Getting Stuff

[Deertick]

I see lots of threads here and elsewhere about gear ...

Why you should buy expensive gear.
Why you should but cheap gear.
Why you should buy new gear.
Why you should buy used gear.
Why you should buy camo gear.
Why you should buy non-camo gear.

Here\'s the deal ... I learn from all of them! I have some \"nice\" things ... higher-end, stuff ... and some Wal-Mart stuff, too. And everything in between.

When buying gear, (or tools, or gifts), here are my rules.

1. Don\'t buy things that aren\'t on sale. Even the high end stuff goes on sale. Practically none of the higher-end stuff I have was bought for MSRP.

2. Don\'t buy things you don\'t need.

3. Don\'t buy things with money you don\'t have. That means that you don\'t spend one dime until all bills are paid, no debt exists, AND you have provided for retirement and your kids\' educations.

4. When purchasing things that are meant to last a lifetime, I buy high-quality or I GO WITHOUT. (But then I only buy on sale!)

5. I research alternatives, but tend to stick with the companies that are known to be good.

For instance, I recently bought a new scope for a rifle. The brand/model doesn\'t really matter. It was needed, and I had a budget to spend. The regular price was $529, marked down to $309. The register actually rang it up for $299 and I got a $50 rebate for using my credit card. Now, I have a really nice mid-range scope for the price of a low-end scope -- one that will last as long as the rifle!

Could I have bought it for retail? Yep, I suppose. Could I have found it at a garage sale? Doubtful, but possible, I suppose. The thing is I stretched my budget as best I could without going past that all-important limit.

I truly learn the same amount from thread that tell me how to save money by shopping at garage sales AND from reviews of higher-end stuff, so keep them coming! It\'s March, after all ... what else are we going to talk about?

 

[iccyman001]

John,

I think this is great.

When I want to buy something, I think about it, research it, and take forever to actually pull the trigger.
I\'ll give you an example. When I first wanted to buy a bow, I research what I wanted, set a price that I wanted to pay and refused to go over.
Then i ended up finding a FANTASTIC deal on it, paid nearly nothing, and got a free shooting block, release, and broad heads too


As for my equipment my stuff is mixed.
I would not say I have top of the line stuff. My camo is mostly OCP pants (deployment uniforms) and a few warm tops. I also have a cabelas full body suit for when it\'s cold. I\'ve had that since I was 16

When I buy, I don\'t buy top of the line, but I don\'t buy the cheapest either. That\'s not my goal. The goal of my purchases are \"what is going to last the longest and still be effective.\"

I\'m always looking for deals now too. The best thing in the world for me are the people who feel they need to upgrade yearly.

They buy top of the line stuff, use it for a season and then sell it half price or less end of the season because they need money for next years line :upthumb: :upthumb:

 

[timberland]

The one thing I would recommend someone to buy new retail is a product that you know will need some service down the road such as a bow, chainsaw,atv, etc. that you can\'t do yourself. The service often comes as a package (in my archery shop service on new bows purchased like servings, tuning, attaching accessories was free at time of purchase) and rewards customer loyalty. Also threw in a one year anniversary quick tune and check up. That same service for a crutch bought on craigs list could set a potential customer back a couple hundred dollars, then they look at you like you\'re crazy because the $159 \"steal\" they got needs a new string set, etc. I\'ve sent customers away with \"Don\'t shoot that bow!\" and have to deal with people being pissed at me because they made a bad purchase. Warranties protect the customer, the dealer, and the manufacturer.

 

[timberland]

Also, when dealing with a small business, its ok to ask when a product will have a reduced price like at end of season, product turnover, etc. Please don\'t ask me to \"knock off\" a hundred bucks just because you walked in off the street. The next customer is right behind you. If I like you and see a relationship forming, I will treat you accordingly. My Dad had a guy ask him to sell a bow for cost. \"COST?\" Dad says, \"If I sell stuff for cost I might as well be up to the house watching Oprah Winfrey.\"

 

[razorback]

Good stuff from everybody there. Timberland is spot on. I cut a lot of corners on equipment but my bow is something I refuse to. I feel I have the best bow guy in the world and probably end up getting the best price as well unless I shopped on the internet and found something used. As for clothes, just bought two pair of pants from Wal Mart, polyester and will dry quick. Paid $23 a pair, not KUIU but if they don\'t last oh well one pair of their pants is about $150. Last year I found Easton Axis arrows for $2 per shaft. I bought all they had (21). I think the archery shop told me they were changing the graphics on the new arrows so they wanted to get rid of the ones in stock. There are deals to be had, seems like I\'m always a day late and a dollar short on most of them though.

 

[Zpd307]

i am not one of you guys..... i am trying. this year i wasnt going to spend money on anything unless it was on sale. but, the things i need arent subject to sales. i bought my new broadheads off of ebay, for $9 cheaper than msrp. some were discounted for cyber monday and now i wish that i would have bought them, for a discount of $10-15. but i was spending my money for others... the quiver that i want, wished that i had this fall, probably wont be on sale when i finally get to the point where i need to get it. to get some practice in with it on....

 

[Deertick]

I guess it\'s not always about \"deals\" or \"sales\", but just responsible, deliberate spending rather than \"Cool, I want one of those!\"

 

[Scot320]

My thoughts:

Like John said, never pay MSRP. With all the discount sites available today there is no reason to.

You don?t need $800.00 + dollar packs to get the job done. I use an old freight pack for hauling game and a backpack used by the pack packing crowd (at a third the price) the rest of the time.

I refuse to spend the high prices they want now days for the layering clothing systems. I can get the same results by researching the high tech materials and buying from the local box stores.

Do the research?not only from the hunting crowd but back packers, the canoeing crowd and other outdoor pursuits.
Please take advice on footwear as that?.advice. Everybody?s feet and ankles are different?try them on and make your own unbiased decision on what fits you best!!!

I won?t pay the price their asking for the high dollar single wall tents either?I have stayed dry and comfortable for a lot less. If you need to cut weight?many of the tent fly?s can be pitched stand-alone without the main body of the tent.

Companies have to continually come up with the latest and greatest to keep you buying?that?s how they stay in business. Some of the new stuff is great, some of it is all hype (don?t get me started on scent lock clothing) you have to decide what fits your budget?or maybe you would like to save a few $$$ so you can go on another adventure.

Just my opinion

 

[cohunter14]

I agree with most that has been said. Anytime I am making a purchase, I do research before. 90%+ I am able to find it substantially cheaper online. I also just bought a scope that retails for $799 at any major retailer and I found it for $515 from an online store. I also agree that there are certain things that you want to go ahead and pony up the cash for. Scot mentioned not wanting to pay top dollar for a wall tent. On the flip side, we have purchased two wall tents over the years. You might spend $1,000 on a good wall tent, but when you get 20+ years of use out of it, the cost goes way down because you aren\'t buying multiple tents during that time frame and you are also getting the comfort.

Everyone will have their opinions on the different equipment and where to spend money, but there are always deals to be had no matter what you are spending money on. Just have to be patient and keep an eye out!

 

[Scot320]

Sorry Derek...I was referring to the expensive sil nylon tents and tepees...I love wall tents. :upthumb:

 

[bnsafe]

it always cracks me up when walk into a store an see guys paying way over what they could get stuff other places for. shoot even cabelas bargain cave is basically the same price you can find stuff on amazon for. but every once in awhile a deal comes along for all of them, so i try to know what stuff should cost and have some money to buy when a deal is to be had.

 

[cohunter14]

Sorry Derek...I was referring to the expensive sil nylon tents and tepees...I love wall tents. :upthumb:

Hahaha, no worries! I wasn\'t trying to say you were wrong either, just saying that opinions and thought process differ.

 

[elky McElkerson]

buying stuff is kinda fun. trying it kinda fun..

paying for it; NOT fun. i just kinda try to keep things in perspective. i did buy an expensive knife, but now i am done.i dont want another one. over and out!! i cant wait to cut up an elk with it.

 

[bnsafe]

ok i take part of it back. ive been looking at a scope for a few mos now for my ar build. was fooling around today and cabelas had it on sale for 125 bucks, thats 125 off.

 

[Swede]

I enjoy finding a great deal at a yard sale on something I want. My wife found a new tent for us at one. I have found camo and knives etc. I just never depend on those kind of sales for anything. They are a bonus if there is something there I want.
I have gone to pro shops and found items cheaper, better and with more to choose from, than many box stores. In addition they know me and will order special items, and service the things they sell. Sure I patronize Malwart and the other box stores, but it is for disposable items and other things that never need service.
One thing I have found wrong with some pro shops, especially archery stores, is that, they can be very arrogant. They talk, and act like they are highly skilled, and treat customers as stupid. It does not take a genius to tune a bow. It is interesting that those with an attitude are always, or almost always the least skilled pros. When I run into that situation, I don\'t come back.

 

[razorback]

Do you care to elaborate on the materials at the box stores comment?

My thoughts:

Like John said, never pay MSRP. With all the discount sites available today there is no reason to.

You don?t need $800.00 + dollar packs to get the job done. I use an old freight pack for hauling game and a backpack used by the pack packing crowd (at a third the price) the rest of the time.

I refuse to spend the high prices they want now days for the layering clothing systems. I can get the same results by researching the high tech materials and buying from the local box stores.

Do the research?not only from the hunting crowd but back packers, the canoeing crowd and other outdoor pursuits.
Please take advice on footwear as that?.advice. Everybody?s feet and ankles are different?try them on and make your own unbiased decision on what fits you best!!!

I won?t pay the price their asking for the high dollar single wall tents either?I have stayed dry and comfortable for a lot less. If you need to cut weight?many of the tent fly?s can be pitched stand-alone without the main body of the tent.

Companies have to continually come up with the latest and greatest to keep you buying?that?s how they stay in business. Some of the new stuff is great, some of it is all hype (don?t get me started on scent lock clothing) you have to decide what fits your budget?or maybe you would like to save a few $$$ so you can go on another adventure.

Just my opinion

 

[Scot320]

Hey Steve,

Years ago when everybody was going to synthetic base layers like Under Armour and some others (all good products), I was buying the same stuff, made out of the same material at Target.

As far as outer layers go, Micro-tex from Cabela?s is really nice stuff for the money (dry?s fast, durable and so on)?especially when a good sale is going on. Maybe not considered a box store, but it is affordable and used by a lot of hunters on a tight budget. If the weather turns for the worse I just throw on some micro-fleece between inner and outer layers (you can pick that up cheap just about everywhere and it breaths well).

I?m not bashing the high dollar systems because they are really good products?I just feel I can get the same results for a lot less $$$.