Moosejaw coming to Boulder

Just noticed a Moosejaw is opening at 29th st mall in May. Now within two miles of my house there is:

Moosejaw
REI
North Face
Patagonia
GoLite
Prana
Montbell
Neptune Mountaineering

Not to mention all the little mom and pop running/cycling shops. Wouldn't you think the market is a little saturated? Guess not...

Boulder is a showcase town. It's a location that is more about prestige for advertising elsewhere than actual profits for some brands. They can write it off as a marketing expense instead of surviving as an entity by themselves. Only one local left on that list.

Clyde wrote:Only one local left on that list.

No, I'm pretty sure Neptune's is locally owned and operated as well, so that would make two: Neptune's and .........oops, gotta go, time for dinner (wink)

JLP wrote: This isn't Prana. They obviously looked at their own customer database and noticed we're their biggest market - the highest per capita spending on outdoor gear on the planet - and underserved locally with the stinginess and incompetence of clinging to some 70's business model involving no competition. REI and Neptune are the only current climbing shops in town. REI takes their cash to the bank in a wheelbarrow and their climbing department sucks. Neptune's, in contrast, is usually dead. Moosejaw is going to do quite well here, IMO. I'm psyched they're coming, but would like it more if it was Bent Gate.

I agree. I'm kinda surprised there isn't more dedicated climbing shops in town (or just outside of town). Although I suppose with the cost of rent the quantity of hardcore climbers spending money wouldn't support the biz. REI caters to the yuppies quite nicely for that and can still say they offer climbing gear.

Moosejaw was in Chicago (where I'm from) but usually their prices didn't beat REI or they carried the same products. In that case REI makes more sense because of the dividends.

Agreed, Neptune's is the only retailer in town that can claim to have a legitimate climbing department... and staff.

Everest Status...I'm all for it!

Being in Fort Collins, this kinda sucks as it just means I'll have to pay tax on Moosejaw orders now (and I won't get any benefits of a retail store since it's down in Boulder anyways).

Nick Mardi wrote:In that case REI makes more sense because of the dividends.

Moosejaw has rewards, too. You get 10% back in points on every order, but if you buy a lot and bump up your rewards status you can get as much as 20%. Plus they price match and if they price match something over $100 they give you a bonus $10 in points. I've done this a few times and it's an easy way to rack up the points. The one shitty thing about their reward system though is that you have to have enough points to cover the entire cost of whatever you're redeeming them for...it doesn't act like cash that you can just pay the difference on.

You also need to consider the fact that its not just the population of Boulder and the surrounding areas who shop in Boulder. I'd imagine that spending from tourists would be fairly sizeable.

That is a good point about the sales tax thing.

Brent Apgar wrote:Agreed, Neptune's is the only retailer in town that can claim to have a legitimate climbing department... and staff.

That tells you something about the size of the climbing market in the biggest climbing town in the country.

JLP wrote:So, Neptune finally has a sale that's worth a turd (Feb 29th - 29%) - and the place gets scoured clean. I went in there a day after the sale - nothing left in stock but the dregs. The place was emptied out. This was a 1 day sale that offered a pretty normal discount you might find every few weeks online - same as 20%, free shipping. Sales tax in Boulder is ~8.5%. THAT tells you something about the market here, IMO.

I would MUCH rather buy something locally if it's the same price as online. Not only do you get the convenience of checking it out in the store, being able to have it immediately, and having the option to return without having to pay for return shipping, the 8.5% tax goes to your local and state budgets to help pay for things that everybody benefits from. I'm a huge online buyer, having bought almost all of my climbing gear online, but a 29% sale in a local store is pretty good (assuming it covered most things and not last seasons clothes).

I'm new in town, had no idea about neptune.. went in there and the first comment I made to my wife about the guy helping us was that he was an arrogant asshole. The only time I go there is when I absolutely need something, and about 25% of the times that happened they haven't had what I needed anyways.

I think theres something about CU's 30k students that get replaced every four years (with parents' credit card of course) that somewhat works against market saturation - also the tourists.

Jordan Scampoli wrote:All of those are pretty much just clothing shops anyways...like someone said, Neptune is the only climbing shop in town...but it is so sterile and boring...

Really? Have you bothered looking beyond all the shiny new junk? Take a look at the walls next time you're there.

i'm surprised that nobody has asked whether they are bringing any of the chicks with them? what about the cute blond in a tank top standing there with a pack at her feet? these are important questions for important times!

Jordan Scampoli wrote:All of those are pretty much just clothing shops anyways...like someone said, Neptune is the only climbing shop in town...

Not to nitpick but have you BEEN in montbell? They have a full climbing gear selection. And yes...REI as well. Then second hand is the gear recycler. Not for nuthing, but four places to buy climbing gear in a single town isn't too bad. Then you have your Bent Gate in Golden and Wildy in D-town.

And as far as supporting these stores...lots of tourists. They are the ones buying retail $500 jackets at neptunes. :o)

slim wrote:i'm surprised that nobody has asked whether they are bringing any of the chicks with them?

I always wanted to ask the dating girl for advise in person. I hope she shows up for the opening.

shuminW wrote: I always wanted to ask the dating girl for advise in person. I hope she shows up for the opening.

haha it's probably a dude!!

In terms of Neptune, I try to go there to support them as a local store, but I think it's a pain. The location is surely not ideal. If they wanted to grow and do well, they would be more in the heart of Boulder and close to Pearl. I've felt some arrogant looks, but had for the most part positive experiences there.

I am surprised by the move of Moosejaw to Boulder, but I like that it probably was one of the reasons Mont Bell decided to move to Pearl St.