Buying Locally, or buying Online

[ctclaude]

The Gaffer, i had no intention of insulting anyone - am sorry you took it that way.  the point i was trying to make is that it always makes sense to have a good supplier to customer relationship (even if this is on internet or anywhere else) i was just pointingout that having a good supplier to customer relationship locally is the best option.

Granitu, i do not know your particular case and I hope you have been given the best service possible.  Expo is my father's shop and in his over 40 years of service had very few instances where a client was not satisfied.  He had a brand which ceased to exist 25 years ago and he is still offering parts and service with the limited parts he has.  On the other hand we (and our products) are not perfect and/or infallable so sometimes we have problems too...  If you are still unsatisfied about something we will try our best to help - give me the details.  I just want to make it clear that my brother Simon and I are now (from this year) the importers/wholesalers of Beuchat Diving and spearfishing equipment and the retail shop Expo in Valletta belongs to My Father Paul.  

Skip, thank you i think you understood me very well and you make some very interesting points too.  Volume is definitely an issue. Let me give an example - we sell only a few carbon fins and sometimes once a new model is out you get lumped with the old model.  Shops are very careful not to load such products with a lot of profit.  the old model must then be sold at a loss as just putting the price down to cost is not enough.  Some shops opt not to stock and therefore order on a needs basis but thene this gives you little advantage over internet buying!

Back to the internet vs shop issue i think that comparisons need to be put in context.  One could easily save a few euros by buying certain things over the net but can you buy everything over the net?  When the guarantee is over what will you do for servicing if need be? as you all know it is not always worth it to get small (low-cost) items off the net as postage costs sometimes exceed the price of the object...  

I'm not against internet buying and it is a reality that shops and suppliers need to take as a challenge however clients need shops for their day-to day purchases and should not belittle this.  Let me give some examples.  You might find that buying a harpoon on-line will save you 20 euros after all expenses are included but when it comes to buying a shaft or other related items chances are that you are better off buying them from Malta.  A shop in Malta has a number of overheads that he has to cover and hence the profit margin.  If the local shop is only selling the parts he will close down leaving the local industry with limited supply.  Can you imagine having to buy everything on-line?  Sometimes you might need something quickly would one be ready to wait a week or two for it in the peak of the season?

At the moment clients have the benefit of having the internet and the local industry.  If the local industry continues to be depleated (as it has in the recent past) there might be shops who will stop supplying for example spearfishing equipment (which is quite a limited market especially the professional sector) and turn to more profitable ventures.  Will the internet fulfill the daily needs of the spearfishermen then?

One last example of service - a couple of weeks ago i supplied a suit to Aquamarina (Gzira) who in turn sold this suit to a client.  The client had a problem with the suit and returned it.  We sent pictures of the suit to Beuchat and they said they would not replace the suit as they said the damage was a result of improper use.  If this item was sold via internet it would have stopped there.  Because we know the shop and the shop assured us the client used the product properly and is a good client we agreed to changing the product at our own cost (locally) in order to keep the client happy and satisfied and to keep up the goodwill of Beuchat and the shop that sold the product....  

Sorry for writing at lenght but got carried away... cheers )

[shanook]

too true emic, in USA most things are made in Taiwan, Korea and China but usually are made for an American company that will carry its name and lifetime (not 2 years) guarantee.
I think its a matter of choice, its true there are imitations out there but if u use a good company, for us in fishing there are lots to name a few Cabela, BassPro, west Marine, Leadertec etc, u are practically guaranteed to have a good service and a genuine product. So why shouldnt i save my hard earned cash. A price up of 20% as skip mentioned is decent so i would buy from Malta but more than than i opt to buy off internet.

[baghira]

Hi there

This is of course a nice and interesting subject, but what is for sure, it will bring up various complaints, and viewpoints.

I personaly think that this is subject to personal opinion. There are also people who are born as cheaters (amongst sellers), and others born complainants (amongst clients).

I personally love shopping from the local market, when I find a reputable supplier. But I indeed love finding a bargain on the net and take the advantage. I surely beleive that one has to find a certain balance whilst shopping.

As claude mentioned. I do not know you personally, and I have no personal interest in your company, but what is sure is that years have passed since I bought my first item from your father, and I still recon the smile on your brother's face running around the shop. I still am a good cutomer of yours', and will also travel with your brother to egypt in the close future. I really appreciate the customer care that you have, and when dealing with such persons, one knows that when he has a problem, the person will go to the seller with confidence, because he knows that these will do their best to help. That smile, and little discount (although it for sure is predicted marketing) help a lot. So keep it up......

But not all suppliers are as such. I also had many other good and bad experiances with other suppliers. And I am also sure that the net also helps to clarify some of these issues. I am convinced of the fact that many suppliers cheat, simply because of the fact that it is something between you and him. But when the issue goes on the net,, then...................noeone likes a bad name.

I like it when local suppliers specialise into selling of particular field. You get more knowledge out of it. I personally met other good brands, but for example if you buy a speargun from a pet shop, or a shop selling fishing tackle, you will never get close to cutomer satisfaction, due to the fact that the shop and personell are not specialised in answering your questions.

Anyway good luck to all buyers net or local, and hope we all get a good service from all of our suppliers

[SPITEC]

Hi mates,
            since I am an importer I just would like to say something.Since I am importing fishing goods mainly for fishing from land and for boats that don't go that far out for trolling and bottom fishing I would like to add something to what Baghira said.I only import tackle that I know how to advise someone about its use.For example I talked a little to skip about trolling in open waters but since I never experienced that type of fishing I just cannot import items to satisfy those type of clients since I cannot give them advise and I don't know what are their needs.What I mean is that if you want to sell you need to give good advise or the clients will not come back and you never need to push someone to buy something he needs to choose you just have to explain the items use.

[Barbun]

Hi all

i am not a frequent contributor to this forum but i follow the articles daily.  I wish to say somehting regarding buying locally.  I used to pratice spearfishing however  ihad to stop fo an indefinte period of time due to ear and sinus complications.  As a result i decided to dedicate some time on fishing mostly trolling with the coast.  To start with i went to a local tackle shop to buy my first trolling rod and was disapppointed on how the salesmen are so eager or 'trained' to sell you things in such a way that they put you off, like; this rod is good for you even this so why don't you take them both and switch over from one to aonthe to see which fits you bet.  Me being so new to this typr of fihsing will start to feel confused and i end up looking at everything with no specific idea what to buy.

Would like to thank spitec for his help and advice he gave me.  Bought a rod and reel and some tackle from him at extra ordinary prices which one would never dream of buying at that rate from local shops.  The qulaity is very good and very value for money.  Apart from the prce i like a lot that relationship between buyer and seller and the honest advice being given on what is good or not for that particular kind of fihsing. Thanks spitec highly recomended

Barbun

[baghira]

Yep, I like the end....................that's what we like to hear...............

[148148]

I must admit, it appears the shops in Malta have very little to purchase unless I have been to the wrong ones. GPS, fishfinders allready rigged longlines and buckets so far have been nowhere to be found, they only seem good for reels, lures and sinkers. As a result it looks like rather than spend the money in Malta it goes to the UK and Spain

[EmicMalta]

last week I bought some things from Greece due that could nt find them locally. even I paid 40euro for the shipping but I had 4kgs of weights, a belt, and some other staff.

When I opened the parcel all the staff was there but the belt was nt the one I  have ordered (to fit to my custom-made weights) so I sent them an email telling them my problem. It s not for the money spent on the belt but I needed it. In less then 24hr they replied my mail saying that they already sent me another one and to keep even the first one for free.

That what we I call customer service at 5 star

[bigboy]

148148 it depends on what longlines you need.

For bottom longlines send a pm to ganni on the forum he might help you out.

For surface longlines i would go down to gorg in marsaxlokk or ernest and they will guide you. I have heard of someone with the name of patist who does longlines but i do not know where he is situated and if he is still alive. But Id pop down at marsoxlokk and even speak with profsessional fishermen.

We do all our longlines ourselves

[skip]

I must admit, it appears the shops in Malta have very little to purchase unless I have been to the wrong ones. GPS, fishfinders allready rigged longlines and buckets so far have been nowhere to be found, they only seem good for reels, lures and sinkers. As a result it looks like rather than spend the money in Malta it goes to the UK and Spain

GPS and Fishfinders you're going to the wrong place mate!!!

For Raymarine - www.rlryachting.com (Ask for Matthew)

Garmin/Furuno/Simrad - www.medcomms.com.mt (Ask for Mark)

Lowrance/Koden/Eagle - www.caruanamarine.com

Humminbird - Camilleri Marine http://www.ellcee.com/f you look in the relevant section of the forum, Engines/Drives and Electronics you would have seen who gets what locally and members comments on the equipment, failing that the search bar is your friend

[Spirit of Jason]

We are about to go to the market at Marsaslok, at the begining of the market, there is usually a guy selling fishing gear, has anyone purchased anything from this guy, or should I stay clear of him.
I am not being funny, just thought I would ask if the gear he is selling is worth buying.

Thanks
Captain Gus

[robby017]

for the time being you've got quite a selection, however.... let me know what he's got and maybe we'll go down for a quick drive to see what he's offering early next sunday if you're up for it....

[Spirit of Jason]

Just been to Ta'Bormla, in Mosta, for the first time, thanks to recommendations from guys on the forum.
Bought myself a few lures and some other stuff.

The staff in the shop could not have been more helpfull, they were very friendly and once I had explained what I wanted, they went out of their way to make sure that I was buying the right gear and gave me plenty of advise on how to use  gear correctly.
A definate 5* for the staff and the shop, I shall be going back to shop there, whenever I need any fishing gear.

captain Gus