hopper

Here's an interesting question, I think.

In the locale that you all do business, are you peers with your competitors, anonomous, or going at each other's throat?

I ask because, today, I had an unusual demand for parts. As many of the parts I needed were for older boxes, I went shopping for used. After the state tech surplus didn't pan out, I visited a number of competitors' shops.

I chose to stay stealth, but was very tempted to introduce myself and simply touch base on issues such as pricing, "getting alot of smit fra.. or vund*?", blah, blah....things a guy or gal doesn't really get to discuss with many when they work 16 hour days.

I guess I'm a little cowardly to go stealth, I just don't want anyone to tear into me in their marketing strategies, which has happened before. Someone I didn't even know based their ads and website on my service rates (as well as the largest local company, and the largest national company)

I live in a town with perhaps a dozen viable competitors - I'm sure many of you live in locales with hundreds.

So, I'm very interested in your opinions here. Do you reach out to your competion, or do you just do your own thing and stay a face in the crowd?