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

[jonnythan]

Tipped professions depend on tips for their salary - they are generally paid below the minimum wage and tips are expected.

Golf store salesmen are not tipped. They are paid salaries or hourly wages.

[lumpuckeroo]

I've been in the small retail business, I don't/didn't hold any grudge against someone who could find a better deal. It's called free enterprise. It's up to me to create a business model that can compete, my competition isn't just the store down the street. It is also the guy in Huntsville, AL that has a website and is selling it cheaper than I am. It is my responsibility to make sure the patrons of my business understand that they are getting a service and local support and that should be worth something to them.

[Eeryck]

In evaulating right vs. wrong in the black and white sense that some have suggested that is the nature of this post, you have to consider the extremes of the scenerio.

For instance in the newspaper industry, many larger newspaper companies came to a town and offered very cheap advertising rates for business. They would produce the paper at a loss in that market while they starved out the competing locally owned newspaper.

Once the local paper was out of business the town/city is stuck with the national company producing their newspaper and the ad prices typically rise well above what the local paper was originally charging.

Brick and mortar vs. internet purchases is the same thing. If you need to try it out, then you have some duty to continue to support and purchase from the brick and mortar stores. Otherwise when you only have the option of trying out new clubs at demo days if they come through your town there needs to be no bitching.

Personally, regardless of right or wrong, the majority of the time I will go with Brick and Mortar because of relationships I have built with some smaller golf stores, they take care of any warrenty issues I may have, I tend to get some free sampler balls over the course of the summer, regrips are done at cost of the grip only, even a modifying or checking club lie they will do for little or no cost and the most important, I never have to worry about getting counterfit equipment.

To pay a small premium for consitant and excelent service is more than resonable.

FWIW, I have no problems shopping online, but the tendancy is for out of print hardcover books, computer parts and ocassionally some older electronic media or limited brick and mortar distribution like the Frogger Golf folks.

Regards,
-E

[HytrewQasdfg]

Tipped professions depend on tips for their salary - they are generally paid below the minimum wage and tips are expected.

But they are generally compensated in some form for sales (commission, bonus, points, etc...)

[jonnythan]

I have no interest in buying golf clubs from someone making a commission .

Besides, trying out a few clubs doesn't require any expertise. If I want to try out some clubs, I'd rather do it without the pressure sales pitch. Just give me the club and point me to the mat, thanks.

[RCF]

Last year I demo'ed Callaway x20s at Golf Galaxy. The salesman said it was a shame I missed their sale on X18s because they were out of stock. I then ordered X18s from Dicks for $499.00. Subsequently I learned Golf Galaxy is a sub or sister to Dicks.

[David in FL]

I'm a former senior VP in the retail industry who has since moved on, but I'll weigh in with my .02 from the retail perspective.

Of course any given retailer would prefer to sell you everything that you ever buy as it relates to their individual market......but that's just not going to happen and most smart retailers know that. They also know that most smaller sales just aren't worth the time or effort to the consumer to shop around for price. While there are people who will buy gloves, balls, tees, et.al. on-line, the vast majority of customers will stop by the store on the way home from work to pick up a dozen balls because they're low and have a tee time in the morning. They'll grab some tees, a new set of spikes and a glove as long as they're there and be on their way. Those are the customers we want to come back time and time again. One way to capture those recurring sales is by developing a relationship with the customer. By providing value in addition to the merchandise that they buy. Club fitting, the ability to hit different clubs, try putters, heck.....just wandering around a nice environment and being able to touch and feel the stuff, and talk to someone who likes the same sport that you do. The retailer will make more money off those recurring small dollar, high margin purchases over time, than they'll ever make off of a new set of irons every five years or so. They want you to come in and "take up their time", even if you buy your irons somewhere else. Remember, they're paying the wages for those associates whether you're in there or not, and most are not on any kind of commission.......so stop on by!

[jonnythan]

I'm a former senior VP in the retail industry who has since moved on, but I'll weigh in with my .02 from the retail perspective.

You are an elightened retailer.

I know managers who literally bar customers from their store if they hear they bought anything online. This is especially true in the specialty retail market, like scuba shops. It's somewhat common for a diver to start a dive shop, but have zero customer service and retail skills or experience, which leads to terrible practices like banning or yelling at customers for not buying from you. I worked for a few years at an EMS, a specialty outdoor retailer. We were the opposite - very customer friendly, even going so far as to helping customers find just the right product at another shop or even an online store. Customer loyalty by and large keeps EMS afloat.

[ApocG10]

It would be absurd to buy in store if you save 2-300$ online.

I got my G10's at the same price golftown sells em, with a free fitting, from my pro shop. But their very good and deal whenever they can.

[David in FL]

You are an elightened retailer.

Not enlightened ........I'm a professional retailer. The Scuba shop operators to which you refer are not. They're hobbyists who think it would be cool to earn a living doing something that relates to the sport that they love. They exist, but as you said, they don't usually last long. Smart retailers, like EMS, want you in the store as often as possible.......as you said, that's what keeps them in business when the hobbyist is long gone.

[jonnythan]

There are lots of "professionals," even in big-time retailing, who don't exactly follow your line of reasoning ;)

[denver_nuggs_15]

I think it's completely fine if you try clubs in a store then buy online. That is, unless you mislead the salesman into thinking you WILL buy from them.

[allin]

I thought my answer to that question was obvious.

I would bet you are quick to complain about lousy service, there is no such thing as a free lunch may be an old saw but it applies here. If everyone only looks at what is best for them and does not appeciat that both sides must be treated fairly,then you have an adversarial relationship. Why do you think legal processes are such a mess. It may not be wrong, but it is selfish and self centered to only think about your own part of the transaction.

[billysandy]

I am buying some new irons off eBay soon, and i am planning on trying them in a big golf store tomorrow. Lets face it, they aren't gonna go bankrupt or anything because of me!

[jonnythan]

I would bet you are quick to complain about lousy service

Pretty big assumption there, don't you think?

I'm sorry, but you're completely wrong. Well, mostly wrong. Now it's time for an anecdote. Just yesterday I had a really awful time at Walmart. It took six cashiers and one assistant manager 15 minutes to ring out one piece of meat for the woman in front of us. Then the receipt checker woman tried to physically restrain me because I denied her request to search me. I gave her and the store manager a piece of my mind and wrote a letter to the district manager today. I wrote about the experience a little bit on Facebook. A friend of mine replied "That's why I shop at places where the staff trusts me." My response? "That's a privilege you pay for at checkout, Ian. I long ago made my peace with distrustful, unskilled staff in exchange for lower prices. I am cheap, and I'm OK with that ;)" So, I will complain about lousy service, sure. But I understand the compromises I make when I choose to shop at such places. You speak of adversarial relationships. What do you think I have with a salesman who is making a commission and therefore has incentive to sell me something I don't need? Ultimately I'm willing to pay for services I deem valuable. I'd pay $20 to Golf Galaxy to demo some of their clubs. I'd pay $40 for half an hour with an expert clubfitter. But if the shop is giving those away for free, you'd better believe I'm going to take advantage of that without feeling guilty for not paying them afterward.

[billm408]

This is an economic issue not a moral issue.
I recently went into a large retailer and got spec'd out for a driver I wanted to buy. The guy measured swing speed, we discussed shaft options, grip etc... I told him up front that I had found a deal online, but would buy from him if he could match the price. He couldn't and was OK with that. The reality is that I'll go back there as a fairly loyal customer because of that and will spend thousands over the years. David in FL's got it right.

[putput]

I am on a military salary here... not trying to say we don’t get paid but it isn’t the best, so when i buy anything golf that isnt needed right now its always check it out at the store and buy it online.

In this economy, the internet buyer is king...

[goblue107501]

Interesting discussion. I would have no problems hitting a club and buying elsewhere. I don't always do it, but if I saved enough money, I would. You have to do what is in your best fiscal interest. If I can find the same club(s) online at a discount it would be stupid to not buy them and save that money. The golf stores/pro shops know this, they just hope people are too stupid to shop around, are loyal to the local market, don't trust the internet, or simply don't want to shop and have to wait. I used to figure out what I wanted at the local stores and then buy from wherever I could find the best deal.

I got new irons last year and one of the local courses had some demos of the clubs I was wanting to try. I figured out what I wanted and was going to shop around for the best deal. I asked the club pro what his price would be and he gave me a great deal so I bought them from him. It wasn't the best I could have got, but it was close. I figured it was worth it for the help he gave me and the buckets of free range balls when I was demoing clubs. Plus, I was able to plant a seed for future purchases. Now anything I get from that shop I get for a few dollars over cost. That is a great relationship to have and much better than an online purchase.