• Thanks to each and every one of you for being part of the Golf Monthly community! We hope you have a joyous holiday season!

Online shopping...At What Price???

EchtLoon

Challenge Tour Pro
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
544
www.thehomeofpoker.co.uk
...on the other side of the coin is my own local pro, who is the most disinterested and unhelpful bugger you could find. I won't even buy a tee from him on principle.
 

SammmeBee

Journeyman Pro
Joined
Feb 28, 2008
Messages
3,707
Location
Where the Queen Lives!
Visit site
...on the other side of the coin is my own local pro, who is the most disinterested and unhelpful bugger you could find. I won't even buy a tee from him on principle.

Ah yes but you do still bow down to him out of respect don't you like everyone else on here.........
 

Parmo

Tour Winner
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
5,004
Location
Yorkshire
www.roundhaygc.com
As it has been said before it is very strange that some PGA Pro's are willing to offer decent prices on Ebay and others content to rely on golfers loyalty.

When I buy balls online its generally from Pro's who are willing to sell cheaper online that in their shops. There is a shop called carnoustie golf shop http://www.thecarnoustiegolfshop.co.uk/ which does some decent deals on used clubs and after speaking with them found they are really pleasent and helpful.

For me the best online retailer for golf gear has to be Onlinegolf.com the service is second to none and the prices are very good.
 

nackanut

Medal Winner
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
43
Visit site
i think you have a valid point but when it comes to clothes my club shop pro advises to buy online because with an average member age of 345 he cant shift any gear other than ronnie corbett sweaters.
now equipment, that is another matter where, buying from the pro is best everytime.
if your pro gives you lessons, even just the one, he knows your game and will recommend the right gear for the right golfer.dont forget that if he sells you a duff he will get it in the neck everytime you turn up to play. the guy at american golf will probably never see you again and if he did he would not know your name.
so yes do support your local pro shop and pro even when it comes to balls and gloves our pro will match any online price.
 

Marko77

Q-School Graduate
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
951
Location
Perthshire
Visit site
What goes around comes around. Support the Pro enough and (maybe?) you may get something back in return down the line, whether this be an impromtu free lesson, reduced price lessons, invite to a Pro/guest day somewhere.....anything, nothing specific but just your more likely to reap such benefits if you do support them but, as most rightfully state, we each have to look after our own pockets and sometimes these shops can't compete.

An extra £10/£20 to get the product there and then from someone I know I may stretch to. Anything above that, I may be turning my attention to the WWW.
 

Basher

Tour Winner
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
2,627
Location
Yorkshire
yorkshiregolf.proboards.com
My club has a small shop attatched, very little on display but he will do his utmost to price compare.

My driving range also has a decent shop, well priced quality gear available, local so no problems should you be dissatisfied with your purchase.

I've heard many times of the heartache people go through with online stores when they buy something and wish to return it for whatever reason!

Buy locally - no worries.
 

haplesshacker

Money List Winner
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
5,257
Location
Verwood, Dorset.
mid-life-crisis-man.blogspot.co.uk
Yeah it might be called business if that's how it stayed. But these guys come into our leisure retail business because the sport is also their hobby, and they think everyone is ripping them off, so they set up their own little web shop. Most disappear quite quickly as they soon realise that you can't run ANY business on 10% margins. Problem is that there is always someone else who's as stupid, and will do the exact same thing again. And so it goes on. These guys end up making no money at all, and just screw up those that do have established businesses, especially those with retail outlets.

Selling on the web is mail order by any other name, but the ease of which you can set up an unfounded 'business' is just crazy. I'm all for free enterprise and capitalism, but surely making no profit is not capatialism but .......enough of this political nonsense, but you get my drift.

It is not an offence to make a profit. After all it's what pays our wages, bonuses, (unless you're public sector of course and in which case will probably have no idea about such things!) and enables us all to play sports like golf etc.

Notice how no-one ever complains about the amount of profit that many other professions make, it's just retail that gets a hammering every now and then.

(That bit about public sector was tongue-in-cheek).
 

HomerJSimpson

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
73,217
Location
Bracknell - Berkshire
Visit site
Ah us public sector workers with our underpaid nurses and firefighters. I'm lucky because although I work for an NHS trust in an admin role my salary is fairly comparable with market prices and I get the perks of a good pension scheme, 27 days holiday, flexi time etc). And I get to chat up sexy nurses everyday.

Just a tongue in cheek reposte. I'm not looking to start a flame war over the pros and cons of the public sector or the state of the NHS.

As it goes I agree with haplesshackers sentiment
 

EchtLoon

Challenge Tour Pro
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
544
www.thehomeofpoker.co.uk
...on the other side of the coin is my own local pro, who is the most disinterested and unhelpful bugger you could find. I won't even buy a tee from him on principle.

Ah yes but you do still bow down to him out of respect don't you like everyone else on here.........
No. It's a municipal, and I had a blazing row with him last year over the state of the course. There were four winter greens on the go (June) he claimed, but council policy is they only reduce to winter fees if there are six temporary greens. Apart from the fact it's a totally ludicrous policy, his info was wrong and on this day there were 6 in operation, not only that but the course was in a disgraceful condition.

I argued the toss, and eventually got a refund for my round. (I always turn away and don't play when the winter course is on). I was absolutely livid, and informed everyone in the clubhouse that if they weren't happy with the condition of the course they could get a refund (pro had said this to me).

Now every single weekend the clubhouse is full of gripes, so I expected a stampede from the door. The next weekedn I found out that not a single other golfer asked for a refund, one toher player even came up to me and said he would have, but he'd just been in the pro's shop saying how well the course was looking!?!?!?!?!? In June with 6 winter greens?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? :eek:

So you may have a point...........
 
Top