Re: [Paddlewise] ethical kayak dealers...and safety.

At 03:36 PM 4/19/03 -0700, Michael Orchard wrote:
>< extra content removed by moderator, if replying to the digest it's got
>to be have a lot deleted... >
>
>"All doubting Thomases. The people selling the boats think
>they know what they are talking about. I've been bold enough to butt into a
>conversation or two about boats in stores. The clerks may not like it but
>some
>things are just too wrong to tell people. Misinformation is contagious."
>
>I am afraid this is true of much of the sales industry...even sales of
>expensive products, which by nature are more complicated to understand well,
>and to explain to a potential buyer.  In my experience few salesmen(women)
>of any product can truly explain it well...and in totality...or are
>psychologically prepared to admit when they cannot, but will try to find the
>true answers to a buyer's smart questions.
>
>The above is one of the reasons why I go to ethical and knowledgeable kayak
>stores/suppliers...one is to get real information to suplement my already
>done homework, and the other is to reward these ethical people who are
>contributing something to kayakers, kayakers to be, and the world in general
>by representing this activity in a way that is positive old, new and
>nonkayakers alike.  It is not hard to tell the difference...between the
>ethical and purely self serving dealers.
>
>For the most part, I don't believe it costs more to seek out and buy from
>the good ones.

Just out of curiosity, how many kayak dealers are there within a 100 mile 
radius where you live?

When I was looking at buying my first kayak there was one place within 50 
miles where I could buy one.  The next closest store offering a range of 
quality kayaks was over 2 hours away, and more than 4 hours way before I 
could find another. 

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