95 replies to this topic

[Norboo]

What the  happened to GolfSmith?  They used to be reliable but now, they are so lost its isn’t funny.  I still haven’t received my refund from late December.  After several calls, long LONG wait and really crappy customer service, I chalked it up as a loss.  They just have no clue what’s going on. Can they hold my refund for that long?  Are they breaking some law by holding on to all the customers refund to gain interest?  

What a joke they became...

Edited by MrParr1Noid, 25 January 2012 - 12:01 AM.
Profanity deleted. Don't post it here.

[typhoonoid]

not gonna lie they had some killer clearance deals on clothing though

[Shavanni]

typhoonoid, on 25 January 2012 - 12:23 AM, said:

not gonna lie they had some killer clearance deals on clothing though

Killer deals that never show up.
I've been waiting on an order since September 16

[J.W.]

From what I understand they are on credit hold with multiple vendors and have very little cash on hand right now.  I would not recommend purchasing anything from them because if they do not have it on hand you are going to be waiting until they have funds to clear their accounts.  Its truly a mess right now.  I thought about acting on a few of their deals but honestly the crazy discounts are not worth the hassle of calling to figure out where my money or their product is...  I don't think its too smart to charge a customer until the product ships unless its a custom order for clubs.

My guess is they're running these crazy deals to get an influx of cash to make payments and are willing to make 0 profit margin just to get something.

[Ghost_Orchid]

Call your CC and have them get your money back.  Do a Charge Back.

I did buy my Ecco for $57 and Puma Cell Fusion for $77, not too shabby.

Edited by Ghost_Orchid, 25 January 2012 - 01:04 AM.

[Olson12]

Ghost_Orchid, on 25 January 2012 - 01:03 AM, said:

Call your CC and have them get your money back.  Do a Charge Back.

I did buy my Ecco for $57 and Puma Cell Fusion for $77, not too shabby.

where/how?

[gallen50]

Golfsmith seems to be going down hill fast.  I used to order 90% of my clubmaking supplies from them.  For the past 9 months they have been very unreliable.  Constantly backordered with changing ship dates.  Really too bad - they used to be a very good company to do business with.

[Doc Mcstuffins]

I think what JW said is correct. It wouldn't surprise me to see a circuit city/best buy scenario with Golfsmith and Golf Galaxy. With GG's alliance with Dicks, I would guess that Golfsmith would be the one to fold.

[wundej]

Norboo, on 24 January 2012 - 11:41 PM, said:

What the  happened to GolfSmith?  They used to be reliable but now, they are so lost its isn’t funny.  I still haven’t received my refund from late December.  After several calls, long LONG wait and really crappy customer service, I chalked it up as a loss.  They just have no clue what’s going on. Can they hold my refund for that long?  Are they breaking some law by holding on to all the customers refund to gain interest?  

What a joke they became...

I'm waiting on a refund that they charged me 2x's the item price for, and another for eccos that never shipped but they charged me for anyway.
I need to call again.

[richard t]

Seems to be standard these days. Small, efficient, well run company goes big time national then adios. Sorry for your loses. Thanks for the info. Not a 'good deal' if you're not getting the product.

[smackygolf]

I've been telling you guys this for months, and everyone keeps shouting me down, especially Golfsmith employees. They are trying like heck to get purchased. I know for a fact Golftown was looking at them. They are out of money, and out of options. If there is no buyer soon, they will be gone. Golf retail is disappearing. Dicks can make it because of the ridiculous margins on their apparel and shoes in the rest of the store. 60% margin on a running shirt or shoes, or less than 35% on golf hardgoods?  The sporting goods discounts are high enough to float the break-even business of golf. It's why GSmith tried to go heavy in golf apparel, but it was too late. Even the 65% margin on the store brand stuff they push so hard didn't help. Standalone golf will be gone sooner rather than later. Price compression has ended the day of golf retail being viable on a large scale. Even if you sell the same amount of units as 4 years ago, you make half as much money. No other costs have gone done--not labor, not lights, not the basics needed to function. It's a bad situation. Trust me, I've looked at every alternative, and been in meetings where you'd shudder to hear the prognosis of big companies. It's scary, and only going to get worse.

[henricogolfer]

joeclothing, on 25 January 2012 - 09:33 AM, said:

I think what JW said is correct. It wouldn't surprise me to see a circuit city/best buy scenario with Golfsmith and Golf Galaxy. With GG's alliance with Dicks, I would guess that Golfsmith would be the one to fold.

As a Richmonder who knows lots of ex Circuit City Corporate folks I can say they didn't go out of business because of price wars or bad customer service, they gobbled up property that then lost value and they were stuck in bad locations with lots of debt. They had over 100 stores that were no longer open they were paying mortgages on. Just clarifying.
Lee

[henricogolfer]

smackygolf, on 25 January 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:

I've been telling you guys this for months, and everyone keeps shouting me down, especially Golfsmith employees. They are trying like heck to get purchased. I know for a fact Golftown was looking at them. They are out of money, and out of options. If there is no buyer soon, they will be gone. Golf retail is disappearing. Dicks can make it because of the ridiculous margins on their apparel and shoes in the rest of the store. 60% margin on a running shirt or shoes, or less than 35% on golf hardgoods?  The sporting goods discounts are high enough to float the break-even business of golf. It's why GSmith tried to go heavy in golf apparel, but it was too late. Even the 65% margin on the store brand stuff they push so hard didn't help. Standalone golf will be gone sooner rather than later. Price compression has ended the day of golf retail being viable on a large scale. Even if you sell the same amount of units as 4 years ago, you make half as much money. No other costs have gone done--not labor, not lights, not the basics needed to function. It's a bad situation. Trust me, I've looked at every alternative, and been in meetings where you'd shudder to hear the prognosis of big companies. It's scary, and only going to get worse.

You are very right, commodities continue to increase in price during a recession. I was in one of those scary meetings yesterday.

[J13]

The company is poorly ran and having serious financial problems.  Stay far far away.

[highergr0und]

Ha, my last order wasn't shipped after a few weeks, shipping date wasn't updtaed......  I sent an email to customer support asking if my order was ever going to ship or if it was cancelled.  I got an email back after a few days saying it has been cancelled due to my request......  What?  

I do know that the market conditions are absolutely killing specialty big box retailers like GS.  All the high margin items can easily be had for cheaper online, and even with clubs people will save 6-10% online depending on taxes (at the very least).  Add on the fact that golf is a luxury expense and they're toast.....

[roll - gybe]

henricogolfer, on 25 January 2012 - 10:56 AM, said:

smackygolf, on 25 January 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:

I've been telling you guys this for months, and everyone keeps shouting me down, especially Golfsmith employees. They are trying like heck to get purchased. I know for a fact Golftown was looking at them. They are out of money, and out of options. If there is no buyer soon, they will be gone. Golf retail is disappearing. Dicks can make it because of the ridiculous margins on their apparel and shoes in the rest of the store. 60% margin on a running shirt or shoes, or less than 35% on golf hardgoods?  The sporting goods discounts are high enough to float the break-even business of golf. It's why GSmith tried to go heavy in golf apparel, but it was too late. Even the 65% margin on the store brand stuff they push so hard didn't help. Standalone golf will be gone sooner rather than later. Price compression has ended the day of golf retail being viable on a large scale. Even if you sell the same amount of units as 4 years ago, you make half as much money. No other costs have gone done--not labor, not lights, not the basics needed to function. It's a bad situation. Trust me, I've looked at every alternative, and been in meetings where you'd shudder to hear the prognosis of big companies. It's scary, and only going to get worse.

You are very right, commodities continue to increase in price during a recession. I was in one of those scary meetings yesterday.

Sure look at cotton, metals, oil (transportation).  The only thing that hasn't gone up is plastic because natural gas production had a technological leap forward.  For the other commodities, well, money printing has to go somewhere...

[MileHighClub]

Makes me appreciate PGA Superstore.  New one in Denver is going to close the Golfsmith a mile away.  Much better run company.  Golfsmith is like a morgue now.

[jayzona]

As customer service goes in the store I am totally satisfied:  read below

I needed pronto 13 gptv in .560, the chandler,az store did not have them so they checked with the n.phx store 30+ miles away and they said they will ship and be at the store the next day, well fed.ex came and went the next day and no grips, tracking showed they shipped. The sales rep handling this said he would drive up to the n. phx location and have them is a few hours which he did and i was thankful, 6 miles the other direction was a pga superstore, GS could have told me sorry go down the road but did not....just my 2 cents on store satisfaction

[LBlack14]

3 orders in 3 weeks without a hitch. Those were placed online then confirmed by phone. I don't see how folks spend $$$ then sit around for 3 weeks or better, and multiple emails and don't pick up the phone and CALL somebody.

[jabrch]

The GS in Highland Park, IL is staffed with really good professionals who are always willing to help.  The GS Cust Service line is always helpful when I need.  Whoever is running their website is an incompetent boob.

[Shavanni]

LBlack14, on 25 January 2012 - 05:41 PM, said:

3 orders in 3 weeks without a hitch. Those were placed online then confirmed by phone. I don't see how folks spend $ then sit around for 3 weeks or better, and multiple emails and don't pick up the phone and CALL somebody.

Being put on hold for over 30 minutes before even talking to someone is tough to deal with.
Factor in International phone rates and that's too much to deal with. I've spent enough money already.

I'll correspond via email

Edited by Shavanni, 25 January 2012 - 07:52 PM.

[chicgolf19]

A month ago I went through hell with Golfsmith trying to get my X-18 callaway 7 iron fixed. The shaft broke at the hosel. It took them 3 times to fix it! The first time it looked fine and was good until the whole shaft twisted (came loose). Then I took it back to them, showed it to them, said ok we will fix it. Then I go to pick it up for the 2nd time. The X-18 is a bore thru and the shaft was in crooked and it was all uneven. So they did it for a 3rd time, and its good. But it shouldn't take 3 times for them to freaking fix it! They never said sorry or anything and was just plain rude. No longer going to Golfsmith for club repairs!!!

[chicgolf19]

I agree the stock online of the womens clothing is terrible! Zappos has a better selection and they arent even a golf store!

jabrch, on 25 January 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

The GS in Highland Park, IL is staffed with really good professionals who are always willing to help.  The GS Cust Service line is always helpful when I need.  Whoever is running their website is an incompetent boob.

[justhackin]

Well, well what a tangled web we weave!

I remember in a not to distant past everyone was bailing on local shops because they could get what they wanted cheaper at the "big boys". Then folks started buying everything online after trying it at the "big boys". If I remember correctly some here tried to tell others that the end result wasn't what any one needed..... it seems those few weren't so stupid after all!!

hackin

Edited by justhackin, 25 January 2012 - 09:02 PM.

[youngwaldo]

I have grips on order and they said my CC would not be cahrged until my grips are shipped.  Sounds very fair to me.

Wk

[krutoi]

They cancel online orders at will. Never again will I deal with their website. The people in the stores seem nice and I don't blame them for the stupid online tricks they play.

[reno]

A coworker purchased a complete set of Taylormade clubs and bag ($1000+) from the local store 7 weeks ago. Payed with a debit card as credit and funds from his account still hasn't been deducted.
WOOHOO! GS given away FREE golf equipment.No wonder their going under.

[LBlack14]

Shavanni, on 25 January 2012 - 07:34 PM, said:

LBlack14, on 25 January 2012 - 05:41 PM, said:

3 orders in 3 weeks without a hitch. Those were placed online then confirmed by phone. I don't see how folks spend $ then sit around for 3 weeks or better, and multiple emails and don't pick up the phone and CALL somebody.

Being put on hold for over 30 minutes before even talking to someone is tough to deal with.
Factor in International phone rates and that's too much to deal with. I've spent enough money already.

I'll correspond via email

Has NEVER, I say NEVER happened to me and I've been buying from them for probably 10 yrs.

[mac94]

Landon, it never used to happen to me either. But in the last six months it has happened a lot. They are going downhill fast.

[mac94]

I've already spent over two hours in the phone trying to resolve one small problem. Still not fixed.