How much of a deal am I likely to get at the SIBS?

[prv]

I buy everything this way. I go into my local camera shop and and fiddle with stuff and say thanks John, we are on first name terms, "I'll go and buy this from your online shop". Its cheaper than he sells it in the shop and it is part of his business model.

(My emphasis)

I think it's fairly obvious that Elessar was talking about buying from a different Internet supplier, not the same shop's online operation.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

(My emphasis)

I think it's fairly obvious that Elessar was talking about buying from a different Internet supplier, not the same shop's online operation.

I know he was, but unless every shop goes online and are competitive they are dead in the water.

 

[FishyInverness]

My SWMBO used one of our horsehoe buoys as a fender a couple of weeks ago - they are Lalizas, which are out of business. TCS have located one in the correct colour for me.
Good service and appreciated.

Lalizas, out of business? First i've heard of this....can you confirm where this news came from Fullcircle?

http://www.southamptonboatshow.com/2013/exhibitor_list/exhibitor_profile.aspx?objectid=24000

 

[lustyd]

Garmin are doing deals.

https://marketinginfo.garmin.com/u/gm.php?UID=bFxc8FuCt8&ID=192648389_511953_5644

I guess they can afford to have offers now they replaced their £200 chart plotters with £600 chart plotters!

 

[lustyd]

Why should the boat show be any different to anything else in life?

I buy everything this way. I go into my local camera shop and and fiddle with stuff and say thanks John, we are on first name terms, "I'll go and buy this from your online shop". Its cheaper than he sells it in the shop and it is part of his business model.

Many years ago I worked for a firm of Chartered Accountants and when going to a meeting in London the Senior Parner he quizzed me about this Internet thing and how it was another flash in the pan. I confidentally told him that in 10 years time we would be doing everything on the Internet and that he should be telling his clients to get onboard now, before it was too late. He was not impressed. The rest, as they say, is history.

From the evidence I've seen chandlers and shops have taken my advice.

Didn't work out too well for Jessops though. I actually avoided them because their on-line shop was cheaper than the real shop and they refused to price match their own site claiming "overheads of the shop". I politely explained that the overhead of not making a sale was bigger than matching their own price and left.
Marine Super Store do it right, as does Argos. One price, pay how you like collect or deliver and show stock info. If I can see on-line that it's in stock I often drive miles to buy "locally" as I'm childish and want my toys NOW!

 

[Elessar]

Why should the boat show be any different to anything else in life?

I buy everything this way. I go into my local camera shop and and fiddle with stuff and say thanks John, we are on first name terms, "I'll go and buy this from your online shop". Its cheaper than he sells it in the shop and it is part of his business model.

Many years ago I worked for a firm of Chartered Accountants and when going to a meeting in London the Senior Parner he quizzed me about this Internet thing and how it was another flash in the pan. I confidentally told him that in 10 years time we would be doing everything on the Internet and that he should be telling his clients to get onboard now, before it was too late. He was not impressed. The rest, as they say, is history.

From the evidence I've seen chandlers and shops have taken my advice.

I stand by my statement. Disgraceful IM(firmly held)O

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Why should the boat show be any different to anything else in life?

I buy everything this way. I go into my local camera shop and and fiddle with stuff and say thanks John, we are on first name terms, "I'll go and buy this from your online shop". Its cheaper than he sells it in the shop and it is part of his business model.

Many years ago I worked for a firm of Chartered Accountants and when going to a meeting in London the Senior Parner he quizzed me about this Internet thing and how it was another flash in the pan. I confidentally told him that in 10 years time we would be doing everything on the Internet and that he should be telling his clients to get onboard now, before it was too late. He was not impressed. The rest, as they say, is history.

From the evidence I've seen chandlers and shops have taken my advice.

Spot on. Any sensible retailer should realise that retail space has to be integrated into the total marketing plan.

More and more retailers are essentially making their shops a "touch and feel" experience to further their brand and are quite happy for you to order online. Apple stores are a good example. You can actually order online in the store itself. No pricing differences.

 

[FishyInverness]

More and more retailers are essentially making their shops a "touch and feel" experience to further their brand and are quite happy for you to order online. Apple stores are a good example. You can actually order online in the store itself. No pricing differences.

Ok, thread drift but - Yup, watch this space with B&Q and their "Omni-Channel initiative" - If you think you can't find a member of staff to help in B&Q stores now, wait until "omni-Channel" kicks in - the very minimum number of staff with ipads to order from what will be display stores and centralised warehouses, with small quantities of every day items to take away via self-serve tills. It is very well known now that large retail warehouses are old dinasours that no-one wants to pay for, and retailers are trying to hawk them off to supermarkets.....

Watch unemployment and very low paid part-time jobs continue to rise!

 

[lustyd]

Watch unemployment and very low paid part-time jobs continue to rise!

I like a good "this country is going to the dogs..." rant as much as the next guy but I don't see how a distribution centre and lots of small individual deliveries will use fewer staff than a shop. Even with something clever like Voxware running the warehouse you still need lots of people filling shelves and picking orders, then lots of delivery people.

Part time work has only risen in line with the number of people going to University since the Labour "everyone must be educated" mantra. Since students can't be full time and no longer get a grant, part time work has significantly risen.

 

[Jamesuk]

I'm in the market for some 'boating stuff'; certainly electronics (vhf and chartplotter), plus some safety equipment. Is it worth waiting for the show, or just get it all online?

Go to the boat show unless your an installation genius. It is always great to have someone on the end of a phone who knows you and can help you with the installations of your new product.

It will be cheaper online but at the end of the day probably not by much and at the boat show you can network your socks off and best of all get those 'direct number' so when you do get yourself into an NMEA tizz you can call direct.

 

[mil1194]

Go to the boat show unless your an installation genius. It is always great to have someone on the end of a phone who knows you and can help you with the installations of your new product.

It will be cheaper online but at the end of the day probably not by much and at the boat show you can network your socks off and best of all get those 'direct number' so when you do get yourself into an NMEA tizz you can call direct.

Same as most 'gadgets' in life - try getting PC World/A N Other to sort out your switch/router/etc over the phone when someone has bought it online for pennies cheaper and then find out it was the wrong item/wrong type of cable in the first place after three days of hell and waiting for callbacks etc. If you're an expert then carry on chasing the pennies - it normally doesn't work.....

 

[Seven Spades]

Well it depends upon your luck. I once bought a dinghy on the preview day about 10 minutes after the show opened. The seller did noir want to take any of the dinghies home after the show. We subsequently sold it for several hundred more than we paid for it on Apollo Duck. That is what I call a bargain, it doesn't happen often...