Hi olpal,
I'm not sure what there is to explain.
We are all at liberty to search out the best prices we can find. I do that all the time.
What I am commenting about is the fact that I have observed, from both sides of the sales counter, that
"There seems to be some abstract notion that having a chance to compete with a business that uses going out of business pricing to disrupt and undervalue a market is an opportunity of sorts." That idea isn't meant to solve any problems or answer any questions... it is just an observation.
When I was a merchant I learned that as soon as a customer takes you in to the "loosing money just talking to him" part of the ledger that you have to decide if you are going to cut him loose or not.
It's no big deal, and both parties can decide how they want to respond to that circumstance.
For example; I have several friends who own guitars shops and they know I don't shop there. We don't waste a second pretending that we are doing business, but we are still great friends and we speak about guitars and business all the time. I have several suppliers that give me the lowest rock bottom prices, I don't ask them for ANY service and I emphasize that I am ready to BUY if the price is right and all I want them to do is send me the box and not say a word. Like Danny, I discourage the vendors from asking me what the best price I have found is... I want each vendor to decide what they can do and then if it works for me I do it. I have a few suppliers that I count on to treat me like a best friend and I make an effort to remind them that I am happy to pay up charges for their best service.
I try to keep it a win-win, and I use the pricing the vendors put out there as a guide to what each finds acceptable for their own circumstance because as a merchant I learned that most people, even if they are not aware of it, operate as if it is a win-lose system.
I don't like winning, I don't like losing. I like holding hands and making music.
When I was a merchant, I may not have entertained "price shoppers" with enthusiasm but we did maintain a sliding scale of pricing so as to help everyone feel satisfied. Indeed, we would enjoy the graciousness of those who could afford to pay full price and we would also enjoy being able to help the less fortunate with deep discounts, freebies and pats on the back.
That was our privilege.
I was lucky as a merchant, we worked in one of the few businesses that actually requires hands on, real life, service and so, to this day, discount pricing delivers a get what you pay for experience in that business. People get to purchase the level of service they need.
I sincerely feel that vendors that just move sku, (the ones who have to struggle to justify any value they add because it's hard to justify the value of financing inventory in a market that can source product from any where on the entire planet within a few days) are destined to always be pressured out by yet another business that wants to undercut the price.
That is a perfectly natural part of our dog eat dog, shopping as a proxy for hunting and warfare existence.
It is the way it is.
When I say:
"There seems to be some abstract notion that having a chance to compete with a business that uses going out of business pricing to disrupt and undervalue a market is an opportunity of sorts." I simply mean to suggest that something can be experienced widely yet not qualify as friendly etiquette.
In my personal opinion, I learned to think that my customers who treated me like some sort of adversary just had no idea how we paid our bills, and even more to the point they didn't actually give a flying hoot. They just assumed we had lots of wiggle room.
I'm not saying that you are that guy... I am just speaking from a generalized perspective that many people seem to have have not considered.
I have learned that some people get so riled up when they put on their shopping war paint that they act like a business can make $110 every time they make a $100 sale. They act like there must be gobs of wiggle room. It doesn't add up... and that's why I said "act", because these postures don't seem to reflect a use of the verb "think".
I am not advocating for the idea that any of us should feel obligated to support any particular business. I think that is romantic... but silly.
I am merely commenting on the fact that I do not agree with the notion that merely making, or offering to make, a purchase is some sort of friendly gesture. It's only a friendly gesture if it is a win for both parties.
The bottom line ends up being the bottom line... it is quantifiable... and in the end it all makes sense.
Anyways... I guess you think I'm a douche. :-)
At least I feel fresh and clean all over. ;-)
all the best,
mike
P.S. Have I ever asked you if you know Rick the Printer (Rick Hawkins) from here:
http://goo.gl/maps/ftczS edit spelling