Patronizing the locally owned Golf shop

[Bullitt5339]

I will pay the extra. You can't go in and hit on a simulator to see how the club feels on the internet, and the local guy has to pay for that equipment somehow. I use it, I'll pay a little extra for my clubs to continue to use it. I'm not going to get ripped off though, if the price is $300 different, I will typically say something to the guy running the place about how high the price is compared to "___________", and typically there's some wiggle room in their prices at the smaller businesses.

The main reason I buy locally is that I'm impatient and distrusting, and buying locally I have it right then, and if there's a problem I can walk right back to the guy that I handed the money and get the problem resolved.

[microcrayfish]

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?

Yeah the Golf Warehouse is still around but I live in Christchurch and we don't have one here. They seem to have some good prices but I don't like buying online without hitting a club first so I probably still wouldn't buy from them anyway.

I guess we have a decent trade off here though. Clubs may be more expensive but green fees and memberships are a hell of a lot cheaper than most other places. On a more on-topic note, for things like gloves, balls, tees, etc. I always buy from my course's pro shop. Not only am I supporting my course, their prices are cheaper than anywhere else anyway!

[Ash1974]

In the last year and half I always buy from the same local pro shop, they offer great service and will stand and talk to me... ok listen to me talk about golf for many hours :)
So yes I buy from them and stay loyal, but as for paying over the odds, my local shop is 99% the same price as the cheapest found on the net, if he isn't he will price match as long as you bring proof (print out from Internet store)
I must admit this can be said of the local American Golf store when I bought my 1st set of shoes and my golf bag, they also price match with proof.

So yes I am loyal to local and smaller business, but no I will not pay over the odds as IMO for a business to succeed it needs to be competitive, I understand that they cannot compete with the Major and larger stores due to the quantity they can buy in, but my local store does this just fine so if done right it is possible.

[FHopper]

TGW is my local store, yeah Wichita.

[Clubchucker]

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?

More? How about less? When I was in the market for my new irons, I of course wanted to get fitted for them even though I didn't know who I could trust as being "good". So I called the Titleist rep for my area, who was as nice as could be (even though I felt like a schmuck for calling him). He said absolutely not, I did the right thing. He ended up telling me that the person who he'd recommend was a guy at a small local course close to me. I knew the course; it's a decent enough course; family owned and operated and more what I'd consider a old mans course. Not very long (even from the tips) but if you want to get a quick round in at a place in decent condition...great place to go.

Anyway, I went to him for the full fitting. And to my surprise? He sold them to me, custom ordered, for $100 LESS than what Golf Galaxy/etc were selling them for. He's always done the same for golf bags, etc. So not only do I get treated like gold and get referred to by name each time I go over there, I save money by doing so.

[meenman]

Most golf equipment is pretty much price fixed so even if a big retailer has a cheaper price, they are still making good money off of a sale. The small guy should be able to easily match these prices (sites not buying direct probably can be cheaper, but they will not have contracts with the major manufacturers)

Myself, the cheapest place to buy is my home course, who I have no problem giving my cash to.

[enis750]

im one of those basterds that try it out at the Big shops and then buy online....if its avaiable even
100% of my gear i bought without trying
yes i have been through some trial and error, finding the right shafts, irons wedges etc....
but its still cheaper than buying new

why?

because brand new golf gear is like buying a new car - it depreaciates to half within a year
and i have ADD and need/want new gear all the time
no way am i gonna drop $1k on irons, get tired of them in 6 months and buy new ones again for another $1k - makes no sense

i buy 90% of my gear from various websites and ebay - but i also sell 100% of it online
i get some things locally, like my putter, wedges, balls, shoes, bags etc..
all big ticket items like shafts, drivers, irons, grips are all bought online

i dont need to have the latest and greatest gear...see my sig
not one thing is from 2010
and i play just as good as the next guy

this sport can be expensive if you dont budget properly for it
personally, I laugh at al the dudes that walk out of the pro shop or big store will a baf full of new gear and a c/c bill for $3k
every one of my clubs i bought brand new (except the driver head and shaft) ONLINE for a fraction of what you pay new in stores

unless you get it for cost or are sponsored....there simply is no need to spend that kinda dough on gear
ill save my money for membership fees and beers after the round w my buddies