Re: Retail vs. Mail-Order [was: Re: [MDOsprey] Spotting Scopes]
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Sat, 20 Nov 1999 10:59:41 -0500
Phil,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. If I make extensive use of a retailer's inventory
to make a buying decision, especially if they are helpful and patient with me,
I feel obligated to buy through them. Of course it costs a few dollars more, but
in the long run the retailer will stay in business and the resource will be there
for me and for other birders over a longer period of time.
This may explain, of course, why I will never be wealthy...grin.
Best,
Norm
Date sent: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 00:15:44 -0500
To: mdosprey@ARI.Net
From: Phil Davis <PDavis@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Retail vs. Mail-Order [was: Re: [MDOsprey] Spotting Scopes]
Send reply to: mdosprey@ARI.Net
> Been on travel ... catching up on messages ...
>
>
> At 07:37 AM 11/16/1999 -0500, Parke John wrote:
>
> > I recently purchase a Leica APO-TELEVID 77 .
> > Because I was confused by all the advise I was getting on spotting
> > scopes,
> >I went to the New Jersey Audubon's: Center for Research and Education ,
> >Cape May
> >Court House, NJ 08210, 609-861-0700, which is on Rt. 47 near Goshen. I
> >compared
> >all the top brands. I lined them up and compared apples to apples right there
> >on their deck.
>
> (snip)
>
> > I purchase the scope from one of the photography warehouses in New York;
> >Adorama. (save a few hundred $)
>
>
>
> Parke, et al. -
>
> I dunno ... this bothers me. As the former co-owner of a "wild bird
> store", does everyone think this is fair?
>
> Specifically, the scenario in question is to go to a "nature store" whose
> owners pay good money to keep expensive inventory (like 77mm spotting
> scopes) in stock; and has rent and utilities to pay; salaries to pay for
> people to set up the scopes, answer questions, etc.; to use their equipment
> for comparison shopping; pick what you like; and then go and mail order the
> item from a discount house?
>
> If people want to buy discount, that's fair, but to "use" a retail store
> for comparisons and then not buy from them seems unfair to me.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Phil
>
>
>
>
> ================================================
> Phil Davis
>
> home: PDavis@ix.netcom.com Davidsonville, Maryland USA
> work: PDavis@OAO.com Greenbelt, Maryland USA
> ================================================
>
===============
Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net