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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