Why should I buy locally?

I've been called a jerk for a lot of reasons, but I just can't get myself to pay full price for something locally when I can buy it online for much cheaper and without paying sales tax. The other issue is due to my screwed up body I need sizes that most stores won't carry, like talls and size 13 or 14 shoes.

The other thing that kills me is when a shop lets me know that they can order the shoe in a size 14 for me, but I have to pay for it up front, isn't the whole point of brick and mortars is that I can actually try items on???

if your local shops aren't doing much to convince you to spend your money there, then don't.

if your local shops provide real service and are an asset to your community, then support them.

edited to add: don't feel guilty about either choice

Looks like "heaven" may be near Bishop. You may not have a good shop(for you) there..Certainly a lot of retail people and recreational reps hang their hats in Bishop.

I like to try climbing shoes on before buying. Far as paying "up front"...that's pretty standard if the shop doesn't know you.

I'd go with Denny's comments.

S Denny wrote:edited to add: don't feel guilty about either choice

Not true. You should feel guilty if you use your local store to try stuff and decide on a product, but then go somewhere else to buy it. That is douchebaggery. If you don't ever use your local shop and it wouldn't impact you if it was gone, then fine, don't shop there. However if you get something out of having a shop local, then your support is the only way to keep enjoying those benefits.

I love my local shop. Great service, knowledgeable staff, customer loyalty program AND they price match. Easy decision for me.

We have a great running store in Albany, Fleet Feet. They will spend hours with you helping you get the perfect fit for your running shoes. They also take the shoes back within 30 days, no questions asked if you don't like them. With a shop like that, I wouldn't go anywhere else. For climbing stuff if I had Rock and Snow closer, I'd always go there. They just kick ass, but they're an hour and a half away. I wouldn't feel bad unless your friend is offering above and beyond service. If she just stocks her store with stuff, but doesn't have the experience of going to a mom and pop shop, go online and don't look back.

Assuming prices are the same, I can think of four reasons to buy locally:
1) Convenience. You can't try things on over the internet.
2) Time. With no shipping, you have the product immediately.
3) Supporting a local business.
4) Supporting your local community via sales tax.

That being said, for me,
1) It's more convenient to NOT have to go out to buy anything. Let FedEx do the driving.
2) I'm not usually pressed for time, and free 2-day shipping is usually fast enough.
3) There aren't really any local businesses I like.
4) If the local price were the SAME as online, I don't mind paying the extra few percent towards taxes.

And the big thing is, online prices are almost ALWAYS cheaper than local. So you can probably guess that about 95% of my gear has been purchased online.

the main reason for me is supporting local businesses. Local businesses are more than just places that I get an item, they're a place to talk to someone, bounce ideas off, and to get insight from. Lots of awesome small businesses do a good job creating communities.
and taxes exist for a reason. It sucks that you have to pay them, but it would suck more to have local services shut down.

S Denny wrote:iif your local shops provide real service and are an asset to your community, then support them.

+1

My local gear shop sponsors local athletes, organizes huge trail running races, sponsors rock climbing comps and trail days, helps to negotiate access, updates/green-i-fies facilities at local climbing/hiking/kayaking destinations, etc.etc.

So when I shop with Rock/Creek, I'm not only paying taxes to support my city, but I'm supporting a small business that has a vested interest in keeping my local crags, trails, and creeks open and enjoyable. In other words, the extra money spent returns to me.

vote with your moola ... dont let anyone tell ya where you should shop with YOUR money

it aint a commie society

its that simple ;)

bearbreeder wrote:vote with your moola ... dont let anyone tell ya where you should shop with YOUR money it aint a commie society its that simple ;)

agree with this, but the thread was started literally asking why he should shop locally.

S Denny wrote:if your local shops aren't doing much to convince you to spend your money there, then don't. if your local shops provide real service and are an asset to your community, then support them. edited to add: don't feel guilty about either choice

I agree! I do the same all the time!

I have 2 EMS stores within 25 mins of me - one 10 mins away and the other 25 mins away. If they don't stock or have what I am seeking, or their prices are too high - I shop elsewhere.

Money is money these days esp with our economy having gone sour.

The local shop here claims to to match prices... it's a great incentive to get you to buy locally instead of online. They've told me straight up when they are unable to match a deal I found on the internet, but I will usually check with them first.

Vote with your wallet.

It's the only power you really have.

Couple of years ago, I found a pack I wanted that was 50% off on multiple internet sites. Went to GearX in Burlington to try it on, make sure it fit right, etc. I was pleased with the selection for hands-on comparison purposes.

Wanting to spend locally and reward GearX for the opportunity to try shit on, I showed the sale guy the sales prices on the 'net and asked if GearX wanted to split the difference (i.e. 25% discount instead of full price). He said they don't give deals. I went and asked the manager -- no deal.

So I ordered it online and saved myself some money.

I shop outside of my home state very little but have some great climbing gear stores here. The shops within 30 minutes are an asset to the local climbing community and regularly bring in products I have a hard time finding even on the internet. It is all about value.

I like nice roads, the piece of mind that comes with well-funded police and fire departments, a housing market that is sustained by a community of people who are making money, and an economy that is viable for local businesses so that I have the ability to shop in stores.

Buying locally helps make all that possible.

I don't always buy locally. For items I really don't need and wouldn't buy if it weren't for that smoking online deal, I buy online. But, if it's something that I am going to buy regardless of the deal I might get, I put my money back into the community where I live.

The reasons listed above pretty much explain it all, but I will reiterate a few points. First off, I am defining "local" as a single-store, locally owned and operated community shop (Think Netpune Mountaineering, Rock & Snow, IME, etc.). Much of this applies to REI and EMS and whatnot, but arguably less so due to the large number of stores and online sales.

1) In many places, the very existence of a local community shop is a general benefit to the climbing community. That may that it serves as a central organizing point, guiding services, information centers, whatever. You, as a climber, get a benefit just from having this place around, whether you shop there or not.

2) The shop is also a shop. You can try things on. Discuss gear choices with (hopefully) knowledgeable staff. All of these things are provided as a service to you, and it costs money to the shop. They have to make money, or they will close.

3) Local gear shops are typically high margins, but VERY low sales volume. These things aren't exactly making the owners rich, usually. Closing up is a real possibility with many of these places.

4) This isn't just about keeping a place open or closed. It costs money to keep an inventory. If people don'y buy a particular item, they won't keep stocking it, and you won't keep getting to try it on, etc.

5) In the (very unlikely) circumstance that the local store isn't providing you with any service whatsoever, don't shop there. If I know exactly what I need and don't need it immediately, I'll generally shop online.

Desert Rock Sports here in Vegas are amazing.

Not a ton of clothes etc..., but a lot of really good gear and local advice on what works here.

I like to support them whenever possible because they support the local climbing group, have great knowledge and set up events like slideshows and film screenings.

+1 for Desert Rock Sports. Always had good experiences at that place. Good route beta, handmade topos for nearby and new stuff, decent prices and a good staff. You don't have to buy everything local, but if you got a good shop and need a new locker or something, why not swing by.

It's nice to think that you are supporting your local economy by spending your money locally, but the fact is, if you don't get good service, you should spend your money elsewhere. The lack of service and the general "I don't give a shit" attitude that I see at many brick and mortar stores make me sick. The only real way to show businesses that we value good service is to refuse to pay for bad service. That includes internet retailers.

I was looking at protein powder at a GNC type store the other day, and I asked the guy "what's the difference between the whey based protein and the egg based protein?" His answer was this:

"Well, the whey based protein comes from whey, and the egg based protein is derived from eggs." Then he looked me in the eye, serious as could be.

i couldn't help but laugh in the guys face and tell him that if he worked at my store, that would get him fired. I will never go back in there. Maybe someday, when that shop goes under because of cheap supplements on the internet, the owner will finally learn his lesson.