Do you negotiate with your LDS?

[Bob DBF]

Unfortunately for them, the owner won't budge on full retail, unless it's dealer gear. What's worse, on a special order, is that they want all the money up front and it takes weeks to get delivery. I ordered on line for less than half the price and had it inside of a week. Having worked as a manager in retail, I pointed out that they could have ordered online, had it inside of a week, marked it up 15 or 20% and had a happy customer and money in their pocket. Well, after all that blew over, I still get air and various small bits and pieces from the shop. Unfortunately, for them, over the years since I have since used an internet LDS to buy several thousand dollars of gear, some of which they stock.



Bob
-------------------------------------
Not an idiot more than once, for the same reason.

 

[McGlencoe]

Only once so far, their price on a pony bottle bracket was $50.00 higher than the same on the internet and they dropped the price down with-in $15.00 of the online price. Figuring in shipping if you buy from the internet, I don't mind paying a little more for some items, it supports them and I don't have to pay shipping or wait for the part.

 

[redacted]

I had some success but it was pretty much hit and miss. LDS price model seems to be a 100% markup and the only time it seems willing to budge is if they need the sale to meet quotas. I rarely even bother to shop at an LDS any more. Air, VIS, and odds & ends.

 

[tplyons]

On a big purchase, I'll ask what they can do for me. For instance, I was looking to buy a couple of new steel tanks and asked what he could do for a pair for me. Came down $50 off his asking price for each tank. I told him to do it.

I think he's realized I make a lot more "impulse" purchases this way.

 

[meagicano]

The LDS I use most of the time has a strange mark-up policy... I find some stuff to be very competitively priced while other gear has a really high mark up. I'm in the market for a drysuit and did some comparison shopping online and in town and he has been more than willing to negotiate. I also told him I was looking elsewhere.

I tend to research first and then talk and see what he's doing. He gave me a deal on the wetsuit I bought last season, for example. Also knocked about 10% off my regs. I bought my computer online (they didn't have what I wanted) and my compass when he wouldn't price match.

 

[phoenix31tt]

I tried, but LDS couldn't come anywhere close to what i was getting it for... and i couldn't justify spending that much extra...

 

[Tom Winters]

Make them an offer they can't refuse. If they do refuse, remember to take the cannoli.