Local fitter doesn't carry 'Discontinued' products. Is this common?

[r2edline]

Found out today that my local fitter (who I already had booked an appointment with) isn't carrying 'discontinued' products anymore on the fitting carts.  They are only fitting for 'current' model clubs that can be ordered custom from the manufacturer. 

 

They claimed this to be 'manufacturer policy' - I'm curious if anyone knows this to be true? Is this a widespread industry policy?

 

I also called club champion just out of curiosity, and they didn't offer fittings on old products either.  However, they said just said it was against their business model which was totally understandable.  Nothing about some "manufacturer's policy".

 

Personally I love getting fitted, it has made such a huge impact on my game.  I always enjoy the experience of learning about shafts, new tech, my numbers, etc.  But, I hate the pressure to buy brand new and frankly don't want to.  I'm a good player, but I don't golf enough to spend $800 on a new driver when last year's $400-500 one might be 99% as good

 

So I guess for now, I'll just have to focus on shafts and the other elements of the fitting, which is fine, I'm more just curious to learn if this is an industry thing or not.

 

 

 

[GSDriver]

Makes sense to me.  Most fitters have the ability to purchase heads only from major OEMs (I know mine does, anyway) so they can put whatever shafts they choose to in them. 

 

Why would an OEM provide fitters with discontinued products, both the OEM and fitter are in business.

[LeoLeo99]

My guess is that the fitter might spend time getting you fit into a great shaft only to find that he can't source it because it's been discontinued.  Waste of his time and yours.  

[r2edline]

This is fair.  Of course the OEMs want you to buy new clubs.  For the custom fitting studio however, selling clubs isn't the only source of revenue. 

My question is really, if the OEMs are enforcing this policy, or if this is truly just a business decision?

[third-times-a-charm]

Well of course lol. Why would he carry anything he can't buy for you? Besides being manufac. policy which makes sense for them.

 

He isnt in the business of scouring ebay and BST boards for hours to find things for people....

[r2edline]

  

3 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Well of course lol. Why would he carry anything he can't buy for you? Besides being manufac. policy which makes sense for them.

 

He isnt in the business of scouring ebay and BST boards for hours to find things for people....

 

 

Well, I am paying for fitting services, and they still make money if you don't buy the clubs from them.  They refund the fitting fees if you spend over $X amount, or you can just pay for a fitting yourself, so they are still making a profit. 

Edited December 1, 2020 by r2edline

[r2edline]

29 minutes ago, LeoLeo99 said:

My guess is that the fitter might spend time getting you fit into a great shaft only to find that he can't source it because it's been discontinued.  Waste of his time and yours.  

 

I'm not understanding how this applies. My fitter and any good quality one is using universal adapters, so would only be fitting with shafts that are readily available.  It's just the old heads that aren't available anymore

[Krt22]

Just now, r2edline said:

Well, I am paying for fitting services, and they still make money if you don't buy the clubs from them.  They refund the fitting fees if you spend over $X amount, or you can just pay for a fitting yourself, so they are still making a profit. 

Yes, by why even fit someone for a club you can't procure? It makes no sense for the fitter and it makes no sense for the OEM. Just because they are still making some money doesn't mean it's a profitable venture over all. 

[r2edline]

1 minute ago, Krt22 said:

Yes, by why even fit someone for a club you can't procure? It makes no sense for the fitter and it makes no sense for the OEM. Just because they are still making some money doesn't mean it's a profitable venture over all. 

 

Ya you're not wrong, some shops are happy to do retro fits, but I'm sure there are plenty who just won't do them at all. Like I say I'm not disputing any of this, totally agree with everything everyone has said.

 

My shop told me this policy was because the OEMs forcing them to do this, which I am curious if that's actually true or not. 

[MPAndreassi]

I know as far as the big box stores go, I used to work in one, they return the old demo heads or sell them as “used” when the new heads come in. Seeing as we see demo heads in carts well before the release of the new product he may just simply not have them any longer thus he can’t fit you into “old” technology. 
 

As far as being forced into not doing it thats plausible and would vary by each manufacturer. I’d assume all accounts are different based on their size. A smaller shop may have to return the current model before receiving the new model or something along those lines. 

Edited December 1, 2020 by MPAndreassi

[r2edline]

4 minutes ago, MPAndreassi said:

As far as being forced into not doing it thats plausible and would vary by each manufacturer. I’d assume all accounts are different based on their size. A smaller shop may have to return the current model before receiving the new model or something along those lines. 

 

Thank you mate, appreciate it

[Krt22]

2 minutes ago, r2edline said:

 

Ya you're not wrong, some shops are happy to do retro fits, but I'm sure there are plenty who just won't do them at all. Like I say I'm not disputing any of this, totally agree with everything everyone has said.

 

My shop told me this policy was because the OEMs forcing them to do this, which I am curious if that's actually true or not. 

I could see that being true. Why would you be in a business relationship with a shop who's business model would directly conflict with yours. If you are going to give a shop volume discounts, supply them with fitting heads, etc , them fitting customers into old models that will have to be procured second hand is directly impacting their profitability. 

[gentles]

My local shop said that as soon as word gets out of a new version, fitting carts are pulled back until new models arrive. I went for a driver fitting a month ago and they were in transition between new Titleist and Ping gear, meaning they had hardly anything to try. 

 

Your best bet is to wait until product has been in cycle for a while (i.e. good time to go get fitted for a Mavrik Driver or Sim driver now) and then in 3 months they will be discontinued and you can pick up what you're after for much cheaper. 

 

 

[dmbrill719]

As mentioned already...no one wants to fit older product b/c they might not be able to get it anymore.  

 

I don't think there's any sort of "restriction" against it, but most shops are billed for their fitting cart heads and shafts (at least the woods).  Once they can no longer order those clubs from the manufacturer, the components can be sent back for credit.  A shop could keep and sell those components, but they'd only have one of each loft for the clubheads to sell and lots of leftover shafts.  All in all, it's just easier to send it all back and replenish the cart with the new product.

 

Additionally, I'm not sure how much money a studio is really making on a fitting...they need to also sell clubs.  Rent, Trackman, fitter's compensation, etc add up pretty quickly.  No one is making any money charging $150/hr just to fit someone.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

5 hours ago, r2edline said:

This is fair.  Of course the OEMs want you to buy new clubs.  For the custom fitting studio however, selling clubs isn't the only source of revenue. 

My question is really, if the OEMs are enforcing this policy, or if this is truly just a business decision?

It is policy.  We have to return the end of life product and get the new line.   
 

Despite the name of the cart, it’s designed to sell NEW clubs. 

[r2edline]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback.  Learned something new today. 

 

4 hours ago, dmbrill719 said:

I don't think there's any sort of "restriction" against it, but most shops are billed for their fitting cart heads and shafts (at least the woods).  Once they can no longer order those clubs from the manufacturer, the components can be sent back for credit.  A shop could keep and sell those components, but they'd only have one of each loft for the clubheads to sell and lots of leftover shafts.  All in all, it's just easier to send it all back and replenish the cart with the new product.

 

This makes a lot of sense, I didn't know these shops have to pay for the demo heads, thought OEMs provided those for free, but the fact they can return them obviously is understandable and makes sense with the business model.

For me, I want to play fitted, premium clubs (clearly) but can't afford or justify the premium prices of brand new off the rack gear, hence why i gravitate towards older products to save some money.  I need everything custom built anyways.   On my last set of irons 8 years ago, which I'm still gaming, I got fitted and bought the clubs elsewhere. 

It's just the pressure or expectation of buying clubs that makes me uncomfortable.  If I can save $1000 by getting last years model with the exact same shaft that I was fit for, which will deliver pretty damn close performance, obviously I'm going to do that.  That money is better spent on my kid's college fund.  If I have an awesome experience, I'm probably going to come back again and again, pay for build services, refer my friends, etc.

 

At the same time, I love clubs, club tech, fitting, data.  I really just want to enjoy the fitting experience as much as possible.  I think this conversation will help me go in with the right expectations and focus more on the things I want to get out of it. 

 

Cheers again all

[ALTSean]

12 hours ago, r2edline said:

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback.  Learned something new today. 

 

 

This makes a lot of sense, I didn't know these shops have to pay for the demo heads, thought OEMs provided those for free, but the fact they can return them obviously is understandable and makes sense with the business model.

For me, I want to play fitted, premium clubs (clearly) but can't afford or justify the premium prices of brand new off the rack gear, hence why i gravitate towards older products to save some money.  I need everything custom built anyways.   On my last set of irons 8 years ago, which I'm still gaming, I got fitted and bought the clubs elsewhere. 

It's just the pressure or expectation of buying clubs that makes me uncomfortable.  If I can save $1000 by getting last years model with the exact same shaft that I was fit for, which will deliver pretty damn close performance, obviously I'm going to do that.  That money is better spent on my kid's college fund.  If I have an awesome experience, I'm probably going to come back again and again, pay for build services, refer my friends, etc.

 

At the same time, I love clubs, club tech, fitting, data.  I really just want to enjoy the fitting experience as much as possible.  I think this conversation will help me go in with the right expectations and focus more on the things I want to get out of it. 

 

Cheers again all

 

Get fit now.  Wait 6-12 months and buy the clubs at a discount.  If you're holding on to irons for 8+ years, the technology is not going to change in 6-12 months.    

 

 

[MojoEd]

Real life example; guy in our group got fit right before Thanksgiving.  He paid for the trackman fitting at local shop with plan to buy from our club using his massive shop credit.  Callaway Apex were the clear winners.  He went to our pro shop and was told that they could no longer order them.  On the plus side, they are going to roll over his credit so he can order the new Apex model when they are released (March?), but he was frustrated.

[CAT GOLFER]

4 hours ago, ALTSean said:

 

Get fit now.  Wait 6-12 months and buy the clubs at a discount.  If you're holding on to irons for 8+ years, the technology is not going to change in 6-12 months.    

 

 

You’ve lived this long with your irons, wait until over the winter, but before spring, and find the clubs you were fit into.  Chances are you can find a steal of a deal from someone who wants the next new thing. 

[r2edline]

21 hours ago, CAT GOLFER said:

You’ve lived this long with your irons, wait until over the winter, but before spring, and find the clubs you were fit into.  Chances are you can find a steal of a deal from someone who wants the next new thing. 

 

That's the plan 🙂

[golffeen007]

On 12/1/2020 at 4:27 PM, MPAndreassi said:

I know as far as the big box stores go, I used to work in one, they return the old demo heads or sell them as “used” when the new heads come in. Seeing as we see demo heads in carts well before the release of the new product he may just simply not have them any longer thus he can’t fit you into “old” technology. 
 

As far as being forced into not doing it thats plausible and would vary by each manufacturer. I’d assume all accounts are different based on their size. A smaller shop may have to return the current model before receiving the new model or something along those lines. 

This is correct. Buddy's small shop , they come and get the old demos at some point when the new line comes out. When you can't order from the manufacturer , the business sense is to not do a fitting with them and they want the new rolling out. 

[Bad9]

I would go ahead and get fit and buy when you want. I doubt your fitting rec will change if you stay within the same club type(players CB, SGI, etc) from the same manufacturer. If you get fit into yellow dot, +1/2" in I210 with Juju Tour xs shafts the same specs in I200 will work pretty much the same.

Edited December 3, 2020 by Bad9

[golfday]

I have run into this before. I tested a precise model and a new model of a club and found no difference other than the recently discontinued model was cheaper. Fitter couldn’t find the discontinued head anywhere, so we struck a deal and I bought his demo head at discount. Really a win win on that one since it was no longer off use to him.

[2bGood]

I have not met a fitter that will not let you pay them to do a fitting with an old head YOU have or old shaft YOU have providing the logistics work out (adapters match and so on).

 

I went to upgrade my Titleist driver and they actually suggested I give my current shaft a try in a newer model head and it turned out to be the best combo (including beating out my old head). 

 

Of course it would make no sense for a fitter to have cart filled with old stuff you can't buy any more and I do believe the OEM take back the old fitting carts.