do proshops???
 

do archery shops usually charge $$$$ when ya wanna try out some new bows see which ones ya like?

RE: do proshops???
 

I've never heard of one that does. It would be like a car salesman charging you to test drive one.....

RE: do proshops???
 

yeah that's bogus. Tell em, no shoot/no try....no buy from them

RE: do proshops???
 

well i wasnt sure.....just wanted to make sure might be headed out today to try some

RE: do proshops???
 

Md .... if they do, run! Go somewhere else. They should bend over backwards for you .... after all, they need your business. You may want to even call the manufacturers of the bows they sell and let them know ...

RE: do proshops???
 

I have not seen any that do.......yet. I have seen a few that will not let you shoot the bows unless you are serious about buying one. I will not be shocked in the near future if you have to pay to test shoot one, or put a deposit down before you do.

Bows are expensive, and getting worse every year. And from what I understand shops do not make a lot off from bow sales, the mark up is not real high from what I gather. Let's look at this situation, and I have seen it happen many times; A guy walks into a shop and want's so shoot some bows. He has heard of a particular bow or two that strikes his fancy. The salesman helps him out. He shoots two or three bows, maybe more. The salesman/owner sets each bow to fit the guy they way they should. Changing cams/modules, adjusting the draw weight and what not.

The guy spends an hour playing then says "Thanks for your time buddy." (maybe) and then walks out of the store without even buying a freakin' soda or anything. Then he goes and gets the same bow from Ebay or some other mail order outlet now that he knows what he wants and what size to get. The shop owner had to pay to stock those bows, then let you put wear on them and spend his time helping you out getting the bows to fit and probably giving you form tips along the way. He provided you with a service and you went somewhere else and got a bow from ebay, arrows from some other online place and everything else from cabela's or lancasters or something. Which is well within your rights as a consumer. However, like I said, he provided you with a service, why shouldn't you have to pay for it? I am glad they don't charge, but I don't think I would be outraged if they did.

If you go to a gun store and want to shoot a handgun they will rent one to you and range time. In my area it costs 20 bucks plus ammo or more. Yet a 800 dollar bow and an hours worth of time should be free? I think we have it lucky and if we don't quit abusing it we might lose that option.

And then the kicker is this same guy will show up a month later with one of the models he shot in that store and a box full of stuff and expect you to set it up or fix what he or the online place messed up. And then get upset when he thinks you overcharged him for the work. Go figure.

If I owned a small shop and that happened to me enough you can bet your butt I would be charging you to test fire bows. However if you purchased one from me I would give you the money back or cut you a deal on your purchase.

My local shop ( I have one right down the road now) does charge to use the chronograph though. I think it is a buck an arrow or something like that. But if you got your bow there or buy enough stuff from them they usually cut you some slack. I don't think that is too bad though, a couple of bucks to see how fast your bow is probably isn't going to break anyone. And I have shot a fair number of his bows, and not purchased one from him. However I buy all my arrows there and other small stuff. I did buy a gun there too now that I think of it.

I would be curious to see how some small shop owners feel about this subject.

I haven't seen a car dealership that charges to test drive, however I have been refused a test drive until I told them what I was interested in and they ran a credit check to see if I could afford it. Show up at a lexus dealership in a beat up geo metro and work clothes. Then ask to drive a $40,000 sports car and see what happens. I am going to take a guess and say they will not smile and throw you a set of car keys. Sure they make a lot of money off from cars, but they are not stupid either.

I'm sorry for the rant, but this one hits a nerve with me. I tend to "go off" a bit everytime it comes up.

Paul

RE: do proshops???
 

You would go broke charging people to test fire bows .... If the owner takes care of his customers and makes sure his employees do as well, they will get business. I would buy things from one pro shop, even if I had to pay more, because I trusted the owner. You will always get people that come in and loiter, waste your time and never buy anything ... that's retail .. nature of the beast.

I was a fixed operations director for a GM dealership, and I can tell you if we ever tried to run a credit check before letting someone take a car for a test drive, we would have risked losing the franchise....

RE: do proshops???
 

No ... most pro shops don't charge a fee to try out a product , that would be like paying a cover charge for going in a night club.

RE: do proshops???
 

I'm with Tony on this one. Charging to shoot a bow would me a huge mistake in my opinion as well. At the shop I go to, anyone can shoot anything they want, just have to ask. They have many different bows of the same model, so they usually have one that is real close to fitting the prospective buyer. Also, about your comment about bringing the bow back after it was bought on E-bay. This is where shops can make money. I know at the shop I go to, if you buy the bow there, they will set it up for free with whatever you want on it. If you bring in a bow bought elsewhere and a handful of parts, you will pay for the labor.

RE: do proshops???
 

I have never heard of such a thing. If someone is trying to do that, walk the hell out and find a new shop.

RE: do proshops???
 

Providing you can find one to begin with;).

Paul

RE: do proshops???
 

i understand what everyone is sayin .. to be honest i would not complain if they charged like 10 bucks for the time an effort they put into lettin someone shoot THERE bows. cause theres about 4 i wanna shoot. so for them to take the time an effort an i know im not gonna buy one on the spot(hopefully bout 2 months).its a touchy sistuation i guess.

RE: do proshops???
 

Dave, you are the customer ..... they have to earn your business ... be kind, but there are plenty of places that would treat you like they wanted your business

RE: do proshops???
 

That is what I was thinking. I also understand what the others saying. These are just my personal opinions is all and nothing more. And I am a bit scared this is the way it will end up. That or you just will not have any shops in your area anymore, or the ones that do will not have much stock.

I can't think of any shops at the current time that charge to shoot a bow. I can think of a few that will be a bit weary of letting you shoot them though.

When I go in a shop I am honest with them and let them know up front if I am serious about getting one, shopping around or just goofing off.

As far as the car thing, I have had it happen to me on more than one occasion. It was when I was younger though.

Wow, a preacher and in the auto sales industry, there is some yin and yang for you;).

Paul

RE: do proshops???
 

Yep

RE: do proshops???
 

Paul, LOL ..... I actually came to be a preacher after I was there for awhile ... not sales ... service, parts, detail ..

You may be right ... it may be coming to where some charge. I would rather drive 2 hours to a reputable one to make a purchase that high, than settle for any place ... IMO

RE: do proshops???
 

Man, I was hoping you wouldn't take that the wrong way. I kind of figured the way you worded it that you were not in sales anyway.

I agree with you by the way.

Paul

RE: do proshops???
 

nobody around me charges

RE: do proshops???
 

Your'e joking, right? We have a nightspot that charges $5 to get in, depending whos at the door.;)

RE: do proshops???
 

[blockquote]that is a bad idea charging to try a bow . If they did i would take my business else where[/blockquote]

RE: do proshops???
 

Mine doesn't. I don't know of any that do.

RE: do proshops???
 

Are there any others besides our shop???????????;):D

RE: do proshops???
 

Double Lung Archery Inc. will not be charging to try out bows.
I do understand the frustration for shop owners caused by the "come in, try every bow in the store, spend hours of the shops time and effort and then go buy it cheaper online or somewhere else" buyers.

Pro Shops have to EARN your business.
Online and big chain stores, BUY your business.

It's been the same way in every business I have ever worked in.Meat proccessing plant,Meat cutting systems, Cars,Motorcycles and motorcycle parts.
You have customers that shop based on facility,service,relationships
Then you have customers that shop only price

There are two ways to sell
You can sell service,customer treatment,facility,advise and building a long term relationship. If you have none of those things then the only thing left to sell is price. The product(bow,arrows etc)is the same.
My goal has never been, nor ever will be to be the cheapest. That is the easy way. Anyone can sell price.
I prefer to be fair, honest and be interested in the customer and their needs.

Seems to have worked for me so far:D

RE: do proshops???
 

i never had to pay.