Patronizing the locally owned Golf shop

[The Road Dog]

I have been shopping at Golfsmith, Edwin Watts, and WalMart for golf items since my return to the game. But recently I discovered there are a number of small locally owned shops in my general area.

I decided to replace my 25+ year old blades this month, I was fitted by a Mizuno Pro who also is the owner of his own shop. He gave me the stats on what I should buy and I left the store. The fitting took all of 15 minutes and cost $25.

Over the course of the next week I looked at pricing for the clubs on the Internet and at the big box stores. On the 'net I could get the clubs I wanted for as little as $650. The big stores locally would get them for me for $999 and give me a discount of up to $100. When all was said and done I went back to the little shop where I got fitted and paid them the asking price(more than the net or the box stores price). Why, you might ask? I think I wanted the satisfaction of saying I did something that would help keep a local business operating, plus I liked being able to walk in and be recognized and treated like somebody. Being able to talk with the owner for a few minutes on any topic including golf is something I like. So here's a question for you. Is it worth the extra money to you to buy from a locally owned shop?? If so, Why?

[redsox98]

I agree about paying a little more for the cozy feeling of being recognized but they have to be somewhat close to the price. I don't expect them to match but get as close as possible.

[justincredible]

I agree about paying a little more for the cozy feeling of being recognized but they have to be somewhat close to the price. I don't expect them to match but get as close as possible.

I agree with this. I definitely don't mind paying a little more to support a local business so long as it's relatively close in price. In the situation presented by the OP I'd have a hard time justifying the additional $350+ on the clubs. If they were within $100, though, I'd definitely go local.

[clearwaterms]

I have been shopping at Golfsmith, Edwin Watts, and WalMart for golf items since my return to the game. But recently I discovered there are a number of small locally owned shops in my general area.

If you are going to just give away money let me send you my address, I could use some of it.

I wouldn't feel obligated to purchase from that owner. He fitted you, charged you for the fitting, and you should move on. Most local shops by my house will at least match the box stores price. At a price difference of $300, I would have trouble justifying it. I would rather get the club online and purchase $300 worth of other stuff at the local shop (maybe some lessons, reshaft services, etc)

[tws1098]

If you are going to just give away money let me send you my address, I could use some of it.

+1 exactly what I was thinking

[microcrayfish]

It's probably not quite the same where I live as we don't have any really big box stores that can offer large discounts on what you get in the smaller golf shops but I've certainly found that if you can take the time to get to know and build a relationship with the staff at a smaller store you'll often get better discounts than you would at the bigger shops anyway. Plus it's a lot nicer to walk into a store where everyone knows you and actually gives a shit how you're doing, somewhere you can just have a chat without pressure to buy anything instead of some place that only cares about what's in your wallet.

[Fat Slice]

I have the best of both worlds. We have a small shop in town with quality gear. The owner is a young pro and he has a nice cage setup with a computer, etc. He has done club repair for me (cheap, good), thrown me a headcover when he saw I was missing one, and is great with advice. The best thing is that he discounts clubs to me (off his display pricing). Here are some examples:

Adams A7 hybrid: $129 - that's better than eBay and much better than the box stores.
Mizuno MP T-10: $105 - a little cheaper than the box stores

I'm willing to pay more for the service and the convenience, but luckily I don't have to. I want this guy's store to survive so I buy what I can from him - Balls, tees, gloves, etc. Even paying more it isn't throwing away money because I see a value in having the store survive.

[Kingfisher]

Definitely worth paying a little bit extra for that personal level of service. Many moons ago, I bought a set of Ping ISI-K irons (don't laugh, they were the mutts nuts at the time!) and had the option of getting fitted at the local discoout store or buying them from my club pro.

If I went with the discount store, I would have simply part-exd my clubs for a set of off the rack Pings, with little or no fitting - only static fitting was available back then. In the end I chose to buy from my club pro, because for exactly the same money I got the following:

Even though he couldn't match the discount store's price, he took my old clubs in at a far better part-ex rate to compensate
He drove the 2 of us in his own car almost 3 hours across the UK to the Ping Factory
He arranged to get me fitted by the same guy that fitted the tour pros at the time
I got to watch my clubs (not any set of clubs, but my clubs!) being assembled in the factory and then getting adjusted to my specs
We then took my new clubs out on the golf course at the Ping facility and played 9 holes together

I know things are different these days and launch monitors mean even a semi-trained monkey can fit you. What that club pro did for me (and other members) was priceless - he provided a level of service miles ahead of anything the discount stores could give and this ensured I went back to him for all my golfing needs.

Win-win.

[Doctorfro]

Good for you! Unfortunately, in our area all the small shops have been run out of town by the big chains and the economy. When I was growing up my dad used to go to this little hole in the wall where this guy would buy, sell, build, etc. It was so cool. But as for retail prices: I rarely find much difference in mainstream clubs. The sellers are kind of hemmed in by the manufacturers.

[Bug Bunny]

I would much prefer to buy local and don't mind paying a bit more. On a set of clubs, I usually price shop but all the rest of my stuff I buy local. Just appreciate getting to know the staff and supporting local!

[zeg]

Agree with supporting the local guy, but I don't fault anyone who isn't willing to spend ~50% over the online price. If you feel the service is worth it, by all means do so, and I admire your putting your money where your heart is. However, my feeling is that if the shop needs to do that to survive, they're going to go out of business unless they can add enough value that it's no longer an apples to apples comparison. There's no way they can win on price, so the service needs to justify the price difference.

I'm lucky, I just found that the locally-owned shop here has prices that are competitive with and sometimes better than Golfsmith. Not sure how they can do that. It's a bit more than a hole in the wall--has two LA-area locations, but when I went in to drop some clubs off for regripping, the owner was sitting in the back working on a fitting for someone. I've been in there a few times and this was my first chance to give them some business. Glad I did, and it's nice that their prices make it so easy.

[Zeph]

I buy most of my golf equipment online. I have never been fit for any club yet, except that I've had them checked for lie and length. I'll probably consider getting fit in a pro shop the next time I buy clubs, perhaps a driver is the next club out. Still, I don't like buying clubs for twice the internet cost in a pro shop. I don't feel any responsibility to support local pro shops by buying equipment there, but if I want to get fit for clubs, I'll buy them at the store.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

I have been shopping at Golfsmith, Edwin Watts, and WalMart for golf items since my return to the game. But recently I discovered there are a number of small locally owned shops in my general area.

The saying "A fool and his money are soon parted" comes to mind here, and one would draw the conclusion that this story is a prime example of that saying, IMHO

[DJYoshi]

I give smaller shops the business of gripping, shafting, weighting my clubs etc. but most of the time...I'll test clubs and get them on the web...it's just CHEAPER that way

[Par Fore]

Yes, I will spend a little extra money to support the local guy.....especially if there is a fuel and time savings involved, I can justify a little more money.....but then again, I ain't no fool.....if it's $1000 locally and $600 online, I don't like to be taken.....now, if it's $600 online, but they guy will cut me a deal at $750, that is not so bad.....I can actually see the merchandice, hit it, and support a local, I am all for it......as long as the local shop offers good service and friendly help, I'm all for giving them my $$$.....

Some things I buy local, some at big golf outlets, and some online....depends on the item and the mark-up......also depends on how friendly and knowledgeable the guy behind the counter actually is - service goes a long way in my book and worth a little extra coin....

[Kieran123]

It's probably not quite the same where I live as we don't have any really big box stores that can offer large discounts on what you get in the smaller golf shops but I've certainly found that if you can take the time to get to know and build a relationship with the staff at a smaller store you'll often get better discounts than you would at the bigger shops anyway. Plus it's a lot nicer to walk into a store where everyone knows you and actually gives a shit how you're doing, somewhere you can just have a chat without pressure to buy anything instead of some place that only cares about what's in your wallet.

Hey micro you're from NZ? I just moved from NZ to Canada, and the difference in prices are ridiculous. Is the golf warehouse still around in NZ?

I wouldn't mind paying a little extra at a local, but I don't know of any so Golftown it is!

[wkdspd]

Yes, I will spend a little extra money to support the local guy.....especially if there is a fuel and time savings involved, I can justify a little more money.....but then again, I ain't no fool.....if it's $1000 locally and $600 online, I don't like to be taken.....now, if it's $600 online, but they guy will cut me a deal at $750, that is not so bad.....I can actually see the merchandice, hit it, and support a local, I am all for it......as long as the local shop offers good service and friendly help, I'm all for giving them my $$$.....

agreed with all of this... I have seen too many little guy shops (including the coolest golf shops) get run out by the big box stores here in Dallas to not at least TRY to throw business their way. Im not going to put myself out on items that are outrageously overpriced, but in talking to owners of small golf shops Ive learned that they dont make their living on retail golf club purchases. yes they make some money on them, but the cash flow comes from custom work, repairs, lessons, accessories, etc. whenever I can support local, be it a local golf shop, my local bike shop, off-chain coffee shop or bookstore, I do. not to say I dont shop at the chains, and the level of service is critical, but it feels good to know that I can in some small way promote the American dream. does that make me a fool soon to be parted from my money? doubtful... legal tender isnt the only currency in play with most purchases ;)

[zeg]

I'll just add that if you make a purchasing decision after demoing clubs, you probably ought to buy from the brick and mortar shop where you did the demoing. It's great to save a buck, but if everyone does the demo there and then buys elsewhere, we'll all suffer when those shops go out of business. In the OP's case it's a bit different because he paid for the services he received. When the difference is $300 on $900 worth of gear, that makes it hard to justify, but I don't usually see the prices that different.