VakarLajos

Unless the guy had been in there previously and used my shop as a fitting room and been a complete dishonest jerk about it, then I don't see a reason to refuse to service the items.

$15 shipping + $20 baking + $10 sharpening = $45. If you can save more than that buying online, then it makes sense. If the price difference on a pair of skates was $5 then really you might have just lost $40. My shop also charges $2 to cut a stick that is not purchased from us. Why? Well, we have the saw and we're doing the work. It's a service. You're paying for it. I have very good customers who will occasionally buy online if their saving a ridiculous amount or if we just can't get them the product. I know they do their best to buy with us and it's means a lot. I might not charge them for the baking and/or extra for the sharpening because I know they've come to us first.

either way, if I'm in that situation the most I'd do is let him know we also offer that service, but doing it at home will void the warranty. Telling somebody, "Hey you just ruined your skates" always runs the risk of coming off as arrogant whether or not it's factually correct. Gotta pick your battles there.

I don't know if I would have said anything to him. If he had come in and said we needed to replace them or that we sold him something defective then mentioned he baked them at home it becomes a whole different story. Fixing the rivets and him baking them incorrectly at home are two separate issues most likely.

Customer on phone: I need to know who makes the red and blue helmets! I have two sons and I want one red and one blue helmet! Who makes the red and blue helmets!

Correct. Yeah, but how many people would call up Visa after being "outraged" at a store trying to say there is a minimum charge for cards - and then visa actually investigates and does something about it. I can think of at least 5 restaurants I've had lunch at in the last month that had a "$X minimum charge on credit cards" at the register. Just because there is a lot of them doing it doesn't make it right. I never carry cash, and there are lots of times I want to grab a bottle of water, or a bagel and need to use the card. I'm not paying for stuff i dont want or need just to make it to $10 or $15. So you're the guy that annoys the rest of us folks in line behind you. i'm not going to stand there and debate it if there are people behind me. just make it quick. the majority of the time you're just dealing with somebody who works there, not the owner who sets the store policy. They're just trying to do their job and I'm sure if there's a $5 CC charge when they have a minimum of $10 they're going to catch hell. Either way, blame the owner that signed the agreement. If you don't want to live up to your part of the bargain then don't sign the deal.

Correct. Yeah, but how many people would call up Visa after being "outraged" at a store trying to say there is a minimum charge for cards - and then visa actually investigates and does something about it. I can think of at least 5 restaurants I've had lunch at in the last month that had a "$X minimum charge on credit cards" at the register. Just because there is a lot of them doing it doesn't make it right. I never carry cash, and there are lots of times I want to grab a bottle of water, or a bagel and need to use the card. I'm not paying for stuff i dont want or need just to make it to $10 or $15. "Well, I can either buy this for $5 with a credit card now or not by anything in here ever. And I could call Visa.....so....."

I think that American Express allows a minimum as long as your store ONLY accepts American Express. So, basically they do not allow a minimum.

I definitely can see the logic in charging a restocking fee on CC purchases.

we've had restocking fee on commercial and film shoots. that's about it. Thanks for the feedback on the restocking fee. When I saw it on the receipt, I thought it was a bit odd for a basic return. When I think "restocking fee" I usually think box-store (Models, TSA, etc) and larger corporations. I know I returned my MacBook for a better model when I got it and there was a restocking fee. I think it's a bit odd for a LHS.

we've had restocking fee on commercial and film shoots. that's about it.

lol and when they show up and you tell them there's a 45 minute wait because of the line that's formed, "but you said on the phone TEN MINUTES".....begin facepalm. In the US of A :P hehe yeah. I meant to add that.

I think he probably meant the curve is weird. Not too many stores are going to always have them in stock. it's not a great seller. Most shops have more righties than lefties.

If you're up front and honest, I don't mind that at all. If you come in and say, "I don't want to wast your time, but here's the deal" then I don't mind at all. Getting fitted at store #1 and then going to store #2 for the lower price is screwing over the first store. Worst thing that happens is we say, "Sorry, I just can't match that price". If they have them for $290 they might be trying to unload the items they have. If that's the case then ordering 2-3 pairs is going to be a problem. If they're trying to keep them stocked then it's not that big of a deal. I don't mind guys coming in and asking if there's anything that we can do on the price. Sometimes we can, sometimes we can't. More often than not they're understanding that the price will be lower online, etc. It's more about the attitude that the customer is entitled to a discount and I am an asshole by not giving them something. Honesty right off the bat is something well welcomed.

There's a difference between offering a customer a discount on a higher model because you did not have a lesser one they were looking for and agreeing carte blanche to give them a discount. Yes, "golden customers" are good for a discount IMO because I know they try to keep their business with us. Keep digging that hole for yourself, buddy.

"No we need the padded hockey shorts, not pants" Can't tell you how many say both of those things. I still am like, wait, what? Takes me a while to realize what they are asking for. One today was ridiculous, this grandma was buying sexwax for her grandson, who she said is 16. And she made a note of it to tell me multiple times that she'll have to cut out the word sex on the wax, and asked 3 or 4 times if we had any other wax that didn't have sex on it. Seriously? Kid is 16. Pretty sure he knows all about sex by then... "I need socks" "Hockey socks or regular socks?" "Socks!" "Ok, we have a display right here." "Oh no, I need the ones that go over the knee pads" Just had a guy come in who had previously tried to get me to call Warrior for him because his stick broke and he can't find his receipt and we dont print duplicates. He buys another stick and then tells me not to worry about the receipt because he's in a rush to get to his game......

lol

Almost, "Hi, can I help you?" "You give me discount, right?" "Umm, no" "Why not?" "Why should I?" God that was a rough day. Also got, "We need a neck guard that is not as thick." "Oh ok. Here you go." "This is thinner?" "Yes....that's why I gave it to you."

One told to my co-worker this week: "I'm looking for a sweat shirt for my grandson" "Well ma'am, all of our sweat shirts are right here." "Well, I'm looking for Ben. Will this fit Ben?"

Update Helmets: Bauer 5000 w/cage, Nike 4000 w/Bauer HS22 Straight Cut Shoulders : Sherwood 5030 Elbow: Bauer Supreme 2000, Itech 655 Pants: Nike Bauer Vapor XXX, Ballistik .52 Cal Shin Pads: NBH Pro Lightspeed, Sherwood 5030 Gloves: Bauer Vapor XXX Blue & Red, Bauer Vapor XXX Black & Red (2 pair), Torspo 150, Easton S19 Skates: Bauer XXX, Nike Bauer XXXX Sticks: Easton ST Forsberg, Easton Stealth CNT Forsberg, Easton Z-Bubble w/Bauer One90 p106 wood blades. Bauer One90 PM9

Technology is still there. There will be a U+ Octogun coming out.... held one today. the OctoGun part seemed thinner and subtler than the other models I had seen. Didn't get to shoot with it though.

"I need a neck protector. Do I have to buy it?"

the fact that the "washout" was only on one edge makes me think it was a bad sharpening. could be wrong though.

Second hand story, but one I like. Father is screaming at his young son (4 or 5) from behind the glass during the Hockey Initiation. Then opens the door to yell at him, "Hold your stick the OTHER WAY! RIGHTY!! SHOOT RIGHT!" My friend, one of the rink pros skates up to him and says, "Hey bud. Anything I can help with?" "Well, my kid does everything with his right hand, he needs to shoot righty, but he keeps holding it lefty! Get him to switch" "That's not too uncommon. I do everything with my right hand, but shoot lefty. It also helps because your top hand does most of the work so a person who is normally right-handed is ok. It's really whatever feels natural." "Yeah, well I'm his father." My friend skated away at that point. Really nothing you can say to argue with that. Unless you want to argue paternity.

Any shop that gives a regular customer a tape measure for custom skates is just stupid. If I have a regular customer come in during a rush while I'm with other customers I let the regular know how long it's going to be. I'd rather see if we can work it out where they come back when it's not so hectic so I can give them my undivided attention. Even when they come in and say "I wear size _____" I'm going to measure them. Especially for a custom.