Supporting local stores vs. being cheap

[Nalgene Ninja]

Ugh. Well since Matthew informed us tha Josh and I won the Karma contest I've been browsing the REI outlet webpage dreaming of what I could get w/ my giftcard. Now he went and screwed all that up by giving me the option of a gift card from REI, Alabama Outdoors or Mountain High Outfitters. And honestly I don't know what to do.

I sorta have a love/hate relationship w/ the local retailers. I love seeing and trying on the cool stuff before buying but hate their prices and afew times the people staffing these places were jerks (ie bought maps and books @ MHO and they wouldn't honor their Free T-shirt card, and the HS kids at the local AO are just irritating know-nothings). Or maybe I just irritate salespeople w/ my "browsing" (I really like your $300 packs, I just can't force myself to pay that much though).

I also believe we should support local retailers over Big-box whenever possible (sorry in reality REI is the BB of the hiking retailers even if they are still technically a co-op).

Whatda you think?

[Graceless]

Welll I know some folks are not happy with BB places and in reality I am not, I stay away from WAlmart and Target etc etc buy most things from ebay after trying them on in the stores and buying smaller items like stove fuel to stave off guilt. There wouldn't be an EBAY gift card that you could trade that for??
 So I am not much help am I ? But I do like to support the smaller stores and bring in print outs and ask a manager for price matching???

[Rob]

There is a difference between being "cheap" and being a responsible steward of your finances. I Always TRY to support the local economy whenever I can, however there are sometimes responsible budget constraints I must excercise. I say look for what you need/want and who has it, then compare prices. Don't forget to weigh in shipping costs if app., return policy, etc. Then go spend some of Matthews hard earned money on it!

[Haveuseen1]

This is a great topic.  Here is my 2 cents worth.

Being in Huntsville we have access to Alabama Outdoors,Gander Mountain,Mountain High Outfitters,and Wiley Outdoor sports.  Personally I have not been impressed with any of them.  I am a member of REI although I rarely order anything from them.  I do like to support the local Brick & Mortar although I live on the other side of town from most if not all.  Actually Alabama outdoors is almost 40 minutes from my house, and not worth the drive.  If I had to guess I would say my gear has been pretty much equally bought from Brick & Mortar and internet.  You have got to admit the selection online far outweighs anything local.  Well at least for me.  Oh yeah, I forgot Dicks Sporting goods and I cant stand that place.  Even though I am not impressed with the local stores I can tell you that I would never abuse them. 
Examples: 
Trying on boots to get proper fit and then ordering them.
getting assistance fitting a pack and ordering it.
Show me how this thing works and order it.
You get the idea.

I will have to admit if you need good reviews and personal opinion based on experience (most of the time) you can not beat the internet, and especially forums such as this one.

[Cuffs]

Gander Mtn...  visited a few months back as I knew the manager (who has since transferred to another store)  They had little in the way of backpacking gear.

Mountain High...  Good gear, local store, some staff is knowledgeable.

AO... The store in H'ville has just had all employees removed and is starting over, if you are in that area, please try them again.  AO Homewood - well staffed with experienced hikers, kayakers and climbers (but they dont sell boats.)  Pelham AO is their outlet, you might do well to spend your $$ there!

REI is BB, but like other BB has a generous return policy. 

[dayhiker]

If I do the research myself, I go for the cheapest price I can find it.

If I go to a store, try it on, get info, etc, I then buy it from them.  I don't think it's fair of me to go to a brick and mortar store to try it on, then buy it from campmor and save a few bucks.  This is assuming the trying it on aspect is what led to the purchase.

[PastorLarryT]

I do buy a lot of my hiking/backpacking gear online (after research) IF it does not involve items that require trying-on (such as boots).  I purchase those items locally and I prefer to buy locally if I can.  Unless the price of the item is much cheaper (including shipping) on the internet - I turn to the local stores.  Bass Pro Shops has been the recipient of lots of my money since they opened up last fall!

[Nalgene Ninja]

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to get the AO card, i need compression sacks, socks etc.

[Cuffs]

AO - Homewood has several brands of socks half off thru the end of the month!  Not sure whats in stock at the Pelham store... 

Are you sold on getting compression sacks vs. regular stuff sacks?  With regular sacks you can mold them to fill in spaces in your pack.  With compression sacks, they make small wads that are sometimes hard to pack and fill in all the voids in a pack... 

[Nalgene Ninja]

AO - Homewood has several brands of socks half off thru the end of the month!  Not sure whats in stock at the Pelham store... 

Are you sold on getting compression sacks vs. regular stuff sacks?  With regular sacks you can mold them to fill in spaces in your pack.  With compression sacks, they make small wads that are sometimes hard to pack and fill in all the voids in a pack... 

Good point. I need to try stuff my UL pack w/ my newest sleeping bag and sack, I guess.

Homewood and Pelham are a lil' far to go for socks unfort.  I'm in Huntsville.

[Cuffs]

I get my bag into a medium sized stuff sack (not compression) its just slightly larger than a loaf of bread and I more easily moldable to fill the pack.  Same with my clothes sack and hammock/fly sack...  it just fills the voids rather than trying to pack football shaped oddities!

[Nalgene Ninja]

Hmm. I wonder if AO carries those.

Supporting local stores vs. being cheap

[Cuffs]

Why yes, they do carry the football, I believe Granite Gear makes that?