WHO says it's part of doing business?
As a paying customer, I do.
IF it were part of doing business the catalog places would deliver and install
Not possible, that is why thay are called mail order 
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your oil changes would be free and every service on that BMW would also be free
A lot of places they are free, you pay for the oil and the filter, the trick here is once your in the shop you might buy something else.And BTW, I don't own a BMW, that's a yuppie car isnt it? 
[quote][I can point out 3 closed bow shops within 15 minutes of my house that TRIED to be everyone's "Friend" and work for free/quote]
No one said try to be a friend, more so if you sell it include installation, suggested retail will allow that in most cases, if not charge a few $ but be up front with it.
You buy a TV at Walmart they don't install it and hook it up to your cable etc etc. They may at some fancy Big Screen store... but the price is built in.
In this senario I would call WalMart the catalog store because of price and the fancy big screen store as the pro shop, you said what I said above, the price is built in.
I would expect a "union guy" to know such things.Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck.
You calling me a union guy [X(]? Never happen
Now some quotes from Len:
I tried the 'friend' form of persuasion with a lot of customers when I first opened my business. It DOESN'T work if you want to stay in business.
No one said be my friend unless I missed it. I for one do not ask for a proprietor to be my friend, I ask him for customer service. If I go to him and purchase an item that is priced $30 or so higher then wherever I expect it to be installed. I buy a bowling ball at a pro shop and they drill it for no charge, it's included in the price of the ball, buy the ball on line and it is much cheaper. By the way I do not bowl 
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I've had customers come into the store to get those 'specialty' items that the big chains/catalogs don't carry; or to get service that surely doesn't appear in the big chains/catalogs. After they get what they want and complain about the prices charged, they cater to the big chains/catalogs for all their other needs.
But you got his bussissnes if not only for one sale. That's one more sale you otherwise would not have gotten.
I'm expected to give the best service possible when a problem arises, only charge a nominal fee
I assume you are talking "after the sale and the customer returns at a later date with a problem. If my assumption is right there should be a fee unless it's warrented. There should be no problem at the onset
and not allowed to make more than the big chains/catalogs on other items like bow cases, sights, rests, etc. If I am competitive with the big chains/catalogs, then I CAN'T charge for proper installation. GIVE ME A BREAK!
You are makeing more by charging suggested retail or in some cases more. You will have people that walk out with the purchase and those that carry their bow into the shop and want it installed, pretty much an even wash I would think, but then I'm not in the bussisness. Mind you Len I am not baggering you, just stating my opinions or debating if you will .
If I have a good customer whose budget can manage for me to make a buck, I will service that customer like a 'preferred' customer. If I have a customer who only contacts me when he/she can't get the part or proper service anywhere else, then I will charge a little extra. After all, no matter what I charge won't be cheap enough; so, why worry about it
In other words cater to the rich and stick it to the not so rich [
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