Paying to try on gear...the beginning of a trend?

Heard on NPR this morning- some retailers are beginning to charge for trying on clothing. Apparently the issue is that so many people are now shopping locally, trying on clothing to get the right size and then buying on line to get a cheaper price. Interestingly, the story specifically mentioned that one ski shop in Australia got so fed up with this behavior that they now charge $50- to try on ski boots; fee waived when one buys from them. I know skiers who have done exactly this and I have friends who own ski shops who have seen this behavior. I've suggested to the shops that when someone brings in skis and bindings to be mounted, they should charge a higher rate for those that weren't purchased locally.
What do you think? Do you support your ski shops ?

Just got back into skiing and I had never even thought to purchase on line and try on at a local store.  Happy to give the business locally!  On-line stores won't be able to help me maintain my gear!

Unfortunately I'm guilty..I haven't bought a pair of skis in a shop in 10yrs..The deals are just to good online..

WOW!!! This is certainly an interesting topic!!!

I can't say I'd support the idea of retailers charging a fee to try on a product. Honestly, it's not at all unusual that when you try something on, you just don't like it. It would really suck if I had to pay to try something that may not even fit.

My personal "barometer" on this is that if a salesperson provides actual sales support, I'll purchase the item from them if it's something I want. If, on the other hand, I'm going into a store just to get a look at something I'm thinking of buying on the internet, I don't feel quite as obligated. I guess I look at it as just a time saver ... if I buy something on the internet that I can't "touch and feel" first, and then I get it and don't like it, I'm just going to return it anyway. By getting a chance to see it first, I'm just saving myself some time and effort.

No matter how you slice it ... it's definitely a thorny issue!!!

While I am a big time online shopper, I absolutely refuse to try in store and buy online. Stores offer a service and that service is part of the price. I refuse to abuse the good will involved with that service. I used to feel somewhat guilty bringing skis and bindings that I bought elsewhere into shops to have them mounted. I don't really feel guilty about that any more since shops have increased their mounting prices to ridiculously high levels because of folks doing what I am doing. But there is a difference between buying else where and paying for a service versus abusing a free service and then buying your size else where.

All that said, as a manager of a retail store, I think it is extremely bad business to offend your loyal customers with add on fees and tougher policies because some people are abusing your services. I have customers abuse my store's generous refund policy continuously. I have associates come up to me rip roaring mad because customers are using my store like a library. But it doesn't matter. You are not going to gain those "non-customers" back by adding fees and making policies tougher. You will offend your best customers by doing so. Cutting off the nose to spite the face is not good policy, IMO.

As a follow-up, sometimes it goes the other way around ... there have been many times when I've used the internet to do my research, which often involves using retail websites to get my information as opposed to manufacturer sites, and then going to my local store to buy the product.

For example, I bought my daughter a pair of skis this year (boots, bindings and poles too) from a local retailer after I had done all my research online. I used product reviews from retailer websites and other information to help me make my decision and then bought locally.

I think it's just one of the costs of doing business ... though for retailers, whether brick and mortar or online, probably a fairly annoying one.

This is basically why there is no such thing as a "stereo store" any more.

I've told this story before. On day two of a nine day Christmas vacation, I lost a tiny little nut that rendered all my ski gear useless. To me able to go into town and have the problem solved was fantastic.

To me it's pretty simple ... how bad do I want a ski shop in North Creek?   I want it pretty bad.

I just Google shopped these and they were labeled as a closeout - $20 less than what I paid. And that's comparing a April price with a December price.


Icelantic Pilgrims from the Gear Source in North Creek

One time, I left my skis to be tuned during the day, and Gear Source gave me a demo pair to ski that day.

Support your local ski shop.  

Face4Me wrote

As a follow-up, sometimes it goes the other way around ... there have been many times when I've used the internet to do my research, which often involves using retail websites to get my information as opposed to manufacturer sites, and then going to my local store to buy the product.

For example, I bought my daughter a pair of skis this year (boots, bindings and poles too) from a local retailer after I had done all my research online. I used product reviews from retailer websites and other information to help me make my decision and then bought locally.

Businesses aren't paying a sales rep to help you look online. I find the internet very useful to bring up specs and help narrow down choices. It still doesn't provide the service that a shop does, though. If you go in and tell them what you're looking for, they can help narrow down choices immediately and suggest ones you hadn't found yet. They (well, good shops) will really try to help find what is right for you.

If I ever am going into a shop with any intention of buying online (I'm a poor college student, give me a break) I'll usually tell an approaching sales rep that I'm just looking. I don't really want them wasting their time on me if they have potential customers where they can actually make a sale.

x2 on supporting your local shop.

fujative wrote

Face4Me wrote

As a follow-up, sometimes it goes the other way around ... there have been many times when I've used the internet to do my research, which often involves using retail websites to get my information as opposed to manufacturer sites, and then going to my local store to buy the product.

For example, I bought my daughter a pair of skis this year (boots, bindings and poles too) from a local retailer after I had done all my research online. I used product reviews from retailer websites and other information to help me make my decision and then bought locally.

Businesses aren't paying a sales rep to help you look online. I find the internet very useful to bring up specs and help narrow down choices. It still doesn't provide the service that a shop does, though. If you go in and tell them what you're looking for, they can help narrow down choices immediately and suggest ones you hadn't found yet. They (well, good shops) will really try to help find what is right for you.

If I ever am going into a shop with any intention of buying online (I'm a poor college student, give me a break) I'll usually tell an approaching sales rep that I'm just looking. I don't really want them wasting their time on me if they have potential customers where they can actually make a sale.

x2 on supporting your local shop.

They may not be paying sales reps, but they are paying for website design, development and hosting, etc. (I'm a web developer and I don't work for free! ), but that's not really the point.

I completely agree with supporting local businesses. To follow on Harvey's post, when you're in a jam and need something right away, online ordering doesn't get it done! You need immediate access to the products and services that a local store can provide.

As I mentioned in my first post, if a salesperson devotes his/her time to me, you can be sure that I will make my purchase from him/her, assuming of course that I find something that works for me. I wouldn't "use" a salesperson and then go purchase elsewhere, whether it be online or at another store, just for a better price.

I just don't want to be charged for trying something on in a store, which was the original point of this thread. That's going too far, and I would venture to guess, that any store that would implement such a policy won't be around for very long. On a related point, charging to "demo" equipment on the other hand, is a completely reasonable policy. That's something I have no problem with at all. The same holds true for "restocking" fees on merchandise that you've used.

My hard packed ski, is a Volkl 6 star....Retail with binding it ran around 1k..On Ebay I bought them used once for 500..
How can a retail store compete?
Boots I do buy at a shop. Ski clothing is also significantly cheaper online..

mmmmmm.......six stars.......that was a hell of a ski. Wish I had a pair.

What's the name of the store charging to try stuff on? They'll be out of business in two years, mark my word. How absurd.

I don't see fee for try as a trend in the U.S., but, as this very active discussion proves, the issue is one for thought. Here's another approach; one can negotiate locally to ask for a more competitive price. A local shop that provides service doesn't necessarily need to match price...just come closer. The on-line retailer is paying about the same price for a pair of skis as the local shop. Granted some on-line retailers may be larger businesses that were able to get a somewhat lower price based on volume, but many are just local shops that use the Internet as a way to anonymously dump their excess inventory without degrading their local pricing. As far as skis and bindings, the price variation is not that large. The accessories are much larger mark-ups; generally 100%. I wouldn't want to be working in retail today!

IMHO, stores charging for trying on gear are stores looking to go out of business, I would not shop there. I do my best to support local stores, at the same time I have purchased many items on line, have to support myself as well.  So, just work on a nice balance, if I find the right price at a store, even it it is slightly more I'll buy there. If on the other hand a store is far more expensive then online shops, I have to do online.  I buy most of my equiipment end of season, so usually can get good deals at stores as well as online.

We buy a good bit of our stuff online. That includes, skiing, biking, a quad, homewares, etc. The price savings and the product availiblity / selection just doesn't compare. I saved thousands buying my bike and my quad new online - enough to buy an all aluminum trailer to haul my stuff around on. My kid is skiing on $1400 skis/boots that we paid $550 for online, new, delivered to our house. That's a serious upgrade in gear that he wouldn't be sliding on if we had to buy it local. Plus, for two seasons, no local shop anywhere had his size.

I understand where the local shops are coming from. I buy some there and use their shops (skis, bikes, quads) but I doubt any of them are in the habit of paying double for the stuff that their buy for their lives. That's just not human nature.



Certainly, online v. bricks & motar is a reality of the current business models. I'ld bet it's a societal phenom who's effect economists could measure/track. Walmart had such a measurable positive effect on consume savings that other business areas benefited from, due to the increased disposable income.



Recently, I have been thinking it would be cool to be able to get tech advice and just flip the shop a $20 or so. I'ld go for that.

I have bought gear both online and local. My thinking is anything I have to try on to see how it fits or feels I buy local. Support your local shops. Clothes and boots I buy local.   Skies ,poles, goggles I save a lot by getting them on the net. But I don't make a shop waste their salespersons time trying to sell me those items. I do look though.

For online shopping for clothes or boots for which you are unsure of fit, you can buy more than one pair of item in different sizes and ship back to the retailer what you don't want before you have to pay the credit card bill.  If there is is a substantial difference in price you're still ahead after shipping and not paying sales tax.  Amazon often provides a free return shipping label and others may do this too.  Plus this saves time and gas money if you have to drive some distance to the preferred bricks and mortar retailer.   I did this for my wife when she needed some three-pin XC boots which are hard to find to begin with and she has very narrow feet which are hard to fit.   This may sound harsh to the bricks and mortar stores, but this is the way retailing and customer behavior is changing.  

JasonWx wrote

My hard packed ski, is a Volkl 6 star....Retail with binding it ran around 1k..On Ebay I bought them used once for 500..
How can a retail store compete?
Boots I do buy at a shop. Ski clothing is also significantly cheaper online..

I think it's important to give your local shop a shot. I always go into my local shop knowing what I can pay online (including shipping and all that), and I'm very up front about it. Many times I've found prices being matched,  even if it's 10% more I'll buy locally. It's very important to me to do biz locally.....I just feel better.

campgottagopee wrote

I always go into my local shop knowing what I can pay online (including shipping and all that), and I'm very up front about it.

Have you actually told the retailer "here's what I can pay online for those skis -- match that!"

That's a ballsy move.

JasonWx wrote

On Ebay I bought them used once for 500..

Jason - how did you know what you wanted?

Years of experience buying skis, or specific experience with that ski?

No, I've never, EVER asked for a price match. I simply let them know what's "out there" for competitive pricing and ask them for THEIR best price. If it works for me, I buy it, if not, no hard feelings, I kindly thank them for their time and move on. Actually, there's a shop in 'Cuse who advertises that they do price match, which, IMO, is good marketing.
 

Jamesdeluxe wrote

campgottagopee wrote

I always go into my local shop knowing what I can pay online (including shipping and all that), and I'm very up front about it.

Have you actually told the retailer "here's what I can pay online for those skis -- match that!"

That's a ballsy move.