Research proves online shops are more expensive than Highstreet shops!

[trouville]

Trying to fit out my small Flokboat should today with internet and online shopping have saved me trips to the swindleries to compare prices and negotiate a discount,and saved me money.

Online shops were all to expensive charging the rrp. some the full rrp and a few the dicounted rrp given by the supliers web site. And most over charged with postal charges even within the contry.

France is the most expensive! the least expensive were Germany UK Sweden Italy in that order and surprisingly Switzerland by far the least expensive! Even compass which i noted doubled the normaal price is less expensive than almost all UK outlets except compass uk ( www.compass24.com www.compass24.ch )

Hear is the report about online shopping any why its soooo expensive :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story (Dosent work see below)

If need somthing for your boat the best value will be a small shop that just doubles the delivery price not tripel with 10% off!!! And also explains why UK online only shop asked more for Nasa clipper in promation with unbeatable price that most of the "expensive" Shops i visited !!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1444109,00.html

THIS LINK ONLY WORKS IF YOU CUT AND PASTE -- it to your thing at the top that takes you off to a new page. But that artical says it all and it been fully researched Dont bother looking for discount online!

Otherwise go to gardian online then online mag then look for the subject its the last in the list.

When i last fitted out my boat there was no internet shopping it was far easier and i found good discounts in France!! and UK of course --then--

 

[billcowan]

Of course, internet shopping was touted as being the only future.
But actually its just Mail Order, and thats been around for 150 years.

And of course, why should it be any cheaper.
Handy though if you dont have a local retail outlet.

No, the way to save money by shopping online is to find the REAL SUPPLIER of what you are looking for.

Or second best, a 'box shifter'- someone who buys in bulk and just adds 10%

In both cases, there is no browsing, you have to know exactly what you want before you start. Same as any wholesale deal.

 

[pvb]

Now you know that\'s not true!!!

My word, you do make hard work of this buying lark, don't you?

According to the Guardian article you refer to, "all this price watching is leading to what the researchers call tacit collusion. It is as if they [the sellers] had got together to coordinate prices, but each is acting independently of their own self interest".

I don't see this happening with UK online suppliers. A quick look at the UK online prices for the NASA Clipper Duet you want to buy shows a huge variation - from £136 to a staggering £190 (all inc VAT but exc P&P). That rather conflicts with what the Guardian's saying, doesn't it?

 

[PeterStone]

Re: Now you know that\'s not true!!!

Funnily enough I have only just checked a few online prices relating to electrical goods and Comet, for example, quotes two prices - online and instore. The online price is less in every case and free basic delivery is thrown in, which they say does not apply to the store price.

I took this up with someone from Comet because I pointed out that I had a store near me - couldn't I just walk in and pay the online price - a request that was refused, the justification being that it cost more to operate the stores. Odd when you know they are one and the same company. It might be understandable if they operated independantly but do you really suppose they have separate warehouses that they store this stuff in?

I have also found Amazon very competitive, even allowing for paying postage. Maybe I'll look more closely at prices following the Guardian report.

Incidentally, a particular irritant to me is where a store offers say 10 blank CDs for £4.99 and 20 for £10.99 - an example I encountered last week. Is this a cynical ploy, knowing that most people might assume that more will cost less or is it just sloppy pricing?

 

[mirabriani]

Re: Now you know that\'s not true!!!

In my yuuuf I worked saturdays in a greengrocer's
We had toms. at two prices.
Most customers paid the higher price.
As you might guess they were the same
wholesale price.

Regards Briani

 

[PeterStone]

It\'s all coming out now..

I'm not sure Kim would welcome a True Confessions thread. So much opportunity for potentially libellous statements! Make interesting reading though.

 

[trouville]

Re: Now you know that\'s not true!!!

Its very true! the clipper the least expensive uk price online at £136 can be found in the 2005 compass catalogue for £133!!!

Even among shops with there prices online i have only found ONE anywhere with reasonable prices a clear web site and what seems from the online photo a pleasent shop to browse around. That one is a source of iritation as it only has the lowest prices. And i would have to add postage!!!If in the uk i would have bought everything there!!!

For example my Autohelm 1000 with key pad £267 UK shop/online £249!!
GPS garmin 152 i will pay £186 UK shop/online £189!!

Almost the same and if had known what i needed from the start perhaps i could have--i would have ordered everything as the difference almost covers the post? though ive no idea what that shop charges for overseas parcels?

Having spent far to much time online and out looking the best shop/online service in Europe with a clear site and good range at the very best prices overall is:

http://www.jgtech.com/page3.htm

The site that best describes the widest range is:

http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/index.html

The UK shop/online dose not stock clipper! but it does stock silva star for which i need a depth transducer,i have a horriable feeling that if they listed the transducer price and which i intended to get in Sweden when i get there. Then i would be devastated,as i havent found anyone that can supply one yet.

And if i had gone to that shop from the very start i would have saved time travell effort Plus if i had to call them they have Skype!!!!

I suppose you live in the UK if you havent found that shop look there before you buy! I wish i had found it sooner, and when i did that i had had a better idea what i needed!!

That one is the best for me "online" shop in Europe but its not just online--its a real high street shop as well!

 

[mikewilkes]

But surely...

Compass is an online store????

 

[pvb]

Ahem...

[ QUOTE ]
the clipper the least expensive uk price online at £136 can be found in the 2005 compass catalogue for £133!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

The £136 I quoted is actually from the Compass website (£139.95 less a current 3% discount for online orders). Strange that it's cheaper in their catalogue.

 

[mikewilkes]

Re: Ahem...

Clipper Duet online £139.95 less discount of 7% = £130.15.

Surely the beauty of shopping online is that you can check prices on many items at different locations and not pay an inordinate amount of petrol duty to Charlie Brown. Also do it from the comfort of your own home / boat.

 

[pvb]

It\'s UP TO 7%...

The Compass offer is up to 7% discount! You need to spend more than £551 to get 7% off.

See here for terms of the discount offer.

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Ahem...

Online shopping is the same as any other shopping - you shop around for the best price. The difference is you don't have to leave the house.

 

[trouville]

Re: Ahem...

I ment the other compass store or www.compass24.ch or 290sfr or £130! After all were online!

I do seem to have upset "pvb"!!!

I bet he bought somthing online and like me finds it at that UK store far less costly and inc P&P Plus they have skype! AND i went again "they will match prices"!! Pewwww

Im so really arrrrrrr that i dident find this store sooner. I wonder if they have compasses??? Im off belatedly to look.

Hear as its unbeatable¨ http://www.jgtech.com/index.htm

 

[pvb]

If you remember...

If you remember, it was me that suggested you look at the JG Techologies website in this thread when you were looking for tillerpilot prices.

You certainly haven't upset me, but I'm surprised at how much difficulty you seem to have in buying a few items. One thing to consider is putting together a group of the items you need and then asking several suppliers for their best price for the group; this will often result in an additional discount.

Increasingly, I find it preferable to buy online. A couple of months ago, I bought a Raymarine C-series plotter and radar from JG, and the price was very competitive. No connection with them, just a satisfied customer.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: It\'s UP TO 7%...

Yep,

But as I am finding as a first time boat owner... spending £551 isn't difficult!

I've infact just done exactly that with Compass this week, and found that with the additional 7% discount some of their prices are very very competitive..... especially if you also look for the offers.... which still get the extra 7%...

no connection.. just a satisfied customer....

 

[trouville]

Re: If you remember...

Oh yes it was you!

Yes there are only a few items inc. vhf, log/depth, compass, autohelm;GPS, cooker, and some lamps, Not to much, but if i bought from just one of the stores i found in the first week of looking i could have spent far too much.

Most things are new to me such as the led lighting(i havent bought any)and nema sea talk etc.all new as is the garmin handheld 72 seemed a good idea for a small boat, but wasent!!

To fit out a small boat from scrach, and get what you want is not easy, i almost bought a simrad TP10 becouse i hated the old automelm i bought many years ago.
and on my Hillyard 12ton i have wheel steering and have never needed an auto pilot. most passages being 6/8 hours and a few 24hrs. she holds course undersail very well.

Now trying to fitout online and to find out what i really need for a folkboat with tiller steering after 20 years with a quite different boat is interesting.

hear is my favorit home page of any boat shop i would like to have found items hear: http://www.piplers.co.uk/default.asp

And again anyone fitting out or shopping should look hear today its the best in europe huge range top prices and a reall shop as well!!

http://www.jgtech.com/index.htm If only you had told pointed it out before.

I have bookmarked this site, and even the £25 postage for 10kgs im sure, hope they would ship by http://www.interparcel.com/ if asked with a big order,when im in the baltic i will certainly recomend that shop.

Where are they based?? i dident look at the address??

 

[pragmatist]

Re: Research proves online shops are more expensive than Highstreet sh

I haven't had occasion to buy much chandlery recently so can't comment on prices on this but on most other things we virtually never buy offline. Buying computer, camera and stationery stuff we get a much better deal - although you do need to shop around. And Ebay can be really good - if you research the RRP and then don't get carried away. The big grey area is shipping - very few tell you up front what it costs. But I'd certainly try online before considering our local chandlers - they're great with advice but cost a fortune.

One boaty purchase we made recently was 2 windproof fleeces @ £15 each plus p&p which should have been £10 but HWMBO chose wrong option and ended up paying £12. They're not top dollar but compare the prices with Musto etc ...

However I do agree that many e-commerce sites have a way to go - I have been sending details of failures (including BT) to our local e-commerce expert at BusinessLink (HMG funded - help businesses to reach e-business) as light entertainment !

Keep going Trouville - eventually the world will catch up !