Re: Going to your local dealer then ordering long distance
My business has evolved into quite a few internet and distance sales - I think I have more customers in California and Texas than I do in Virginia and Maryland. I didn't plan it that way - it just happened! The forum was always designed as an information tool, free of charge to educate consumers about product and industry. I did not start it as a marketing tool, and as such don't get upset when folks don't order from me as that was never my intent in developing this research tool. So as long as folks use this venue to ask questions I'm good with all of it. Problems arise when people call me on the phone from around the country to get phone advice on how to fix their chair, or what I think of Brand "X", how I should suggest they handle an issue with their dealer whom they bought from, or look at an EBAY item for them. I simply cannot invest the time required during the day to take calls such as those, it has to be done via the public forum, where I can answer at midnight if I like. Sometimes that makes me come off harsh on the phone, but as I run a 1-man business I have all the accounting work to do, loading/unloading, processing, inventory, sales, etc. The day goes by fast and its all about time management.
I have always said you should buy where YOU are comfortable buying. You can get information here and go local to you - that's fine by me. All I ever ask is you don't print off my price quotes and walk them into another store and say "The Keeping Room" (or any other store for that matter) will sell this to me for "X", will you match it? Because that dealer goes ballistic and calls the Maker to complain, and then I (or the owner of another store) get the phone call on it from the CEO of whatever company is in question about my pricing models and internet sales policy. But as much as I preach not to do that - it has been done too many times already and I think you will see changes in the latter part of 2013 on pricing policies or being able to drop ship from many companies we talk about here on this forum. That is coming. At the end of the day a few people will ruin it for many in that respect and the pricing advantages are going to be leveled out. This industry is old school and doesn't really believe in internet sales, though they realize they are here to stay. What they will be doing is leveling the playing field in the near future to protect the brick and mortar stores from losing sales to those selling at a discount.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.