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

From: Nick Schade <nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 10:55:55 -0400
On Saturday, April 19, 2003, at 06:36 PM, 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."
> <snip>
> 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.

I agree that it is a good idea to go to an ethical retailer. But back 
to the Rec kayak scenario, many people go to the local "sporting goods" 
store to buy their toys. Or a general store near a lake might have a 
few recreational kayaks for sale out back. Or the local 
video/tanning/small engine repair/bait shop may decide they could make 
a few extra bucks selling little kayaks. The people buying the boats 
are not "boaters" and they don't think of going to a boating store when 
they decide they want a little kayak. As an educated consumer of 
kayaking products you may feel this is a dumb idea, and you are 
probably right, but if you have never kayaked before and it is a nice 
day and the fish are jumping you might think the guy at the bait shop 
is a perfectly trustworthy guy for your new toy. How are your to know 
any better?

Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/

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Received on Mon Apr 21 2003 - 07:56:10 PDT

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