Are you loyal to a LHS ?

[jbss71 1]

In my area there is a bunch of choices. do you shop around locally? sneak in a $200 order to icewarehouse at 3am because you're bored? pro stock gear off ebay? the only 'go to' place i use is TSR (1 3/4 away) for sticks, other that its been open game for me.

i ask because lately i've been shopping around to be fitted for custom skates, then hopefully for goalie gear and i feel that all my shopping around in the past has hurt me because i'm out of the clique, making it harder to get good info.

[Fire Walker 22]

I have a Sport Chek, Canadian Tire , and a local hockey shop for options. I try to give most of my business to the local shop. If I have a choice I always try to support local businesses.

[mhkehoe 1]

I would say I am loyal to IceWarehouse. I'd like to be loyal to my local hockey shop, but I don't think I have had a single positive interaction with the guy who manages it.

[badger_14 601]

I don't really buy new equipment (sticks, etc) regularly, but I am loyal to the little proshop at the local rink. The hours are posted and consistent, the guy is friendly and does a good job on my skates, and they always have tape and other small necessities in stock. For actual equipment I guess it's Pure Hockey - is that considered an LHS?

[Hermans 9]

I have been playing 3 + years and have changed my equipment over 3-4 times over and now have two sets of gear that I rotate from skate to skate plus I have almost a third set of gear left over of “odds, ends and mistakes”. It took me a lot of trial and error to figure out what I prefer as well as what works for me but I could not have done it by going to my LHS and buying at retail prices. I have purchased some items (mostly M11 helmets and a my shoulders and some visors) at full retail. Ironically all my skates have been purchased on sale (50% off) as factory seconds or as second-hand but from the same LHS.

In general my sticks and skates come from the LHS because I think you need to feel, touch and experience them. Also the skates are something where you need time and patience provided by the LHS.

I think there are a lot of people on this forum who have gone through much more gear than I have and I would doubt that there is a loyalty to "ONE" LHS for everything. Indeed you see people looking for obscure items on ebay or referring to pro-stock sales at team sale and picking up items through other means that couldn’t possibly be satisfied by a loyalty to one LHS. I suspect a lot of the more active people on this forum aren’t typical hockey gear consumers; as noted their tastes wouldn’t be satisfied by the typical LHS.

I don’t go into collecting, nor do I purchase the latest, greatest, new items. I have what I want and as it wears out I will work my way back down to one set of forward gear (maybe two skates to rotate). That being said, I’d be interested to know most people are like me and use a mix of LHS, chain stores, pro-shop and internet.

[snuzzo24 0]

I usually shop at Total Hockey both online and in store since its the closest hockey retailer near me when I am at home. The other options would be the pro shops at the arenas which has minimal selection, a PIAS, which is hit or miss, or there is another LHS that is hit or miss at times also.

When I am at school I usually try to give some business to the LHS but it carries a small amount of gear and the stick prices are really high. Otherwise I order online unless I can get up to the other LHS that has a great selection.

[tareatingrat 4]

I'll shop where I get the best value. I have very little blind loyalty when it comes to my money.

Value is really subjective depending on what I'm looking for Generally, though, I research the hell out of hockey gear, and I very rarely need the help of a sales associate, so price usually wins out for me. I don't often have bad customer service experiences because I don't often take advantage of customer service.

That said, I'm impatient (I hate waiting and paying for shipping), and our online retail infrastructure here in Canada is horrid, so I generally buy things at my local shops.

However, if I find a shop goes out of their way to earn a customer (throwing in something without prompting, going out of their way to find me what I'm looking for, taking care of a warranty or service issue, etc.) then I will remember that and give them first go to earn my buck when I'm looking at buying something in the future.

I think I'm probably an ideal customer for most businesses: I know what I want, I don't waste anybody's time, I don't ask for discounts, and I generally like high-end gear. :)

[Axxion89 32]

I try and support my LHS when I can but I buy most of my equipment used off eBay, through equipment sales of pro teams, or clearance online. Being a student, income is limited so I can't really afford nice new equipment but I always buy little things and some other stuff from my local LHS.

[jbss71 1]

I'll shop where I get the best value. I have very little blind loyalty when it comes to my money.

Value is really subjective depending on what I'm looking for Generally, though, I research the hell out of hockey gear, and I very rarely need the help of a sales associate, so price usually wins out for me. I don't often have bad customer service experiences because I don't often take advantage of customer service.

That said, I'm impatient (I hate waiting and paying for shipping), and our online retail infrastructure here in Canada is horrid, so I generally buy things at my local shops.

However, if I find a shop goes out of their way to earn a customer (throwing in something without prompting, going out of their way to find me what I'm looking for, taking care of a warranty or service issue, etc.) then I will remember that and give them first go to earn my buck when I'm looking at buying something in the future.

I think I'm probably an ideal customer for most businesses: I know what I want, I don't waste anybody's time, I don't ask for discounts, and I generally like high-end gear. :)

same here until i needed help with customs. Even then i had a idea of what i wanted/needed from reading threads here. i got really lucky because the g/f's boss is big into hockey locally and he called ahead and to make sure i would be taken care of.

ONLY time i felt bad for a LHS was the Garf dealer thats two hours away, he spent atleast a hour, sizing/baking and trying to get me in something that fit correctly. but nothing worked

[ds4130 0]

I try to support my LHS as much as possible. I will drive 20 minutes to there for something as small as a few outdoor balls. They appreciate my business and usually give me a discount without having to ask.

[greech 4]

I used to be very loyal to my LHS until it was like walking into a ghost town, I mean every time I went in to get my skates sharpened it was like I was imposing on them complaining to each other about something.

[doublemajor 0]

In my area I have to two choices they are Scheels (which old stocks Bauer, Easton and some Warrior) or you have the good place called Duffys Sports they carry everything even have some wood sticks for the kids. They are great to deal with the owner runs the one up north so if I need something he sends it right down. But Duffys is ran by a guy name Clark and he always has the kids from the local junior team working there which help a lot cause they know whats on the market before most place in my state don't get me wrong theres other good hockey shop in the state but these guys go above and beyond for the locals. (but I do pick up check gloves off ebay for ourdoors)

[stick&puck 1]

For larger pieces of equipment i am loyal to 2 shops local shops; pants, shins, shoulders, helmet, skates.

For sticks i am loyal to 1 person local but he doesn't have a store front.

and the shop i get my skates sharpened at the guy always does extra and goes a little further for me he will do things for free small fixes on rivets things like that i always make sure i pick something up like few rolls of tape or laces odds and ends.

[Joshison 1]

TSR for me

[strosedefence34 175]

the rink where i get my skates sharpened

Kemps because they seem they will do what they have to do to get some one a product they want

hockey giant because the can have some good closeouts

[JTully317 11]

+1 for TSR

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

I get all my stuff at DarkStar50's shop.

[t6lock 24]

shop for the cheapest deal anywhere i can get it mainly because i don't make that much money.... :(

[romdj 26]

shop for the cheapest deal anywhere i can get it mainly because i don't make that much money.... :(

same here