Buying from shops vs. online

PurpleDino

PurpleDino

Active member
So when I was doing a job interview at my local ski shop, we were trying to figure out how to get more park kids to buy stuff from shops. Why does everyone buy online? Just because prices are cheaper? What would make you rather buy from a shop then online?
 
Cheaper Prices, much more convenient, much better selection/higher chance of teh interwebs having the ski that you want etc. etc.
 
most NS'ers don't have a bunch of $ to throw around, and if buying online means they can get sick gear whenever they want for less, they will get their stuff online.
 
I buy on d-structure because the prices are so cheap and they usally have deal where you can get free bindings with a pair of skis or 20% off. Ski shop don't ever offer anything like that, so i buy online.
 
i've never bought online mainly because i don't trust the shipping if my shit gets lost.

and because of the price of shipping too, especially in canada
 
Too me most of these fucking skis are just about the same at my level of skiing, so fuck it I support my local shop. The guys know a lot more than the description online and many have ridden the product they are selling me. And the more they see your face the more they like the fact of what you are doing and give you discounts and keep an eye out for you on the slopes. I get killer deals and have not paid retail for anything in the while cuz of the bond with my shop. ooo and you get cred at your local mountain usually.

Sparknotes. buying from shops helps out in the long run
 
To me most of these fucking skis are just about the same at my level of skiing, so I try to find the cheapest ones on NS. Gear talk knows a lot more about the skis than what the description says online and the seller has ridden the product they are selling me. and the more they see your username the more they will like you and hook you up, as well as give you good feedback. i get killer deals on hardly used products and have not paid CLOSE to retail for anything in the while cuz of the bond with all of the NS'ers. ooo and you get cred at your local mountain for the stickers that come on the skis sometimes.

sparknotes: this can work both ways.
 
craigslist and eBay dont sponsor skiers or support local events, so I try to support local shops or at least ski sites that give back to the community
 
That's such a dick move. If you get proper boot fitter he is going to make sure you get a right fit but expects you to buy from the shop. Kind of a disrespectful thing to do.
 
Yeah but its not like its his obligation to buy their product. Id do the same thing 'cause the only store in my town that sells full tilt is sold out of much of their product that fits me.
 
my local shop usually doesn't carry the brands i support but if they have the brand and the product i want i would buy from the shop just to support them
 
That is for real true. I worked in a shop this year and none of our "regular" customers pay full retail and they get tunes and all the service shit for free.

Support local ski shops because they really appreciate it.
 
quite honestly I know more about the skis than the salesman and would rather do it all myself then deal with them. and my local is a huge chain and selling one less pair of skis is not a big deal.
 
I think it's more of selection to be honest. Around here no one carries Armada or Line skis- mostly because there's a tone of older skiers that support brands like K2 and Atomic (no disrespect whatsoever.) And there's also brands that most ski shops don't carry like Fat-ypus and Liberty skis- really good skis that aren't available here.. but truly- if any local place carried those brands I would buy from them. Support local business.
 
At my local shop we have Line and K2 and that's it. They're having trouble getting something to attract park riders. I really want to try and get Liberty's in the shop and maybe Armada's too. We should have a poll of what company skis people would want in a local shop
 
I've pretty grown up with my shop. My dad has been taking me there and buying things ever since I started skiing. Even before I skied he used to go there. Now that I can go in by myself and buy things I have some cred and know many of the workers very well. They also have a good park section and sponsor all of the local comps. Because of that I feel like shopping there helps to make my own skiing experience better. On top of that it's convenient, you get discounts the more you go in, and the shop is 15 minutes from my house. On top of that, there is a branch shop at my home mountain. I support them and always tell people to go in there.

Sparknotes: Local shops are better in the long run, If they are legit then they'll give a little back for your time and money spent there.
 
The shops that seem to be very successful really try and reach out to their customer base and build a community within/around the shop. Hosting small parties to release new gear and having free beer, drinks etc. is one great way, sponsoring comps, just getting involved in the scene. If people respect you and like what you are doing, then they will want to come in and support your shop.
 
Legit shop near my house. The only one is at my hone mountain but they sell everything at retail price so like the cheapest skis are $400 and they only have racing boots and no freeski outerwear like orage or oakley. It's all snowboard
 
Last time I ever went into a shop was 2 years ago..... saw t-hall pro model i forgot what year prly 2-3 years ago... and they were $699 (no bindings) , havent been to a shop since
 
Always buy from shop:

-boots

-poles

50/50 shop/ online:

-goggles

-helmet

-outerwear

5/95 shop/ online

-skis

-bindings

Shops are ridiculously expensive. And their whole marketing tactic by saying "msrp $500, now $379!" for every product is stupid. I'm not retarded, I know that $379 is msrp for abangs. Plus I often buy leftovers at the end of the season.

I always buy boots from the shop, same with poles. I don't mind paying full price for boots, they are the most important. For goggles helmets and outerwear, I buy what I like where ever I find it for a decent price.

So if you want more park kids to buy at a shop, lower the prices a little bit, and don't use that stupid marketing technique to try and fool us into thinking everything is on sale. Gapers will fall for this, but your average park rat is smarter than that, they are looking at all these products online all the time. That's where people read about gear, and the price is online. Sponsor events, have giveaways (lift tickets, certain % off next purchase, etc), carry good products, have staff that actually know what they are talking about, and don't be biased against brands you don't sell. Saying that Line is shitty quality just because your competitor shop carries Line but you don't isn't cool. Offer a similar product that will be similar to one you don't carry. I was trying on boots at a shop once and I overheard a staff member talking to a customer about how Line's are shitty quality and I left instantly. Don't lie about things.

 
ski shops are overpriced. it makes sense, they need to make a profit, but when i can buy the same jacket cheaper either new or used online, there's no reason i would go to the shop unless the difference was so minuscule that it really didnt matter either way.
oh, and you dont have to waste gas driving down to your shop, taking time out of your day, to figure out they do/dont have something you want. look online for 5 minutes, see what you can find, boom.
in theory, i would love to support local business, but as a starving college student, ill save a decent chunk of money any chance i get.
 
I have two shops within an hour from me and both only carry Line and K2. Neither has very knowledgeable people. I've had a pair of boots a full size too big pushed on me before. Because of that, I only buy bindings at shops because they get mounted for free, which pretty much balances out any money I'd save online considering it costs $65 to get a pair of bindings mounted
 
SHRED GLOBAL SUPPORT LOCAL.
my shop closed this spring, and luckily its reopening with new owners in a couple months. I did buy a pair of skis online because my shop didn't have what I wanted, but I got boots and bindings as well as my snowboard there, I care about the price, but that's not what makes me go to online retailers
 
This, there are some things I will always buy from a shop and some I will always buy online.

Boots - shop, nothing is more important than fit.

Poles - shop/online, really no diff in prices. Just depends on what you want.

Gloves - shop, again fit is key. Most shops have a good selection and decent prices.

Bindings - shop, free mounting saves $65 and sometimes they throw in a free tune.

Skis - online, seeing skis online vs. In store is hardly different. Sure you can flex the skis in store but if you do the research online you'll know more about them than if you went into a shop. Saves you a ton of money.

Outerwear - online, much cheaper, more selection and sizing isn't all that difficult.

Helmet - shop, helps make sure you get a good fit and you can also test fit with your goggles. Price difference isn't too big.

Goggles - online, unless you've got a weird face you can tell which goggles you'll like online. You can also find a wider variety of colors and better prices.
 
Yea I have pretty much decided to buy everything online, it's just way cheaper. Even for like boots, sure you may not get a perfect fit, but if you do some research on what boot you want you can get some great deals, like over 50% off.
I would prefer to buy from a shop, but frankly the prices online are just way to good.
 
i look online and find a shop close to buy it. i like seeing stuff in person but sometimes i just order online if its clothes or googles. oh and i live in a shit town so like theres 2 ski shops full of generic brands that suck so i usually purchase in da states
 
exactly

armada is a brand i back 100% and last year the shop stop carrying it

i went in and asked why

"well they are to expensive"

i later go over to the ski rack and theres a brand new pair of hellbents i guy is buying
 
D Structure has messed up enough that using them as an example is completely invalid. Not trying to talk shit about d structure but they have had a lot of problems in the past caused by cutting corners to save money.
 
sorry but i'm a consumer not a charity... just the way it is i'm not gonna buy the same thing for more money
 
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