Revisiting a subject that came up in my other thread. So my local shop has the Bowtech General or Guardian for $599. A great deal, no? That said, my dilemma is in the accessories. Some of the prices straight boggled my mind, and I'm comparing them online and man it's sort of depressing. I want to support my local shop ... but I also want to get the most for the money (just like everyone else). My budget isn't unlimited, but it's also not ultra cheap either. To me, I'd rather spend money up front, for good equipment, as long as it will last me. I really like the guy at my shop, and he's willing to work with me, particularly since I'm new AND will be shooting left-handed. He'll dial down my draw weight at the start, and then boost it up as I get better. Plus it's not far from home, and I can shoot there. So I don't want him to screw me, but I also don't want to screw him either. Is there a happy medium to be found? Is it wrong to purchase JUST the bow there, and put on my own accessories that I purchased somewhere else? Or should I just bite the bullet, so to speak, and pay the "premium" for local knowledge and a good relationship with my shop and get my accessories there? Not looking for answers, but for direction or at least some insightful thoughts. Thanks!
Why not buy online and local and buy your accessories through www.bowhunting.com? Just a thought, but you might be able to do both. :d Let us know here if you need help determining what to get, I would be happy to help and there are plenty of others that can help as well to build a list of exactly what you want/need.
You ask a great question with no real good answer. Let me first say that your local dealer is not going to make a ton of money off of selling you a bow. This is even more true if it is not the latest and greatest as he has probabally already marked it down to try to move it. He will make his money off of selling you the accessories. I can understand that you want to make smart decisions with buying your equipment. Archery is not a cheap game. However, you do not have to have a $100 sight, $150 quiver and $100 stabilizer. This is where supporting your local shop and building a good relationship with them can really help you. They know what products are crap and what products are really worth the extra money. They can (and I am sure will) help you decide what products you should go with based on your budget. I would suggest you talk with him and explain what your budget is and ask him to help you build your bow based on that budget. Be up front with him and explain that you have seen some of the prices on-line and explain that while you want to support his shop, you also have to keep your budget in mind. Please keep in mind that when you purchase a product from you local shop that you are getting so much more than that product. You are going to get help is setting it up, often for free (something that some shops will not do if you do not purchase from them), you also get their ability to deal with the company if something happens to that product. Also, I know that a lot of shops that have indoor ranges will allow people who have supported them to shoot for free, while they charge those that just show up to shoot. I am not telling you to purchase all of your accessories from your local dealer, but give them the chance to earn your business and remember that without you business, some day there may not be a shop. I have purchased items on-line, normally when my local shop does not carry a certain product. Even then I talk to them and let them know what I am thinking about getting and give them the first chance and my dollar. A good shop will respect this and often work with you to get you set up with quality equipment while not breaking the budget. I hope this helps.
The sight and the stabilizer are the big things for me ... his sight prices are pretty steep. For example: the G5 Optix XR is $169 on huntersfriend, but he wanted $199 for it. Not that I'm going to go with that sight specifically, but it's the comparison that sticks out most in my mind at this point. I'm leaning toward a WB for the rest and his price for that wasn't really that out of line. I can get a quiver at a little bit later date, I know, though I want to get one in short time because I want to learn to shoot with it on. But I also want to get set up and start shooting soon.
For a good mid-level sight I would recommend the cobra boomslangs. That is what I currently have on my bow and my pins are really bright, and I don't even have the one with the pin light. I was in the same situation as you. I wanted equipment that would last me a while, but wouldn't empty my bank account because I also have college expenses. I ended up buying a used bow that came with $100 rest, and a $70 sight.
People price shop my products and serives everyday vs the competition. I do the same thing within reason. I really like the guy I buy my cars from, but if I can buy the same car for $1000 less somewhere else, I'm going to. As much as I say help the little guy, you have to look out for #1 first.
I'm all for supporting your local shop as much as possible. Much of what has been stated are all great points. A reputable shop can allow you to test out plenty of bows to see what feels right and fits your needs/budget. Additionally, they can save quite a bit of time (and headaches) with bow/arrow setup. If you're lucky, the shop might even be willing to teach you some bow maintenance so you can become a little more self sufficient. If you trust your shop and its owner, give them some business. With that being said, my only local shop lost my business pretty quickly due to pretty much just a shady owner. I started learning everything I could to become more self sufficient. I now do almost all of my own work.
I know it is not popular here apparently but when I got my Set up from Huntersfriend, I went to the local shop(50 miles from were I live, but just down the street from my parents) I told them what I got and what I paid....he said...."they sold you the supplies and gave you the bow for that price" I honestly don't think he holds it against me.... It's your money and you'll do whats best for you. If I had to do it all over again...I would buy it again. SB
Right or wrong, I buy mostly online as well. Most local shops can't come close to online pricing. If I am in there, and he has it without a major difference I buy there...But I am not making the 50 minute drive to then pay more for an item that I can get shipped to my front door for less. I buy both....Bows from local shop unless I choose to go used. Most accessories online. I got my sight shipped to my door for $99 and the local dealer wants $185 for the EXACT same sight....makes no sense.
My first bow was bought through Cabelas and the bimbo on the other end of the line was more than happy to take my 1300.00 order which I paid with EY points through a work based awards program. She had no idea what arrows I should get or my draw length so I got the same stuff my Step Brother and Dad were shooting. For 8 seasons I shot a draw length 1.5 inches to long and bought a lot of stuff I might not have if I went to a pro shop and got good advice. You get what you pay for
I bought my bow at my proshop. The other things I put on myself. He can't fault you for trying to save a little here and there. I bought some arrows from a big box store. Sorry I did. I don't care for them. I just went thru this dilemma w/my son's bow. By at the big box store or the proshop. Glad I went to the proshop. He spent about an hour fine tuning the rig w/my son. Had him shooting center ring and improving his form. If he can match the price, bonus. If not save some money on the goods and spend the rest in his shop on some other stuff.
Trev, it makes sense. Doesn't mean you have to pay the $185 that is for certain. $185 is probably the MSRP on the sight. The MSRP is a percentage over cost for the shop owner, which he/she is using to pay bills and overhead, support the family, etc. Not only that, but since he may not order on nearly as high of a volume as the on-line retailers, he might not be getting the lowest dealer price from the manufacturer. A lot of the cost to them is based on volume of sales in each year. This only adds to "our" cost in the end. Not trying to slam you for buying online. You do as you wish, I often shop on-line for certain items. Just trying to put things into perspective as to how the local shops can't sell at the same price as on-line retailers sometimes can.
Hey ... thanks all for sharing your thoughts about this with me. I think I'm going to go with a "hybrid" type approach. I'm going to get the bow, the rest and the sight from my local shop. Possibly arrows too ... haven't decided on that yet. The case: I'll probably get that at Bass Pro Shops. I got a gift card from there for Christmas and that'll knock off some of the cost of the case for me. Might also get my release at BPS. The stab and quiver I'll probably pick up online.
Here's a different perspective. My favorite indoor place to shoot is done. He's a local shop and had a nice range, 30 yards, 32 3D targets and also paper leagues. An example he gave me when I asked about the 3D leagues this year. I'm not sure I'm doing that this year. It's getting harder to pay the heating bill. I had a guy come in just before archery season to buy his license and when I asked him if he wanted anything else, he blurted out, "Oh no, I bought everything I need over at Bass Pro". SO I asked him, what are you going to do for a license when I close my doors....he responded, I never thought about that. You see, Bass Pro doesn't sell the licenses. I found that sad and guess what. Seems like now he's closing his doors, already sold his targets. Remember, they need you so they will be around when you need them. There's nothing wrong with shopping online for the best deal. Just don't forget the little shops or you'll have no choice but the online shopping and that can't provide you a place to shoot or hands on service. I like the hybrid system as well.
Good point Rob, I have seen alot of archery shops close their doors over the years. Whats really funny is, Archery is one of the only things I have ever seen where people will buy their stuff through a big box store or over the internet and then expect their local guy to use his equipment and work on it for free, it cracks me up.
I am in the same ship as Rob. I loved shooting at that shop, but I understand the guy's point. Last year he had roughly 25 shooters in his league at 10 bucks a head per week. Say turnout was good and he had 30 this year, 3000 bucks. Pit that against 32 target centers and the heating bill and you have a wash. I am convinced he has and would be ok with it as long as the guys shooting there were buying bows and accs through him. It's just like the walk through the drug store to the back counter for your presciptions, ya almost always buy something between the back and the front door. I like a discount as much as the next guy, but sometimes it pays to help your local shop out whenever possible. I'd try to use mix of both.
that is also what i am doing i am buying some from bass pro and gander mtn and the rest of it at the shop
