Baldy wrote:mezla wrote:My comments about mates rates still stand though.
Which is the part I find odd. Have you never been given a discount beyond what was advertised for goods or services?
Anyone with half a brain would have heard about online shopping, they can research prices and walk into any shop and ask them to match that price. Sometimes they might get the same price and sometimes they will be given no discount. But usually it will be somewhere inbetween. Only the person parting with their cash can decide the amount they are willing to pay.
That is not mates rates. Its just smart business on both sides.
What is the difference between mates rates and a reduced rate for return customers?
Also have a think about all the places where the ONLY option is to pay the ticket price. Go ask some isle zombie at Cunnings for a discount on a lawnmower...
Look I don't care if you shop online or not. I shop online too, regularly. My problem is you're suggesting that people who get "mates rates" at a LBS are ruining it for everyone else. When the practice of given discounts for return custom is widespread across all business.
I've tried to explain myself but I'm done with this thread.
The way I see it and in my experience only, return customers rates can vary depending on how much you have spent at that shop. Some will give 5%, others normally 10%, some 25%. It will vary for shop to shop and whether its on sale or not. With mates rates, that again is subjective and how well you know the shop owner to get the % of discount off. i.e. mate of a mate won't get as good as a direct family member or close personal friend.