Riddle Me This: Vendor A, B & C

How to dance around this can o’ worms without steppin’ on toes......

it’s the plus shipping and possibly currency exchange rate that makes option 3 misleading somewhat.

I'm amazed at how fast the shipping appears to be.  I used sonicair.com long ago, and I’m sure fedex offers similar. Ordered something from Belgium once, about 100lbs., and it got to me in about 3 days.

seeing that vendor C has the prices in USD and they tell you the shipping costs and have fast shipping then any one in the states 

and with the shipping and gun cost lower then anyone else and that save you money to put to a scope or pellets or your next purchase 

and i'm all about the best price no matter where it comes from, my budget is small on SS

How to dance around this can o’ worms without steppin’ on toes......

Exactly. Ours is a small sector in terms of businesses. I've seen varied responses to such logic with the world so much smaller. An analogy would if a dude cheats on his wife (to be clear-not me) it gets uglier if it was with one of her family members.

But to broaden the "item" in question, you could look at any item in terms of Weihrauch and cost ratios among A, B, & C are very similar. What I'm trying to get at is the quality of the items equal, or can it be offered cheaper because of blemish(es). I already purchased a tune kit for what I'm looking for -at the moment. I just don't want to short change myself either -now or down the road. This stuff is expensive enough as it is.

i'm all about the best price no matter where it comes from

That is the best philosophy that I can come up with too. Rich get richer and then there's the rest of us.

I'll pay more to deal with a vendor that has my back if needed. Brick and mortar stores cost more to run and carry inventory. If the cost difference is about a good tin of pellets so be it. I had the owner of Utah Airguns offer stay to after 11:00 pm last week to service a gun. You know I'm going to be loyal to that store!

Posted by: @pluric

I'll pay more to deal with a vendor that has my back if needed. Brick and mortar stores cost more to run and carry inventory. If the cost difference is about a good tin of pellets so be it. I had the owner of Utah Airguns offer stay to after 11:00 pm last week to service a gun. You know I'm going to be loyal to that store!

We have some great vendors here that should be supported, so count me as a +1 but with a Caveat: there is a limit to how much more I will pay for that reputation and customer service. And, from time to time, that limit has been handily exceeded (especially on some of the Weihrauchs) and I sent my order across the ocean. 

My understanding with the Netherlands dealer is you are buying a "gray market" product. Since it wasn't imported by the official distributor here, the warranty may not be valid. Making a claim from wrong side of the Atlantic would not be easy. Also, every once in a while, something gets held up in customs for an extended stay. 

That said, I've bought several things from Krale. Each time it's on my porch three days after I click the "buy" button online. Shipping is about $40. Hint: shipping is the same if you buy 2...I'm just saying...who says you have to choose between .177 and .22?

I went, saw the shipping.

The answer we were looking for was... D. Vendor D.

Midway has 2k Rem Thunderbolts for $60 delivered ($14.99/500/freeship)

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019409117?pid=599864

and

Gunprodeals has 2k Win M-22 for $53 w/$10ship ($15/ship unlimited quantity)

https://gunprodeals.com/product/win-s22lrt-22lr-40-bplrn-10002#product_detail

I purchased 24k rounds of .22lr this week... but that is a little higher than Krale...

I do business with the US stores, but we were getting gouged by them on HW guns for a long time.

Only when Krale came along did their prices on HW guns drop to current levels. $100 lower in some cases.

In the last few months I have bought a HW30 Deluxe from AOA, a R9 from PA, and a HW50 from Krale.

I have ordered 6 guns from Krale and have had no issues.

I do see where if there was an issue it would be a hassle.

I buy from who ever has the best deal for my needs at the time.

I take a different POV:

Not knowing where anyone works, or what everyone does, let's just say the if you do not support your local (USA) vendors/makers, then you are not supporting the USA economy. And that in turn is not supporting your own job.

As technology advances, more and more products and services can be moved across borders to be serviced in the cheapest locations. From PC support call centers, to E-Med consultations, you may be checking in with a service provider that  is across the globe.

Granted that airguns are not made in the USA but there is still a commercial apparatus that provides jobs and incomes to families to support that physical commerce.

IF the brand in question has no local rep or distributor (like Steyr High power guns), then there is no alternative, but if there is a local importer and distributor, then there is a US responsible "Importer of record" for those specific airguns.

HW and Krale have a peculiar relation that, in the industry, raises more than a few eyebrows. They are good and responsible sellers, I have never heard of an occasion where they have failed to respond to valid complaints and issues but, often, their prices are tad below MAP (probably because of the exchange rate fluctuations), and that isn't good for anyone.

So, next time you consider doing business with a company that is not US based, think about other people that might be doing exactly that in relation to whatever you do for a living.

JMHO

HM

Posted by: @straitflite

Riddle me this .. HHmmm

It just depends  on how " I feel " ? , I  support are home land  venders at different times                                                    "plenty.

 But if  Iam  looking for a rifle and the better deal is across the pond and  I know  I can trust  the transaction Iam  not thinking twice... I am going for it /  after all the money I save will afford me more airgun money  for other things.

A few transactions made overseas is not going to affect our U.S. vendors  if  it does  then they are  already  in trouble . what's the difference  if a buyer bought from a US vendor  but not  the other US vendor?  the other vendors missed  out well  that's business isn't it

Its also business if I decide  to buy  where  I want ! 

AoA used to offer many interesting springers. They once had a pretty nice price on HW35's, no longer cataloged. If they can't make a profit on a gun, they will not carry it. That's a fundamental law of business. I don't know what Krale's business model is, but it doesn't sound like the ones used by our stateside retailers. If those want to compete with Krale, they will have to either price match (not really feasible for a variety of reasons), or carry a smaller, more expensive iinventory. Currently, not everyone knows about the Krale option. If more people take advantage of it, we are going to see less and less offered here in the U.S. An analogy would be Diana vs the Clones. Don't tell me that part of M&G's financial woes didn't arise out of sales losses due to Chinese competition.

I think it is fantastic that everyone has kept this civil and that the post hasn’t been deleted.

I personally have no worldly prowess of economies to put on display. It seems like a good thing that we can now buy for example, a Toyota or Honda manufactured by Americans if one so chooses. What if one of those specific models could only be purchased at a lone dealership? Is it that dealers right to charge whatever it wants because it can? On the stock floor I believe cornering the market results in a long prison sentence. Is that because it is illegal or just unethical?

One of these vendors happens to be in my home state. By principle shouldn’t I buy the German made item here in my home state? After all, wouldn’t I be supporting the more ‘localized’ economy? (In case anyone is wondering I am aware that an import license is required).

In the end, I bought the inflated “unique” item from the only one that had it available. They did not force me to so I have none to blame to be sure. Something is only worth what one is willing to pay. I would have preferred to buy both guns from one place in a tidy little bundle. BUT, to recoup some kind of return, that vendor both won a sale and lost a sale –on the same order.

Carry on this post if you wish. We are all different and I have enjoyed the individual thinking. I won’t carry on any further. After reading the well thought out responses here my mind is made up. I may even like dealing with Krale.

Alas, the power of the consumer! Either that or ignorance is bliss ? 

if you do not support your local (USA) vendors/makers, then you are not supporting the USA economy. And that in turn is not supporting your own job.

Words of wisdom.  

National debt is directly related to the monetary flow out of the US Economy. 

As Americans we could collectively eliminate the National Debt in under ten years if we just bought strictly American products.

Building Japanese cars here does create jobs, but it costs us on import tarriffs. The Japanese carmakers actually save money by assembling here instead of importing finished vehicles.  

I completely understand that to most....choice is yours.  However,  it all adds up. Personally,  I buy and use as much locally sourced product as possible and buy American as much as well. 

I have never or will ever buy from Krale.  

@straitflite

pretty popular post....

I bought a fairly expensive gun from the local representative. Could have “saved” about 30% if I’d purchased from Krale. In retrospect, probably should have, oh well.  I try and buy local when I can and a few points one way or the other doesn’t make much difference. 

I guess Krale’s requirement (easily spoofed) for ID is a local requirement.  Somewhat reluctant to provide that sort of info.

I noted elsewhere where someone received a bill after the fact for some unknown adjustment to shipping charges.  Not sure how much it was but it was attributed to the carrier. 

Another possibility is that customs fees and duties might be arbitrarily applied.  Worst case, at the end of the day, is it could well be a wash.  YMMV

edit:  I’m sure the importers/distributors pay customs fees and duties.

I bought the second gun in the states.  Even though I can afford something however, it does not mean that I like being gouged. I'm not above buying from afar if the difference is much bigger. I will be using a mental calculator for future purchases however...save some here save some there, when it comes to all things airguns. Share the wealth as it were in an effort to prevent any single vendor getting too big for their britches. Just my own personal thinking. We all have a say with our money. Peace and happy shooting to all!

Did anyone see what that FWB 124 just went for? Good lord! Watching that made me feel a little better. The heart wants what it wants. ?