72 replies to this topic

[sosinsurr]

So my mom got a huge settlement from an auto accident, and threw me a bunch of cash to get some more sticks. We were out today running errands, when I decided to pop into the big chain store here. I am interested in some I20's on here, and wanted to test them out to see how I liked them.

Started meandering around the irons sections, waiting for someone to help me. Employees repeatedly walked by me. Little peeved at this, but no worries. I know what I'm here for.

Grab the demo 9 and 5 and hit the hitting bay and start pounding away at balls. I get through with the 5 iron and NOW an employee is coming up to me. I think he's going to ask me how I like em, if he can help me with anything, etc etc etc....NOPE, think again.

"Sir, did anyone tell you that you could hit here?" (mind you, I'm at a regular hitting bay for testing clubs, not the simulator that's reserved)...I tell him no, because nobody had bothered to help me while I was in the irons section for ten minutes. He fires away with "you can't just hit these clubs, they need to be taped up before you can hit them.".... I almost LOST it at this statement. I'm hitting their demo clubs, not ones for sale. I handed him the two irons, told him that they should probably work on their customer service, or lack thereof, and walked out the door.

Just another reason to stick to buying here on WRX. /rant over

[richard t]

I've said this many times. Go to a PGA Professional. Key word- Professional. There are many and you do not have to be a member at many clubs to take lessons, get fitted, etc. This is what they do. I have never been treated nicer whether it was to get a lesson, get fitted or ask questions.

[darkhelmet]

Uh, the iron sets on the walls of 99.99% of all golf stores are not demo clubs.  They're display clubs, usually a standard loft/lie set meant to be sold as brand new (i.e. unhit).  They are on the wall so that you can look at them, touch them, even set them on the ground to see how they look at address, but NOT so that you can hit them.

The club manufacturers supply demo 6-irons of all their offerings so that stores can put them in their hitting bays for people to try out.  You may find an occasional company that supplies 5 irons or even 7 irons, but nobody has "demo" 9 irons.

Maybe it's been a while since you bought golf clubs in a store, but it sounds like you were the one in the wrong if you just pulled a 5 & 9 off the wall and started hitting them.

[sosinsurr]

Darkhelmet-

I know. I was NOT using display clubs. I was looking at the displays. I went over to the area next to the hitting bay that has DEMO clubs for you to hit.

[phatchrisrules]

darkhelmet, on 01 May 2012 - 04:37 PM, said:

Uh, the iron sets on the walls of 99.99% of all golf stores are not demo clubs.  They're display clubs, usually a standard loft/lie set meant to be sold as brand new (i.e. unhit).  They are on the wall so that you can look at them, touch them, even set them on the ground to see how they look at address, but NOT so that you can hit them.

The club manufacturers supply demo 6-irons of all their offerings so that stores can put them in their hitting bays for people to try out.  You may find an occasional company that supplies 5 irons or even 7 irons, but nobody has "demo" 9 irons.

Maybe it's been a while since you bought golf clubs in a store, but it sounds like you were the one in the wrong if you just pulled a 5 & 9 off the wall and started hitting them.

+1, agreed.  I wasn't there, but I have never heard of a demo 9 iron, sorry.  I can't say I completely side with the store because we weren't there, but I do have 1 pet peeve.  Why are people so vain as to not ask for help?  I'm sorry, but when I go into a store and I need help trying to find something or have a question and there is nobody around or a couple of associates talking, I ask them for help.  Holy Schnikes, the Earth is still here, it didn't explode.  I realize it is the associates job to help you, but a good chunk of the time these people are actually doing something.  Just because one or two of them walked past you without acknowledging you or didn't stop to offer assistance doesn't mean they were ignoring you.  They may have been busy on other tasks that other customers or managers had sent them off to do.  However, if there were a few of them gathered in a circle chatting I can see your annoyance.  But there is no reason you couldn't have walked up to them and asked them about the i20's on your own accord.

Another thing to add that I just thought of.  A lot of the times employees are hesitant to ask if you need help is if you have said that you are "just looking" or "don't need a hand".  I usually ask people two-three times depending on how invested they look.  For example, if someone is standing in front of the RBZ rack for 10 minutes looking at lofts, flexes, and heads, I will ask them 2-3 times if they need assistance finding a certain thing.  But if you come in at the front of the store and have wandered to the ball rack in 2 minutes while looking at everything, I'm less likely to ask you if you need help more than twice because it's quite obvious you are just browsing.  So if you had told you didn't need a hand or had wandered around the store a few times before settling on the i20's I can understand their hesitation in seeing if you were actually sincere in purchasing a set of clubs.

Edited by phatchrisrules, 01 May 2012 - 05:03 PM.

[sosinsurr]

The box store has multiple locations, and they have entire sets you can demo in SOME models. Not all. It's kinda hard to confuse a 9 and 5 iron that have tape all over the shaft that says "demo" on it, along with the grip.

And I said I didn't want help. I knew what I was there for. Didn't need help.

Edited by sosinsurr, 01 May 2012 - 05:03 PM.

[From_Parts_Unknown]

How's your mom doing?

[sosinsurr]

Parts unknown..

She's great! Thanks for asking. The accident was 4 years ago. But the person didn't have insurance or any of that crap. There was also some weird crap going on with the person, so court took forever.

Edited by MrParr1Noid, 01 May 2012 - 08:30 PM.
Deleted profanity. Don't

[From_Parts_Unknown]

sosinsurr, on 01 May 2012 - 05:10 PM, said:

Parts unknown..

She's great! Thanks for asking. The accident was 4 years ago. But the person didn't have insurance or any of that crap. There was also some weird crap going on with the person, so court took forever.

Good to hear.  I figured it had been a while if there had been a settlement but you never know what lasting effects might have occurred.  

Good luck with the i20's.  Those irons look great.

Edited by MrParr1Noid, 01 May 2012 - 08:31 PM.

[lukesmurf59]

Well... Did you actually like the i20's?  That is really all that matters I suppose.  I just try not to talk to the reps much and pretend to be uninformed.  I just go in, hit the stock offerings and run off to find them in my specs if I like them.  I rarely buy anything from them.  Some of the guys know me though and are a little better.  I probably would've just asked him if he knew that I was hitting demo clubs.  If he said yes I need to tape them I would have asked if he was actually employed in the store or just pranking me.  If he said he was actually working there I would ask him why he is the only person in the godforsaken universe that thinks the clubs that the manufacturer ships you specifically for people to hit a bunch and try out need to be taped.  If he still had a dumb response I would have just tried to find the manager and told him that he hired someone horrendously unqualified and that I will not be purchasing from them until they hire better staff.  

Or, another response would be "I'll tell you where you can put your club tape!" but that might not end as well.

[mantan]

I agree with the statement above in that sometimes you have to ask for help.  I know we have all been conditioned to feel 'the customer is always right' and we should be catered too...but sometimes it doesn't happen.   I'm sure if you would have asked for some help....and especially told them you were considering making a purchase that day, that they would have given you all the help you needed.  I know it sucks to feel like you have to beg someone to spend money, it's better than sitting their seething not getting the help you need.

One potential issue may be age.   Based on the fact your mom is floating you money for clubs, it makes it sound like your a younger guy. There was a thread last week about how younger golfers aren't given the same amount of attention by golf salespeople (and salespeople in other fields) as older customers.  It sucks...and we've all been there.  I remember being in my early 20s looking for a car and being ignored on the lot.  Now I show up at 40, and the salespeople barely let me get out of the car before hounding me. They may have just thought you were there 'kicking tires' and not ready to drop $700 on a new set of irons.   A lot of people use the bays just to 'try things out.'  (like the poster above who admits he hits what's there to see what he likes, but rarely buys.)  

I know it's frustrating...but as grandma used to say 'you don't ask, you don't get....'

[nbg352]

sosinsurr, on 01 May 2012 - 04:55 PM, said:

Darkhelmet-

I know. I was NOT using display clubs. I was looking at the displays. I went over to the area next to the hitting bay that has DEMO clubs for you to hit.

Manufacturers provide 6 irons to demo. They rarely provide a 5 iron and never...I repeat, never provide 9 irons. If you hit a 5 iron and a 9 iron then you were most definitely NOT hitting demo irons. If you happened to "find" a 5 & 9 iron in the demo section they were still not demo clubs.
I get guys like you in my store all the time. You know better and you fool no-one.

[jastac]

sosinsurr, on 01 May 2012 - 03:56 PM, said:

So my mom got a huge settlement from an auto accident, and threw me a bunch of cash to get some more sticks. We were out today running errands, when I decided to pop into the big chain store here. I am interested in some I20's on here, and wanted to test them out to see how I liked them.

Started meandering around the irons sections, waiting for someone to help me. Employees repeatedly walked by me. Little peeved at this, but no worries. I know what I'm here for.

You have no right to complain about customer service in a store you had no intent of purchasing anything from. You should have at least ask to hit THEIR CLUBS in their store before you just assumed it was ok. You were in the wrong.

Edited by jastac, 01 May 2012 - 09:03 PM.

[kitsoasis]

The Ping fitting cart only comes in 7i

[dartboss04]

I think it's funny that people are so certain that there could NEVER be a 9 iron demo club.  How do you know the store doesn't have a whole standard set that they allow to demo.  It seems odd that everyone can speak to the practices of every retail store.

[Dr.John]

jastac, on 01 May 2012 - 08:55 PM, said:

sosinsurr, on 01 May 2012 - 03:56 PM, said:

So my mom got a huge settlement from an auto accident, and threw me a bunch of cash to get some more sticks. We were out today running errands, when I decided to pop into the big chain store here. I am interested in some I20's on here, and wanted to test them out to see how I liked them.

Started meandering around the irons sections, waiting for someone to help me. Employees repeatedly walked by me. Little peeved at this, but no worries. I know what I'm here for.

You have no right to complain about customer service in a store you had no intent of purchasing anything from. You should have at least ask to hit THEIR CLUBS in their store before you just assumed it was ok. You were in the wrong.

Since the sales person had no idea what the OP's "intent" was, it would have been appropriate to show the OP the same level of respect that would have been afforded to another customer the sales person "thought" he could have made a sale on.

[BrianMcG]

You know how many times folks in retail ask someone "Can I help you?" and they get the, "Gosh, I'm just looking, leave me alone."

Then some ****** goes to their golf forum and talks about how nobody would leave them alone when just looking around.

Your damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Edited by BrianMcG, 01 May 2012 - 10:03 PM.

[RookieBlue7]

When I go in to a store to use their equipment (monitors, clubs, etc), I always find the desk that controls this area and ask if I can rent a booth or pay a fee to use it. I have found that by being polite and asking to use their equipment and offering to pay to use it generally nets you the best response. I never go in and grab clubs and start whacking them. I even ask to pay before hitting my own clubs I brought in to check loft/lie. I like the stores being there and having these services so I don't mind paying for the time/equipment usage. People that abuse them (go in and never pay anything just use them as a demo place to find what they want to go home and buy online for a few bucks savings are the ones that will eventually run them out of business). Yes, I buy on here a lot and sell a lot, i also buy at the stores i frequent very often as well. What's wrong with being a responsible adult and asking and offering to pay to use it?

Edited by RookieBlue7, 01 May 2012 - 10:03 PM.

[Matt10]

It just comes down to treat others how you'd like to be treated. OP felt entitled and maybe hurt that respect wasn't directly shown to him - so out of spite, didn't ask for permission. In this case, raise your standards a bit and step up - not lower them and say "because they didn't help me, I'm just going to do my own thing...".

[Thrillhouse]

RookieBlue7, on 01 May 2012 - 10:02 PM, said:

When I go in to a store to use their equipment (monitors, clubs, etc), I always find the desk that controls this area and ask if I can rent a booth or pay a fee to use it. I have found that by being polite and asking to use their equipment and offering to pay to use it generally nets you the best response. I never go in and grab clubs and start whacking them. I even ask to pay before hitting my own clubs I brought in to check loft/lie. I like the stores being there and having these services so I don't mind paying for the time/equipment usage. People that abuse them (go in and never pay anything just use them as a demo place to find what they want to go home and buy online for a few bucks savings are the ones that will eventually run them out of business). Yes, I buy on here a lot and sell a lot, i also buy at the stores i frequent very often as well. What's wrong with being a responsible adult and asking and offering to pay to use it?

NO! ITS NOT OK FOR ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE MONEY!

I mean, its ok for me to make money but NOT ANYBODY ELSE!

To everybody else, I have been to every single retail store, some more than once, and never, I repeat never have I seen a demo 9 and 5 iron. They simply do not exist. I bet the ones the OP used said DEMO in huge letters down the shaft because the guy who owned them who left them there for adjustment owns a large demolition firm and was using his clubs for advertising. Therefore, the OP is doubly wrong, not only did he bash a 5 and 9 iron without asking but he bashed another customers clubs as well.

[heggy]

cool story bro

[spires1020]

The sales people are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I think there are certain 'types' of customers that clearly need and want to be helped, but after a while they get tired of being perceived as being pushy and stop asking as often. If you wanted help you should've flagged someone down, I think that portion is on you. I disagree however with how the sales person handled your situation at the hitting bay. The problem with buying off BST or eBay is that you can't demo them at all, you get what you get and that's that, the continued existence of brick-and-mortar stores relies on customers actually buying equipment from them, not just trying clubs out and leaving.

[Thrillhouse]

heggy, on 01 May 2012 - 10:17 PM, said:

cool story bro

Thanks for contributing.

[Left Rough]

What store was it?

[heggy]

i think its funny that he just thinks he can do whatever he wants in the store, especially when he isn't going to buy anything.

[Pudgelewis]

Could the employee have used a more tactful approach? Sure. Assuming the 5 & 9 WERE actual demo's.  

I do find it ridiculous to go into a store fully knowing that you aren't buying anything and to expect world-class service. Not saying the guy shouldn't have helped more because like someone above said, he didn't know your intentions. I'm just saying that YOU shouldn't have gone in there with that attitude.  

And like another poster said, these places are darned if they do, and darned if they don't. People complain about being "hounded" by employees and also about them not helping enough.  Only thing these people seem to have in common is wanting to hit their clubs for free and then pay less buying elsewhere.

[kevn357]

Of all the different types of fan boys on this site, the retail chain fan boys are by far the most annoying. Half of you don't even read the post and just spout out nonsense about not buying anything. We get it, you guys have a weird fetish for terrible stores. Why ruin every thread that has a problem at these places?

[ZBigStick]

kevn357, on 01 May 2012 - 11:11 PM, said:

Of all the different types of fan boys on this site, the retail chain fan boys are by far the most annoying. Half of you don't even read the post and just spout out nonsense about not buying anything. We get it, you guys have a weird fetish for terrible stores. Why ruin every thread that has a problem at these places?

Because many of them work, worked, or know people that work at one?

In the golf industry there isn't much else left than the retail chain store.

[CANgolf]

Just toss in a dip of Skoal and everything will be alright!

[sosinsurr]

heggy, on 01 May 2012 - 10:36 PM, said:

i think its funny that he just thinks he can do whatever he wants in the store, especially when he isn't going to buy anything.

hahahahahahahahahahaha I honestly can't stop laughing at this. Cause we've never gone to the store (any store, grocery, mall, etc) with the intent of not purchasing anything, and walked out with stuff that we found. Give me a break!

I guess it wasn't fully true that I had ZERO intention of not purchasing. I would get them from cheaper from there, but  w/out the upgrade that I'd get purchasing on here. So who knows what would have happened.

And whether or not they were truly demo clubs, who knows. They were in one of two staff bags with a bunch of other irons with the same tape on them. They had Nike PW, Bridgestone 7i, etc all in one big staff bag, all marked the EXACT same. They've always been like this, for as long as I've been going in the store. They still have Callaway X-Tour demo clubs in the staff bag for goodness sake.

I myself worked in the retail golf world, albeit for a short time, but still feel as though customers should at the LEAST be greeted by staff. But that's just me. I walk into the mom and pop shop here, and they greet me by first or last name, depending on who's working. That's why I choose to go there for business (when not on here), for their top notch customer service.

Edited by sosinsurr, 01 May 2012 - 11:42 PM.