so, there's a local shop who for the last year has had the opportunity to carry my strings and cables but hasn't. that's fine. i shoot there a lot and have purchased 2 bows there this year and lots of other stuff.
well, little by little most all his staff shooters have started using my strings instead of WC or VT or SM. not only that but they have bought them at regular price for their entire families - and extended relatives. well, the 2nd best shooter down there bought a switchback set for his brother and his brother went to have them installed. there is a sign on the door that says 'string installation: $5 if bought here, $6 if not'

well chris shows up to have it done - mind you chris is large - played on the line in college football - and their were 4 or 5 customers down there - and the owner started bad mouthing my product to chris and the customers. told him he couldn't understand why anyone would put those strings on their bow - that he'd hate them - and on like that. chris knows his brother has competed all over the eastern side of the country with them - and knows better - so it was really a show for the other customers in there. chris says ' well, are you going to do it or am i taking them somewhere else because these are the strings i want to shoot'. the owner says 'i'm not touching them' and gets his help to do it. now this owner or shop has never installed my strings on a bow before. none of his shooters will let him touch their bows, and i don't let them touch mine either - but they have a good selection of products.

well these 2 brothers feel strongly enough about this incident to call me - tell me what happened, and the one is risking his relationship with the owner and probably his shooting position - which he could shoot for any shop he wants too. and i shoot with all these guys on the team and we're all buddies.

i call the shop owner and very politely mind you - because i never get froggy until i'm going to jump - say- in the same tone and manner i'd invite someone over to dinner - 'we need to have a sit down and talk about some things.' by the way - when i called the owner was like ' hey john, how ya doin' buddy?' so he says 'about what?' and i say 'the things you said to chris'. next thing i hear in a gruff voice is 'don't bring your strings down here.' 'i didn't, chris did' 'well don't let me see them in this shop.' click. hung up on me. now, he's got a shed out there and i'm wanting to take him behind it for a meeting if you catch my drift - but my dad - who's 75 and all wise and stuff - says don't do it. its already biting him and he's lible to lose a few shooters over it, and some of his best customers. the brothers say he's being spiteful over the money he lost on the sale - and knowing the shop owner for 5 yrs or so i'd say they're right. i'll tell ya though - i'm pretty upset. i only live 15 minutes away and he'll never see another dime from me - but i just don't understand why if he really felt that way he wouldn't call me - but went behind my back - to another business owner - and thought they'd keep quiet about it. what would you do? and tim - the excellent shooter - ordered more strings after telling me about this - he shoots nothing but my strings for full price - so that's how those fellows feel about my work and service.