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Here's my two cents... take it as you will, but it is very personal to me. I own a retail / B2B business NOT related to hobbies. However, I have found direct proof of the difference of online versus in store purchases. First of all, I support my LHS with great allegience. They have bailed me out of trouble on many turns. Let me say right now, that I understand that not everyone has that level of access to great customer service. That is exactly the point though. If I want to have something that they don't have in stock, I go to them with my request. They have good buying power (read: they buy a heck of a lot more than I do,) which means they are normally able to find new products at equal or marginally more expensive prices than I can. Let me make it clear here, that I trust this and don't spend my money (TIME,) searching behind their backs. I do this because of the trust they have engendered. It saves me money not to have to research, purchase, and wait for online items. (Heck, I put together Walther's orders for myself, print them and take them in, the prices are right there, and they beat it!) In the event that I want a discontinued or out of stock item, I check them first. They readily admit their weakness and suggest I look further. I have some definate opinions about the "Ebay" mentality out there. I have made good money on EBAY. I also occasional purchase items not found locally through EBAY. I support my local businesses FIRST. Why? Because they ARE the free market friends. So what did I sell? Vintage hard to find items. I employ over 12 people in my retail business. They rely on our customers as much as I do. They are not faceless people out there who move quantity and split the same margin with fewer dependents. That is the real problem with the "global" economy. Pick a fight here people. If you want cheaper, don't complain when jobs leave our country for places where money means more for less. Don't complain when huge corporations rake in the cash and the little guy means less to the overall bottom line. I am always amazed when someone shops us over the internet. Normally, if the product is genuinely the same, the price is normally not more than 10% different. Why? Because it costs the same to get the manufacturer to part with the product they create for EVERYBODY. Sure, I don't buy in the volume of Mr. Basement wholesaler. I also have a great deal more overhead (my employees are worth it.) Not to mention all of the customers who buy their stuff online, break it, don't like it, then bring it to me demanding that I satisfy them on behalf of the product. Yet, if you come to us and say what you want, you can walk away and we will shop for you. Pay for the talent, time, service, and convenience. Now, if customer support is not worth it, then we don't deserve the extra pay. So, there it is, it is about SERVICES. Look at the shipping, returns, damage in transit, untrue claims, shady business practices, sweat shop type manufacturing, questionable cash flow.... Who are you giving money to? What do they support? What if the person on the other end supports all of the groups and special interests that you absolutely would stand against. We publicly support LOCAL projects, community services, scholarships, and people see where we spend our time and money. See, your dollar is a vote. Most of the money on the online market is voting against the American worker. It sounds like some patriotic stand, but who do you think hires local workers? Why is it that almost all of the major computer corporations have hired overseas companies to cut their cost so they can be cheaper than the competition? Why is the steel industry in so much pain? Because in some countries it is cheaper to build a car than here, so we have to go to their suppliers to match their costs. They aren't buying here either! No, it is not practical for everyone to use a LHS. But it drives me nuts to see people take the hardline of wanting everything cheaper, and cheaper, and free. There is no such thing. Eventually it will all hit bottom. Then where do you go? When all of your neighbors stop buying your companies products, who will pay your wages, pension, etc...? It is the same vicious cycle. It really does impact you eventually. Yes, competition is healthy. But anything in excess can be fatal. Try harder to support your local businesses, NOT just your LHS. Go to them with your concerns, your needs, your requests. Let them try for your business. DON'T go in showing how much cheaper some dude with an online storefront that is actually in Bangladesh, and who's cousin "finds" deals in the back of semi's he drives. But make it clear how much you feel the item should be, and exactly what the item (part number) is. You will be amazed to find that because you picked the item, they will lower their margin on it. (Less overhead, less risk, less time on task for them = less cost to add to the product.) Thanks for the opportunity to respond. Just consider these points as a personal view of someone who has tried most angles of business, and has approached this through the years with an open mind. I am not slamming anybody, just voicing some concerns based upon experience.
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