121553

Siskyou, I would welcome any archery shop around, provideing they knew it. Its a matter of supply and demand, and there is none around here, nearest one is at least 100 miles away and the best one is Walley World. I go into the local shops down there and ask the owners techincal questions on bow set up and FOC in arrow set up, to see if they are actually know what they are talking about, and I think that they are so acustom to is trying to confuse the customer with bull$hit that does not apply and the customer rather than to ask questions and appear as a fool will leave scratching their head. If you get the impression that I am not impressed with there knowledge, than thats correct. Thats why I just as soon deal with the Mail order catologs, I just don't personnally trust some of these shops and this one down there has been in business for 17 yrs they say and they sold my girlfriend this summer a 45LB PSE bow with arrows made for a 75LB bow, you figure that one. I didn't mean to rabble on, just kinda hit a nerve with me, but ask yourself if you can competively compete against the mail order catologs. Good luck in your decision, Bobby<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

DaveC

Hey Texcowboy, could you give up some names, or at least cities so I can tell which shops your refering to. Any of them in the Houston/Conroe area? Or is it the one in brige city? just curious.

CLOUD 9, MN

Here's a few:

1) 20 yards is standard for most archery shops. Offer a few lanes with 30 or even 40 yards!(indoors so they can be used also in winter) Maybe 6 weeks before season, convert the 30 and 40 yard section to 3D!

2) Indoor eleveated shooting. 12' to 15' high. Have it open from above. When the bottom is closed (some type of roll screen or fence like at the malls) The top can be open. There are plenty of ways to make it safe.

3) Don't, under any circumstances, rip any products you don't sell!

4) Stay on top of whats new, what hot, and what works. I was a pro fisherman for 12 years(a real one) and I saw this happen with bait shops all the time. I was just thinking about this with several archery pro shops in my area the other day. The shop pushes just the things they have. They may be outdated, or may be far superior products out but they push the same old stuff. When you pick the owners brain about new stuff and set-ups or how one product will effect another, they don't have a clue!! Their customers (some) know alot more then them! Don't get me wrong, shop owners get in with good and great intentions but they loose that sharp edge they have when they start.

5) Just look at most shops, you see the same thing. Make your the offer the same things and more!

Good Luck!

PRACTICE....PRACTICE....PRACTICE......SUCCESS!

Rickmur

Let's hear it from a few of the owners on this board, I know of a few of you and it would be very interesting to see your point's of view.

oregonhunter

Shortly after moving here I cruised around to all the local shops to check them out. The first one I went to, the owner was a pr*#*, he barely said two words to me during the 30 minutes I spend in there snoopin' around. After leaving I asked around about it and why he was giving me such an attitude, they said he only liked locals, and the old time locals at that. Obviously that makes no sense to me, but maybe that was why his shop was junky as a result of a lack of profits.

Second shop, absolutely pathetic. Hardly anything on the shelves and an &quot;I know it all&quot; attitude behind the counter. One thing I have come to learn over the years, damn near all bowhunters like to think we know it all, and there is little we hate more than someone trying to tell us we are wrong with little provocation. Don't get me wrong, I think 99% of bowhunters are very inquisitive, but on their own terms.

Third shop, SWEET. Carried several lines of bows, lanes out to 40, and VERY nice and was not demeaning in the least, yet very helpful when asked. He has at least one other worker with him at all times, so there is no wait. And if there is a slight wait, he will go talk to you about what you want and let you know how he is a little busy and will be with you shortly.

I just think basic customer service makes up for a lot of downfalls in any business. Folks just want to feel like both them and their money are appreciated.

Just my two cents.

Chad

&quot;Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.&quot;

--Albert Einstein

Trock63

Eagerness to help no matter what I might be purchasing or not purchasing that is the key. If I go into my pro shop and Jeff was to give me an attitude that he didnt care if I was there I would stop going. When I walk in he greets me and if all I have is a question he does his best to answer it and thats why I keep going there.
The only downfall to his shop is he doesnt have a lot of bows on hand to try out and nowhere to shoot them if he did. I am like most, If I were to buy a bow from him I couldnt try it first before I bought it. I bought a hoyt magnatec from him but he had to order it. I loved the way it shot but it was way too heavy and found my shoulder getting tired after 6 shots. If he had it there i could have tried it and would have realized this and would not have bought that particular bow.
Wide variety of accessories and great customer service is the key!!!!

Kill em' Wide and High!!!

Steven J. Collins (Trock63)
Bowdaddy Productions

Wannabe Redneck

My Proshop is the worst! First it takes the guy who owns it forever to do anything. 2 week wait for arrows cut and I had put the inserts in myself because he run out of propane. I think a pro shop need to have more bows. Huge slection of arrows and all the extra goodies etc. plus have a 35 -40 yard range and 3-d targets