kcm
Gold Member
If that happened to me at a gun shop, I would first check the gun for damage on the spot. If none found, I would complete my business and walk out, never to return again. Then I would pass on my dealings to friends.
That said, keep in mind that people who sell online have no storefront costs, little if any insurance, and may not even be an accredited retail store of any kind. Therefore, they can afford to cut costs greatly. Same thing happened a lot when Wal-Mart came to many towns - the local retailers couldn't compete. Now they're having to compete with online as well. About the only kinds of businesses that don't have to worry are service-type businesses, like restaurants, carpet cleaning, construction, etc.
As for the belts, there is no right or wrong answer. Your local NAPA is going to have higher costs. I buy my parts locally when I can. Not long ago, however, I had no choice but to order a new water pump and extras and have them delivered. Had "planned" on having the work done at a local garage, but they were too busy. Then, as we live so far out (50 miles from town), the water pump was leaking too badly and it was too hot. Had gone through the trouble of having parts ordered in locally for the garage to use, but then couldn't use the parts as we couldn't get there.
In the end, I ended up saving a considerable amount of money, as the hoses also needed replacing, but that wasn't known until they were removed. So had to remove the pump twice, which would have made a lot of labor $$'s going up in smoke.
There's no way things are ever going to get easier for the local shops, UNLESS there is some sort of massive EMP that wipes out all things electrical and puts us back in the dark ages. I like to support local when I can, but it's just not always possible. Other times it's possible, but not reasonable. It all boils down to personal preference and the situation at hand.
EDIT: I "did", however, order the hoses from a local store rather than buying online. Was easier for me to ensure I was getting the right hoses, plus there wasn't more than 30%-40% difference in costs from online price + shipping.
That said, keep in mind that people who sell online have no storefront costs, little if any insurance, and may not even be an accredited retail store of any kind. Therefore, they can afford to cut costs greatly. Same thing happened a lot when Wal-Mart came to many towns - the local retailers couldn't compete. Now they're having to compete with online as well. About the only kinds of businesses that don't have to worry are service-type businesses, like restaurants, carpet cleaning, construction, etc.
As for the belts, there is no right or wrong answer. Your local NAPA is going to have higher costs. I buy my parts locally when I can. Not long ago, however, I had no choice but to order a new water pump and extras and have them delivered. Had "planned" on having the work done at a local garage, but they were too busy. Then, as we live so far out (50 miles from town), the water pump was leaking too badly and it was too hot. Had gone through the trouble of having parts ordered in locally for the garage to use, but then couldn't use the parts as we couldn't get there.
In the end, I ended up saving a considerable amount of money, as the hoses also needed replacing, but that wasn't known until they were removed. So had to remove the pump twice, which would have made a lot of labor $$'s going up in smoke.
There's no way things are ever going to get easier for the local shops, UNLESS there is some sort of massive EMP that wipes out all things electrical and puts us back in the dark ages. I like to support local when I can, but it's just not always possible. Other times it's possible, but not reasonable. It all boils down to personal preference and the situation at hand.
EDIT: I "did", however, order the hoses from a local store rather than buying online. Was easier for me to ensure I was getting the right hoses, plus there wasn't more than 30%-40% difference in costs from online price + shipping.
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