so I am a silly sillly goose for saving some dough.

Edited by huckin harms - 22 Feb 2010 at 4:29pm

Oops maybe it wasn't clear, it was mommas employer that left.

Mine is still here, and goin strong!

Nice wiggy!

whatever. I'm not really being that judgemental. Not insulting anyone's mama. Just making the point that in this particular case you have a very small niche market. There is basicly only one store in this area to get gear. I value it, and I'm going to support it. Do what you want. But comparing it to Amazon or Wallmart and their macro business models to me doesn't make sense.

Ya, when Amazon is charging tax and freight for in state purchases, I don't order from them. I will search elsewhere on the internet in that event.

Ya, I boat with one of them and he is a great guy! I support Amazon when I can...

What a wacky thread. From SRK, to Taxes and government, into Amazon then onto Aquaseal and REI then back to Local Shops and the Kayak Shed.

I am amazed how well this thread has stayed on topic while covering such diverse discussion.. If only we could post a trip and have it go this well.

Not at all. And I will stress again that in this microcosmic sport we engage in, I think it matters that much more because the market share is so much smaller, and once paddlers by up all the gear they need, they don't CONSTANTLY need to buy more stuff, which means that local markets get saturated quickly, if I'm saying that right.

It is out of consideration of this that I will continue to shop local for my paddling gear. This means shopping at Charles shop when I need stuff, but I'll be down in 'The Hood'
too! I am, of course one of those 'dirtbag kaykers' who never buys stuff. I guess that's why I almost feel guilty about my limited buying power- such that when I do, I'm for the local small business(es).

Cheers!

Whoa, so here I visit PP for the first time in a while, to see what I in my new gig can do to support the wonderfully extravagant PP Ball... and I come across this thread.  Imagine my thoughts at this community's fascination with my old shop. Funny thing, with so many apparent disputing opinions across these threads I don't see much that I disagree with. Well I mean the on-topic stuff. 

So, yeah, small guys in this business have to adapt to the changing marketplace. Dave made some great points on this and so did Harms. Discounters, big box stores and online shopping are realities, and the only thing a small guy can do is to get creative and compete. Every survey I've ever done or seen about small shops says service is the best way to draw people to your shop. Look at Charles. All these flashes in the pan all around him, and who's the guy that's always there on time to open his shop, always answers the phone, always has an answer to your question and always has the informed opinion on the gear you need? Charles. Obviously he's earned the respect and loyalty of this community.

That said, yes, small shops benefit from customer loyalty. But isn't that the case with any shop in any business that gives you a reason to drive across town in traffic to continue to give them your business? It's just a fact, not an ethical issue. There's no reason to throw anyone a guilt trip about shopping on line or out of state just because the local store is there. If that happens, the local shop hasn't given enough reason to shop there. It's silly to support a shop just because it's there. It's smart to support a shop if you really want it to be around when you need it.

There is one valid guilt trip that nobody mentioned, and if you have a couple beers with virtually any paddle shop owner and ask their honest opinion, you'll get it. If you spend hours in a shop taking up the owner's time, and get free demos of product that the shop owner is offering for sale, and advice and instruction on how to use the product, this all has a value. If you've already decided before you go there, that  you're going to get all the info you can and then buy somewhere else (Craigs list, on line, etc), sorry folks, that is theft, plain and simple. Shop owners put their passion and usually most of their financial assets into giving you the opportunity to get on the water. If you jack them around, you may not be welcome back in their shop. 

On the other hand if you take all that info and help, give them an honest chance to sell you something, and then go somewhere else, that's different, and that's on the shop owner's head for not making the sale.

Slickhorn, I do remember all the advice you gave us when we wanted to stock the glue you needed. I also remember that after a couple years of having it sitting there on the shelf, you were the only guy who ever bought any of it. Like you said, this isn't exactly a make-or-break thing for the success of a shop.

OK now, what about that PP Ball?

What the heck, I thought JP was "old man river" we cant have two "old man rivers" are you JP's Dad?

Not sure if this has been said, but for me a big part of it is just loyalty. Next Adventure and Alder Creek in portland helped me out when I was a newbie paddler and didn't even know what gear I needed. Their people were great, their deals were good, their selection was good, and I'll always shop from them - they will always be "local" for me even though I haven't lived in Portland for 6 years. And even if the original sales guys aren't there anymore. The personal aspect definitely counts for me, more than just saving a buck buying from CKS. Although, I have been to the CKS shop in Buena Vista and it is a sick paddle shop - really really good. I just don't have the personal history with them.

   Ask JP