How many of you purchase new clubs over the internet?

[Nick West]

Just curious. I'm part-owner of a retail store, and this information would be very useful to us. It doesn't happen too terribly often, but every once in a while, we will get a customer that we will take a considerable amount of time in fitting, only to have them return at a later date with clubs they bought off the internet.

 

We try not to let it bother us too much, but admitedly, we feel a little taken advantage of.

[SPY ZINGER]

It's the nature of our world and we all have done it. Best practice would be to convey that you will match prices or start charging for fittings.

[SPY ZINGER]

....but apply fitting charge to future purchase.

[wcbjr]

High-end range near me charges for fittings, but refunds the price of the fitting once you purchase the clubs from them. Basically a free fitting with purchase.


Edit, I just reiterated what was posted before me.

[nikegolfer1983]

I would apply a fitting fee, then if they purchase the clubs from your store, waive the fee. Me personally I have never bought any clubs off the internet, just clothing shoes, but all my equipment has been bought in stores, or golf shops.

[DaSportsGuy]

I bought my irons(Callaway X-20's) over the internet. I fit standard clubs pretty well.

[drifter12]

I've bought some of mine off the net, and some from my local brick and mortars. IMO communication goes a long way- when my local shop told me upfront they'd be happy to fit me, and explained the fitting cost would come off the price of clubs, and also they would match any competitors price, they pretty much had my commitment to buy. After I was fit, I even shopped online to find the best price, and the shop honored their word on pricing.

[Laws of Woo]

Of my new set, only my 5 wood is off the rack of a store. Everything else is from the internet. Like DaSportsGuy, I fit into standard L/L/L pretty well so no need for any change from fitting. The selection of clubs at my local shops are pretty limited in store. I'm able to find more of what I'm looking for (and usually at better prices) online.

And as several people have said, start charging for the fitting, but waive the fitting fee if they buy the clubs in house.

[pdaero]

Like SportsGuy and Woo, I'm a standard L/L/L guy and S300s work well enough for me, AND I'm a lefty. We get a terrible choice of clubs to choose from and I'm on the cheap side, so I've resorted to purchasing online through Ebay. only purchased one club in store (my 54*). I am strongly looking at purchasing a new 58* wedge, however.

To answer your question, I think that's really cheap of people to do. If I chose to be fitted, I would purchase from that fitter. It's only appropriate, and good business. I agree that waiving the cost of fitting when a purchase is made is a good thought - your goal when fitting someone is that they buy from you, which is what it should be in an honest exchange.

[ptjn1201]

I buy components and fit myself, so I buy off the net virtually all of the time. Though I feel if you use up somebody's time for a fitting, you should buy from them if you're happy with the fitting. Though if it's Dick's or Golf Galaxy, I don't think you owe them anything

[tesuquegolfer]

It is a tough world out there with the internet at people's finger tips. I feel for the small retailer. We lost our only golf store in Santa Fe about 8+ years ago. They tried to sell ski stuff to survive the slow winters but according to their staff, the internet drove them out of business. I got fit for a driver years back at a retailer in Albuquerque and it cost me $45 for an hour of the Pros time. I would have received $45 toward the purchase of the driver had I bought it there, however, I saved myself some hard earned cash by buying it on the net. I try to support my local businesses when I can but at the same time I have to stretch my dollar.

[minhjn]

Unfortunately, i am usually much more informed about fitting and shaft selection than the guy who would be fitting me. I also know what specs I need so it's that reason that I buy used or new online

[lightningbolt444]

I do a bit of both. I try to make one major purchase a year through the local shop. They are pretty expensive and wont move at all on price but they are great club builders so I support them that way as well.

I think it depends on the shop. If I am going into a shop and getting Knowledgeable and friendly service I will pay a premium for that. If I am going into a shop and feel like the person is just trying to sell me an item and not really fitting me to an item I will go to the internet.

I have noticed its hit or miss either the service you get at the smaller shops is amazing and they love what they do or its awful and they seem to hate what they do or blame the internet for their down turn while not really helping me out at all (not what your doing its different your asking a real question ).

Its pretty simple in my mind the internet can not offer the customer service and good fitting that a brick and mortar can provide. I would charge for fittings and take it off the club purchase or give them that amount in shop credit.

I for one will always pay a bit extra for good service. If I can walk into a place a feel comfortable and talk about the game and NEW offerings with the stores I would purchase exclusively from them unfortunately while the guys around me are great they dont really stay up on the new equipment and its hard to talk to them about it.

[roho]

I've progressed to the point in my game that I don't buy new clubs period. I'm happy to wait and buy a used set at least half off the retail price. I love the guys that buy a new set every year.

[smiley9929]

I just paid $50 for a fitting (Golf Galaxy) and then another $25 for lie adjustment on my current irons. I can tell you I really, really appreciated the great customer service I got there. For me it was worth the money.


However, part of the fitting was the Mizuno Swing Analyzer thingy and it said I should be using a stiffer shaft.

SO.....I must admit I've been doing a TON of research online, including this forum, over the past week or so.

While I would like to purchase from the same place that just fitted me, I'm think there might be at least a $200 savings by purchasing online, at least for what I'm looking for (4-PW irons).

I do plan to visit the brick and mortar store again this weekend and talk with them about that and see what they say.

I would prefer to go local but in my case my budget also comes into play :-)

Hope this helps..Cheers

[smiley9929]

PS. I guess Golf Galaxy isn't quite local, however there aren't any private shops I know of nearby (I'm new to the area).  Maybe I should look a little harder.  Thanks for making me think about it! Cheers again.

[nfinch10]

I'm willing to pay for a good fitting, especially if I get to hit a variety of irons at the same time. I would love tothose support these guys, however if I can get the same set of irons for 200-400 less online im going to take advantage of it. With all the deals available and the abundance of cheap, high quality used clubs, I find it very hard to pay full retail anymore.

[JP101]

[left]All my purchases are over the internet now. I haven't purchased a club in a store in about 6-7 years. It is a shame what it has done to small businesses. I worked at a small golf shop when I was in high school with an awesome club fitter. He used to charge people for fittings then deduct it if they bought the clubs from the store. Unfortunately, the internet drove him out of business. He couldn't compete, and now I know why. I know what characteristics fit my game and I buy accordingly. In college, we had unbelievable prices on Titleist equipment and now I know many people that sell equipment over the internet and put my clubs together accordingly. [/left][left]
[/left][left]Tonight, I just bought a Superfast 2.0 TP on GPP Golf for $119.99. I have never purchased from them before but that is too good of a deal to pass on. Stores have them for $200. I will strip the shaft out of it and put in a Rombax Prototype 80b for a total cost of $160. That is tough for stores to compete with. [/left]

[Johnny T]

Every place around here charges for a fitting, with most counting the fitting fee toward the purchase of new clubs. The place I got fitted at doesn't give you the fitting cost toward a purchase, but they fit outside on a range which I was willing to pay a premium for. Back to your original question, I buy most of my stuff online but 98% of it is used. I like to try different things so I can't afford to buy new stuff all the time. When I just have to have something that I can't find used, I find the lowest price possible. For instance, I just bought a new 4 wood. The shop close to me wanted MSRP for it but I was able to get it online for considerably less. Now that same shop has a fairly large ebay business and I have bought new stuff from them on ebay and picked it up in the store. With me already knowing what I need to play, I simply go for the lowest price possible (while still getting decent service).

[OptomMN]

My bag and the vast majority of its contents are from Discount Dan's. For me, they offer what no other retailer in my area offers.

Three of our local golf shops have gone out of business in the last few years leaving Dick's/Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith as the only ones left. I can imagine that it would be difficult for a small shop to compete today. Hopefully you can charge for your knowledge (fittings, adjustments, repairs) and provide competitive pricing and make a go of it.

Good luck!

[Doc Mcstuffins]

Because of the internet mom and pops are a dying breed in any sales arena. My advice for these types of golf stores is to try selling online as well.

[lightningbolt444]

[quote name='joeclothing' timestamp='1323458387' post='3917205']
Because of the internet mom and pops are a dying breed in any sales arena. My advice for these types of golf stores is to try selling online as well.
[/quote]


Exactly branch out into online sales and find a site like Golfwrx to support. You take care fo a few wrx members and get a few great reviews and you are well on yoru way to selling more clubs We are most all club hos after all

[bepo]

Being a lefty my whole bag was bought online without ever hitting them. It also doesn't help that I'm not standard specs either being 6'4". If I go to a shop I end up trying whatever they have available, not what I want to try.

[rjkrutsch]

I live a community with two real golfshops (not golfsmith or golfmart) both are terrific and one has a couch & a coffee bar. I pay for customer service. I don't nag over a couple of bucks. I will say if I find I deal I can pass on the web I will take it. I just got a new in the wrapper 910 for 250 (it is the real deal). I cannot pass on that. I do buy balls on the net (little to no margin).

[nitram]

I buy almost everything from Chip Usher. I went to his studio/shop a couple of months ago to see if anything has changed since he built my last set of Miuras. While there I experimented with a Speeder 6.2 and thought enough of it to pay him to install one. I could've bought the shaft online and installed it myself but I figured I owed him for his time analyzing my numbers and as always, answering my questions.