Where do you buy your gear?

[safos]

In the new age of the internets, do you buy your gear online or take your business to the locals

[Rorz]

www.sportbiketrackgear.com

Local shops can't get close to their prices especially with the Aussie dollar being so strong against the greenback these days. I don't feel bad about not shopping local either as I figure they have been ripping us off for years and in my experience their customer service is often lacking.

[Karl]

I’m with Rorz on this, I spent a little time working in the bike industry and I know what they add on.
Even with friends in a few shops it’s still cheaper to sit at a computer and search.
Helmets I’ll still get from a local shop, and gloves too due to a smashed little finger that I can’t straighten fully, makes getting some gloves on impossible!
Thinking of ether having it amputated or the tendons clipped.
Dunno yet… to count to ten I’ll have to ether take a sock off or start from two…

[KEGSdale]

My local dealer is a bunch of tools. So I go there only to try on and fit the gear, then tell them how cheap I can get it from Riders Discount, then I call TJ and place my order with him. :)

Riders Discount is only about an hour from me, so I consider that local..haha

[BLARNEY]

Support your local shops so they don't disappear.



Yeah .... it's $5 here or there ..... but I can get service and advice.


Tom

[doublen675]

Online. It's so difficult to find motorcycle gear in a shop, especially apparel.

[MTNRider]

This is one of those can't win situations. I do both actually

I try and support local dealers when I can but that is not always posible. Most bike dealers have outrages prices on the gear and a very poor selection (many times a poor attitude as well). However I have found a couple of gear shops that are right in line with online pricing and have good customer service. I try and support these guys when I can. I don't have any close by but a hour away there are a couple.

Online shopping is great but you do not have the opurtunity to try anything on so that makes buying a jacket or suit very difficult at times. I ran in to this a few years ago with STG. A great dealer and I continue to buy from them but I ordered a suit and it didn't fit. Now I had to send it back for another size/brand. (more shipping cost) That one didn't fit either.
I got a great deal on the suit but since I could not find one that fit when I tried to return I think there was a 25% return fee so in the end online shopping did not work to my advantage in this situation.

It's a double edge sword. If we all shop online the locals will go out of business so you will never get that one on one service and be able to try on items before you buy?


.

[turboz]

It really depends, on gear many times its a gamble to buy online since size varies between brands. I do shop both local retail and online. It just depends if i can wait or not, or how good the deal was.

[SoCalDaytona]

i have a good strategy... i try and support the dealers, especially the ones that do "meet or beat" pricing... i remember hitting up TJ for a gopro, shop wanted 299... gave them TJ's price they did it for 224 got it right away in time for a TD... if they refuse i go online, its worth it to see if they'll match the price to get it right away... or just go in to try on gear to know what size you need try and wheel and deal. if not business goes straight to RD or STG(GREAT PLACES TO GET GEAR, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT EITHER OF THEM) my .02

[mikereiser]

sportbiketrackgear.com for me