NuggyBuggy

You just know your posts aren't complete without *something* about Kovalev, huh ? Seriously, congrats to him for his hard work.

Am I the only one who finds it funny that Made in America sports is based in Quebec and the price on the customizer is in canadian dollars? (yes I know that america can refer to all of north america, or even to north and south america combined, but this is not what most people think of when they see/hear the name.) Here we go...

Well, for one thing, wood sticks cost a fraction of what an OPS costs, so you'd expect buyers to scrutinize them a little less. Last year I had never had an intermediate stick/shaft before, always played senior, but decided to try a CCM V50 int stick, which I liked. Later I decided I wanted to try something even whippier. And, by flexing one in a store, I learned that an RL XN10 intermediate shaft is a lot whippier than the V50. I then proceeded to buy TWO of these shafts. Where else would have I learned this from ? Not from the product literature. Not even from the MSH flex chart which doesn't list intermediates. Would you expect someone to lay out 2 x $150 Canadian for two shafts just on your say-so about their flex properties ? If I wasn't able to flex the shaft for myself, I would not have bought one, let alone two of them. You in turn might figure that I was just some dumbass with no money in his pockets and no intention to buy the shafts. You would have been dead wrong, but you would never find that out.

I am more likely to tell my friends about bad or good service I receive at a small store, than about bad or good service I receive at a big store. In a smaller store, bad or good service feels more personal. Also, smaller stores often charge higher prices and have a smaller selection so there has to be a reason to go there, and that reason is likely either service or convenience. If the service isn't there, then there is one less reason to patronize the small store. Finally, the likelihood that I am going to have to see or deal with the same a-hole again at the small store is far greater than at the large store.

Only if your marginal tax rate is 100%.

OK, how about the skate sharpener at the LHS who offers you a discount on a skate card if you pay him cash. Of course he doesn't ring it up on a register, so you know that money is going straight into his pocket and he isn't going to be paying taxes there either.

PM sent.

Were you flexing any sticks in the store ? ;)

I am not a sucker if 100% of the profit on a pair of gloves goes to the manufacturer, as opposed to splitting the profit between retailer and manufacturer. As a consumer, I am indifferent to where the profit goes or how much profit is made by the manufacturer, all I care about is the product and how much it cost me. I don't own MIAs, so I don't know what the equivalent glove is, but let's assume for argument's sake that it is an Eagle glove of some sort. If I can get a pair of custom MIAs direct for cheaper than a comparable custom Eagle bought through a retailer, and then if I can get them faster, then it IS a good deal compared to the Eagle. The deal isn't better or worse for me just because the retailer did or did not get his cut, it's just better or worse for the retailer.

What if the person doesn't know what a sharpener looks like ? I've seen several setups that look completely different and I'm sure there are many more. It's not dumb if you don't know what a sharpener looks like, or maybe didn't notice it. As for the discount issue, I don't understand the hostility. Yes, you run a business. Would you think twice about asking for a better deal on a house/automobile/appliance/stereo equipment/computer ? I know I wouldn't. The guy at my LHS, who knows me now by name, would often tell me without my asking that they can do better than a marked price, and it is often substantial, so I KNOW they have some room to move on some product. What's wrong with asking if that is the case ? I'm not giving them a hard time, they can always just say that's the best they can do for me, it's up to them - what's so bad about that ? As for stick flexing, anecdotally it seems evident from all the posts talking about how a 75 in this Easton stick is different than a 75 in that Easton stick, that a 75 is not always a 75. And what do you do if you are used to an 85 in your Easton but are now looking at another manufacturer that doesn't use the Easton scale ? A lot of stores I've seen actually put down mats for customers to flex their sticks on, and I've seen the sales guys flexing sticks while showing them to the customer, so why get mad at a customer for doing it ? If you don't want people to flex sticks, put up big signs saying not to do so. Maybe some stores do, but I have never seen them.