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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.
 
#41 · (Edited)
I would say local shops for me have been 50/50.

I have size 14 feet and the shop owner sold me a reg width NS heritage, I sold it to donutz for what i paid for it so it worked out.

Another shop told me that all companies have shrinktech, they don't. My burton 13s have a smaller foot print then the 12.5 salomons.

When looking for a board for my wife (just starting), i asked for a reverse camber board, he advised me to get her reg camber (i get that there is a difference of opinion) he then showed me a reverse camber board for her. I just left.

Actually i guess its not 50/50, i have had more negative experiences in shops then positive ones. I guess thats the reason im on here, its less bias and people ride lots of different brands.

The only real downside to here is the intense love of NS lol.
 
#42 ·
Fuck local shop. Every time i buy something from there, they rip me off. I just cant be bothered with outrageous shipping rates to Canada from USA. They are usually owned by people that are in it for the money, they never carry something you like or want so you always have to settle for something different, once you enter the store your forced to buy something or your not welcome to the store anymore, I know more then the people working for the store, They dont discount last years stuff, they overhype everything including burton, they cant ride for shit, they dont know how to wax a board properly - forcing ME to buy THEIR burton iron for 70 bucks. Ouch. Never give me any stickers - you have to pay for them, no bro deals EVER, the hours there open are whack shit.. And i could go on, but all that i still buy from them. I guess i like to think they like me.
 
#43 · (Edited)
For me it's a simple matter of logistics, I live in Nebraska, not a lot of local shops that sell snowboard stuff. Hell not a lot of places sell wakeboard shit either which surprises me with all the lakes around here. The only place that carries either is a box store, and there is just something I don't like about buying overpriced shit that is stuffed in the corner behind the fucking golf clubs.

However, if I did live in the mountains I would for sure check local shops first. I would still be the same off season/outdated/close out cheapskate I am now though. The points made are the type of service you get from said local shops. By the time I get to Summit Co. I've dropped a considerable amount already, lift tickets, lodging, gas ect. and I already have all my shit. I do however browse a lot of the shops, just to actually see and feel the various products so when shopping online I know what to look for. I don't waste anyone's time trying on boots, or asking a shitload of questions. If I do try stuff on it's because I'm going to buy something, most of the time it's something little, I got my current gloves, and goggles at A-Basin (I always buy something there because I love the place). If I get a good vibe from a shop I'll buy something even if it's only a t-shirt, most of the time all it takes is a smile and a "can I help you" If it's some snot nosed little brat that looks down his nose at me cause I'm "just browsing" then I wonder around the store mean muggin the little bastard, while I try on 30 different jackets :cheeky4:

It's like the place I have my board tuned, can't think of the name of it right now. It's the little tune shop downtown Breck that is run by an old hippy dude. I asked around a couple places and most were like "he's just here for a tune, it's 40 bucks now fuck off and don't waste my time" When I walked into that little shop and saw that dude smiling ear to ear tuning some ski's and he stopped what he was doing to ask if he could help me, I knew I found the place I was going to spend my money. He even let me watch him work and gave me a few pointers about tuning. I know I can buy a tune kit and do it myself, but ya know what, I won't because of that old guys attitude, he deserves my business.

Deserving my business brings up another point. I grew up at the end of an era where the customer is king, and pretty much everything was locally owned. I grew up with the work ethic that you do a good job because that's what you are PAID to do. In today's world the Wal-Mart attitude has ruined all that, it's like thank you for your hard earned cash, now fuck off NEXT! I sold cars in the early 90's and believe me if you were a pushy asshole you didn't sell many cars. I went to the local Dodge dealership a couple weeks ago to look at a used truck they had on their back lot. It was priced at 3000, didn't look bad on the CL ad. I get there after calling and talking to a sales rep on the phone, and the thing was a total POS leaking oil, interior trashed, brakes shot. The motor was solid, and trans felt good so I made an offer of 1800, the salesman takes the offer to his manager, came back in 3 seconds with a flat NO. I asked to talk to the manager, to see what the bottom dollar on it was, he wouldn't budge. I made the off hand comment as I was getting ready to leave that the car sales game sure had changed. He stopped me to ask what I meant. I told him in my days of selling cars we would have made a counter offer, or tried to find a different car on the lot that would work. He looked down his nose at me and said "Do I look like I'm here to sell $3000 cars"? Then he asked me why I got out of selling cars, I told him it's cause I'm not enough of an asshole and walked out.
 
#44 ·
My buddy's shop Wake n Skate is in West Omaha, just a little skip from Lincoln. They'll order something for you too so you don't waste a trip. I used to hit Lincoln all the time for various reasons when I was in Omaha, its a short lil drive! Ask for Nick or Rob and tell em Sushi Drew sentcha!
 
#46 ·
I fucking hated Omaha for the 6 years I lived there. There's actually a pretty decent food scene (I cook) there, really great Continental, European Chefs, Chinese and Japanese, and great Vietnamese in Lincoln too!

Meth :thumbsdown:
 
#49 · (Edited)
for those of you complaining about shops charging too much need to learn how shit works. When you pick up your board from a tune pay cash and bring beer. I promise that is a gesture that will not be forgotten and will pay dividends much greater then the cost of the beer.

it's not fucking rocket science people.
 
#50 ·
I mainly buy most of my stuff online now because of my local shop. Too many "incorrect" sales pitches (Never Summer is made in Europe, all Burton jackets are goretex, etc., etc.)

I have had good experiences online and over the phone with Brick & Mortar places and I fully intend to shop there in person when I'm in their neck of the woods, but they're 100's of miles away.
 
#54 · (Edited)
well, I would have to say some of the blame lays on the customer, esp if they didn't get a receipt. and that kind of scenario is NOT supporting your local shop. It's supporting your local dirt bag. I've done plenty of donating to that charity, it's called dating ;)
 
#55 ·
Well I will buying for the first time this year. Last year was my first year ever and I traded my mountain bike for a used board, boots and bindings. I had been going into a local shop last season while inquiring about boards to buy and other info. They were super awesome, greatly helpful, super fun and ultimately let me demo a NS Raptor and Cobra before the season ended. Needless to say I am more than happy to spend my $$ there as I know I will be treated right!
 
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