The Bug House Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 I thought this would be a good question for a poll. When making a purchase, for this poll lets discuss outdoor gear, where do you buy? I've always made a concerted effort to buy from local mom and pop type places. I usually consider if something is worth buying used as well. But these days I'm supporting a family of 4 on one income, and diapers aint cheap!! So we usually make a trip to Wally world every 2 weeks or so, and I can't help but wander over to the sporting goods dept. I would think its fair to say 70% of my sporting bucks are still spent at the local mom and pop, while the remaining 30% is spent at big box type stores (Walmart, Dicks, EMS, ect.). Only every once in a while will I buy something online or from a catalogue, perhaps once a year. Although, I do have a membership to one of the popular outdoor catalogues and on occasion I find a great deal. What about you guys? Where do you find the service to be better? Does that influence where you make a purchase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 I use a little of everything from online including eBay, to BassPro, to local shops. We dont have a lot of good local shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 For variety and selection of hard to find gear- online and mail order For last minute essentials- chain stores Specialty items such as guns and bows- Small privately owned shops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterbobb Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 Service, what the heck is that ? I don't mean to brag but I'm sure some of you can relate. I don't even bother asking questions anymore because I know way more about what I'm buying then any one working in any store I know of. The days of the knowledgeable gun dealer are over. These guys working the stores now I think are probably former used car salesmen. If you ask them about something they don't stock they just bash that product and try to sell you something else that they just happen to have on special. I may have been born at night but it wasn't last night. :gun2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 When we can we shop at our local stores. However, when we need lots of stuff we usually hit Target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 I buy where I can find the best price, period! I'll ask a mom and pop shop if they can match a price I find online or at the big box stores, if they can't/unwilling then I go elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 when i see something i want, and i think it's at a fair price, i buy it. it doesn't matter where i am or what store i'm in. i can't tell you the number of times my wife will find that perfect pair of shoes (or whatever) but not buy them because she wants to check prices at other stores, then goes back to the original store to get them. so, i spend $15.00 in gas trying to save $2.00 on the shoes... it must be the fun of the chase she likes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 Where I live it is hard to find much of anything locally and the convenience of online shopping (mostly Cabelas) is a definite plus for someone like me who hates to shop. On the other hand, if I know it is available locally and the price is comparable then I will go the local route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOODPLOTPLANTER Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 spend all my money on a land payment:surrender: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 With a GM 20 min. away and a BPS 1 hour away I rarely buy on-line anymore. I try to support my local store ( Herb Phillipsons) as much as possible. My biggest consumption from big box stores is camo clothing. They always have a bigger selection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Some stuff online, I find eBay is handy now, especially since the Canadian dollar is pretty well equal to the US dollar! () Also buy some stuff at LeBaron, for the most part they're a bunch of bozos though so I don't go there very often. Once Bass Pro opens up in Montreal, QC I'll go there since it's just over an hour away. There's a Bass Pro in Toronto but that's a 4 hour drive from here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Shaun, I'll agree with you 100% on the comment about Lebaron's. I refuse to even step in the store any more. I've found the service there to be absolutely terrible. And I've shopped in the Toronto Lebaron store as well and didn't find them any better than Ottawa. I've also been into one of the larger hunting and fishing stores in Oshawa too and found their service no better than Lebaron's. Won't go there any more either. I got to tour the Cabela's store in Dundee, MI a few years back and came out of that store just raving about the friendly service there. They could teach Lebaron's and that Oshawa store a thing or two. For hunting and fishing equipment I buy most of my accessories online from Cabela's or Bass Pro, but buy my guns and bows locally from small shops. I frequent CTC quite a bit, but try and stick with brand names not their brands. I used to be able to stop into the Bass Pro shop north of Toronto when I was working as we travelled that way frequently, but those days are gone. I have found that I've been checking and comparing prices, as well as product reviews more so lately than ever before, possibly because I'm retired now and have the time, but less money. I usually try and go where my buck goes just a little bit further and have even started browsing Kijiji quite a bit. I've bought a few items off ebay, but even their S&H costs are putting things over the top now. Occassionally I travel stateside as I live on the cdn/US border and stop into Lowe's USA and quite simply drool at the prices of some items by comparison to MSRP in Canuckistan. The weekly sales flyers from Home Depot, Home Hardware, CTC and TSC are my throne room reading any more. TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 I buy all my lumber at a local small building supply. The big box stores seem to have real crappy lumber, so it is worth the extra dough for better wood and the service the small stores give you is awesome. Buy a lot hunting related on EBay and Gander Mtn since we have one 1/2hour away. Guns and bows always from small shops or friends with a FFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Service, what the heck is that ? I don't mean to brag but I'm sure some of you can relate. I don't even bother asking questions anymore because I know way more about what I'm buying then any one working in any store I know of. The days of the knowledgeable gun dealer are over. These guys working the stores now I think are probably former used car salesmen. If you ask them about something they don't stock they just bash that product and try to sell you something else that they just happen to have on special. I may have been born at night but it wasn't last night. :gun2: > I'm certainly no expert, but I can relate. There are a few places around here to avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 What got me thinking about this is a local family owned sporting goods store has recently announced its closing soon. The thing is they have always been notoriously expensive. Like, WAY more expensive that larger places. I was at Walmart recently and was looking at camo for the upcoming turkey season, my first time going after turkey, so I needed pretty much all the neccessary clothing. I got pants, shirt, hat, hood, and gloves for $51, no sales tax in NH to boot. At the other place it would've cost me about $100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 (edited) The greates store ever.This place deserves its own thread.Tons of game meats / jerky and oddball food items.Owner has a really cool pre Civil War pistol collection on display. Edited April 14, 2010 by The Bug House Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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