Following on from the last item, men may have a bit of bargaining power, but the choice of equipment for ladies is so limited I’d be surprised to get anything like such a good deal, haggling or no haggling.
Just what is the problem? I can’t believe there aren’t enough women golfers around to create some competition in the market, but as it is a lot of pro shops don’t even have a ladies’ section, and a friend of mine who’s naturally left-handed was told she was lucky to have chosen to play right handed because ladies’ left-handed clubs are only available on special order and by implication at a very special price.
The same goes for clothing. Men can walk in and get branded goods at discounted prices, but the best I can do at the local range shop is ‘buy one get one half price.’ At those prices I don’t think I’ll bother!
It seems to me that women just get less choice. Is this a case of golf mirroring life? If anyone can tell me where to get a decent range of ladies’ clubs or clothes, I’ll be eternally grateful!
Monday, 23 April 2007
Don't Get Done!
At the end of March I happened to catch one of the series Don’t Get Done Get Dom, a BBC consumer affairs programmes in which Dominic Littlewood either tracks down rogue traders or incites customers to get the best deal possible. In this episode there was a guy who wanted to buy a set of Ping G5 irons and a driver, and Dom took him to a golf store and coached him through his ‘negotiations.’ I can’t deny Dom’s hard bargaining worked. Basically, despite the shop manager’s insistence that he was going to sell at a loss, he was beaten down to £630 for all the clubs including the driver with custom fit, free range tokens and a brolly thrown in. (This was over £300 less than the recommended price, but as the shop already had £100 discount on the irons, the saving was more like £200).
My first thought was, if most shops can knock off 12-20%, surely charging the full price is daylight robbery? But secondly, why should we have to haggle to get the best price? Dom claimed the negotiations were all done in a friendly way, and that this helped clinch the deal, but I’m not sure all retailers would have been so happy, (especially if they weren’t up for some free T.V. publicity!) and as a customer I’d be embarrassed to push so hard.
So, where do you shop for clubs and do you haggle over the deal? Should we all brush up our ‘negotiating’ skills, or is it easier to avoid confrontation by paying up or shopping online?
My first thought was, if most shops can knock off 12-20%, surely charging the full price is daylight robbery? But secondly, why should we have to haggle to get the best price? Dom claimed the negotiations were all done in a friendly way, and that this helped clinch the deal, but I’m not sure all retailers would have been so happy, (especially if they weren’t up for some free T.V. publicity!) and as a customer I’d be embarrassed to push so hard.
So, where do you shop for clubs and do you haggle over the deal? Should we all brush up our ‘negotiating’ skills, or is it easier to avoid confrontation by paying up or shopping online?
Sunday, 22 April 2007
Calling All Golfers
Club regulars, fair-weather golfers and those who can’t stay off the course ... I know you’d all rather be golfing, but on the days when you can’t venture out, why not roll up here and share your wealth of experience, or just give us your opinion on whatever is getting your goat this week?
A special welcome is extended to absolute beginners, in some ways the true heroes of the game. It’s not so long ago since I was there myself and on some days it feels like I still am. Here you have a special place in the Beginners' Bunker.
Also welcome are the legions of women golfers. If you think you get a raw deal in clubs and golfing venues, the Green Goddess has granted you equal status here, so post your comments to the main blog, or take a look at Ladies' Locker for matters dear to the female heart.
Just for starters here's a video from Videojug that everyone should get something from (or maybe you already have the perfect swing?)
What do you think of the video, or what else do you have to say about this crazy game?
A special welcome is extended to absolute beginners, in some ways the true heroes of the game. It’s not so long ago since I was there myself and on some days it feels like I still am. Here you have a special place in the Beginners' Bunker.
Also welcome are the legions of women golfers. If you think you get a raw deal in clubs and golfing venues, the Green Goddess has granted you equal status here, so post your comments to the main blog, or take a look at Ladies' Locker for matters dear to the female heart.
Just for starters here's a video from Videojug that everyone should get something from (or maybe you already have the perfect swing?)
What do you think of the video, or what else do you have to say about this crazy game?
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