Amazon For Parts...

CaptRonn said:
It's called "capitalism". If the brick and mortars want your business, then they need to find ways to get it. It's silly to allege someone is "stealing" from the B&M by looking and not buying from them.

Case in point: West Marine.

In the near past West Marine decided to meet prices of any competitor. I started going there more and buying more products from them. From what I learned WM sales volume increased considerably.

Today I went there to buy some oil. When I was checking out I showed them my cellphone and where I could get it substantially less. I was informed of their "new price match" policy. Essentially now they will not price match internet sellers, and they will only price match Amazon if the product is sold and handled by Amazon direct. They will price match only stores in a 50 mile radius. I showed them that Walmart had it for less, but they had to confirm that Walmart actually had it in stock before they would price match it.

Needless to say, I'll go back to ordering online and WM will get less of my business. Their choice, and my choice.
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What you described was entirely different from the previous example. Yes, you are absolutely free to walk out if you do not get the deal that you desire. That is the free market, I agree. But what we were talking about was going into a store to specifically see products, try them out, utilize the expertise of the sales staff, etc. all while knowing that you were good then going to leave and buy it online. You used their physical store, without paying. You used the expertise of their sales staff, without paying. You made use of their electricity, their AC and possibly their restroom, without paying. The store provides all of these resources for consumers, and to expect them to be able to provide all of these resources and sell at the same prices as an Internet storefront is naive. To knowingly make use of these resources with no intent to patronize the store is what is wrong. You are getting value out of those resources, and you’re not paying for it. That’s why I said it’s stealing. If all you want to do is visit Internet webpages and buy from them, that’s fine. And if you want to take those websites to the brick-and-mortar stores and try to negotiate prices, that’s fine too. That’s your right as a Consumer. But it’s not OK to knowingly make use of resources that the brick and mortar store provides (and pays for) with no intent to shop there. This is a subtle issue we are talking about, and all comes down to the motives of the consumer. Only you know that for yourself, or I know that for myself.
 
scooper321 said:
What you described was entirely different from the previous example. Yes, you are absolutely free to walk out if you do not get the deal that you desire. That is the free market, I agree. But what we were talking about was going into a store to specifically see products, try them out, utilize the expertise of the sales staff, etc. all while knowing that you were good then going to leave and buy it online. You used their physical store, without paying. You used the expertise of their sales staff, without paying. You made use of their electricity, their AC and possibly their restroom, without paying. The store provides all of these resources for consumers, and to expect them to be able to provide all of these resources and sell at the same prices as an Internet storefront is naive. To knowingly make use of these resources with no intent to patronize the store is what is wrong. You are getting value out of those resources, and you’re not paying for it. That’s why I said it’s stealing. If all you want to do is visit Internet webpages and buy from them, that’s fine. And if you want to take those websites to the brick-and-mortar stores and try to negotiate prices, that’s fine too. That’s your right as a Consumer. But it’s not OK to knowingly make use of resources that the brick and mortar store provides (and pays for) with no intent to shop there. This is a subtle issue we are talking about, and all comes down to the motives of the consumer. Only you know that for yourself, or I know that for myself.
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Oh c'mon now. So should the store put up a policy "If you walk in to look you are required to purchase"? :rolleyes:

Free Market determines if they make the sale. If said company wants the sale of stocked items in their B&M, then they have to come up with ways to get the buyer to purchase. Many times that's price. There are other ways to entice buyers to part with their money. As of recently, West Marine had a good system going that attracted buyers, but now they have chosen to go back to ridiculous high prices and less customers. Their choice, their business.
 
scooper321 said:
What you described was entirely different from the previous example. Yes, you are absolutely free to walk out if you do not get the deal that you desire. That is the free market, I agree. But what we were talking about was going into a store to specifically see products, try them out, utilize the expertise of the sales staff, etc. all while knowing that you were good then going to leave and buy it online. You used their physical store, without paying. You used the expertise of their sales staff, without paying. You made use of their electricity, their AC and possibly their restroom, without paying. The store provides all of these resources for consumers, and to expect them to be able to provide all of these resources and sell at the same prices as an Internet storefront is naive. To knowingly make use of these resources with no intent to patronize the store is what is wrong. You are getting value out of those resources, and you’re not paying for it. That’s why I said it’s stealing. If all you want to do is visit Internet webpages and buy from them, that’s fine. And if you want to take those websites to the brick-and-mortar stores and try to negotiate prices, that’s fine too. That’s your right as a Consumer. But it’s not OK to knowingly make use of resources that the brick and mortar store provides (and pays for) with no intent to shop there. This is a subtle issue we are talking about, and all comes down to the motives of the consumer. Only you know that for yourself, or I know that for myself.
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I would like to see the statistics on this if they exist.. I find it hard to believe someone would get in their car, drive, park walk, look, touch, feel then go home and order on line to save what? 10%.... I just don't see this as making a huge impact on sales... I might be wrong. I am not in retail thank god but my feeling is the foot traffic into these stores has dramatically reduced due to direct internet purchases and they are over burdened.... Imagine the companies like Simon that own the malls... They have to be in a tight spot right now... It will be interesting to see what happens
 
Well I’m not going to drive to West Marine to save a A few shekels only to buy it from Amazon I’ll probably spend more in gas and my time that what I would save on maintenance items that I can get on Amazon for cheaper but I have gone into the store to browse and it may have come across some electronics that I was able to look at and touch but if the price is 30% cheaper somewhere else I’m not gonna buy it at west marine I’ll still walk out with a few other odds and ends but not that item .. I don’t know too many people that exclusively drive to a store to only check out items and never buy anything from them that’s a little extreme ,I’m sure most of us have been West Marine customers for sometime and have walked in the store to check out a few items ,not bought the intended item ,but walked out with something else. West marine is a pretty big corporate entity not a mom and pop shop I have no problem walking in there and asking them to price match or even finding out what they can do for me same goes for the mom and pop shops equal opportunity will be given for them to work with the patrons
 
[QUOTE="scoflaw, post: 104707Yes Hyannis Sears is closed.[/QUOTE]

I mean I have to drive 40 miles.

So nearest Sears to you is Hanover? Braintree?
 
I look at Amazon as today’s version of the Sears catalog when It was introduced in the mid 1800’s It revolutionized how people shop. Amazon is just using the internet instead of the post office.
 
MonacoMike said:
Just ordered another part on Amazon cheaper than the marine sites, including the WM Pro...

MM
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Yep. Depending on what Im looking for, I compare Amazon, Defender and lately Overtons with WM Pro. Usually, Pro wins. But not always. And sometimes Amazon just has too many options. Sometimes you want specific boating stuff and as good as Amazon is, it’s hard to wade thru a million of the same thing. That’s where Pro and the other two come in handy.
 
Krazzeeddie said:
I look at Amazon as today’s version of the Sears catalog when It was introduced in the mid 1800’s It revolutionized how people shop. Amazon is just using the internet instead of the post office.
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And in some cases actually using the Post Office. LOL

I really had not thought it through but you are so right, it is just like the Sears catalog that put so many small retailers out of business, and now a reinvention of its former self is killing Sears...

MM
 
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