Sandman
In article <7c33j91hnrsri9jor58stsqj03p65u2ale@4ax.com>, Tony Cooper wrote:

nospam
competitive doesn't mean below cost.

however, it does mean not charging as much as twice the price as available elsewhere, for the same item.

offer products and services to make customers want to buy from you, otherwise they aren't going to. it's really that simple.

either adapt to the changing landscape of online shopping or be gone. that's harsh but that's just how it is.

Scott Schuckert
You really don't want to be swayed from your agenda, do you?

Tony Cooper
nospam goes into every discussion thinking that his position is the only right position.

Sandman
I'm just not what "position" that's supposed to be, here? I mean, the points he posted above are just basic facts.

The first; "competitve doesn't mean below cost" is just a very truthful statement. One can be competitive without undercutting competitors, just look at Apple.

The next - competitive means not overcharging. I'm not sure this counts as a "position", sounds reasonable enough. If you want to stay competitive, don't overcharge for the same products as your competitors.

Next just sounds like logical demand vs. supply. Provide what your customer want and they will buy it. Simple enough. Not a "position" contrary to someone else's I'd wager.

The final statement, adapt or be extinct may indeed be harsh, but in retail it is also very true.

In the end, these weren't his "positions" which the thinks is more "right" than some countering "positions".

Tony Cooper
He makes much of the fact that in some retail stores the sales help is either not informative enough or that they push accessories to increase the sale.

Sandman
But as you say, it's a fact that it does happen.

Tony Cooper
What he ignores is that in *all* purchases online, there is no sales help available.

Sandman
How did you determine that he "ignores" this? Where is the quote from nospam where he made it clear that he is ignoring this aspect?

Plus, it's only half true - there are tons of sites out there that can help you find your perfect TV set or gaming console if you just tell it what parameters are important to you.

Sure, there's rarely an online help staff on online retail sites (but it does exist), but that doesn't mesn that one can't make informed purchases online.

Tony Cooper
Any help the customer gets at a retail store is more than what any online seller offers. If nothing else, the buyer at a retail store gets to handle the camera before purchase.

Sandman
That is, if the store has it in stock. Large electornic stores have the most popular ones, but the small "brick and mortar" stores rarely do.

Tony Cooper
It's always the buyer's responsibility to do their own homework. There's no reason the in-store buyer can't check the reviews and customer ratings of something before they make the purchase.

Sandman
Indeed.

Tony Cooper
I may be a bit prejudiced in favor of the retail store because the two camera stores in Orlando are both staffed by knowledgeable and helpful staff. But, if I go to a big box store and deal with a sales person that doesn't know the difference between a interchangeable lens body and a fixed lens body, that's my fault.

Sandman
Oh? I mean.. how so? I mean, do you mean the mistake here wasn't that the store doesn't have knowledgable people on staff - but rather that you didn't know they didn't employ them and you went in there expecting help when none could be found?

How would one go about to determine whether such staff is on the floor on any given day - or even on the payroll at all?

If I visit a camera store (which I did today, actually) and they don't know the very basics of photography, or the specifics of their in-store camera models, then I have a hard time blaming myself.

Scott Schuckert
Now, here's a challenge for you: SHOW US a camera (not a lens cap or a battery) that sells for twice at much in a retail store as through a mail order house. Exact same, current model and brand, that is, say, $200 at Cardinal Camera in Lansdale Pa. and $100 at B&H in New York. Or any other comparable vendors.

Tony Cooper
He won't be able to. That's typical hyperbole from nospam.

Sandman
It may very well be hyperbole, but that's hardly uncommon in a discussion - from either side I might add.

That said, I went in to this camera store today asking about soft boxes, and they had a set with two flashes with soft boxes, price was SEK 4,999 ($779) and online I found it for SEK 2,699 ($420). Not exactly half, but a serious difference. That said, the store would probably have taken this into account and adjusted their pricing had I told them about it. That's a pretty important aspect of small retail stores, they value their customers and are willing to adjust pricing when possible just to keep you as a customer.