skates for narrow feet

[khockey#3 0]

I need help. Im looking for a skate preferably bauers cause its what ive always skated. I went to the closest thing to a hockey shop near me and the guy working there was the biggest A- hole ever. I asked if he could help me size my skates and his response was "Are you buyen skates off me?" me-"no, but I need an acurate sizing" him- "well buddy if your not buyen my skates, then you can find someone else to size your skates" Im skating in my old BS 7000 and got bs8090s but got them too big. Im hearing alot about them being for the more wider classic fit. I want to know about the vapor line. The P.I.A.S that I was at didnt carry any so I couldnt try any on. So without any where to try skates on its all done over the net. My two choices now are the 8090s in a smaller size or the vapor xx or the XIX cause I have a 300.00 budget.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

I don't blame him. Sorry. Why should he help you if you're going to buy elsewhere?

[thenizzle 0]

because THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT? hmmmm retailers need to think about that. Now that that dude managed to piss khockey3 sufficiently off, hes telling all of us (this is just one example.) A good rule of thumb is that when you're nice to someone good things will happen. Who knows? Maybe if he did a great job sizing khockey3 he would have boughten them? Or maybe something else, like socks or tape or whatnot? I'm not against retailers and businesses, I just hate this new trend in retailers of not actually caring about their customers. that is bullshit.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

No, what is bullshit is me pulling down a bunch of skates and lending my expertise to a person who is going to use that and buy elsewhere.

It's very simple.

The customer is NOT always right - especially when it comes to that.

I applaud Khockey3 because he was honest. But that's as far as I go.

[#96 0]

Just because someone is in your store, doesn't mean you have to sell to them...or size them.

I have heard of sizing fees though. You go in, get sized, and they charge you $20, $30, etc., knowing you aren't gonna buy the skates in house. If you buy the skates, they waive the fee.

What the guy did do is guarentee KHhockey will not/should not buy a damn thing from that guy, ever. That guy's actions pretty much would ensure I or any of my friends that cared to listen would never give him a dime.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Understandable. But can you blame the guy?

[#96 0]

I don't blame him one bit. But he could have been nicer, and perhaps offered to charge the fitting fee.

People buy more things in hockey shops than just skates. If that's the way the guy runs his shop, I can see why as KHhockey put it "the closest thing to hockey shop". It's probably a dump, the guy is a bad businessman, etc.

[Chadd 916]

Not too many good shops in the Pittsburgh area. What shop was this in?

[HeatleyJr. 0]

"because THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT? hmmmm retailers need to think about that."

are they a customer if they arnt buying anything?.....just wondering

[HeatleyJr. 0]

but yeah a good narrow skates it the misson L5 or L7

[#96 0]

"because THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT? hmmmm retailers need to think about that."

are they a customer if they arnt buying anything?.....just wondering

Well no, technically. But one way to lose a potential customer is to treat them like crap.

That's why "The customer is always right". Cuz the customer ain't be buying if you don't be treatin them good.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

#96 - I think you need to see how the other side lives to understand where I am coming from. I know more about skates than a lot of people, and I feel that if I am going to share my knowledge with a prospective customer, then it won't be all for naught. Why should I make it easier for him to buy his skates elsewhere?

[pizzakid13 5]

i am one of those guys that would love to have a skilled, educated skate guru in my LHS. i am also the kind of guy that rewards that service by purchasing the equipment even if its a few bucks more. in a sport where the gear is so expensive and you cant return it after you use it, it helps to have a store give a crap.

[Chadd 916]

"because THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT? hmmmm retailers need to think about that."

are they a customer if they arnt buying anything?.....just wondering

Well no, technically. But one way to lose a potential customer is to treat them like crap.

That's why "The customer is always right". Cuz the customer ain't be buying if you don't be treatin them good.

Sounds like there was no potential for him to be a customer as his intent was to buy other skates elsewhere. Then again, that's another reason I like Mission. I can sell my skates for whatever price I want but I can't advertise less than a certain price. It protects the local shop. However, when they sold all of their skate inventory to a major online store before x-mas I got pissed. I lost several sales because I couldn't get skates from them. I can't imagine I'm the only dealer that got hurt by that one. I understand blowing them out, they need to do that. Just wait until after the damn holidays.

[#96 0]

#96 - I think you need to see how the other side lives to understand where I am coming from. I know more about skates than a lot of people, and I feel that if I am going to share my knowledge with a prospective customer, then it won't be all for naught. Why should I make it easier for him to buy his skates elsewhere?

I don't disagree with you whatsoever. I see kids go into hockey shops and absolutely torture the guy in there helping them out. And I can see how it would get real old fast having some kid come in, try skates on, and then take off and buy the skates online anyway.

That's why I don't disagree with a fitting fee. The guy gets a little money for his time, and the buyer isn't stuck with having to buy from that shop.

According to KHhockey's story, it seemed like the guy had a chip on his shoulder when he told him he would not be buying the skates in his shop.

It's his shop, he can do what he wants. But that isn't good business. Now KHockey probably won't be going back there for skates...or sticks, tape, laces, blades, etc. And I completely agree with that.

There is one shop I go to (not your's Pete :lol: ) where I used to go in and try on skates all the time. I must have tried on at least 10 pairs of skates. I only bought 1 pair from them. But they never give me a hard time. The reason, I've bought helmets, gloves, OPSs, blades, mountes chassis, etc. They were nice to me. They treat me well. So I go back.

[Cavs019 710]

I'm 17, I work in a shop. Common sense says that the average time spent fitting someone "shopping" you (45-60 minutes) would be better spent towards a customer that is planning on actually making a purchase. While most shops look for that close knit relationship with their customers and prefer not to burn bridges with people, customers have to realize that it is a BUSINESS. I don't have time to grab skates off a shelf for you when I could be on the floor helping people that are willing to buy something.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

According to KHhockey's story, it seemed like the guy had a chip on his shoulder when he told him he would not be buying the skates in his shop.

It's his shop, he can do what he wants. But that isn't good business. Now KHockey probably won't be going back there for skates...or sticks, tape, laces, blades, etc. And I completely agree with that.

Once again, can you blame the guy? He would be providing a service for you and you expect him to do it knowing that he won't make the sale?

Don't hate on the guy because he's trying to look out after himself. People who bend over backwards for customers all the time and don't get anything in return get screwed. It's a business. It isn't MSH.

[Neo5370 132]

JR's right. The time, effort, knowledge it takes to properly fit someone is a service. Why should he provide that service for free?

Would it be fair to go to a mechanic to ask him how to fix your car then go do it yourself?

[J-Shera 0]

JR's right. The time, effort, knowledge it takes to properly fit someone is a service. Why should he provide that service for free?

Would it be fair to go to a mechanic to ask him how to fix your car then go do it yourself?

Or go to a competitor like in this case.

[Marrick66 0]

This reminds me to ask some questions pertaining to this topic? I've been burned by a couple of different shops who gave crappy service(such as rushing sizing, uneducated about products, apathetic) when trying to buy skates. Yes, I went to buy skates there, not via internet. I definately don't mind paying if I'm able to get the right size and skate for me. Why should I buy at these places, just to support a shop who doesn't appreciate my business? Unfortunately, I'm not in a total hockey hotbed(Dallas/Ft. Worth). Actually, I'd like to get custom skates, or at least have someone help who gives a damn. Sadly, it seems noone wants my business.

[donkey87 0]

Yeah it can be a pain to get skates in Texas. Players Bench and the Star Centers do not do well with fitting skates. Peranis is a pretty good place to go. They have two or three guys who do a good job of sizing people for skates.

[khockey#3 0]

Well if the guy would have sized me and got a correct size maybe he could have convinced me to buy the L7s or the xxx's he had there. But guess not.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Hello...you told him you weren't going to buy the skates from him. Do you expect him to provide you outstanding service when all you were going to do was use him?

[pizzakid13 5]

Sounds like there was no potential for him to be a customer as his intent was to buy other skates elsewhere. Then again, that's another reason I like Mission. I can sell my skates for whatever price I want but I can't advertise less than a certain price. It protects the local shop. However, when they sold all of their skate inventory to a major online store before x-mas I got pissed. I lost several sales because I couldn't get skates from them. I can't imagine I'm the only dealer that got hurt by that one. I understand blowing them out, they need to do that. Just wait until after the damn holidays.

which models were they blowing out? when can i look for the prices on the 2005 S series to come down?

[jjtt99 0]

Enough said about the ethics of milking your local hockey shop for knowledge then buying elsewhere. Hopefully you'll see the value they can provide -- provided you do some homework and work with a knowledgeable skate tech.

To answer you question on skates that fit narrow:

The Bauer Vapour series and Mission skates fit narrow feet. CCM and Easton tend to fit wider. Graf and Nike depend on the model.