg for $135. It died and was out of warranty. I just wanted the same mobo for ease of set up so I went to a local shop. I asked him to match my price. He told me that he couldn't get it for that price. He took me into his office and I showed him newegg. He realized that I just busted him lying to me about what his prices really are.

Fixed for reality.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

It's tough. I tried to support my local tackle shops as well but in the end there's no possible way I could pay their high costs as opposed to buying at Cabela's or Basspro. For most things I buy local but until tackle shops get their head out of their asses and make their costs more competitive they'll keep closing down.

What flyrod you getting? And thank you for not calling it a pole..

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's tough. I tried to support my local tackle shops as well but in the end there's no possible way I could pay their high costs as opposed to buying at Cabela's or Basspro. For most things I buy local but until tackle shops get their head out of their asses and make their costs more competitive they'll keep closing down.

What flyrod you getting? And thank you for not calling it a pole..

Sadly it's hard to compete with online places hence why their prices are so high. I remember when I opened my business and also got into sales, then I realized it was totally pointless. Why should someone buy from me, and I make 1% profit, when they can buy online for half of what I'm asking? The markup in sales is so low for a small business.

 

[Leros]

Sadly it's hard to compete with online places hence why their prices are so high. I remember when I opened my business and also got into sales, then I realized it was totally pointless. Why should someone buy from me, and I make 1% profit, when they can buy online for half of what I'm asking? The markup in sales is so low for a small business.

You have to offer some extra service or get into some sort of contract. My parents owned a scrub shop. They would actually go to hospitals for a few days and the nurses would come down during breaks or before/after shifts. They could pay through pay deductions. My parents also went to nursing schools and medical schools during student orientation so students could buy scrubs then, which was included in their tuition bill. They also had exclusive contracts for some of the monogramming of hospital logos and stuff like that.

 

[Lifted]

Fixed for reality.

Nope. Local distributors have to make a profit too, and they are either paying the same as or more than newegg does. Problem is local shops must deal with local distributors for a number of reasons, so they end up going out of business as they can't compete with these online shops w/ giant warehouses (newegg, amazon, etc.).

 

[nageov3t]

in your specific case I would go local because the only reason you're not paying sales tax on your online order is because you're stealing from your local government.

 

[James3shin]

It's tough. I tried to support my local tackle shops as well but in the end there's no possible way I could pay their high costs as opposed to buying at Cabela's or Basspro. For most things I buy local but until tackle shops get their head out of their asses and make their costs more competitive they'll keep closing down.

What flyrod you getting? And thank you for not calling it a pole..

I love fast rods so I'm taking a look at a TCX in a 5wt. :drool: BTW, WA must be a nice place to live for fishermen. You have a lot of the rod manufacturers (Sage, Lamiglas, and Loomis) around you and some awesome rivers.

 

[EagleKeeper]

How in the hell are you save $50 in taxes via an online purchase.
What is the cost of the rod?

Are you paying the shop for their advice.

 

[Bignate603]

in your specific case I would go local because the only reason you're not paying sales tax on your online order is because you're stealing from your local government.

This is technically true. Many places where you have sales tax and you buy through the internet you're supposed to report it and pay the taxes on it. No one ever does though. I'm surprised that states have taken so long to try and deal with it.

 

[TruePaige]

in your specific case I would go local because the only reason you're not paying sales tax on your online order is because you're stealing from your local government.

You make me "lol" really, really hard.

 

[Soundmanred]

Nope. Local distributors have to make a profit too, and they are either paying the same as or more than newegg does. Problem is local shops must deal with local distributors for a number of reasons, so they end up going out of business as they can't compete with these online shops w/ giant warehouses (newegg, amazon, etc.).

The local guy said he couldn't get it for Neweggs price (not what Newegg gets them for, the price we pay Newegg for the item). Retailers generally know what things go for online and they are not nieve enough to think they are competitive, and wouldn't be surprised at Newegg's prices.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

How in the hell are you save $50 in taxes via an online purchase.
What is the cost of the rod?

Are you paying the shop for their advice.

Good flyrods are not cheap. Even online for a Sage or a Loomis you can easily pay $600 just for the rod.

 

[nageov3t]

You make me "lol" really, really hard.

:awe:

 

[Riceninja]

i support whoever is the most competitive, not whoever is closer to me

 

[V00DOO]

Nope. Local distributors have to make a profit too, and they are either paying the same as or more than newegg does. Problem is local shops must deal with local distributors for a number of reasons, so they end up going out of business as they can't compete with these online shops w/ giant warehouses (newegg, amazon, etc.).

You are correct. My friend is/was a purchaser at Newegg and you have no idea the bargaining power Newegg has since they buy in such large volume. Sometimes Newegg's online prices beat what the local shop can get from their distributor.