Support local businesses?

[Firefighterchen]

How many of you choose to support your local business despite a price difference online?

I am going to get the Viridian C5L-R, I can purchase one online for $165. One of my local stores has it for $225. Who would support the local gun shop and pay the extra $60?

On the one side I would have the C5L in my hand that day, instead of 5 business days. On the other side I would be supporting a local firearms business who has been always impressive to me.

 

[vernsimpson]

Buying online you have to pay for shipping and have the gun shipped to an FFL. The FFL will charge for the paperwork also. So in the long run I have found that there is not much difference in the price. Besides the WAIT is terrible!!!

 

[Firefighterchen]

Haha yea the wait is what gets me...

What about item that are not firearms? Optics, lights, lasers (in my OP about the C5L, no FFL fee, shipping is free)

 

[82FIST]

I don't mind buying online and waiting a few extra days for accessories. Most sites have good return policies if something isn't right. I also like mot being limited to just what i see in the store. That being said, I wouldn't buy a gun anywhere but in a store. There is something comforting about knowing exactly what you are getting. Some shops will even give you a bit of a deal if you have a good relationship with them.

 

[jcreek]

How many of you choose to support your local business despite a price difference online?

I am going to get the Viridian C5L-R, I can purchase one online for $165. One of my local stores has it for $225. Who would support the local gun shop and pay the extra $60?

On the one side I would have the C5L in my hand that day, instead of 5 business days. On the other side I would be supporting a local firearms business who has been always impressive to me.

Weapons I buy local. Between the FFL transfer and shipping it's usually only about 3-5% cheaper for me to buy online and to me, that's not worth the 5-10 day wait. And like 82 said, weapons are such an investment, I like to see exactly what I'm spending that much cash on.

Optics and accessories I buy online. Usually the price difference is more substantial than with weapons (more competing vendors online), no FFL fees, and you can usually find a vendor offering free shipping for your item. If you do your research well before making your purchase, the likelihood that you'll have to return something is slim. The only thing I've ever returned online (other than for warranty work) was a Blackhawk handcuff pouch that didn't fit either pair of handcuffs I owned.

 

[tricolordad]

I will always buy my firearms local. This way I can inspect the exact firearm that I will be taking home and know beforehand exactly what I am getting. I don't trust anonymous internet dealers. I have a friend who bought a used Wasr-10 online from an auction site. He is minus one eye and missing a chunk out of the ridge of his nose. It was a huge wake-up call...

 

[Icemanii]

I try to support my local store simply because to me it is good business. In the long run it pays off. During the ammo shortage I was able to purchase from them and not at inflated prices. They keep ammo for their loyal customers when it counted.

I am old school in that way, not just in my weapon/accessory purchases. I go to the same Mom & Pop hardware, the same gun shop, the same auto parts. They know me, I know them. Like it that way.

 

[whodat2710]

When speaking specifically about guns, I always buy local. Most times the gun store has prices well below the MSRP anyway, plus the lack of fees/shipping etc already mentioned. Here's a better question: Do you support SMALL BUSINESS by buying local. Shopping at a chain store that happens to be "local" isn't the same as going to "Bob's Guns" (where I shop in Norfolk, VA).

 

[Sir Diealotz]

Not only gun stores but local mom n pop shops. Moores produce makes great sandwiches

 

[gejoslin]

Where I live the stores are just too small and inventory is almost nill. Have to drive 75-125 miles round trip just to look and see if they might have what I'm looking for. So unless I can get them to order what I want, I still have the wait time plus they'll jack the price up so they make a profit too. So unless the locals "Happen" to have want I want I have to order online.
Just the way of life in a small town. (even the mice are stoop shouldered!)(you have to leave town to change your mind!) I'll be here all week! Tip your waitresses!

 

[whodat2710]

Where I live the stores are just too small and inventory is almost nill. Have to drive 75-125 miles round trip just to look and see if they might have what I'm looking for. So unless I can get them to order what I want, I still have the wait time plus they'll jack the price up so they make a profit too. So unless the locals "Happen" to have want I want I have to order online.
Just the way of life in a small town. (even the mice are stoop shouldered!)(you have to leave town to change your mind!) I'll be here all week! Tip your waitresses!

I can understand that for occasional purchases, for example if you wanted to buy a Colt 1911 you couldn't really expect bob to start stocking them. But once you got that 1911, if you asked Bob to start stocking .45 because you would be buying it regularly he probably would, and you would save the trip.

 

[Lowjiber]

I couldn't really answer the "poll". The question is too vague.

Do I use my LGS? Yes, 100% of the time.

Do I use my local metal detecting store. Yes, 100%.

However, many local merchants offer little, or no, real service and their prices are ridiculous. I buy those items on-line most of the time.

 

[gejoslin]

I can understand that for occasional purchases, for example if you wanted to buy a Colt 1911 you couldn't really expect bob to start stocking them. But once you got that 1911, if you asked Bob to start stocking .45 because you would be buying it regularly he probably would, and you would save the trip.

Ammo and gun cleaning supplies are all purchased locally. It's one time things like scopes and laser sights, etc. that must be bought on line.

 

[TroutStalker]

Remember when you didn't have a choice? Things were so much simpler then(and better).

 

[whodat2710]

Remember when you didn't have a choice? Things were so much simpler then(and better).

I do. I live about 15 miles out of town, where the Lowes and Home Depot are. If I need something for the house there's a hardware store around the corner. If I don't need a lot, It is actually cheaper to pay an extra dollar or two for something than the gas I would use on a round trip downtown.

 

[dogshawred]

Nostalgic for the good old days.

There really isn't enough choices available for me to answer this poll.
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I will buy local as long as it is available, just because there is a Walmart in my area that doesn't make them local. If the owner is local then they are a local establishment.
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Buying local is a mindset, that you either just get or don't. The more you can spend locally the more your local economy will prosper. Those of us who can remember when the biggest chain in the area were Kroger, A&P, Kressces (now K-Mart), Grants, Sears & Roebuck, JC Penneys back when they were free standing stores, you also remember the local grocer, confectionary, bakery, pharmacy who knew you when you walked in and was always there if you needed something special. Call me nostalgic, call me crazy but I miss that personal touch, that feeling that they truly appreciated your patronage because they depended on it for their livelihood personally.
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I utilize those types of store as much as I can and solely if and when I can. Spend a little more (usually a better product anyway) and I don't use credit cards, been credit card free for better than 12 years, so money talks and BS walks, often times because of cash you can negotiate a little better price, but you have to ask, don't be chicken you just might be surprised at the outcome.

 

[jcreek]

I utilize those types of store as much as I can and solely if and when I can. Spend a little more (usually a better product anyway) and I don't use credit cards, been credit card free for better than 12 years, so money talks and BS walks, often times because of cash you can negotiate a little better price, but you have to ask, don't be chicken you just might be surprised at the outcome.

Of course you can get a better deal with cash...it's tax free.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Those that say the poll isn't specific enough on the definition of local...my definition when starting the poll is the exact same definition as you all have posted. I thought it would of been rather unanimous about our definition of local...I apologize for not defining it more clearly.

 

[jcreek]

Those that say the poll isn't specific enough on the definition of local...my definition when starting the poll is the exact same definition as you all have posted. I thought it would of been rather unanimous about our definition of local...I apologize for not defining it more clearly.

I think the definition of "local" is defined not only by size of the company but by their business practices as well.

My father is an executive at a restaurant chain that has 40 restaurants spread out across 2 states. They locally source all of their ingredients from within the region and are committed to economically and environmentally sustainable business practices and building a sense of community.

Each restaurant runs its own community outreach program to partner with and help support local non-profits, schools, and youth organizations and keep the money within the community. They've remained privately-held so they don't have to bend to the will of profit-mongering shareholders and all employees are screened and trained on the company's core values.

I don't think "local" has to be restricted to single store-front mom and pop shops, but places like Wal-Mart and Bass Pro are definitely not local.

 

[dogshawred]

Of course you can get a better deal with cash...it's tax free.

No one said anything about breaking the state tax laws. Paying cash eliminates credit card fees and banking charges that additionally increase a businesses overhead. Along with additional wait time gaining access to monies that is theirs in the first place.