And they want me to shop locally....

Sounds familiar. Here in my Burg the 7 Boobs (Mayor & Council) along with the County Idiots(Board of Supervisors)Both floated sales tax increases for city and county road repair. The local voters passed both increases, not to mention extending a school district budget over ride for numerous years which keeps the property taxes up there. The road taxes are to run for 20 years before sun setting. Now! Does anyone really believe that the tax will go away in 20 years?? With one of the highest sales tax rates in the state they still naively plead for folks to shop locally. REALLY!!!

When I bought my Prodigy P3 brake controller I checked out the price on Amazon then went to the local RV store. The local store was $50 more than Amazon. When the salesperson asked if he could help me with anything I just handed him the printout from Amazon without saying anything. He said "I will match this price" and I left with the brake controller.

On a couple things, Dicor RV caulking in particular, they were actually cheaper than Amazon. When I paid for the Dicor the guy told me "just get Silicone sealer, that is what our repair guys use". I just said "Thanks, I will stick with the Dicor".

I don't mind buying locally for the same price... I will never let them touch my trailer though!

I try to support local businesses whenever I can, but sometimes (seems like more and more lately ) they sure don't make it easy, or even seem to want the business.

Case in point:

Looking to buy a snow blower the other day. The brand I want is sold at both a big-box type home improvement center, and at a local "mom and pop" type lawn center. I wanted to use the mom and pop.

I called them up to see which models they had in stock. The person answering the phone could not tell me, said I had to speak to such and such person. Also said none of them (they had three of the brand) were put together so you can't buy one today anyway.?.? (other stores sell it in box, what does that have to do with anything?) 5-6 minutes on hold and they come back saying he is still busy, please continue to hold. My first thought is: Seriously? You can't just walk in back and write down the model number listed on the box and tell me? This was not a large place. Second thought was: you know you have three of them and that they are not put together, but don't know which models they are?

Another 5-6 minutes on hold go by and I get disconnected.

Spent my $800 at the big-box.

I also agree with what some other's have been saying. I grow tired of hearing "we don't have it in stock, but we can order it for you." Well, I could order for myself online (and save money) but I was trying to support local.

2oldman wrote:

winnietrey wrote:
I think it very cheese ball however when people go to the local guy, get 20 min of free advice, have no intention of buying from him in the first place, then go order it elsewhere. That is just plain cheap!

It is.

Some snowbirds on here report that they stock up at Walmart before coming to Quartzsite...some even drive to Parker. I always feel that part of the experience of any place is trying the local stores. So it costs a little more, so what? Don't be a cheap tourist!

Happens all the time with people coming to Mexico that stock their freezers and compartments with their favorite wines and foods for the winter, and then dump all their used stuff and clothes on us thinking it's going to help people.

I always tell them to keep their junk at home and give it to Goodwill.

I prefer to patronize local businesses. Call me crazy, but I try to keep a relationship going, rather than focus on individual transactions. All and all, some items end up more expensive, some cheaper, but where I save long term are labor costs.

I heard an interview of Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. He stated that he didn't expect to stay on top forever. Someone will come along with a better idea, a new concept, or a new method and they will take his place. No, he doesn't feel sorry for those he has replaced and he fully expects it will happen to him because that is the way of progress and business. This is a man who started his business in his parents garage in 1994!

Cruel? Harsh? Maybe, but the bottom line is that it is not a whole lot different from survival in the wild, where we all came from. Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, adapt or perish.

Water-Bug wrote:

wa_desert_rat wrote:

winnietrey wrote:

I think it very cheese ball however when people go to the local guy, get 20 min of free advice, have no intention of buying from him in the first place, then go order it elsewhere. That is just plain cheap!

A friend of mine owned a computer store selling desktops a few years back (he doesn't do that any more, by the way). Local guy came in and spent 30 minutes getting advice on which desktop to buy.

A month later the same guy shows up with a computer he bought at Costco (70 miles away) but it doesn't work. He expects the local guy to fix it free because it's under "warranty". LOL

WDR

Is that the same as someone who buys an RV out of state, because it is cheaper, and brings it to the local dealer for warranty repairs, :h

No it's different because it's a RV and everyone on this forum knows dealers welcome all RV'ers with open arms. :R

wa_desert_rat wrote:

winnietrey wrote:

I think it very cheese ball however when people go to the local guy, get 20 min of free advice, have no intention of buying from him in the first place, then go order it elsewhere. That is just plain cheap!

A friend of mine owned a computer store selling desktops a few years back (he doesn't do that any more, by the way). Local guy came in and spent 30 minutes getting advice on which desktop to buy.

A month later the same guy shows up with a computer he bought at Costco (70 miles away) but it doesn't work. He expects the local guy to fix it free because it's under "warranty". LOL

WDR

Is that the same as someone who buys an RV out of state, because it is cheaper, and brings it to the local dealer for warranty repairs, :h

winnietrey wrote:

I think it very cheese ball however when people go to the local guy, get 20 min of free advice, have no intention of buying from him in the first place, then go order it elsewhere. That is just plain cheap!

A friend of mine owned a computer store selling desktops a few years back (he doesn't do that any more, by the way). Local guy came in and spent 30 minutes getting advice on which desktop to buy.

A month later the same guy shows up with a computer he bought at Costco (70 miles away) but it doesn't work. He expects the local guy to fix it free because it's under "warranty". LOL

WDR

yea Charlie, our stores are few and far between. we even had a huge beautiful strip mall built and no one ever moved in it. has sat for over 10 years now with a sale/lease sign on it :)

I guess location factors in alot with local stores. I know mine are not up to par, but like you, I do keep money in my area best I can.