Very interesting... at least for me

[LukeTHr]

As a Whites dealer on a local level here since '92, it has always been funny to me how enamoured folks are with a big mail order dealer. Have been doing some checking comparing their prices with mine and I find they are not lower than mine. Makes me feel good about what I am doing.... giving full service face-to-face with my customers and still doing it at a lower price.

 

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[minton7]

Im in the same boat... I can beta their prices on machines.. just not accessories... they pay what our regional suppliers pay.. so their cost is less than mine.... White's needs to level the playing field somehow on this matter! Make them pay what we do.. or let us sell online

 

[Run4Cvr]

I would rather purchase from my local dealer but the reality is I can get a better deal online. No sales tax, no shipping and the price is usually at least the same or better. I feel sorry for local dealers but that is the case with many other items sold online. I would rather support the local dealer but at a $200 price difference I just cant justify, it Im on a buget.

 

[LukeTHr]

I would rather purchase from my local dealer but the reality is I can get a better deal online. No sales tax, no shipping and the price is usually at least the same or better. I feel sorry for local dealers but that is the case with many other items sold online. I would rather support the local dealer but at a $200 price difference I just cant justify, it Im on a buget.

Maybe if you brought in a printout of the price online and suggest that making less and at least making a sale would be better than no sale at all. Is he charging full retail?

 

[LukeTHr]

I had a guy that I have done some work for that owns an oil production company that knows I sell Whites tell me about an XLT he got such a great deal on thru a mail order place. About a year later, he wanted to sell it to me for what he paid for it, thought it would be a bargain for me ..... yeah right ........ surprisingly he didn't ask me to teach him how it works and where to hunt. I would have told him to call his mail order place.

 

[Run4Cvr]

The dealer I went to was asking full retail, he had the typical Im the only dealer in this town additude. I wasnt impressed with this, so I took my business elsewhere. I wonder how many other people have walked through his doors not purchasing anything because of his additude?

 

[Run4Cvr]

I think that another reason that people may be more inclined to buy from on online dealer is the advertisements and availability of information makes them more appealing to some. Some people arent comfortable wheeling and dealing on a price, some of these websites have a very savy sales pitch with side by side comparisons and other great info and a low listed price. A local dealer may not have the advertising to get his or her name out there to build a good reputation. I think that its just the nature of the beast.

Why not have the best of both worlds. Mimic what the online guys are doing, create a website, advertise on here, have a good additude and reap the rewards.

 

[jeff of pa]

When you look at the Price of food, Gas & Generally all
living Expenses, Of course Price counts.

Unless your Wealthy & Setting this Prices the Majority of
us have to live With.

So Of course if I Had a Detector Dealer next door
& I Could save even $50.00 Mail order
I'm going to do Mail order.

$50.00 is a Half a tank of Gas for me

 

[Sandman]

What Jeff says it true.

People need to save everywhere they can. I usually recommend people buy from a local dealer if they are lucky to have one within fifty miles. The distributors sell to everyone at the same price, but some places are so big they command a special price from the manufacturer, but that price isn't passed on to the buyers. Having a local dealer saves on you setting up the detector and training if you want it. I had one boss that wouldn't want me to help customers that needed help with their new detector because they didn't buy it from them. Many local dealers also are on a shoe string and don't place an order till they get a customer that wants a certain unit. Granted the dealer can get the detector there in a day, but that means the customer has to come back. Many check out a detector at a local dealer and then order online thinking they are getting a better deal from the big company. They have nowhere to take it if a problem develops plus this is just plain rude.

 

[treasurehound]

After selling my DFX 300 I was ready to purchase an MXT PRO and my local dealer quoted me $899. I asked if he could do any better and he said he could sell me one with a 950 stock coil instead of the 12" coil for $850. I checked with Kellyco and they offered the MXT PRO with the 12" coil and included pinpointer, headphones and carrying case for $795 which I bought on the spot. I also purchased a 10 x 12 SEF coil as well. As much as I wanted to purchase from my local dealer I had to go with who could offer the best package. If you were in my shoes would you have done different? A friend of mine is a dealer but does not offer White's and he offers great deals for his customers. So why can't White's dealers make deals as well?

 

[deepskyal]

Before the internet, I bought my first 2 detectors from the same guy. He was retired and selling White's machines was his extra income. Showed me how to use them, showed me some of his finds...nice experience.

Fast forward 25 years or so and the next 2 machines I bought online. Nobody showed me how to use the Dfx and ultimately I sold it.

When the Vision came out I jumped on it. Checked internet prices and compared and actually got a better deal at a local hobby store that dealt in White's than at the bigger online sources. Liked the guy so I ended up buying my accessories from him too. PLUS, he gave me a $50.00 coupon to buy anything else at his store in the future.

Probably won't buy another detector for a long time but if I buy a coil or something, I'll order it through the hobby shop. Just like the ease of having problems resolved quickly with someone that deals face to face with customers.

Al