Axxion89

One of the easiest ways to battle closeout stock/gear that becomes old is to order the right amount by forecasting demand and looking at previous sales data. I don't know if many shops do that but if you can keep just enough inventory then you won't lose too much. The worse that might happen is you lose a few sales due to stockout but by what most are saying here, it would be better than a stockroom loaded with old equipment. Also, LHS need to think outside the box to compete with online retailers and offer things they cannot. Some examples, if you have an old helmet lying around or old low end skates that are a model or 2 old, offer them away for free or half cost to a customer who buys a lot of product or who is starting off and buys their setup. If someone buys a certain amount of $$$ in gear, offer an old s17 as a raffle prize. You would be surprised how doing this helps retain customers and spreads good word about your business and gives you an edge over big box retailers.

Agreed on mostly everything and I have yet to be at a LHS that had prices much higher than what online retailers have. Only real difference in prices is on outdated equipment such as leftover S17s and other items. And Wrangler, my LHS has the same thing with charging fee but they waive it if you buy the skates or if they actually try to fit you and don't have what fits. Its necessary in todays market to have the fee IMO

Got accepted to my first Law School so I am 1 for 1 on my applications so far Also bought a sweet Vaughn 8800 double cup almost new of craigslist for $30 shipped yesterday and it came today in time for me to use it!

And that is why I change my own oil If the dealership did it, just take it back and complain about their stupidity, they should give you something out of it Oh and to add: USPS taking its dear sweet time to deliver me my goalie pads, expected delivery date 2/11 my ass!

Snows melting finally, I love snow but its getting old now

Product: CCM U+ 12 Size 5.5 (Jr) Height: 5' 7.5" Weight: 185 Foot Size: 9.5 sneaker/shoe Foot Shape: Small Arch, about average shape, higher volume Level and use: 2-3 times a week, beer league and pickup Previous Skates: Vapor x30 Background: My Vapor x30's were defective and I went to my LHS to find a suitable replacement. I was upset over the poor quality control with my skate that I avoided Bauer skates (Bauer corporate resolved my issue for the record so I would consider Bauer skates again). I tried on Reebok and they did not fit at all and the owner recommended the CCM's since he has the same size feet as me and said that I can save money and most likely fit into a 5.5 Jr size boot. I wear 6 in all other brands but the 5.5 fit like a glove. Given the choice between the 12's and CL's, I opted to save the money as the differences between the two were in my opinion minimal (CL was stiffer, made in Canada, and used a few different materials). Fit: Excellent, there is a ton of U-Foam all over the skate including the tongue to help mold to your foot. I had some issues with my Vapor locking the heel but these were snug and the Foam molded my heel nicely for a great fit. These skates will NOT fit nice out of the box and there is no shape to them until you bake them. The owner told me the baking would make them fit perfect and he was right. Compared to Vapors, they fits a half size smaller and are a tad wider. Every skate fits different feet differently so this skate will not be for everyone but if you have weird shaped feet or a flattish foot, I recommend these skates. 10/10 Blade/holder: Its an E-Pro holder and I know a lot of people love Tuuk's but personally these are doing just fine. the steel is great, they hold and edge very well and have had no problems with them. I cannot provide much details on this area due to limited knowledge but I see nothing from the many uses I have in them that would make the holder and steel a liability. 10/10 Weight/protection: The weight is amazing, very light. I did not weigh them but they are definitely a similar weight if not lighter than the Crazy Lights. Protection is not very good on these skates. Took shots of the heel and side of foot and you will feel it. My Vapor x30's had better protection and its a downside to the U+12's. Tonight I took a shot of the tongue and it absorbed a lot of the impact thanks to the foam and it didn't hurt at all. 5/10 Protection 9/10 Weight Durability: After about 20, 30 uses these show little to no wear. Damn things are tanks. The outsole is as was described to me a "golf ball" like material (I forget the name of it exactly) but it feels like a golf ball. There are not many scratches on it at all. The holder has a small chunk of plastic off it from a blade but thats normal. The steel has no rust or chips. The interior looks brand new. Stiffness has not changed and I put a lot of weight on these skates and they are junior skates! The fact that they are holding up with my 185 lbs bearing on it is amazing. I am confident a senior skate can handle extra weight. i will update this more as I play more and more on them. 9/10 Intangibles: These skates look sharp and look just like the CL's. Many people I skate with use Bauer or Graf and when they see my skates I get a lot of what are those and are those the CL's questions as well as compliments on the way they look. I am a fan of the outsole material as it feels smooth and looks glossy. Elaborating a little more on the Junior aspect of these skates, they are holding up very well. Part of me regrets not spending the extra ~$50 for the CL's just to see if there would have been a difference but I was tight on money at the time and these skates are doing great. I went back to my LHS and the owner said that his CL's are holding up great as well, same size skates. I looked at the senior model of the U+12's and they are stiffer than the juniors so for all you bigger guys and gals, you will get a stuffer boot. 10/10 Conclusion: Great skates for the price. I will most certainly look at CCM's again for future skates. The foam molding is great for odd shaped feet and they fit a bit wider than Vapors. They also look sharp and will last you a while as well. Aside from the lack of protection from shots to the side/outsole, amazing skates. Overall 9/10

This team says they needs a goalie and offer me the position so I say sure I'll do it for next season. Today just so happened to be the last game of the current season and they needed me to sub so I say sure why not. They have my $350 that I paid initially as a forward but talking to everyone on the team today, the goalie has never paid a dime. On top of that, the team flat out sucked and I'm no superstar myself but come on I counted 16 2-0 and I was able to keep the game down to 11 goals (I'm new). After the game everyone says thats its ok they were aware of their lack of D and that they want me to play. No sooner then I get home I have an email from the "team leader" (who never showed to the game) saying that I am very weak in goal and they will go with their former goalie which the team allegedly hated but I could stay as a forward. If your going to call me out at least either be there or tell me to my face, I'm 21 not 12 and this isn't high school we are adults. Best part is he wants me to play forward and rip me of my $$$ because I talked to the honest guys on the team and they told me they pay almost half of what I payed. In short I told to guy to suck a certain part of my anatomy and took my talents to my old team even to play less games for the same price, I'll just get more ice time

I wear a 9.5 shoe and wear a size 5.5/6 skate depending on brand, its weird but they fit me so it can happen a big difference in size from skate to shoe

Unfortunately this is the case anywhere teenagers work (for the most part)

Nothing like having you car jack break apart as your trying to change a flat in 15 degree weather in 20 mph winds then waiting for the useless flat repair guy to come TWO HOURS LATE! as you freeze your balls off. Add to that I missed my chance to play goalie on my only break between finals andddddddd I need to buy 4 new tires!

Gonna pull a 180 of the direction of this thread: I get a great deal for my friends goalie gear and it came with everything needed (except goalie pants =( ) that fits perfect except skates. So I go to my LHS that I've gone to ever since he helped me with my terrible Vapor skates. I've bought a bunch of stuff from him like gloves, my CCM 12's and sharpenings and stuff so I figure he can help me out. Turns out hes got these barely used One75 goalie skates on the used rack in my size and they fit like a glove. I see he sells them new in store for $300 so i figure crap, this is gonna cost me around 100-150ish (never bought used equip) but I need the skates so i ask how much. He looks at me asks me if I'm trading in the too small goalie skates (CCM 852 tacks) which are old but avg condition and I go yeah and he justs tells me to bake the one75's and he'll hook me up. I go to pay and with trade in, it comes to $50! Made my day. Moral of the story kids, relationships are key

Got my free Totalone myBauer stick in the mail, its SICK!!! Also after a long hunt for goalie gear, I bought a full set of everything for $200 with a new helmet To top it off, went to my LHS for some used goalie skates and got a used pair of One75 a year old for $50 after trading in the CCM tacks that came with the set! Only thing that can cap a weekend like this would be a great score on the LSAT....I hope!

Agree 100%, even if my LHS does some of these for free, I throw him some $$$ for his time and in return, he'll help me out when I need tape or other small things. You learn it through life and you learn it in business school, relationships are crucial for any business and the trend going on in the business world today is that large retail and online stores are realizing that they have no loyalty and no relationships with its customers. Those little frequent buyer coupons and rewards do not have the same effect as talking with a real human being and interacting with them. I know its been said a bunch of times in this thread but basically if you don't want to pay the extra cash at your LHS, then don't complain when they charge you extra for small things, thats the breaks.

Competitive olympic rifle shooting, the gun alone costs $4k.. Back on topic, the holiday season hath begun. I pray for all you retailers and employees out there!

I have to disagree with you that. As a marketer, you want to get them in the store, have them buy/experience the product, be satisfied with the product, and make future purchases or recommendations. Getting someone to simply walk into a store is only half the battle. You want to build loyalty first and foremost as a loyal customer will come back and buy your product and will more than likely recommend that product to others. Word of mouth recommendations also happen to have a very significant effect on influencing peoples decisions. You don't need to sell someone something to build loyalty as you can demonstrate your knowledge and social skills which will attract customers who seek those characteristics.

Upgraded/Changed a bunch of equip: Helmet: Reebok 8k w/ Bauer True Vision Cage Shoulders: Easton ST4 Elbows: Reebok 3k Pants: Reebok Pro Stock Gloves: Bauer 4 Roll Shins: Bauer Vapor 30 Skates: CCM U+ 12 Sticks: Harrow 300 75flex w/ Inno blade Fedorov, Warrior Dolo Spyne 85 flex Kovalev

Large stores like that HM and Pure Hockey are mostly good for product purchases that you know. I was in there on the opening and it deff not a place I would go to get skates fitted or sharpened unless you find the right person

Yupp gonna take more than a Tacoma to take me out lol But luckily for me the lady took full responsibility and I'm taking my brother's 2004 Acura TSX as my new car so it kinda worked out ok haha

Gotta love it when you get hit at 40mph at a red light by a Tacoma pickup truck, good way to start the morning RIP Honda

I had a pair EXACTLY as you described from the Islanders and those gloves are great, only thing I hated was the removed inside padding

Leaves an awesome band to play on a lesser band, thats the worst part

My LHS charges a $20 skate fitting fee that gets waived if you buy the skates from the store, the owner told me that it saves him a lot of time and helps ward off the online only customers. Also, my roommate is a complete useless slob, counting down the days till I strike him with a blunt object

Arrived back in CT for school, went to a new LHS I never went to before to fix a few skate problems and an hour later, had my skates fitting perfect with no pain and a new pair of Bauer Pro 4 Rolls in Navy

ACHA I really think you can make on tryouts, my friends plays for an ACHA team and said he just joined by tryout. Also to add to the venting, looks my my tendon in my wrist seized up and I cant bend it backwards, here we go again

Got my Easton 4-Roll Pro Stock Gloves repaired and palmed with MSH2, feel great but the padding on the side of the pinkie interferes with it bending so debating on unstitching and removing the padding.