Support your local tack shop

[Bazzer]

Come on guys...I hear so much of people having bad experiences of buying online...Isnt it about time we all supported our local tackshops?

Most nowadays are only too happy to help..If they havent got it in stock they try their hardest to help find it and order in for you...Often coming up with other ideas or suggestions.

We are happy to wait days for stuff to come in from websites never knowing whether its on its way or not... can't we wait a few days for our local shop to order something in if they haven't got it in stock?

Pricewise most shops are as keen as the online retailers plus if it breaks, doesnt fit or whatever you just take it back and they'll exchange it!!! No more expensive return postage, queues in the Post Office etc.

Please dont just use your local shop for finding out a size...i.e body protector, hat etc then go online and see if you can save yourself a few pennies....How many of us have ordered online and found something doesn't fit?

LOCAL SHOPS NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW...Many have allready closed...once they're gone they're gone!

Dont forget where the Websites started...They were once a small local shop and the majority have long since forgotten about their local customers!!

Please don't just buy the small items locally buy the bigger items and don't forget a small shop can not and never will carry the product range an online retailer can offer...HOW MUCH STOCK DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE INSTOCK? I doubt as much as some local shops.

Yes local shops may not be able to compete as well on price ...but think of their overheads...Rent, Business rates, Electric, staff, insurance...propably 2 or 3 times the online retailer working from a warehouse.

BECOME A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF YOUR LOCAL SHOP AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR YOU!

 

[teddyt]

I quite agree. There are always loads of threads on here about the infinite number of problems people have buying online!
I dont buy anything online, i use my local tack shop and they are great. They are as good, if not better price wise on most things, no postage or hassle exchanging and accurate delivery times.

Your last sentence is so right!

 

[Solstar]

 

[josie_s]

Here Here!

That is very well put.

As you say so many of the Websites do not carry the levels of stock that many local shops do. They do not have the same level of overheads.

Don't wait til its too late for your local tack shop.
Support them now

 

[smerr14]

I agree my local saddler bends over backwards to help. They do have a web site but I like getting my mitts on the stuff. Cheaper isn't always better!!
ps Risley Saddlery is my saddler

 

[lucythomas]

As someone who works in a tack shop i wholeheartedly agree. We give all sorts of specialised advice on Mylers, fits of different brands of rugs, have trained staff to fit hats, body protectors & sell wormers, one member of staff is a registered AI, we advise from personal experience & refuse to sell anything we think is the wrong product or size as we'd rather have the good name than make a sale. We have 7 members of staff and 4 of them are horse owners.

We order in out of stock items or special customer order products if somebody wants something particular. People often forget we are ordering from wholesalers & whinge when products take a week to arrive. Wholesalers very rarely send things out next day!!! Some of our products are coming from Ireland & Australia, so things take time to arrive!! How quickly do online retailers take to send things out? Next day delivery is very rarely free!!

I hear horror stories from friends about their online experiences regarding faulty products or etc & also cringe massively at people buying hats & body protectors online. Support your local tack shop, whos advise are you going to listen to when they shut?

 

[longdog]

It's a shame that H&H has jumped on the bandwagon & is now selling direct too.

 

[Millstone]

i agree with the above to support local tack shops especially in the current climate but as a on-line retailer as well myself i hate to think we are all being branded as bad, having only started my business a year ago I have a strong national and international customer base with great reviews we give all customers 110% we can source most items and if you are not entirley satisfied we give a full refund. So not all on-line buying is a horror story!!! Fiona Millstone Equestrian

 

[Fiona]

My local tack shop has just put through an order for me for a pair of 'made to measure' back eventing boots for my XL horse. He also has made for us 'made to measure' full chaps for my OH and a breastgirth for S. We would be lost without him.

Fiona

 

[Aoibhin]

prehaps we could do with a post for tackshops in areas as i have very little idea of the tackshops in my area (i still drive al the way back to where i grew up) most are out of the way & known by word of mouth.