Local stores are making it hard to be loyal.

[Randall53]

I checked online yesterday at the Academy website for a couple of items.  I wanted to buy either a Fobus holster for a CZ 75 B or a 2 mag pouch for a Glock 9mm.  The website showed that both should be available in stores.  I went to buy either or both if they had them.  Nope. The guy behind the counter said a lot of stuff they sell has to be ordered online. Well Duh.....I shoulda knowed I guess.  I went home, checked with Optics Planet and they had both in stock.  The holster was $7 cheaper and the mag pouch was $1 cheaper (hey...every dollar counts nowadays) ALSO, OP had.....ready?  FREE SHIPPING!

 

Soooo...I ordered from OP, saved $8, got free shipping and did the fat man dance to celebrate....LOL :rofl:

[rugerla1]

Lol Good deal. I can't hate on academy though, I think they have done pretty good for us through the past few months of hell. Glad ya got your stuff though, and saved a couple bucks along the way.

[Garufa]

Academy is not exactly a "local" store. 

[Randall53]

I know....you're saying because it's a big box chain. BUT it is 2 miles from my driveway and that makes it pretty local for me. :stare:

[Randall53]

Lol Good deal. I can't hate on academy though, I think they have done pretty good for us through the past few months of hell. Glad ya got your stuff though, and saved a couple bucks along the way.

 

Yep. You are correct...it's a good store and I still buy quite a bit of stuff there.  I just wish they kept more variety in the store rather than in the warehouse.  I've got my eye on a Lowrance Down Imaging fish finder they have. I won't really need it until fall/winter crappie fishing. Imagonna wait until it's on sale and snatch one up...!!!  (they DO have them in the store...)

Edited July 18, 2013 by Randall53

[rugerla1]

Yep. You are correct...it's a good store and I still buy quite a bit of stuff there.  I just wish they kept more variety in the store rather than in the warehouse.  I've got my eye on a Lowrance Down Imaging fish finder they have. I won't really need it until fall/winter crappie fishing. Imagonna wait until it's on sale and snatch one up...!!!  (they DO have them in the store...)

I agree with you on that too. I see stuff they could take out and replace with more gun stuff. But apparently they have to sell to other people's interest too Blahhhhh! :)
I remember seeing that huge barrel of .223 they used to have that you could order and pick up in the store. I want one whenever ammo catches up, just to say "Hey, I picked up my 20,000 rounds of .223 today!" (I think that's how many rounds it was anyway)

[Wiljo05]

Yep. You are correct...it's a good store and I still buy quite a bit of stuff there.  I just wish they kept more variety in the store rather than in the warehouse.  I've got my eye on a Lowrance Down Imaging fish finder they have. I won't really need it until fall/winter crappie fishing. Imagonna wait until it's on sale and snatch one up...!!!  (they DO have them in the store...)

Not to hijack, but the down imaging is awesome! Detail like I had never seen before

[Guest TankerHC]

I like Academy, Ill always check the LGS and compare prices first, if it's only 10 or 20 dollars difference on a major purchase, Ill go with the LGS, but sometimes it would just be stupid (for me) not to go with Academy, at times they sell firearms 100-200 less than everyone else, even the online retailers. That shotgun I bought last week is an example. And I may have posted this, but I asked them how can they sell a gun for $100 less than everyone else? The answer was, guns on the racks and in the cases, when the market rises everyone raises the prices, Academy's policy is their prices on guns on the racks stays the same. Good policy.

[10-Ring]

Seems the more specialized a local business is the more they jack up their prices.  Any of you who ride motorcycles will know what I'm talking about.  I try to buy local but we get to a point where I'm not going to pay the extra money to do so.  I can order motorcycle tires online for about $100 less than I can buy them at a dealership.  I install them myself, which can be done with about $50 worth of tools, while the dealership is going to charge $100+ for the install.  I buy my helmets, usually from a specific online retailer that I do business with commercially, even without my discount I will pay about $200 less for a helmet (last one was a $300 helmet I paid $110 for without discount) than if I had walked into a motorcycle shop and bought it off of the shelf.  I would be more than willing to pay $10 extra dollars to support a local business, I'm not paying $100 more dollars though.  Plus realistically, it takes less time out of my day to place an order online than it does for me to travel to one of the 3 motorcycle shops in the greater Knoxville area that are still open to conduct my business.  Seriously 5 minutes to place an online order vs. 1/2 day to travel to a shop, get what I need, shoot the breeze, etc.

[peejman]

As for stuff showing in stock online ... call the store and ask if they really have it.

 

As for motorcycle stuff... amen.  Good to hear that the bike shops in the "far east" are still clueless.  Tire prices are the reason I started changing my own about 10 years ago.  DIY for $250 or pay the shop $450?  Gee, lemme think about that....    Thankfully the shops around Knoxville are a little more connected to reality. 

[Randall53]

I know what you mean about motorcycle stuff. I did buy an HJC helmet at air riders in Ooltowah for the same price it was online. they also installed one of their headsets for me to. their a small shop, but are good to deal with. local MC dealers always have jacked up prices. There's only one place I'll let touch my bike. it AIN'T Southern Honda either. i won't set foot in that place.

[10-Ring]

I'm going to jack this thread for just a minute for a shameless plug.  Whenever you are in Tellico Plains stop by Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters.  They have quality gear at great prices.