Originally Posted by
Rinaldo
While I see your logic I counter it with this simple statement.
If their business will hurt by lowering their asking price to make the sale, how much will their business hurt when they don't make the sale at all. It's simple economic laws at play here. If I ask them to give me the best possible price and they don't make some concession, be it a free helmet, a light, a discount, what have you, I walk away. Especially when they are asking MSRP or higher.
I do own businesses, I own three, and I've run retail stores online. I know the factors at play and I made many a bargain, online no less ! You don't pay extra at the gas station to help the gas station stay in business do you? You go to the cheapest station if it's across the street or across town. The same principal applies to bicycle businesses.
I worked very hard to earn my money, I will make everyone that wants it work hard to get it.
Hmm I think you're looking what I refer to differently then I intend. Your absolutely right about the economic theory. No question. If your turning away customers because you don't want to take a hit on one sale, that's absurd. In fact, giving that discount will then likely give you more business, not just from him, but from people he referred to you.
But what I am arguing is not that a local Business shouldn't give discounts. Which I think is how you interpreted what I said.
What I was inferring was that, the consumer make the decision to not ask, not the business to not accommodate.
Perhaps my "Have you ever owned a business, neither have I" was a bit hasty in my paragraph, it was a bit agressive, and it took the point away from what I was intending.
I think that it's consumer responsibility and promoting small business that I am advocating here. That if you can afford what the business is offering it as, you should buy at that price, as opposed to trying to haggle. Helping, in anyway you can, to ensure success of local businesses is something I think is very important.
In a time where politicians campaign on what they can "change" it clouds the fact that the biggest impact you can have in in your local community.
Now that's not to say I think small businesses should rachet up the prices and expect people to pay. But the difference between an Online "buy direct" site or chain super store that charges 50 to 100 bucks less on a 1000 dollar bike, and the mark-up of a local shop, I think it's better to help out the local shop and pay the extra money. It's being Loyal to your community.
From a business owners perspective you're absolutely right on the discounting of Items.
Also different situations will warrant different solutions. Etc etc.