Do you buy online or support local?

gates559 · Jun 7, 2015

Wondering how many are making most purchases online.

I try to order form Alberta businesses as much as possible, but hardly ever buy in GP. I cant stand the Attitude of "the price is the price bro".
I usually walk into a store and look at the item I want, salesman comes up and says " you wanna get one of those" I say "how much" because half the stores are too lazy to put prices on the items. Salesman gives me a price abut 20% more than I can buy online with shipping for, or is too lazy to go look up the price and says " I think their about this much.
Than I explain i was looking online and can get it for x amount, maybe they can come a little closer to that price? Salesman says nah bro, price is the price.
As I walk out to my truck I open safari and hit autofill and "buy". Before I am out of the parking lot its ordered and comes the next day...easy money!

I would love to buy local all the time. But when it comes to spending my cash I don't care about the businesses overhead cost. I want the best price or at least close to it.

Am I the only one?

250mark1 · Jun 7, 2015

If the price difference is big enough I will buy online. I like to by local But they have to be comptitive Just bought preprinted fender flares from bushwhacker for my truck
best price locally was 1290.00 + tax in red deer. (price varied to 1485 +tax) ordered online from a Canadian dealer for 985.00 + tax with free shipping the 300 bucks saved pays for the 3m film and then some

52weekbreak · Jun 7, 2015

gates559 said:
Wondering how many are making most purchases online.

I try to order form Alberta businesses as much as possible, but hardly ever buy in GP. I cant stand the Attitude of "the price is the price bro".
I usually walk into a store and look at the item I want, salesman comes up and says " you wanna get one of those" I say "how much" because half the stores are too lazy to put prices on the items. Salesman gives me a price abut 20% more than I can buy online with shipping for, or is too lazy to go look up the price and says " I think their about this much.
Than I explain i was looking online and can get it for x amount, maybe they can come a little closer to that price? Salesman says nah bro, price is the price.
As I walk out to my truck I open safari and hit autofill and "buy". Before I am out of the parking lot its ordered and comes the next day...easy money!

I would love to buy local all the time. But when it comes to spending my cash I don't care about the businesses overhead cost. I want the best price or at least close to it.

Am I the only one?

You aren't alone. If the price is competitive and I think I can get some service, I buy local. Hell even if the price is in the ball park I buy local. Bought a fifth wheel in 2011 and found one locally that would fit nicely. I had alrady done the research and could have one delivered to Coutts where I would pick it up. Canadian dealer came down $20,000 (about 40% lower than where we started) and came within $5,000 of what I could get the US one so I bought local. Considering the service I got from the dealer, I doubt I would bother with that again.

doorfx · Jun 7, 2015

Heated upstream O2 sensor for my f-150 was $429 at Universal Ford in Calgary. $375 at the parts stores.
$111 with exchange / duty /taxes delivered to my door genuine OEM part from EBAY. No brainer

Badass69 · Jun 7, 2015

I try and order as much as I can elsewhere. These crooks in this province can starve for all i care.

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Absledder · Jun 8, 2015

90% of the places I call to price stuff out don't return my calls so it's a no brainer to go online and order. I much prefer to just get stuff in town when I can but seriously how hard is it to return a call?

sumx54 · Jun 8, 2015

I try and buy local when I can and the price permits BUT I work darn hard for my cash and I won't part with it just to keep the "mom n pops" shop afloat.

Ron H · Jun 8, 2015

I do local shopping as much as possible, I get the $$ thing but service has to be readily available. When it's broken I need it fixed .......now.... Cause I haven't got all minute...

neilsleder · Jun 8, 2015

If there's a chance I might have to return it, I don't buy online. That's for stuff like riding gear, helmets and stuff. I like to try it on make sure I like the way it feels. But parts and stuff I price it out both ways and see what is cheaper. Lately I been getting prices for parts at Recreation powers sports in the city and there prices beat every bodies!

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Ron H · Jun 8, 2015

.......there's also the keep the local economy rolling thing too,.....don't forget the vendors are local as well so in turn directly or indirectly they may be supporting you...
A thriving economy creates a positive attitude which in turn creates a positive economy. Ironically when the economy is on a "slow down" all the more reason to support local....either way try to keep er local its in our best interest.

Badass69 · Jun 8, 2015

Be competitive price wise and stock common things. When almost any part for a vehicle as an example ( I own 3 brands of pickups) is constantly "we have to order it" and it costs double what an online retailer costs. ... go to hell lol. You are no faster to get it from and cost way too much. I would love to shop local but every time I try from a bbq cover to an encoder motor... not one place in 2 separate towns ever stocks anything useful! So what incentive is there to shop local? My business I actually own too... and it does not rely on the public at all. So if you are inconvenient to me... have no common stock and cost way too much... you don't get my business.

Now if I go back to my old hometown there is 2 stores I always try to shop at and still do... because they know what customer service is and treat you fairly. Actually out here there is one shop but they only can do so much. But whatever I can get from them I buy and they are fair and treat you well. I won't drop somebody over 50 dollars on a 300 dollar item.... but when it's double... yeah...

The fair and customer service thing have been long lost mostly in "Berta". Maybe now those places will have to care... but I doubt it.

Online is a pain too as its usually slow and pathetic even within Canada. But if they have the product and can ship it quickly with fair pricing it's a no brainer. The fact I don't have to talk to one person ans just do strokes of the keys is icing on the cake.

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gates559 · Jun 8, 2015

Im not sure if its that the employees dont care to be bothered or if their so greedy they wont drop their prices. I dont understand letting money walk out the door. When I say ill get it on line they look at me like their baffled as to why I wouldnt just overpay them.
I leave feeling slightly guilty until I remember that I just left a multi million dollar establishment, which is probably owned by a wealthy business man anyways that must not need my money.

Its so much less hassle to buy online. I dont even want to be bothered to go waste my time going to a store these days.

Rene G · Jun 8, 2015

I find Grande Prairie is horrible for the "that's the price Bro" attitude. I'll look in town, however if the price is out of line or the service is terrible I will look elsewhere.

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handyandy · Jun 8, 2015

I am willing to spend signicantly more to buy local, but only if they treat me well. Any business that thinks they can be arrogant and rude to me I won't spend a dime there even if their prices are cheap.

teeroy · Jun 9, 2015

I have to buy a CPAP machine. closest place is GP, they want $2400 for the one I need. online Canadian supplier that offers free shipping, same exact machine is $980. no brainer

J-Roc · Jun 9, 2015

teeroy said:
I have to buy a CPAP machine. closest place is GP, they want $2400 for the one I need. online Canadian supplier that offers free shipping, same exact machine is $980. no brainer

Hi troy. I'm in the same boat. Could you please pm me some info?

Thanks!

luvz da mud · Jun 10, 2015

Used to not even bother buying local when the dollar was strong since I could save 50% or more but since the loonie went soft for a few bucks more I will buy local as long as the customer service is there. Sadly more often then not local customer service sucks especially for performance parts. There are 2 different places on 170st, one of them are WAY overpriced and total arrogant D-bags that could care less about customer service and the other only has one store in town and have awesome prices and GREAT customer service and don't talk to you like your stupid, they get alot of my money and deservingly so

ducati · Jun 10, 2015

I generally base my purchases on relationships and how i am treated in the store. I most definitely try to support local business as much as i can but in Calgary the attitude of most stores is that they are doing you a favor by selling you something and/or could care less if you are in the store. I generally buy my dirt bike and sled parts and clothing through Cycle Works in Calgary since Allison is amazing and always treats people fair. My sleds and specialty parts i buy through Backus simply due to the customer service and relationship with Tyler and Everett. Side by Side parts are through Bow Cycle and again purely because of the relationship i have with some friends there. I know i have heard bad things about each place that i shop but for me i am always treated fairly by them and i make the decision to reciprocate by giving them my business.

I did purchase my dirtbike from Blackfoot Direct as they were the Husky dealer and i would have kept my business there but was extremely disappointed that when i showed up to take delivery of the bike the salesman that i bought it from couldn't even remember that i bought it. After that i gave them a few more tries but never did receive a personal level of service whatsoever. Luckily KTM parts transfer directly to Husky so Allison can get me anything i need through Cycle Works.

Vehicles are another story on their own. After many years of trying to stay local i have given up on that completely and buy from Clint at Big West Dodge in Drayton Valley. I will travel that 3 hours to receive the level of service i do from those guys.

When the price differential does get too high or the product is not available in Canada i will shop online for sure but i generally give local a chance first.

Dynamic · Jun 10, 2015

The main reason I shop online for many items is convenience. Say I'm buying a serpentine belt for my car, I usually have to make 2 trips to a store. One trip to order it and another to pick it up. I just go on amazon and order the belt and it shows up in my mail box a couple days later. The prices is close either way but it is just way easier online for me in a rural area.

X-Treme · Jun 10, 2015

luvz da mud said:
Used to not even bother buying local when the dollar was strong since I could save 50% or more but since the loonie went soft for a few bucks more I will buy local as long as the customer service is there. Sadly more often then not local customer service sucks especially for performance parts. There are 2 different places on 170st, one of them are WAY overpriced and total arrogant D-bags that could care less about customer service and the other only has one store in town and have awesome prices and GREAT customer service and don't talk to you like your stupid, they get alot of my money and deservingly so

WHAT?!?!?!? JB's gives you chit service and MOPAC gives you great service?? You're kidding!!

Do you buy online or support local?

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