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ActionSportsWA said..As a retailer myself, I can urge you to support bricks and mortar shops if at all possible. The price for marine electronics doesn't vary too wildly even in sale situations.
I have bought both online and also from a "real" store. It costs a real store more to stock and keep products, and to pay staff to answer questions, help with advice, and have a selection of stuff to browse through. If the costs isn't too far apart, at least ask the bricks and mortar guys if they will match, or at least try to get close to the guys who pay no staff or have a real rent to pay.
I always end up waiting 2-3 weeks for stuff from online sellers as they either drop ship or have to order items in which is super annoying. If you have an issue with an item you bought from a real store, you can take it straight back and have it dealt with quickly.
I currently use Raymarine for CP and AP and can speak highly of their phone help service. I bought a Lowrance Link 8 VHF DSC AIS from Whitworths and can speak highly of their service and that of the unit itself. I nearly lost a new custom mast as the company went into receivership just as it was waiting for shipping. This costs me an urgent emergency, 3 day drive PER-MEL-PER, three days off work, and a fortune in KM's and fuel in my car. It would have cost me $11,000 if I didn't jump in the car and head over immediately.
I've found by shopping regularly at the local shops, I've developed a relationship with the guys that work in the stores and now enjoy a friendly welcome as well as time with them when I have issues that require advice and suggestions from people in the know.
Buying online can be great, but if it goes wrong, you would likely happily have paid the difference in cost, two times over, to have bought it at a store you can walk into to resolve.
If we don't support walk in shops, they will eventually disappear, and then we won't have the choice.
That's my 2c worth.
This is the solution, in my mind.
I was a fisherman long before a surfer (twas familiar with Seabreeze, being my go-to for wind forecast). Not a sailor, but have a boat - and this sailing forum is interesting to me.
I'm lucky to have an amazing independent tackle store near me. Because I shop there regularly, and have for years, and arguably put half their kids through college on my expenditure, the discounts they give me are are least comparable to that big blue chain store, and online.
It's the relationship that's key, and what we're losing with online shopping. Actually, the expertise is probably the bigger loss.
But on the relationship, I recently decided I wanted to go back to making my own jig heads, as I did many years ago.
Went into the store to order up the hooks.
Old mate in the shop said no one has ordered those in years (that'd be me), and didn't know if they were even still available.
I said that websites X, Y and Z still offer them, so I assume they're still available?
He said he'd look into it for me, but if I wanted them quickly, to order them from one of said online retailers.
I said I can wait. The hooks came into the shop. And with the discount they threw at me, was at least comparable if not cheaper than online.... and everything else I bought in the shop while picking up the hooks was heavily discounted for me too.
The relationship with the bricks n mortar shops is so important. All my fishing purchases are through that particular shop, because I know I can rely on their expertise.
Go the brick and mortar store.....
Windjana
> 9 months ago, 24 Mar 2024
