I Want to Support My Local Shop, but Jeez...

oocdc2
oocdc2 Posts: 1,361 Member
edited November 13 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone else struggle with the moral dilemma of wanting to buy local, but having a hard time justifying spending $69.99 on a shirt I can get for $49.99 on Amazon? I can get specialty items at this run shop (like 856 South Jersey Run shirts and stuff like that), but who out there just eats the mark-up?

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I would not feel the pull to buy local from a vendor whose business model requires me to pay 40% more items that I can get elsewhere. Moral dilemma, not even once.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Nope. Amazon every time.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    edited November 2016
    There's a reason that B&Ms are dying. This is it. I'm happy to contribute to their unavoidable demise by buying from whoever offers me the best price for identical items. It's not the 50s anymore.
  • jadelois
    jadelois Posts: 28 Member
    If its something I'm taking advice on then i buy it from them rather than take advice for free and buy cheaper online. If its something i don't need advice for then I usually buy from wherever is cheaper.
  • cosmonew
    cosmonew Posts: 513 Member
    Some people and places should not be in business. If you cannot offer a competitive price or something special (like amazing customer service or advise) you have no business being in business. I don't feel bad at all for not supporting a poor business model.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    jadelois wrote: »
    If its something I'm taking advice on then i buy it from them rather than take advice for free and buy cheaper online. If its something i don't need advice for then I usually buy from wherever is cheaper.

    This is usually how I do it too. I do try to support my local running store however I can though, because I benefit from their organized events, newsletter, training groups, etc, etc.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    lporter229 wrote: »
    jadelois wrote: »
    If its something I'm taking advice on then i buy it from them rather than take advice for free and buy cheaper online. If its something i don't need advice for then I usually buy from wherever is cheaper.

    This is usually how I do it too. I do try to support my local running store however I can though, because I benefit from their organized events, newsletter, training groups, etc, etc.

    I think that is a reasonable way to do things. I had my gait evaluated at a local running store and bought the shoes there. I may have paid slightly higher for them (I think around $10) but I counted that as a fee for the service. Since then, I've just been getting the same kind of shoes from whatever place I can find them at a good price.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    I support my local running store.. this last time I decided to buy my size in Wide of the model I bought from them.. They do not carry them, they would order them for me, but I got two pair of Wides online at Amazon for 70% less than what I would have paid at the local store..

    I have no problem being frugal for anything that I buy. Especially my exercise gear.

  • Lizarking
    Lizarking Posts: 507 Member
    I'd just go to Target and get a shirt in the same material for $12.99. /shrug
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    When im in a local store I check the online prices and i always ask the store to match that price, often times they do. And if they dont , i can click the "buy it now" button on my way out the store.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    oocdc2 wrote: »
    Does anyone else struggle with the moral dilemma of wanting to buy local, but having a hard time justifying spending $69.99 on a shirt I can get for $49.99 on Amazon?

    I'd have a hard time justifying spending $50 on a shirt that cost $2 to make. I'd feel violated.
  • aashwill
    aashwill Posts: 64 Member
    edited November 2016
    I buy from the local cycle and run stores, but only because I don't need that much. I've only had to change one tube on my new crossrip elite in 1.5 years and >4000 miles (switched out the tires, though). Running shoes are every six months or so, and I don't mind paying a little extra to stop by the store.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    It depends on how badly I want the thing and if I have to pay excessive shipping.

    A lot of what I want I can't get here locally- stores do not carry a lot of lifting equipment- so yeah. Not so much. I try- I buy very specialty things from small business and I pay a frick load more for them- certain people I KNOW personally and run businesses from their homes. So I get it. But- some things- #nope can't be bothered.
  • JenHuedy
    JenHuedy Posts: 611 Member
    edited November 2016
    I tried the local store 12 weeks before my half marathon. They didn't carry my size and said they would order for me. I waited 4 weeks and never heard from them. Stopped in to check, got a "maybe next week." Waited two more weeks and still nothing, so I bought some at the outlet mall for half the price. They called two weeks before my half marathon to say my shoes were in. Ummm... a little late now.

    I'm happy to pay extra for good service, but this particular shop did not have great service.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Lizarking wrote: »
    I'd just go to Target and get a shirt in the same material for $12.99. /shrug

    I would do this if they had quality wool base layers, but my experience is that you get what you pay for.
  • denversillygoose
    denversillygoose Posts: 708 Member
    If I buy a bike or actual bike parts, I go to my LBS. If anything goes wrong with this stuff, they'll fix it for me for free. I don't usually buy my clothing in the LBS, because they can't offer the best deals(their sales are awesome though). I doubt they're bothered by this, since we spend about $4000 a year in there.

    Most of this depends on how much you really like your local shop. My bike guys are really great and speak to me by name when I come in. They have never treated me like I'm dumb, as a lot of bike shops will treat women.
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,371 Member
    edited November 2016
    Amazon have a number of unethical business practices that while not on par to overseas child slave labour, they are enough for me not to purchase from anymore.

    I go to the small independent grocer/supermarket and butcher over Coles and Woollies, it costs a little extra..however customer service is great, nothing is too much trouble, they support a number of small local farm suppliers.

    I have scaled back my online purchases significantly and now buy local where possible. High unemployment rates here and if I can help keep some people in a job by buying local, buying local products (helps that Tasmanian wine and food is great!) as well as buying Australian made and owned products I will. Can't always buy local or Australian made/owned but I do endeavour to make the next best choice.

    Sure the likes of Amazon have significant buying power and will always be cheaper than your local or even street front chain of stores because of that significant buying power. Where will we be when the local and chain of stores disappear and the likes of Amazon have a monopoly. I imagine Amazon prices won't be anywhere near as cheap in a monopoly.
  • oocdc2
    oocdc2 Posts: 1,361 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    oocdc2 wrote: »
    Does anyone else struggle with the moral dilemma of wanting to buy local, but having a hard time justifying spending $69.99 on a shirt I can get for $49.99 on Amazon?

    I'd have a hard time justifying spending $50 on a shirt that cost $2 to make. I'd feel violated.

    Oh, *kitten*, no, I wouldn't spend $50 on a shirt; it was just an example. I buy the majority of my clothing either from thrift stores or 70% clearance at Walmart or Target. (Except merino wool socks--you can't skimp on socks...)
  • furmickc
    furmickc Posts: 43 Member
    I usually buy my first pair of new shoes at the local running store, and then buy the rest from Runner's Warehouse or the like. I go through a pair of road shoes in 3 months, and I simply can't afford to pay full price.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
    I don't feel the need to support local businesses any longer, unless they are rearing free range hens or grass-fed cows ;)

    The best I do is avoid stuff from chain stores like Target, Macy's or H&M because they are made in crazy sweatshops where it's guaranteed that 12 year old children are making them all. Even Brooks Brothers have the made in bangladesh sticker which is appalling.

    Quietly buy whatever that's cheap and call it a day. It's impossible for you to save those little children sitting your *kitten* on the couch and working a 9 to 5 job in suburbia ;)

    You started a thread recently, asking for peoples' opinions on fat bikes, after having seen one in a department store. If you ask in a bike shop, they'll help you explain the pros and cons of that style of bike and how it's relevant to your needs. If you ask in a department store, they'll say "yeah we carry those we take cash and cards."

    A lot of people love to run, but not by themselves, so they go on group runs organized by the running store. A lot of people love to ride bikes but aren't competent mechanics.

    For a lot of people, buying local is purely a matter of self interest. It's about these places being around when you need them, not about the Bangladeshi seamstress.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,743 Member
    I have hard to fit feet, so I need to try on shoes before I buy. Since shoe manufacturers insist on completely changing their shoes every year, I can't even go with the shoes I liked previously. My LRS has a good selection, and if they don't have a shoe in my size, they order it and I can try it a week later. Service is great. So I do try to buy enough to keep the local store in business. Once I've purchased and worn a pair of shoes for a while I will sometimes buy the next pair online, if I can find it cheaper or get a holiday discount, but wide sizes are hard to find on sale.

    For clothes OTOH, I'll buy less expensive things than the store carries. I'm not picky about my shorts, and most of my running shirts I get at races.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    A few years ago, I ran over a shard of glass and flatted. I was using glue-on tires at the time, and the sealant wasn't enough to fix it. So it was kind of a big deal. Luckily, I wasn't far from the bike shop I'd bought my bike at. They told me "We don't have the tire you want in stock, but we can order one for you. Would you like to borrow a wheel set until it arrives?"

    That tire is cheaper on the internet if I order from the UK, but the shop kept me riding while it was in transit. It would have cost a lot more than I saved to rent a wheel for half a week. And they lent me a really nice wheel set.
  • thunder1982
    thunder1982 Posts: 280 Member
    I live in a regional city in Australia so it really depends on availability. Frankly service where I live is pretty non-existent at most places and choice is poor. Also I can buy something overseas and something in Australia online and chances are high the overseas item will turn up first.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I frequent a couple of local cycling shops and for the most part their prices are on par with what I can get on-line and if not, they will usually price match unless it's just some crazy deal. If it was some massive difference in price though, no way...

    All that said, I shop the crap out of Amazon for various things too...and I've had some bad experiences buying cycling shorts and jerseys on line...none of that crap fits the same...you have to go in and try it on...but yeah, I buy a lot of crap on Amazon.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    oocdc2 wrote: »
    Does anyone else struggle with the moral dilemma of wanting to buy local, but

    How is this a "moral dilemma"?







  • VegasFit
    VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member
    Yes and no. I mostly buy on line but athletic shoes I like to get advice and a fitting. We have two running stores here. One is fantastic and my last purchase from them was a pair of shoes that I never heard of the brand and I love them. The other running store in town I went to wanting to buy a brand I knew they carried and had the best selection of but they charge $20 to even try on shoes so that was a nope for me. But I assume he is charging $20 to offset the fact that people try on and then do order online.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    No. Mass produced items, I buy them from whatever the cheapest source is.

    Local purchases? handmade items, most food, services of course. Buying the necessities for the lowest price leaves more in the budget for eating out and paying for house cleaning, etc. Things that keep money in the community.
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