It doesn't always pay to shop locally

[belfert]

I needed some tape reflectors for my bus and a trailer store seemed like a good place to get them since I needed grease seals for my trailer axles also.  Prices seemed pretty much in line with what I expected on those items.

While I was there I decided to buy a 6" oval LED light for my trailer in case one of my trailer lights burned out on my upcoming trip.  The price was $20 and I thought that seemed fairly decent so I bought one.  After I got one home I did some checking and it turns out I could have purchased that same light for $18 including shipping from a reputable online store.

I understand local stores need to charge more as they have higher overhead, but when I can buy a $20 item for $10 elsewhere it starts to get a little out of hand.  Now, I had checked on 6" oval LED lights from several other manufacturers earlier in the day and they sold online for close to $25.  So, I thought $20 was a bargain, but I guess Optronics charges less than the others.

[NJT 5573]

You will still be happier with local parts in the long run, what if you get a bad one or need to return it? Service is part of the equation.

[belfert]

I buy plenty of stuff locally.  Most of the time when I order stuff online I can't find it locally.  The trailer place won't accept returns on electrical so I am stuck with the light anyhow.

I kinda figured on the light I couldn't buy it online for any less with shipping so I bought it.  It certainly isn't the end of the world.  I can't recall the last time I bought something online and it was defective.  I did return some Bargman lights in June as I didn't like them, but I couldn't find anyone with them locally.  Nobody locally had the LED version of the lights.

I've tried to get some Grote lights and flashers from Catco recently, but they had to special order them so I figured I might as well get them online for less money if I have to wait.

[buddydawg]

The price was $20 and I thought that seemed fairly decent so I bought one.  After I got one home I did some checking and it turns out I could have purchased that same light for $18 including shipping from a reputable online store.

I don't consider $2 on a $20 item to be that far out of line, especially when you can have the item in hand immediately.  I shop the internet for prices/deals before purchasing many items but sometimes there is nothing like being able to put your hands on the product.

[belfert]

Yes, the difference is only $2 with shipping included, but my real beef is paying $20 for an item that Ryder Fleet Products sells for $9.99.  Others online sell for around $12.

I didn't need the item right away and Ryder only charges $8 for shipping up to $100 worth.  I have been ordering from Ryder somewhat regularly recently and I even have an order for flashers on back order.  I probably would have just ordered two if I went with Ryder so I'm down to $14 each.

[John Z]

I have to agree with Brian, at least in some cases. I recently wanted some marker lights for my bus. I went to NAPA and asked about LED markers. The 2" grommet mount light was about 7.00, the grommet was a couple more, the pigtail was also a couple more, and the plastic chrome grommet cover was another 7.00. I told the girl "thanks, but i think i will wait a bit on those." Well i waited until i got home at least. I quickly found the same light complete with grommet, pigtail and cover for 8.00 with free shipping! Online, the chrome covers were 0.95 and NAPA wanted 7.00 for that item!!! I am really starting to hate shopping at NAPA due to their many different price levels - i just never know how much extra i am paying. Guess i will just start going there for reference info, then go home and order it.

[buswarrior]

I wonder how much theft the online store gets from its employees, versus the store front having to suffer theft from both employees and customers?

There's a heavy price to pay having merchandise out in the open that we never see.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[belfert]

NAPA has a line of lights made by Truck-Lite, but with NAPA packaging.  Part numbers are even the same.  NAPA wanted $80 for a light that I could get from Ryder for $40!  The NAPA guy said his cost was supposedly more than what I could buy the light for.

[JackConrad]

I try to suppport local businesses so they will be there when I need something NOW, with in reason. When they want $275 for a 24 volt truck type alternator and I can drive 50 miles and pay $120 for the same alternator, guess where I bought my alternator. I usually only use mail order for items I cannot find locally.  Jack

[kyle4501]

I"m with Jack. I do what I can to support the local guy when it is within reason.

The cost of the added overhead of a store front has to come from somewhere. . . .
The benefit of having a knowledgeable sales staff that can help make sure you are getting the right part for your needs is worth something.

The reason knowledgeable sales staff is getting harder to find is because they are starving to death due to the wal-mart mentality - price driven, with no realistic consideration for quality or service.

If you can look up the part # without any help, fine. But, if you need someone to determine the # for you, you should expect to pay for that. After all, there is a different skill level required & there is a pay grade associated with skill.

How many of us can make a living working for free?

You can't have it both ways.

[Runcutter]

I had this discussion recently, with someone at the local woodworking store.  She is a newer woodworker, and mentioned that she goes to the woodworking store to see the products and learn, but then orders them online to save money.

I asked her where she'd gain her knowledge, if lack of sales caused the woodworking store to close?  She had no answer.  Personally, I'm in there 1-3 times a week, it's much like the old General Store.  I learn about tools and techniques, catch up on the jokes and gossip, etc.

A friend of mine had a model railroad store in Massachusetts - until the internet ran him out of business.

My point is that, in patronizing local businesses, we keep them (and their knowledge) there when we need them.  We keep our sales taxes in our community, maintaining and creating jobs.  A couple of years ago, I stopped into a local RV repair shop, to see if they did state inspections.  They didn't, but could tell me exactly where to go (for a 4107).  If I need something done within their range of work, I'll go there - just to keep them there when I need them.   

In some cases, there is a price point.  We have a local hardware store that carries just about every oddball left handed grub screw that you could want.  Their inventory carrying costs are high, so their prices are high.  If I want a run of the mill nail, I'll go to Home Depot (which, by the way, employs neighbors).  For the specialty items, I'll go to Turner Hardware.  I don't know how to go on line with a left handed metric grub screw to say "I need one of these, by the way, what is it?"

Arthur     

[belfert]

I"m with Jack. I do what I can to support the local guy when it is within reason.

I always buy local when the price is within reason as you say.  I buy a fair bit of stuff from Napa (and other auto parts stores), Catco, and heavy truck dealers.  I'm not going to go to a local guy for help and not buy there unless the price is totally outrageous.  I just bought some grease seals for my trailer for a few bucks more than online, but I wasn't sure what I needed so I needed their help.  The price with shipping would have cost more anyhow.

When I buy online it is often because I can't someone local who carries it.  Often times I suspect there might be some obscure place that carries it locally, but heck if I can find them.  If someene has to special order an item and they charge 50% to 100% more I'll just go home and order it.  There are times when I order something and the shipping is more than the item because I can't find it locally.

I went to a local car audio place and looked at some simple 6x9 speaker enclosures made in China for $29 each.  It seemed like a ripoff and I found I can get a pair of them made in the USA for $13 online.  I could buy four with shipping for $45 and the local guy wanted $58 for just two of them.  The guy really had no interest in selling me a sound system for my bus so I had no qualms about ordering elsewhere.  I ended up ordering a slighty different style of 6x9 enclosure online for a total of $52.  (Unfortunately, probably made in China.)

[kyle4501]

I always buy local when the price is within reason as you say. 

My bad,
I thought a couple of bucks was well within reason . . . .

I'd pay $10 bucks extra to be able to put my hands on something - especially if matching up mattered.


Sometimes, the on line picture looks better than the actual part . . . .

[JohnEd]

I have told more than a few local merchants "you don't have to be cheaper...just close" and they agreed with my selection criteria/decision point.  Agreed!

John

[cody]

Our biggest problem with shopping locally is that nothing is local, we have the friendly neighborhood hardware store that we can get the nuts and bolts from but we have no rv dealers and any of the larger stores like walmart are a 70 mile drive, we have a napa thats 45 miles away but other than that we really don't have a lot of options, if we want anything particular we most often have to go online to find it, even our local DD is 90 miles away and insist that detroit never made a 2 stroke cause they make diesels, not weed eaters.