Showrooming; morality vs money?

[fatblokish]

Living in Bath we are blessed with a few good cycle shops where I take my darlings for high-end fettling. We also, IMO, have one which has provided me with poor service. At the latter I engage in showrooming without guilt.

However, I need to buy a new pair of running shoes and, being a novice, hope to have some free (at least to me) gait analysis to help me choose the most suitable pair of trainers before walking out the shop and buying them online. Now I have in mind to drop a fiver into the stores Xmas bash funds before leaving the shop. Is this a reasonable proposal, assuming of course that I will save a fiver by buying online?

 

[vernon]

It's your conscience that you have to deal with.

Just saying.

 

[palinurus]

Buy from the shop. Although if you can save much online they might be flexible on price.

Or research how to do gait analysis online, self-recommend, and order online.

 

[TVC]

Depends whether you want your local shops to stay open.

 

[smokeysmoo]

It's your conscience that you have to deal with. Just saying.

Buy from the shop. Or research how to do gait analysis online, self-recommend, and order online.

Depends whether you want your local shops to stay open.

All of the above.

 

[alicat]

Is this a reasonable proposal, assuming of course that I will save a fiver by buying online?

No

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

On the positive side, if you decide to do such things..... Eventually you have another charity shop, take away or tesco to fill the void left by the various family run stores which once frequented your local high street. This is the situation which many local high streets across the UK find themselves.

Be careful what you ask for you might just get it.

 

[Pale Rider]

Will the shoes really be so much cheaper online?

 

[User33236]

I usually browse online and the pop along to my LBS to try for fit and ask them to invoke their price match policy if the difference from the online stores is worth blithering about. Did it with a pair of shoes recently and got them for £59.99 compared to their store price of £79.99

 

[TVC]

I usually browse online and the pop along to my LBS to try for fit and ask them to invoke their price match policy if the difference from the online stores is worth blithering about. Did it with a pair of shoes recently and got them for £59.99 compared to their store price of £79.99

Great deal, though getting the LBS to throw away their margins wont help them stay in business.

 

[Pale Rider]

I did a successful price match for a £1,000 Macbook at an Apple store.

No big discounts on Apple stuff, but it was available online for just over £900 delivered.

The shop matched the price after I showed them the website on one of their demo machines.

 

[User33236]

Great deal, though getting the LBS to throw away their margins wont help them stay in business.

My LBS is one of the biggest chains in the country so hope my purchase won't dent them too much.

 

[MarkF]

I usually browse online and the pop along to my LBS to try for fit and ask them to invoke their price match policy if the difference from the online stores is worth blithering about. Did it with a pair of shoes recently and got them for £59.99 compared to their store price of £79.99

Can't you ask your online store to invoke their "service-match" policy so that you can enjoy the costly visual and tactile benefits that your LBS provides?

I'd buy from the shop. A local craft shop closed, my daughter used it every Sat morning, spending her pocket money. There was a heart rending letter from the owner in the window thanking all her loyal customers, she went on to say it upset her greatly that some people (niggardly gits) would enter, solicit advice, then use their phones to take pics of stock and prices...............

OP, buy them from the shop, it all helps to oil the wheels of an industry we all enjoy.

 

[User33236]

Can't you ask your online store to invoke their "service-match" policy so that you can enjoy the costly visual and tactile benefits that your LBS provides?

TBH I've only asked them to price match twice and I do shop with them a lot. As I say if it's only a small percentage difference I don't bother and pay the extra for the instant gratification you get from buying in-store.

 

[MarkF]

TBH I've over asked them to price match twice and I do shop with them a lot. As I say if it's only a small percentage difference I don't bother and pay the extra for the instant gratification you get from buying in-store.

Fair enough, but it's a tough world for them and we'll miss them when they've gone.