RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

cottonfarmer:

Trust me, if you had spent that kind of money in my shop, the string incidentals would surely be 'no charge' and installed free.

Buck Magnet:

Please stop by if you get into the area.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

If I bought a complete setup from someone and he charged me for installing a rest or peep or anything of that sort.The bow would be left on the counter for someone else to buy.Especially if I were a repeat customer that had spent tons of money in that store. Good thing I do all my own instalation.They should charge for peep sights and such because they actually have to buy them.



If I brought in a bow that I bought elsewhere,then yes they should charge and yes I would expect it.


This,imo is how you get a good customer base built and keep them coming.



I had a tire place that I had bought atleast 4 sets of tires and they also did all my oil changes for several years,plus many other jobs.They never cut me any deals and I went in to get a tire fixed,all it needed was a patch,they charged me $10.00.I thought that was wrong but said what the heck.I had to go in again later to have a tire swapped on rims and patch a tire.This time they charged me $20.00 .I was po'd.They have made several hundred dollars off me and new me by name.They made $30.00 off of 10 minutes work.I hope they spent that $30.00 wisely because it was the last money they ever got from me.


The new place I went to had to patch a tire (on my wifes car) that I got from them and they didn't charge me a dime and that was after only buying 2 sets of tires and they are cheaper.So who do you think gets my buisness and anyone I know that is looking for tires.


This is just customer service and it goes a long way.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

My point exactly Len!!!! Thanks. To bad you are not in Missouri or Arkansas!!!

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

I wasn't comparing them, I was merely providing an example.[:-]

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

What was the original question?

:D

I have to admit that I knew this was going to be opening a can of worms when I read the original post.

I think Len summed it up very well with this simple statement.....

I think alot of folks aren't totally aware of all that goes into running a pro shop. It definitely was an eye opener for me when I first started working locally. As was mentioned before, many charges and the respective rates in general are left up to the individual shops. Some charge more than others. It is up to you as a consumer to decide whether the costs are worth the service.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Frank, so true. I have heard guys at my local shop complain when they were charged $5 for cutting and gluing in inserts for arrows they bought at another store. Forget the small amount of glue, there is also wages to be paid, rent, electricity, insurance and taxes. If shops gave everything away they would not be in business.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Len,

Every Proshop that I have ever frequented, opereated much like you describe. Almost all of the shops charged for everything when I first started going in. After a few months I would try to pay for using their paper tuner or chrono etc and they wouldn't let me. Now they might charge the guy that was with me but I would always explain that if they spent as much money in there as I did that they wouldn't charge them either. The point is that you can afford to make certain concessions to certain customers because you know they are going to be there, they are to spend x amount every year, and your are going to have ample oppurtunuty to make money off of them. If I was cotton farmer and I spent that kind of money and still got tagged for labor on everything I would be looking for a new place to go.....but...on the other hand when I don't frequent a shop, I fully expect to get charged for any survices that I require. You have to keep your "loyal" customers happy but you can't give buddy deals to everyone and still stay in business. I have spent about $1500 in my Pro shop since Jan. 1 and it's a shop that I just started going to, needless to say, I have already gained "preferential" status, and that's how I plan to keep it:D

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RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

siskyou
You forgot about all the bow companys that want you to buy the 25 bow program and and save 2% and pay in30 to90 day's. And don't forget the arrow company's, sights or rests and don't forget releases. As a pro shop with nearly the price of a 2000 square home in inventory you are exspected to have on hand people think you get this stuff for free.

Archery is sport many choose to be in, but it is exspected to subsidized by a few willing to take time away from family and other things we enjoy.

I own a very popular shop in my area and yes I give a lot of things way to help someone in a pinch. BUT some think your kindness is some thing they can take advantage of as long as the you play by they'er rules.

I care very deeply how a customers bow shoots when it leaves my shop (it has my reputation riding on it). But like most shop's that stay busy when other are not it takes time to learn what's best for the shop an dwhat works best for the customer.

I always said that if the customer was always right I wouldn't be here, I'd be in the mountains hunting in the fall.

Archery shop are open in the summer when archery is the last thing on the mind of the fall bowhunter. Bills still have to be paid maintance on the building (think about 200 people a week going though your place), All the different people that come though that you don't even know and all the elk,turkey,duck and frog clubs looking for donations.

But heres the kicker, listening to a young person about taking his first deer or watching a new shooter do well in there first shoot at a local club 3-D.

those are the things that make it worth while to me.

For what it's worth
Doug Girt
Girt's Archery Anderson In.:D

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Cottonfarmer you might try Dennis Outdoors in Poplar Bluff
they are great people![8D]

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Siskyou: I knew there was something about you that I liked.;) Wow, we pretty much follow the same procedure for properly installing a peep. Some think it is a simple task. Not so, if done properly.

dgirt: Good to have you around on this BB. I hadn't really taken notice of you until now. I like to talk to other Dealers as much as possible. The exchange of information can only help the industry. This is the reason why I conduct Seminars at the ATA Show each year. I try to encourage the other Dealers attending the Seminar to share their knowledge. We can always learn from others.:)

BTW, I got called on putting my shop name in my signature. Don't be offended if someone calls you on it. I think it's ridiculas, considering the information I share on this forum; but, those are the rules.[:@]

Also, I've been asked many times "how to tune a bow", "how to tune arrows", "what is wrong with my bow", "what bow I should buy", etc.. I try to stay away from personal requests and especially requests that will take business away from other good Dealers. I found that I can sometimes easily get 'used' by a few on this and other forums. I'm sure you're aware of this; but, it seems to always be worth mentioning.

"For what it's worth" is in your signature. Good PRO Shops like yours are worth a lot.;)

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RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Len,
If you ever think about moving away from the city we could use your shop in Frederick. Even a branch "office" would be great. Second largest town in Maryland and just crying for a real Pro shop.
Steve

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

My pro shop (although not quite local - 100 miles) , when you buy a bow you get these items installed free:

1. peep sight
2. string leeches
3. cat whiskers
4. string reserved (not the nylon serving)
5. limb savers
6. and the bow is paper tuned (when you a rest.)


And any item you buy from him will be installed free of charge.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

SteveF.inMD:

Yes, I really considered opening a branch in Olney; but, the economics and Bass Pro moving in shelved that idea for now. There is also a matter of staffing such a location with the 'right' people. I decided to stay here due to the central location to the State. I also have people coming in from Delaware, NJ, north and central Pennsylvania, as well as from western Maryland, WV and Virginia. It's a 'Catch 22' situation. If I cater to one, I'll slight another.;)

prof907:

Ditto on what you posted. We pretty much do the same unless the customer wants to do all the work himself/herself. Then we adjust the price accordingly. I wouldn't see much of a need, however, to put leeches and whiskers on the same string. That is unless you're big on 'belts and suspenders'.:D

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

I support my local pro shop and buy all my archery supplies from him unless it's something i need right then that he don't have or can't get and in return he has always been good to me. I don't care if the local Walmart or another store has it cheaper i still buy from him because he's a fair person with fair prices and runs a professional business. He's been in the archery business for over 30 years and is very knowledgeable and even though i try to do most of my bow work myself there's lot's of times i need the help of a professional:D Anything you buy from his shop he will install for free. If you buy from someone else he will still help you in any way he can but not for free. He has always bent over backwards and done whatever it takes to insure that you are a satisfied customer and no doubt thats why he's been in business for so long and has so many loyal customers.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

I know you meant well by your statement, but whenever I see someone say $15.00 hour is fair, I know they have never successfully run their own buisness that involved a store front that sells and services products.

Out or that $15.00, they have to pay their rent (or mortagage), the utilities, phone bill, advertising, their buisness insurance, their labor (employees), interest charges on their inventory, depreciation on their building and all equipment used to run the shop. In addition, there a tons of incidentals that hit every businsess, every day. The way I figure it, the average shop charging $15.00 for labor in a bow shop is only losing about $5.00 hour for every hour it's open. Hopefully, he's earning the $15.00 each and every hour he's open, or he's losing even more. Let's not forget that the buisness is seasonal and he needs to make more during peak season in order to keep the doors open when no one is coming in.

We ask a lot out of our proshops. We want mechandise at competive prices with the mass marketers. And we want labor costs to be charged at a rate, that leaves the shop owner making way below minimum wages.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

At our local pro shop, even if we buy acessories somewhere else, he puts them on free of charge. We live in a smaller community, and he knows for our major purchases, we will always go to him.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Straightarrow:

Right on, but some just don't have a clue. This time of year I have, like everyone else in the industry, very little traffic coming through the shop. To see my shop and how it's set up, some may soon realize how much it takes to keep it open year round. Right now I'm building an environmentally controlled arrow building booth. It will be dust and climate controlled so that we can do a much better job at building arrows. Cost is projected at about $3000.

It would take a lot of $15/hour charges to pay for just this one item. Then I'm expected to keep thousands of strings and cables in stock, multiple lines of bows, sights, rests, stabilizers, arrows, treestand components, etc., etc., etc..

I can see someone operating out of their house, with a very small inventory and NO overhead, to charge much less than me; but, they still couldn't make any money. I guess that's the problem/difference between a very small archery shop and a PRO Shop like I have. I also feel that my technical skills are something that might be worth a little more than $15/hour. If not, I'll go back to my other business.;)

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RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Although my local bowshop owner is a pompous ass - he does do freebies like peep sites and such if you've bought your bow there or spent lots of money with him.

I personally would rather pay for the peep and get the respect that a customer deserves.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

I find that most customers don't pay too much attention to price if the service is good, the price is within reason, the shop employees are polite, and they are treated with respect. It took me awhile, but I found a shop in my area that meets all these, so they get my business.

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

the pro shop I use is in a small sporting goods store. When I first started going there I could not find the capper for my muzzelloader and stopped by on my way to hunt. I thought they opened at 9:00 am got to the door and found out they didn't open till 10:00, walking back to my truck one of the guys came out of a side door to smoke and saw me. He ask me what I needed then went inside got me one and would not even let me pay, now they are the only people who work on my bow and if I don't buy something from them it's because they don't sell it

RE: Question about your local pro shop loyalty??
 

Our local shops suck!!!
This is what kinda service we got around here, my wife went and ordered a summit viper stand at one, she went to pick it up, they never ordered it!!! They said they could still order it, but it would cost her 20 more dollars! lmao

This is the other one, we went to look for a bow for my wife, got in there to see what kinda bow she liked best and what weight she could pull. She ended up pulling 40lbs good. The owner says, "i don't think you should be hunting, unless you can pull back more" and he walked away!! Needless to say, my wife was very upset with both expierences.