Pro Shop Gear and Equipment How do YOU buy golf equipment online?
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Posted: December 12, 2009 • Views: 1,273 • Replies: 29 • Go to Last Reply |
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As a golf professional I have know idea how golfers shop for golf equipment online. So I have two questions. 1. Do you shop at one specific website, or do you shop around for the best price? 2. Would a website that showed all of the other sites sales be helpful? |
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# 1 on 12/12/2009 11:15:59 PM |
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I always use TGW.com. Great prices. Clubs, balls, GPS, apparel, bags, whatever you need they have it. They also have the best brands like Nike, Titelist, Taylormade, Adams, Ping, Footjoy, and others.
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# 2 on 12/13/2009 12:42:15 AM |
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"1. Do you shop at one specific website, or do you shop around for the best price?" BEFORE I shop online, I like to attend ANY available DEMO days. EX: I've been to Callaway, Cleveland, Taylor Made just to name a few. THERE is nothing like actually hitting the club from different manufacturers before actually purchasing! I'll begin my search online at TGW, Golfsmith, GolfGalaxy, GolfBalls, Roger Dunn etc and also carefully on E-BAY, I know what to look for. I bought 2 different graphite sets of irons on E-BAY the past 2 years. BOTH came from reputable companies. Btw, I buy golf USED balls online from a few companies. Why pay full retail? $ave da money for green fees... 2. Would a website that showed all of the other sites sales be helpful? Sure, it has become a price competitive market which favors the buyer in today's tough market place. |
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# 3 on 12/13/2009 5:44:53 PM |
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I beleive everyone does about the same thing, 1-I shop around the brick and mortar stores tryin out what i want,2- I shop around on line and find the best deal. i don't always buy on line tho, some stores match the prices unless you buy used stuff
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# 4 on 12/13/2009 10:13:59 PM |
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Hate to say it, but I'll go to a local retailer to demo a club or clubs and then shop it on eBay. My Nike Victory Reds were anywhere between 749-- to 899.00 everywhere I looked. I ended up getting them on eBay for 569.00 brand new shipped to my door. In todays economy I had to. As far as a driver though, I will still buy it from my local Golfsmith just so I an get it re-shafted. The online stores don't have the overhead or the building needed to mark up the clubs so they can sell them at that price all day long~~
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# 5 on 12/14/2009 7:46:38 AM |
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For the most part on new gear, all stores, including the reputable on-line stores must charge a set amount for clubs outlined by the manufacturers under threat of losing the right to sell said merchandise. It's price-fixing at its finest. I don't know the impetus, except perhaps to ensure an inflated price in order to maintain player endorsement royalties. The only way stores can compete is in the arena of service. Unfortunately for the retailers, many folks try out clubs at shops, then get them on-line. That's why many charge a "fitting-fee." I would do the same if I were a retailer. Still, the market thrives on hope and our buying the newest technology every year. That leaves plenty of gear for the rest of us willing to buy used, which I have done. I was fit by my teacher, found clubs used at stores mostly by lucky accident, had the lie set, and they have suited me well over the years. |
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# 6 on 12/14/2009 9:52:46 AM |
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I buy a lot of equipment on line for my golf league. Since I do buy a lot, I kind of have an idea of market value and when I see a good deal I'll buy. I use a lot of different sites including the ones listed. One more to add would be rockbottomgolf.com.
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# 7 on 12/14/2009 10:37:58 AM |
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Hate to say it, but I'll go to a local retailer to demo a club or clubs and then shop it on eBay. My Nike Victory Reds were anywhere between 749-- to 899.00 everywhere I looked. I ended up getting them on eBay for 569.00 brand new shipped to my door. In todays economy I had to. As far as a driver though, I will still buy it from my local Golfsmith just so I an get it re-shafted. The online stores don't have the overhead or the building needed to mark up the clubs so they can sell them at that price all day long~~ I did the same thing with my Mizuno MP-58...they retailed for 999.00 I go exactly what I wanted for 740.00.....retailers are way over priced! |
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# 8 on 12/14/2009 11:22:16 AM |
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i bought all of my clubs from rockbottomgolf.com the orders were always right, shipped right away, and i've never paid tax. plus usually there is a code you can enter to get a discount or free shipping. i paid $79 for a Cleveland CG12 60 degree and $139 for an Odyssey White Hot XG Sabertooth putter.
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# 9 on 12/14/2009 11:25:14 AM |
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I shop online at Edwin Watts Golf, TGW.com, Dick's Sportings Goods, and look for the name brands. I also check the Golf Company website, Footjoy's and a few others
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# 10 on 12/14/2009 11:29:46 AM |
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Same here basically, I'll shop the local stores, hit some balls with demos then go online. For example, I bought the Callaway Diablo driver last year for 299 and got the 3W for a dollar. I bought local because they had just come out at the time and there wasn't any deals online yet. This year, having already hit these clubs (and I'm loving them) I will buy the same set up (neutral, stiff) in the 5W and 7W but I'll buy them online. The Diablo lineup is essentially a year old or more now so there are deals everywhere. Merry Christmas to Me! |
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# 11 on 12/14/2009 11:34:29 AM |
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I go for globalgolf.com through e-bay. Never had anything but good luck that way.
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# 12 on 12/14/2009 11:36:58 AM |
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Hasn't anyone noticed no matter where you buy a piece of equipment, it's the same price everywhere? Wanna' have fun: Read the restrictions on Golfsmith's 10% off sale. Everything but tees is restricted because manufacturers set the prices and retailers both on-line and off have to abide by those prices. It's the most fixed industry since Vegas! And, we're the dupes. |
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# 13 on 12/14/2009 11:38:01 AM |
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Hasn't anyone noticed no matter where you buy a piece of equipment, it's the same price everywhere? Wanna' have fun: Read the restrictions on Golfsmith's 10% off sale. Everything but tees is restricted because manufacturers set the prices and retailers both on-line and off have to abide by those prices. It's the most fixed industry since Vegas! And, we're the dupes. |
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# 14 on 12/14/2009 11:38:29 AM |
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As for your second question...yes I think a website that compared prices to all of the online sites would be helpful. I don't know how you would do that though...for example, I just mentioned that I'm buying two fairway woods this month. Several of the websites I've searched don't have prices on the club until you "build it"...for example if I wanted the steel shaft in a draw setup the club is 40.00 cheaper than the graphite shaft with the neutral setup. Some sites don't let you build the club and you only purchase what is in inventory. There are too many variations from club to club and site to site. |
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# 15 on 12/14/2009 12:05:05 PM |
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Ebay, find trustworthy sellers & you shall save $.
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