RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

Kevin,

I very much agree with some of your points.

FWIW, I would like to point out I'm not really "siding with BowTech's policies" because I had these same feelings about protected dealers and such before BowTech was born. I've been involved with retail shops for a few years and have felt this way all along.

Let's pretend for a minute that you only have a retail store and you never set up an online store...Would you really still feel this way? Honestly? I know that would be hard to answer...But I myself having never owning a shop know how I would answer that question.

Better yet let's pretend Merlin didn't allow internet sales, would you still be a dealer for them?

Just out of curiosity what bow lines do you carry in your retail shop and which ones allow internet sales and which ones don't? Or don't you carry any lines that don't allow internet sales?

I see nothing wrong with being able to buy a bow (or anything else for that matter) over the net that you could also buy in Wal Mart or such type chain stores...But when a product is exclusive to archery shops/pro shops I say leave it alone.

I'm very aware of the benefits of internet sales "in some cases" and I'm not against internet sales of everything...It has it's place.

In short, I guess I see it like this. BowTech has approx. 600 (+ or -) happy dealers. If they're not happy or agreeable with the dealer policies why would they have chosen to sell the line? Not too many have ever complained about the no internet sales policy.

JMHO, <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

Yes, just bought 2 Crusader longbows. Only saw the pictures and read plenty of forum reviews. LBR (moderator of the Traditional forum) also spoke highly of them. I am very pleased. They're beyond my expectations, but could see getting a bad bow this way.

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

Flip side of that from a consumer. Bowtech is in a shop not 15 miles from my house. However, I live in a small town, have a job that relies on the residents and don't want everyone judging that I make &quot;too much money&quot; because I bought a $750 bow, and take their business elsewhere. People love to gossip, and I don't want to add fuel to the fire, no matter how underserved.

If I were to ever want a bowtech, I would be forced to travel a good distance away where I'm not known. If it were available over the net, and I bought it, and the local shop got a cut of the sale because I reside in their protected territory, and all they had to do was go to the mail box and pick up a check, I can't see them complaining. Everyone wins...

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

I've bought sight unseen and have not been happy - twice. It cost me time and money to set up the bow, test it, then resell it. I've also tested bows that were highly recommended by many on this site and found they are not what I like in a bow.

A beginner will like almost anything they can pull back, because they have no basis for comparison. Even so, they should only buy from a good bow shop. They need too much help at that stage. An experienced shooter like myself who can set up their own equipment and does not need the shop for technical advise, may still be unhappy with a &quot;sight unseen&quot; internet purchase. We are far more picky in what we like and don't like. While there are a lot of top-end bows we would be happy with, there's only one we will like best and there's only one way to find that out for sure. I'm not one to shoot the bows at the local shop and then buy over the internet.

In my opinion, internet bow purchases are okay for those who have had a chance to shoot a bow and know that is the one they want, or those who don't mind the aggrevation and cost of reselling a bow that doesn't quite fill their desires.

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

I, for one, love being able to order over the Internet from my pal Pinwheel and others.
Pinwheel gets me the items I want and his service is outstanding.
Besides, everything Pinwheel has sold me or special ordered for me...
Merlin bows, HTM sight, BuckShot stand etc can't be had at any shop in Louisville, nor can be ordered!
Heck, come to think of it, almost everything I shoot...
Merlin bows, Bowman bows, Red Man bows, Pro Tuner rest, AEP stabilizers, HTM sights, Classic scope etc isn't carried by any Pro Shop within a hundred miles of Louisville.
I'm extremely grateful to Pinwheel 12 and his Pinwheel Products service!
Look at all the fantastic equipment I would have missed without it!


Sag.



Edited by - Sagittarius on 11/21/2002 19:57:31

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I, for one, love being able to order over the Internet from my pal Pinwheel and others.
Pinwheel gets me the items I want and his service is outstanding.
Besides, everything Pinwheel has sold me or special ordered for me...
Merlin bows, HTM sight, BuckShot stand etc can't be had at any shop in Louisville, nor can be ordered!
Heck, come to think of it, almost everything I shoot...
Merlin bows, Bowman bows, Red Man bows, Pro Tuner rest, AEP stabilizers, HTM sights, Classic scope etc isn't carried by any Pro Shop within a hundred miles of Louisville.
I'm extremely grateful to Pinwheel 12 and his Pinwheel Products service!
Look at all the fantactic equipment I would have missed without it!


Sag.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Geez oh Pete Sag. Kevin should pay you to endorse his business so well...<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I guess you've got big problems in your area.

I can either go to shops here locally that stock the same stuff you mentioned or have my dealer order any of it with the exception of Merlin, Bowman and Red Man bows.

Actualy I buy direct from Nunzio, he's got good prices...

Curious, Do Red Man and Bowman offer internet sales? I don't know, just asking...I'll research it...

I've stated in my above posts that I'm not totally against Internet sales...It has it's place...

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

Pat,

Just stating the facts and I am plenty glad to endorse Pinwheel's service. It truly is outstanding!
You can order a Bowman or accessories by calling Stewart or emailing him at his website.
Red Man has no website but you can call Lloyd up and order a bow to your specs and he will ship it to you.
So, when can you ship the G.3.2 to me ? :^)


Sag.

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

Pat-

I also see your direction of thought, and agree with some of your points as well, however I do not agree that the manufacturers have any business putting restrictions on how we dealers sell product. If anything there should be a law that restricts people from going too low, a Minimum advertised price. (which is currently illegal, tho I can't figure that one out, either) Everyone (customers) get at least the same deal that way, and all of the dealers make at least a minimal profit. &quot;Free trade&quot; isn't so free when you restrict sales capabilities, and a MAP pricing structure is a much better alternative than hampering sales which stunts our sports' overall growth, IMO. The overall economy of our Nation would be much better off with this policy intact, the way I see it. Heck what would they say if they said THE MANUFACTURERS could only make a X% margin on each bow instead of letting them decide how much they wanted to make? Right,it wouldn't fly with them. Same feelings as us dealers when we have additional capabilities of generating income staring us in the face but cannot capitalize on them due to these &quot;restrictions&quot;. That's why I cater to those who cater to me. Works great all the way around, and everyone doesn't feel like they're getting shafted. Seems guys like Sag (thanks, Sag, much appreciated!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) are liking this &quot;that's why I cater to those who cater to me&quot; also and go that route too. If you give great service and sell many various products with no restrictions, those customers are going to come back for more of that great service, and the product becomes more popular due to increased exposure, common sense. Dealers are just customers on the next rung of the ladder, and manufacturers have to cater to them and their needs, just as we dealers have to do so for our customers.

And making money is a definate NEED for most Archery dealers that I know!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> It keeps us in business and allows us to stock more and various product lines for customers to see (or order!) Restrictions of any kind only hamper that process.

I seem to remember now that back when I was the first Bowtech dealer in my area (and basically the only one on the boards who knew anything about them and even YOU were asking me questions about them,<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> remember those days, Pat?) that you had the same thoughts about internet trade. So I retract and apologize about the &quot;siding with Bowtechs policies&quot; statement. My bad.

And again, as I've also stated to you before numerous times, I can readily order most any bow on the market, save but a few &quot;pro-shop&quot; only bows whose lines I do not carry. All of the &quot;who's, what's, etc.&quot; about those that allow internet sales and who do not and my association with them, are as you have stated yourself, none of your business. (no offense! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) It is very obvious by the voicings and thoughts of my customers that my business is working, so IMO I feel you personally should be more concerned with more important issues rather than worrying about MY business, as it is not really relevant to the overall discussions at hand for anything other than a simple reference towards overall sales policies, which we have already covered. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I do not want that to come across wrong or have you feel that I'm being harsh, merely stating that my business association levels are my personal business. That's all. You are always welcome to submit a price request on any product, and my staff will readily inform you as to the availability and price of that individual product. Thanks for respecting my thoughts and privacy, <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

And speaking of the Bowtechs, the new Patriot dually looks to be a nice bow, and the slip-on string silencers that do not lose speed will be a big hit for those who feel they do not want to lose a few feet during hunting season. I see they are leaning toward the twin cams more, just as alot of other companies are this year because sales are definately up on the twins. I'll be looking forward to speaking with Kevin again at the AMO show down at the tryout range,(and yourself if you are there <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) and checking out the 2003 lineup. Good shooting, Pinwheel 12









Edited by - Pinwheel 12 on 11/22/2002 07:09:55

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

Nope, I've got to shoot it first.

J. Shoot


Searching

RE: I'm taking a poll..All replies welcome...
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Flip side of that from a consumer. Bowtech is in a shop not 15 miles from my house. However, I live in a small town, have a job that relies on the residents and don't want everyone judging that I make &quot;too much money&quot; because I bought a $750 bow, and take their business elsewhere. People love to gossip, and I don't want to add fuel to the fire, no matter how underserved.

If I were to ever want a bowtech, I would be forced to travel a good distance away where I'm not known. If it were available over the net, and I bought it, and the local shop got a cut of the sale because I reside in their protected territory, and all they had to do was go to the mail box and pick up a check, I can't see them complaining. Everyone wins...

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

rangeball,

If you are that caught up in what everyone else thinks about you then I truely feel sorry for you.

Protect your hunting rights, &quot;Spay or neuter a liberal.&quot;