oregonhunter

I have always purchased my bows bare bones straight from the company, then just bought all of the other goodies separately to find the best price. I am going to be buying a bow from my local bow shop in a few weeks. Obviously I love the bow I am getting, but I also really like the owner, as he is a pretty good friend of mine. Do ya think I would be offending him (or do they do it at all) by buying the stripped bow there and getting my acc. elsewhere for him to put on?

The bow is at a really good price, but the mark-up on the rests/stab./etc. are OUTRAGEOUS, and I really don't want to burn an extra 100 beans just to be politically correct.

Thanks for the input.

Chad

Pinwheel 12

Chad-

While it may not be "politically correct" to do such things, some techs and dealers will install the accessories anyway. I do, I figure if I am getting some business from a customer it is better than none, and that customer will learn to have faith in me and my services, and eventually just buy everything from me anyway. It's all about trust, and comparative pricing.

If you like the dealer/tech that you are dealing with, and trust him to work on your stuff, then the only other reason you would go anywhere else is price, right? If your dealer could get the same equipment for around the same price, wouldn't you buy it from him? Sure you would! So I tell my customers to come to me with proof of a better quoted price, and I'll either match it or beat it, especially if it is a regular customer who spends money with me more than just occasionally. Most reputable dealers will do this, and it benefits not only you as a customer, but them as well to have repeat customers coming back on a regular basis. Communication between you and your dealer is key, and you may just want to go in and ask him this same question. If you are regularly spending money there, I personally cannot see a huge problem, but then again everyone is an individual, and you know your dealer better than I do. Good shooting, Pinwheel 12

pinmaster

If the owner of your local shop is like the owner of the shop that I shoot for, the accesories are where he makes most of his money. The mark-up on most bows isn't that great and because the shop IS his living he has to make a living.

>>>------------>
Pinmaster - At Home In The 11 Ring!
>>>------------>

oregonhunter

I agree Pinwheel, and you are probably correct in your thinking. I just don't want to irk him off, and I would like to think that we are good enough friends (and also a customer) that he would match some of those prices as you said. Obviously I will be going in often for tuning, range time, etc., so he will no doubt know what my goodies are and that I didn't get them there if that is how it pans out...I just don't want to offend him in any way, as I really like him.

Pinmaster, that may be the case, but as a consumer I am out to find the best deal possible, not to make sure he can afford a new quad for his son. Regardless of how good of a deal I may be getting on the bow, or so I think, believe you me, he is still making a chunk of change off it it....not to mention all the tuning and nick-nacks all of us buy throughout the year which adds up to much more than we ever think.

Chad



"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

--Albert Einstein

Pinwheel 12

Chad-

I reiterate, if you truly like him and his service, at what price will you go to for that service? Are the additional costs of his accessories worth the price of admission and not having him get "ticked" at you? Only you can answer that.

One other thing you should know about--

Pro-shops cost money to run, and most dealers buy things on a much smaller scale than say places like Cabelas or other discounters and do not get the volume discounts like they do, thus they are paying more for the individual products to begin with. They are not making any more on it than the discounters are,(most of them anyway) so don't feel you are getting the shaft because a dealer may have higher prices, it is normally moreso because of the higher price that they have to pay in most instances, and their profit margins are based on their projected sales. Discounters can make their profits in volume sales, and get the volume order breaks from manufacturers. Like I've said before, it's a tough business to be in because it is so "dog-eat-dog", and we all as consumers look for the best deal possible. My thinking is that it may just be worth a few extra bucks for that better service and a trusting dealer? Good shooting, Pinwheel 12

ampahunter

If I can add my two cents worth, I will begin by saying that I do agree with the replys, to a very good question and this is something I myself have personally experienced quite a bit. My hunting buddy owns and operates his own Bow Pro Shop and most times I get a good peek at his costs and obviously, is aware of his retail prices on these items. As mentioned earlier, his volumes are no-where close to Cabelas or Bass Pro--neither is his operational costs, but there's also the smaller outdoor shops to compete with and sometimes their prices does not differ that much. In your case, you're picking a $100 saving, buying your accessories elsewhere..but to put a 'price' on friendship isn't something easy for me to do. It's more about the 'balance'. Yes, I do buy things more expensive at my buddy's shop compared to other suppliers, sometimes, but if and when I damage something on my bow, break a fiber optic pin, need a few vanes replaced, change my cable or string on my bow and the list goes on--most times this is all 'on the house'--no charge. For me, it's how far I will go to save a penny and what's the balance in what lies ahead. Of course,if indeed you're a good friend with the owner--you should bring him up-to-speed with the competitor prices--not to sound as though you were shopping around--but let's face it, he has to be competitive to survive the 'rat-race'also and you could very well be doing him a good,opening his eyes to what's out there. Smetimes it's hard for them to beat the prices because of different volume discounts, but most times a good businessman/woman will do whatever he/she can to satisfy their customers. For me it's hard to put price on genuine people, someone I can depend on, sometimes you win---sometimes you lose--balancing the sides will keep you on level ground....let your conscience be your guide. Just my opinion.

oregonhunter

Thank you Ampahunter, well said.

I may have overstated my friendship with the owner. I consider him a friend, but only based on my visits to the shop, it isn't like we are meeting outside the shop for a few brews. I do like the man, and yes, I do realize he doesn't have near the overhead of a big timer, but 100 beans is a 100 beans...and that is a low estimate of the differences if I hunted around pretty hard. I guess I just struggle virtually handing the owner an extra 100 bucks when he rolls up in a 40K truck vs. my 10K'r....know what I mean? I'm just saying, a 100 bones is a lot of money to me and I'm not sure I am wanting to spend it out of goodwill alone.

DAMNIT....my wife was just reading this over my shoulder and told me I was buying everything at the shop for the same reasons ya'll just wrote.....ahhumm..........you were right and I was wrong. <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_shy.gif border=0 align=middle> Maybe I'm just a cheap bastard. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate all of your input. I tell ya, I am SOOOOO glad I found this site, it has helped me immensely with a plethura of issues. I just wish some people wouldn't get so darned angry, obviously we are not all going to agree on everything, but that is the beauty of a forum like this, it give us a place to get OPINIONS!

Chad

&quot;Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.&quot;

--Albert Einstein


Edited by - oregonhunter on 11/16/2002 22:18:38

Trushot_archer

IMHO I always go the straight arrow route...i.e. tell the Pro shop guy this stuff. Tell him you like the shop, you like the service, but you think his accesories are a little steep. Ask him to put himself in your position and ask him what he would do. Maybe there are the...&quot;well if you buy the stuff here we..._______&quot; that makes it worth it. Or maybe he'll say &quot;I'd like you to buy it here, but you can get it cheaper, I just can't compete due to volume&quot;.

Either way I think talking to him about it is best. He gets the consumer angle and you get closer to answer.

Just me....

Trushot }}------>

oregonhunter

Another point well taken Trushot, thanks.

Chad

jgttechjunkie

This question comes up in other areas, not just archery. The local boutique store has to offer more personalized service to compete against the cheaper giant distributers, otherwise they will fail.
I have friends that are car dealers and run computer businesses, but I usually buy my goods elsewhere, for one reason or another. If they take offense they do it silently. Friendship goes two ways - I might be willing to give a friend the benefit of the doubt, but I don't want to be taken advantage of by a friend either.
I can say that in businesses that I own the most successful salespeople are the ones who establish relationships with customers, deliver service in such a way that price is a secondary issue. These same salespeople are less effective with buyers who have to stick to a strict budget, but even in such a situation they will ask a customer how much they are willing to spend, and then try to find a solution that meets the budget. The best salesperson I know can walk into a situation and be told that he has lost a deal. Instead of just slinking away depressed, he will immediately volunteer that the customer must need some of this other stuff. The customer, already feeling guilty about not giving the salesperson the original business, buys the other stuff related to the purchase. Sometimes the accessories total more than the original purchase and they can be much more profitable.

So what I am saying here is that it is the business of salespeople to establish relationships and to use them to further sales. It is in the self interest of customers to discipline their purchases so they know how much they want to spend and what they want to accomplish. Don't let &quot;guilt&quot; come into it unless you want to or can afford it.