Snowboarding Forum - Snowboard Enthusiast Forums banner

Supporting local shops vs buying online.

6K views 54 replies 25 participants last post by  atr3yu 
#1 ·
How much more are you willing spend? I like shopping locally but sometimes they make it hard. I bought a pair of Electric eg2s online for $8x shipped. A local store wanted $140 for the same goggles. I'm looking to get a new helmet, online $60 shipped, locally $100.

Those are two different shops I go to and other local places are pretty much the same.
 
#2 ·
I use local shops every time for boots. Without a doubt. Boards, it will depend, but more often than not it's a shop purchase. Outwear, I am 50/50. Goggles and gloves I mostly buy online, because the deals are just too good for the most part.

Helmets, are another 50/50 purchase.

You might try going to your local guys and let them know the deals you have found and ask if they will match, meet you half way or something. I prefer to buy from my local shops, but with huge price differences, sometimes it just doesn't make sense. I also find that a lot of them will discount a fair amount to get your business. It doesn't hurt to ask.
 
#7 ·
QFT....I look around locally first and can usually find what I want or have it ordered by one of the locals. When you stick local, on a regular basis, most will give you some sort of hook up. if for some reason I can't find it in a shop between Edwards and breckenridge I will look online for the best deal. Over the years I have made Friends with a few company owners and they just give me pro form discount codes since between my wife, son and I we go through some gear..... Plus we all love shopping and buying.


The key is not to get all bent out of shape because the won't come off their price by $20 to match an online store. Get over it and buy local, it works out for the better in the end. When my son is riding on his own and something happens to his gear, he can walk in to 3-4 different shops and they will help him fix it or give him a new one that I can settle up with later...... For a good deal. This rolls into summer sports now too like mountain biking and long boarding.....
 
#4 ·
local shop for sure.

Any savings you gain by buying online are lost in customer service and ease of repair/replacement. Plus, as previously mentioned, there's nothing better than supporting your local guy running a shop and supporting his family.

As a bonus, I've become good friends with some of the shop workers and have gone riding with them on their off days just due to hanging out in the shops and spending my money there.
 
#11 ·
I try to buy local but its hard. I live in Boston and the most local shop to me is a super-commercialized wal mart of a shop called East Coast Alpine. They have TONS of great gear but sell it at city prices. This makes sense but its very difficult to get them to come down on price. Even 2012, 2011 models they wouldn't budge on five or ten percent- not that I'm expecting it but you can tell they sell 95% of their gear to middle aged Bostonians who only ride a couple days a year and want to buy their kid the latest and greatest and have the disposable income to do so.

Its gotten to the point that I avoid this place at all costs because when you walk in all the salespeople try to do is sell you on an item. HARD. If you say that you're interested in any little item, even if its a beanie or water bottle - they'll walk you over to their selection and pick out the most expensive one. Its ridiculous.

Sorry a bit off topic. Just my experience with city-based snowboard/ski shops.
 
#12 ·
That first world comment is ridiculous. You better shop at your main street true value store, locally owned grocery store (not a chain), etc etc etc.

I hope you have never stepped foot in a target or lowe's because if you have, your anti-internet comment is ridiculously hypocritical
 
#15 · (Edited)
Ahh you guys got me. You can all afford thousands of dollars in gear and lift tickets and computers and internet service but saving $20 to pay $10 in shipping to not support the sport is just ignorant.

As far as the comments about the first world, sorry guys but there are no poor kids in this sport, and if you think you are one, you have your head in the sand. I grew up in a 3rd world country and KNOW, even these "poor" european urban riders can afford gopros, time to play, and to fold their boards over a rail. In 3rd world countries kids are trying to just reach adulthood alive and without being sold to the highest bidding pedophile. Even in the US, our poorest do not enjoy ski resorts and gear, and they are way better off than alot of people.

My arguments were succinct and correct the first time around, I wasn't personally attacking you guys. The comments were certainly insensitive, I wasn't worried about your feelings :D Don't support local business, see if I care, its a way of life - a sort of ethic, so to speak.

My wife works at Target, and I totally shop at chain stores when the situation is warranted. I also go out of my way to support local business when I can, but I guess I'm the silly one.

I'm not anti internet at all, some things, such as electronics, are very prudent to buy online. Snowboarding, like surfing and skateboarding, is a unique business entity and comparing it to Walmart or Kroger is just not fair. I have close friends from CA to the midwest who own shops, and they do it because they want to support a community of people who also love the sport, not to get rich, in fact they have struggled more than anyone else I know. Shop owners provide youth programs, teams, contests, the bridge between manufacturers and amateurs, and they do it all for you guys and your kids, with almost zero benefit to themselves.

Everyone would like to employ top quality people and pay them well to do great work. Unfortunately these shops have their back against the wall, don't judge them on that kid, get to know the people there, I bet that kid shreds and could teach you some shit. Think about the overhead, you expect them to pay shipping, labor for someone to sell it to you (but you are insulted by someone working for $8/hr), shop space rental (which is crazy money compared to a warehouse) and then when they can't compete with online prices you act like they are trying to rip you off?!? Whose the asshole?

If money is the bottom line, and bottom lining everyone on the bottom line is all you care about, well, you'll get what you pay for.

disclaimer: I'm not the least bit wealthy, and live paycheck to paycheck, but the older I get, the more I realize that value does not equal $$. I understand that for some people $$=value ALWAYS and theres no point in arguing.

The experts around here like Argo, BA and Killclimbz have already told you all of this.

I got my last helmet online becuase my head is the size of a fucking beach ball and I couldn't find the lid I wanted in town in my size.
 
#18 · (Edited)
That's crazy talk. There are plenty of people who sacrifice other parts of their lives to go boarding because they love it. They hitch rides on the way to the mountain and their lift ticket is their splurge. Riding 5 year old equipment.

And it's not saving $10 it's saving $200 sometimes. I would love a good local shop but in San Diego it's surfin and skatin bruh. There is nobody to shoot the shit with except you guys online.

Support your local shop if you have one, and if you can. Only if it's a good shop though. If they're a bunch of assholes who needs them to stay open.
 
#16 ·
Given the fact that i live and shop in Vail primarily i would venture to guess that my shops see 10xyou the amount of people your shops do but maintain msrp most of the time. The fact that I take the efford to go there regularly and spend time bsing with them plus bringing them new people as customers is probably why I can get a deal. Even for non snow gear i ask them if they can order it to give them the business. O would rather have a local shop or 3 than have sierra trading post....
 
#19 · (Edited)
I try to buy local when I can, but sometimes the online deals are just too good to pass up. I want to support local businesses, but my first priority is to myself and my family. I'm not going to sacrifice say $100 of my money in order to support local business. Sorry, just not gonna do it. Plus, the only two shops in Evergreen have both pissed me off in the past and I'd probably go piss on the smoldering ashes if they both burned to the ground. I do like the guys down at Arvada Skate and Snow and consider them to be my "local" shop. I've bought several things from them in the past.

It also depends on my need. If I break something or need something ASAP, then I'm much more willing to pay a premium to have that item that day.
 
#24 ·
Plus, the only two shops in Evergreen have both pissed me off in the past and I'd probably go piss on the smoldering ashes if they both burned to the ground. I do like the guys down at Arvada Skate and Snow and consider them to be my "local" shop. I've bought several things from them in the past.

It also depends on my need. If I break something or need something ASAP, then I'm much more willing to pay a premium to have that item that day.
Yea my corner of suburbia here has chain shops, so I'm always torn on that one, at least there are locals working there - Christy Sports, Colorado Ski n Golf (k2 bindings last year), BC Sport (NS board, they had alot in stock)in the mall.

I had a pretty unpleasant experience with the shop in Bergen park, but I still bought a board/binding setup from them...I'm wondering if theres a better "local" shop I should frequent in the Dillon - Breck area.
 
#20 ·
Snowboarding is for the rich we're pricing ourselves out of existence. We've also created a culture of discounts that people expect and feel they're entitled to. Rather sad.

You know why your local shop is a douche to you? Probably because you've never been there and they can tell you're "just browsing" is more of "just trying on to go home and buy on the Internet". Nothing worse than talking to someone for an hour or two figuring they're going to buy the stuff they're trying on, going through a whole boot fit because their feet are fucked up, and having them walk out the door to buy online. If you're going to do it at least be up front so they don't waste their time with you.

Shopping on the Internet in the grand scheme of the local to global economy puts a huge dent in the local economy, I fully understand that not having a local shop you need to facilitate it and that's where Internet shopping comes in. Problem with that is The House, dogfunk, backcountry, etc. etc. are faceless shitholes. Evo, Eastern Boarder, Eternal actually are local shops. So if you are going to buy online at least buy from a shop that is local and does something for the economy.
 
#21 · (Edited)
You know why your local shop is a douche to you? Probably because you've never been there and they can tell you're "just browsing" is more of "just trying on to go home and buy on the Internet". Nothing worse than talking to someone for an hour or two figuring they're going to buy the stuff they're trying on, going through a whole boot fit because their feet are fucked up, and having them walk out the door to buy online. If you're going to do it at least be up front so they don't waste their time with you.
I definitely understand where you're coming from with this comment and largely you're correct, however in this situation you're dead wrong.

Boone Mountain Sports was the title sponsor of the Evergreen Winter Festival. The owner was a complete ass, tore down his display before the agreed upon time, then dipped out without paying his sponsorship fee. He was able to run a booth, selling merchandise AND got the publicity of being the title sponsor and did all that without paying a dime. Now, a lot of that blame falls on the event for not getting the money up front, but still, he shafted them and that's fucked up. I'll never spend a dime in that shop again.

I just don't like the owners of Hills and Rails. It's that simple. That's a personal thing. I've never walked in the place.

I definitely do my fair share of local shopping. Hell, I'm pretty sure that every pair of sunglasses and every pair of goggles aside from my Von Zipper Fishbowls that I've bought in the last ten years came from Sun Logic up in Breckenridge. That joint has better pricing than online dealers during the summer offseason.
 
#23 ·
Nah, definitely not taking it personal. Just clarifying my position.

Personally, no not really. :dunno:

I have my reasons and they're business related. Nothing terrible, but I'm a scorched earth type guy. I see one shady deal or one instance where you put yourself in a bad light related to business and I'm done with you. There are simply too many other options out there. With all the competition, you simply can't afford to fuck up. Customers will go elsewhere.
 
#27 ·
Evergreen is a funny spot. It seems to be a mecca for people who can afford to do bad business. I swear all the places downtown were bought and paid for years ago, the owners now completely complacent.

It seems like alot of our restaurant's success comes from shitty competition and apathy from everyone else. There is a pool of useless employees that circles the unemployment drain and runs all over this town selling pills, ditch weed and kitchen management.


Heh.
 
#28 ·
LOL! It's true.

I don't know much about the workings of Evergreen businesses. From where I live, I can get down to the CO Mills area quicker than I can downtown Evergreen, plus I don't have to run the cop gauntlet that is Evergreen Parkway.

The one place I did used to frequent was El Rancho because it was less than 5 minutes from my house, but they recently had a change of management and the new guys have 100% completely fucked it up. :mad:

If I had the money, I'd buy those dipshits out and start a brewery in that joint. It would make a fucking killing.
 
#30 ·
Emage only has one location in downtown Denver that I know of, Evo while starting as online went to B&M and does a great job of supplying Seattle, and Wiredsport knows how to market to you guys, hell for the amount of support they give you they deserve your business.

And what the hell is up with Evergreen it's like it doesn't know what the fuck it is. Everyone I meet that's a "snow bro" from there falls into the group of absolutely fucking stupid.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Evergreen is definitely a weird spot trapped between the mountains and the city with elements of both. It used to be populated by people like me who needed access to the city for work, but didn't really much associate with the city and wanted to get the hell away as soon as they got off work.

Now, it's starting to become overrun with the upper middle class - the worst class, IMO. They're busy going broke playing keeping up with the Jones' and breeding bratty ass kids who become the dumbass snow bros of which you speak. The thing I don't understand is that they're basically creating what most of us were trying to get away from which is basically subdivisions of McMansions. They're pretty much turning Evergreen into a foothills version of Highlands Ranch. That's the main problem with Evergreen. It's pretty much dumbass kids and families. There really isn't much of a young adult crowd. A buddy of mine was living down in the Green Mountain area and was trying to decide whether to move downtown or move up to into the foothills. He was tired of being stuck in between. He's young and single and I basically told him to rule out the foothills. It would suck ass to live up here as a young single. It'd be cool for awhile as I'm sure you could feast on 18 year old and cougar pussy for awhile, but it'd get old I do believe.
 
#32 ·
Honestly, I don't buy locally because I don't really know who the good shops are. I'm probably willing to check them out, but honestly don't know where they are.

I could be wrong though as I've only lived in Denver for a little over a year.

I know this isn't the point of this thread, but what are the good boarding shops in the Denver area or in the mountains?
 
#34 · (Edited)
I just want to mention that I buy local all the time at ski pro in mesa and they do a great job. No pressure sales BS just customer service that's on point.


My problem is the execution that lacks in most places. I mean the kids pitch is "Bro, You going to buy these boots or not". Not really to engaging and makes me feel like your just trying to convert me into a sale. You almost get the feeling that the kids more stoked he can high five the owner after I buy. Bottom line is a consumer of any product doesn't want to feel sold. If your body language shows that your obviously bothered by me taking my time and asking questions. Your making me feel uncomfortable and making me lean toward not buying now. So I can buy at my convenience which would be at home in front of my comp. Why? Because people that are uncomfortable can read return policy's and know what to expect. I don't want to deal with some shops bitchy employees that are mad they cant be on the hill when my Bindings fuck up. Anybody in sales knows a customer that's enjoying himself is engaged, which makes them more likely to buy on impulse. People spend big money in a relaxed comfortable setting that keeps the buyer at ease when making his choice. I cant tell you how many times I've been into a shop and the pitch was. "Bro I just met with DC's reps and they have the sickest boots this year!" Then I ask about pants maybe some gloves just dumb shit to see his response. sure enough he shows me all DC gear. Really? You sure your not trying to win a board or some stupid shit from DC or your shop? If you actually asked me about what I liked and didn't like about my current gear. You could use the info to close me on gear that will make me keep coming back. They show you a jacket and the 1st thing they say is the obvious "Bro its going to keep you super dry!". Really!? Because I totally thought most jackets would make me wet! Every shop had the guy/kid trying to tell you what you should buy because its what they like. Fuck that your making me feel sold because your showing me shit I didn't ask for. I'm not saying every shop needs a guy with slicked back hair standing at the door with a clip board. Just don't expect me to buy from you when you wouldn't buy a TV, Fridge or Furniture under these circumstances.
 
#35 ·
^^^^

This post is dead on. Most of the shops that bitch and moan about people buying online and not supporting local businesses staff their shops with local bro brah kids who can ride a little bit who think they're going to the X-Games because they work in a snowboard shop. The majority of shops I walk into I end up walking right back out of because of the complete douchebaggery of the kids working there.
 
#36 ·
Needed a new pair of laces for my Burton Hails. Called a local shop and they ordered them for me. Just went to pick them up, they gave me them for free and remembered me the last time I was there (back in January). Not anything expensive but its nice to be remembered. Will be shopping locally as long as its available to them.

Thanks to Sno Haus on Long Island.
 
#38 ·
I try buying local. I have two shops in my town and honestly the selection ain't great and finding my big ass size in the limited selection they have is usually impossible.

Like someone said earlier, for soft goods I look for last year's models because I can't throw down $300 for a jacket when I can get last year's version for less than half that cost, in my size and without driving all over the damn place.

Now when I *do* shop online, it's almost exclusively through shops that have a brick and mortar presence. My main stop is snowboards.com because they're affiliated with one of my two local shops.

The one exception to sites with a brick and mortar presence was when I bought from Oakley Vault and that was because two pants with 10,000wp/15,000br for $100 wasn't going to happen anywhere else.
 
#39 ·
For boards I tend to hunt for deals in local shops. One of the local shops here in NYC offers life time board tune up. Whatever you save online you make it back by bringing your board back for tune up through time. Not to mention if you're lucky you get the board half price there PLUS the benefit of lifetime tuneup. If there are no discounts on the boards I like, i then try to find it online. If the discount isn't that much to begin with, i'd rather get it in store. Again for the life time tune up service.

Boots I definitely recommend getting them in the shop. You don't know how well the boots fit your feet and EVERRYYYBODY'S FEET ARE DIFFERENT (shape, arch, width, toe room etc) unless you put them on and walk around in them. Additionally you can try on as many pairs as you like.

Bindings, I do it online. Better deals. Apparel and accessories, most likely online for the discount.

Basically, if there's no discount online I prefer the local shops. My 2 cents.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top