Try clubs in store, puchase online - Right or Wrong?

[HytrewQasdfg]

I've seen this in several threads, and I thought it deserved a discussion of its own. To paraphrase how it usually goes:

I went to my local golf shop and tired out a bunch of different brands of clubs. After spending all afternoon trying various clubs, I finally settled on the Pings. So I went home and ordered them off of ebay. Can't wait till they get here. The guy who helped me all afternoon at the store said they were a great fit for me.

Is it right to spend time trying out clubs at a store if you intend to order them online instead of purchasing them at the store? Isn't part of the extra price you pay for clubs at a brick-and-mortor store the service provided by the store (including the chance to try the clubs before you buy them?)

[jonnythan]

Your "quote" is certainly at the extreme end of things and makes your post look more than a little biased.

Anyway, businesses take advantage of consumers wherever they can. If the business wants to charge people for demoing clubs, they should charge people for demoing clubs.

[GDWindowpane]

At the very least let your local shop try to match the price...

[RocketSauce]

i dont think its right. but, sometimes retail stores just cannot compete with online prices, so its understandable why a customer would do that. i know it sucks for the guy at the shop spending all that time with someone who knows they wont be buying from him though. personally, i wouldnt do it (well, i havent done it YET anyway). but i can understand why some people do it that way. ESPECIALLY in todays economy, cuz every penny saved counts.

[Slice57]

I'm very new to golf and looking for clubs. My plan is this.

Go to a store and get fitted for clubs. If a store has a set of used clubs that is close to the price I can get online, I'll buy them and expect a discount on the club fitting.

If they don't have a used set that is close on price, I'll pay full price for the club fitting (so I know what I need) and then go buy them online.

Seems like a win-win for both parties.

[jonnythan]

Blaming the customer for leveraging a poor business model to his benefit is silly. Kinda like saying pull carts are an unfair advantage.

[$2 Nassau]

It's not a matter of being able to afford retail clubs, it's a matter of being smart with your money and not spending more than you have to.

I did this exact scenario with my mp 57's. Except I paid for the fitting at the golf store, so I guess they got a little business from me. I told them flat out that their prices were much higher than online, and if they'd be willing to flex on price then I would purchase the clubs from them. They were not willing. Oh well.

[trumps4]

businesses take advantage of consumers wherever they can.

Bingo!

I have never tried clubs in the store and thought the person "helping" me gave a crap if the clubs were right for me or not. Normally, if I show any interest in a product they immediately start kissing my butt & saying "that's the best ____ we have in the store."

[jonnythan]

If a business offers a free service, it should be a free service. Not a "free, but we will throw a hissy fit if you go spend money somewhere else."

If they think they should be paid for it, they should charge for it.

I've brought my car to Midas for their free brake inspections, then gone home and replaced the brake shoes myself. I didn't feel bad - free is free. I didn't sign a contract promising to pay them.

OK, I think I've said my piece now ;)

[Mr3Putt]

I think because your poll is being taken by people actually using the Internet, it will be biased towards the Internet savvy side of the equation.

Although I'm sure the number is shrinking, there are still lots and lots of people who for one reason or another will never buy online.

Whenever I'm in Golf Galaxy or Dicks, I see many people buying clubs, bags and other stuff. The Golf Galaxy near me is the flagship store (as is the Dick's their flagship for that matter). Both stores seem to be overstaffed with fairly qualified personnel. If they weren't moving merchandise, the stores wouldn't be as successful as they seem. My Golf Galaxy has 5 hitting stations, 3 of them have the screens, one has a bunker. I've not touched a club there and not had a clerk ask if I wanted to try anything. Unless it's February and I'm jonesing to whack a ball, I usually don't.

Personally, I've bought from the stores, online and even private party. I'll go where it makes the most sense.

[Chief Broom]

There is a fine line here. I'm honest with the folks in my local golf shops about what I'm doing. I'll tell them I'm shopping around for price so they know where they stand. That way if they choose not to pursue my business (give me a fitting for free) it's their decision. I think leading someone on deliberately in order to take advantage of them is wrong. I don't like it when a salesperson tells me something that isn't true in order to get my business, so why would it be acceptable for me to do the same thing to them?

[RandomRaiderTTU]

I don't sweat it too much. I bought my last set online. They were used and got them on Ebay for a price I was willing to pay.

I did demo the clubs in the store but declined any help from the employees.

I have no remorse in doing just that. The fact of the matter is..I'm in their store and will likely buy something while I'm in there anyway. It might be a bag of tees, or the callaway golf towels they have on sale, or see a sale on shoes and start picking around. The fact that I can demo clubs in their store gets me to their store. More often than not, even though I may not buy my clubs there, chances are I will not walk out empty handed.

When I'm in Dallas visiting my folks, my father and I always hit the PGA Superstore. Love that place and hardly ever walk out without buying something even though we mainly go to demo clubs and kill a couple of hours.

[RocketSauce]

I think because your poll is being taken by people actually using the Internet, it will be biased towards the Internet savvy side of the equation.

thats a good point. whenever im at Golfsmith and I see someone paying Full Price ($499) for a Callaway FT-iQ i always think to myself " why in the world would he buy that here when he can get it online for $350?"... to each his own.

[jorruss]

Buyers that shop online tend to know exactly what they are looking for. This applies to everything, not just golf. I have gone to many golf shops to see a club, only to buy it online at a better price. However, that price has to be low enough to offset the shipping costs and the "gotta have it now!" factor.

Most better players get their equipment custom fit, which eliminates the possibility of buying clubs off the shelf, but many equipment companies now offer custom options, interchangeable shafts and weight ports to change playing properties. To accommodate the increased demand for these type of clubs, most high-end retailers have hitting areas and launch monitors to properly fit clubs to the player. Although hitting into a screen indoors isn't foolproof, it's much better than simply buying a club off the shelf.

This new trend has helped the retail and green grass shops compete with the internet vendors. It's not just about the rock bottom price any more.

[Chas]

If a business offers a free service, it should be a free service. Not a "free, but we will throw a hissy fit if you go spend money somewhere else."

The thread title is to do with "right or wrong", not how contracts should be written or whether golf store staff should throw hissy fits or not. You seem to be missing the point of the thread entirely IMO. How did you vote btw? I think I can guess how you

should have voted .... Personally, I take into account how much time and effort an expert in the store has given me in my decision as to where to buy the item and what to pay for it. If the person isn't an expert in any real sense, his/her time is "worthless" in this sense IMO and it's a straight $$ decision - so the matter requires a bit of discretion. I'm not so cheap as to think that good advice and time taken to assess my needs by an experienced salesperson has no value whatsoever. Of course you need to know what it would cost elsewhere (internet, other area golf shops) to be able to do the math reasonably accurately. I don't mind setting different stores in competition against each other if I know what I want (i.e. don't need any advice, no real assistance given), that's a different story. Ever bought stuff at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul ? - great training! (and they look at you with barely veiled contempt if you don't put up a strong bargaining position). I learned to actually walk out the door slowly and come back in again later - you tend to get the very lowest price for a dagger shouted at you as they see your back receeding with no sale. You then take this price to a shop a few doors down as the starting basis for further negotiations, etc etc. This is one reason that the Bazaar has existed for so many centuries, it suits everyone really. Nice post Chief Broom, I basically agree.

[jonnythan]

I thought my answer to that question was obvious.

Yes, of course it's right.

[andy]

Its a dog eats dog type of world, isn't that part of competition --- only the strong survives.

As consumers we look out for the best possible deals. If it was important to me to support my local shop that would justify the premium then by all means I would do that. But since budget is tight I usually go for the cheapest option.

There's nothing wrong with it

[Chas]

No, there's nothing wrong with competition. I don't suppose anyone is disputing that notion, but it's not exactly the issue at hand is it. This is more like how you decide whether and how much to tip somebody at a restaurant or at the barber shop or wherever. There is no obligation to tip (usually), and I suppose some people don't tip much of anything for that reason, not matter how good the service. I'm not saying it's a perfect analogy with getting a lot of expert help at a golf store but there is some relatedness the way I see it. That's OK, people can reasonably differ - and obviously there is indeed no obligation. Just giving my .02. ..

This is one of those polls that isn't sufficiently nuanced, making it difficult to pick one. Interesting thread though.