LDS Bashers

[Irobot]

Think LDS should charge people double for tank fills if they dont buy equipment there !!!!!!!

If you are a regular customer =favoured treatment

 

[abitton]

Think LDS should charge people double for tank fills if they dont buy equipment there !!!!!!!

If you are a regular customer =favoured treatment

If the LDS owner thinks that's how he's going to make money, why not? It's all about freedom of choice, both on the business and consumer levels.

 

[redacted]

Think LDS should charge people double for tank fills if they dont buy equipment there !!!!!!!

If you are a regular customer =favoured treatment

I don't think an LDS should charge anyone double. It's an image thing. I do believe they could sweeten deals on price controlled items and for good customers by giving discounts on services including things like half price gas.

I like to see service prices posted on the wall. When they are not there, I tend to be a little suspicious. Although I do like to find those shops that feel free to take advantage of uneducated customers. Those are the ones I like to use so I can take advantage of their free services without feeling guilty.

 

[mnj1233]

So up to this point in this thread whos winning the argument?? LDS's or Internet??

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Of course purchasing equipment puts a customer in a privledged posistion. It'd be dumb to not throw in perks.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

So up to this point in this thread whos winning the argument?? LDS's or Internet??

An argument on an internet site will usually end up with the internet winning.

There are plenty of divers who don't go near the net or at least make purchases there.

 

[mnj1233]

An argument on an internet site will usually end up with the internet winning.

There are plenty of divers who don't go near the net or at least make purchases there.

I read this thread from the beginning (Not all at once) Id say its about 50/50.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

My comment about internet shops is I do think there are some honest ones but boy you've got to beware of the crooks. At least when you walk into a brick and mortar shop you get a sense of who you're dealing with right from the start.

 

[devolution365]

I think we need a poll.

 

[pasley]

... The LDS's are very used to 50-200% profit on their items. ...Gone are the days when you could prop up a sign, get in some gear, hire a couple of college kids to run it, and make 200% of the next ignorant customer through the door. ... I don't think that asking me for 100% over dealer cost is a fair price.

Question - The base question that started this thread laid out quite nicely the expenses of the shop owner. Many customers, mine included (Real Estate Broker) think all the money you take in is all profit. Kind of like when we were kids and made lemonade (lemons, sugar, water, paper cups) and sold it on the corner. It was all profit, until mom collected for the lemons, sugar, water, cups and then asked us about how much our time was worth.

Charging 100% over dealer invoice is NOT all profit. That mark-up is what pays for the rent, insurance, heat, electric, water, phone, wages, advertising and hopefully at the end of the day, a little profit. When I was in highschool, I worked in a shoe store. There I learned that even though we paid $10.00 for the shoe and sold them for $20 that did not mean we had just made $10.00 profit, in fact it usually meant something more like $2.00 or less.

Do I look for a good price? You bet I do, but I also recognize the guy has to make a living and has expenses. Internet (which by the way usually means no warranty from MFG) Vs store (with MFG warranty) is simply not a fair comparison. I also firmly believe using a store to shop for an item, touch it, feel it, try it on, and discuss the pros and cons withthe sales agent, all the while intending to go to the internet is, well dishonest.

So now the question: Do you think the 100% is pure profit? What would you consider a reasonable mark-up to cover expenses and a reasonable return on investment (profit)?