Originally Posted by
BikeWise1
Magical? Not hardly. Based on relationship? Absolutely. Maybe you've just never enjoyed being taken care of a little better because you have shown you care about keeping your money local. I am in a college town. There are certainly many students who shop like you....they seem like they want the least amount of interaction, and are more comfortable with the faceless internet or corporate structure. But lately, I have noticed more and more college aged guys who are so blown away by the service they get, and the fact that we call them by name when they walk in, that they start eschewing the easy internet purchase because they've found they enjoy the experience of being more than a number in a database. They like knowing they'll be taken care of quickly because they bothered to think to ask what the shop fave beer is and showed up once with a six pack. Life is all about relationships-and they can be deeper than just dollars and cents.
As I said previously, the disconnect may be all about the fact that I don't drink beer. It seems to be the controlling factor in LBS-customer relations. More importantly though, this is not about online vs. brick and mortar shopping. In any form of buying I care only about slection and price. I wouldn't do well at Cheers. i don't care if everybody knows my name. But understand, I am not talking about being purposely cold or rude when I go into a store. I'm just not looking to cultivate a relationship. Funny thing is sometimes it just happens. That 's okay too. It is just not a prerequisite for me to be satisfied with an LBS. That's why I do so well with the large, impersonal chains.