You guys have ruined my favorite store.

[AlabamaNewbie]

Not actually my favorite, but I go for lunch sometimes. The little deli has a pretty delicious fried balogna sandwich. Anyway - I was in a store who's name rhymes with Rass Bro Chops today. Let me back up a bit. I ordered an impeller kit from someplace 2 weeks ago, and when I got my outdrive off and looked at the old housing, I knew something was wrong right away (picture attached for your amusement). So I promptly packaged everything up and returned it and got my money back. That still left me needing the correct kit, and I found it here for like $33, but it will be a while before I need it so I just haven't ordered it yet.

Jump back forward to today, and after I ate my delicious everything-else sandwich, I just wandered around looking at stuff. I didn't really even know you could go back to the boat service area and buy parts, but I found myself there asking if they had the impeller kit for my alpha one. The lady said "yeah but I need to know the serial number, because there are 2 - a big one, and a not as big one". Well hey - I know its not the big one! So she said "yup, we got 'em. $54.95".

I said, " thanks but no thanks. I can get it cheaper on iboats.com". She literally slammed the glass window in my face. :laugh:

 

[wahlejim]

Brick and Mortar stores hate when you bring up online prices. So many are being run out of business and they hear that a LOT! " I can get it cheaper online"

 

[MTboatguy]

I always give the local stores a chance, many will price match, but I let them know up front my local support only goes so far..

 

[wahlejim]

Depending on the item price, I give them about a 10-20% cushion on anything up to $70, 5% up to $150, and 3% up to $500. I am willing to pay a couple bucks for convenience. The last thing I want is to need a part 'NOW', pull up to the store and have an Out of Business sign on it.

 

[MTboatguy]

Depending on the item price, I give them about a 10-20% cushion on anything up to $70, 5% up to $150, and 3% up to $500. I am willing to pay a couple bucks for convenience. The last thing I want is to need a part 'NOW', pull up to the store and have an Out of Business sign on it.

I know what you mean, my local go to True Value hardware store, that I have been in many hundreds of times over the last 20 years put up their going out of business signs at the end of June and I don't know what I am going to do without them!

:grumpy:

 

[AlabamaNewbie]

A few bucks I can see. I buy local whenever I can and consider shipping costs that I would save and time/hassle if its the wrong thing (like I originally did), etc. I'd go nuts if the local Ace Hardware closed.

But a $22 increase is not ok. Plus, the SIerra kit here comes with replacement base and housing, and the one there did not. If you are going to uplift your product 66% above retailers, you can expect to be called on it. They don't really price them to sell over the counter anyway.

 

[wahlejim]

A few bucks I can see. I buy local whenever I can and consider shipping costs that I would save and time/hassle if its the wrong thing (like I originally did), etc. I'd go nuts if the local Ace Hardware closed.

But a $22 increase is not ok. Plus, the SIerra kit here comes with replacement base and housing, and the one there did not. If you are going to uplift your product 66% above retailers, you can expect to be called on it. They don't really price them to sell over the counter anyway.

Absolutely agree, were they selling OEM at that price or was it a sierra?

 

[AlabamaNewbie]

It was Quicksilver, I believe. I never had it in my hand, she showed it to me from about 20 ft away, but I know it wasn't Sierra and it looked like the QS logo.

 

[wahlejim]

Sounds about right for OEM in a brick and mortar store