United Cycle stops stocking mission

[tyler9 0]

I went into United cycle today to buy a pair of s500 carbons to find that united cycle does not stock mission products anymore. The salesman told me that they were fet up with the problems of mission products and having to send them back for warranty. He also said that they just try to make the 'coolest' new products every single year. Is there method to their madness or what? I really wanted these skates but should i just buy a pair of vectors of vapor xx's now ?

[crosskore 0]

What do you mean "very single"

[Whip 0]

United of Edmonton? Thats my LHS. Does this mean they will be selling all mission products off at a cheaper price?

I dont reall like United since all there stuff is so overpriced and they take pride in not selling anything under 100 dollars <_< way to attract ppl on a budget (me). They had a pair of Tacks 152 for 130 while places like Canadian Tire offer the 252 for 90 dollars. Sorry got a little off topic.

[Chadd 916]

Go in ask for them again and when they tell you they aren't going to carry them, explain that you won't be spending your money there anymore. As a consumer, I don't want the store owners deciding what I can or cannot buy.

I have to get most of my gear online as the retailers in this area barely stock anything. In fact one told me that nobody wants anything other than CCM or Easton gear. He never asked anyone, he just decided that on his own. Of course he complained that TPS only cared about baseball and Nike was a pain in the ass to deal with for several; months before he decided what customers really wanted.

[Pats 0]

Seeing as Edmonton has more than one shop, go to Pro Skate they have the s500 Carbons in stock. You'll get way better service there anyway.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Variety is good. You're limiting your customers by carrying select lines.

[tyler9 0]

Ya united in edmonton. 'll probably just go to professional skate then. It really surprised me though United Cycle seems to always have something if the others stores don't. Professional skate was kinda weird with me one year though they refused to sell me vapor 10's because they said they were to stiff of a boot for me. I had to go to st.albert to buy them. I hope the s500's work out well.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I like it when a store has the balls to tell you a product won't work for you. I've made a few kids cry in my shop because I told them that a certain skate won't work for them.

[tyler9 0]

Ya, but they broke in fine for me and were the best skate i had owned up to that point.

[Cavs019 710]

No offense JR but arent you being somewhat hypocritical given the fact that you dont carry easton in your store? I mean im sure you obviously have a reason other than the actual products themselves, but just from the standpoint of limiting whats available for the customer to buy. At any rate, the fact that the guy says mission trys to bring out "the coolest stuff each year" is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. In the day of yellow and orange sticks, i think every company is doing that. All of mission's products, specifically the flagship ones, (L-2, M-1, S500) are all very subtle in design.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

What I mean is that they have principles and just won't sell you something to appease you, even though the 'customer' is always right. In this case, maybe it didn't work out for them because they lost a sale, but at least they have peace of mind.

[tyler9 0]

Ya and if anyone in the edmonton area is interested they are blowing out all there mission stuff. I seen m1's purefly's and some gloves for sale. I didn't pay enough attention to look at the price beacause i was a little pissed off they didn't have the skates i wanted.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

My Easton situation is actually out of my control. I've always known that it would sell, and sell well.

On a personal level, I think Easton and I have buried the hatchet.

I actually talked to someone at Easton about the situation and got the explanation. It's nothing I could've prevented as it happened before I started working there, but my store just isn't interested.

[CBJ 0]

What I mean is that they have principles and just won't sell you something to appease you, even though the 'customer' is always right.  In this case, maybe it didn't work out for them because they lost a sale, but at least they have peace of mind.

I definetly agree/understand with what JR is saying. You have to understand that at times people come into shops and are dead set on a pair of skates that are not right for their foot. Just because X NHLer wears so in so skate doesn't mean it's right for you..... I realize that most if not everyone on this board understand that...but you'd be suprised with some of the customers we get in our stores.

At the end of the day, I'll try to give every customer as much possible information to make the proper choice in skates and equipment.....but I won't refuse to sell something to them.

[Cavs019 710]

the key when buying any piece of equipment is to go to the store with an open mind. However, most people usually research the products and make their decision prior to even seeing the products firsthand.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

You seem to confuse regular people with educated customers like most of the people on MSH.

I'll invite you to stand behind the "Igloo" for a week.

You'll be amazed at the stupid shit that comes out of customers' mouths...I'd say that 90% of my customers don't know how a properly fitted skate is supposed to fit. And no, it's not because I'm in FL.

[Ryan 0]

Whether or not it is correct or not, I can understand any retailer saying they don't stock a certain manufacturer b/c it won't sell or they have problems. From an Easton point of view we see this all the time.

On our baseball side we've had to compete with the Rawlings and Louisvilles of the world that have been around for 100 years. It is the same in hockey as well. Try getting a retailer to carry your skates when they've sold Bauer and CCM for umpteenth # of years, and sold it well. That's why you come up with incentive programs like buy this # of skates and you get this # of Stealth sticks. You have to find some way to open the door and get the retailer to take a chance on you.

So whether or not it is correct, I can understand their point of view. From their side they don't think it is worth it and are willing to take that chance and lose whatever percentage of business that particular brand name brought in.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Totally agree.

[#94 3]

Yeah, very well put.

[Cavs019 710]

Jr believe me I know exactly what your talking about. I currently work in an lhs, and it boggles my mind when a 40 year old man looks at me like im on crack because his toe is barely grazing the front of the skate and asks me for a full size bigger.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Exactly. You feel my pain.

[CBJ 0]

Jr believe me I know exactly what your talking about. I currently work in an lhs, and it boggles my mind when a 40 year old man looks at me like im on crack because his toe is barely grazing the front of the skate and asks me for a full size bigger.

That look is priceless.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Some guy got into an argument over the phone with me one time. He was convinced he was a size 8, and his whole argument was that he's always worn 8 and has been playing hockey for 32 years. I basically told him that some skate sizes have changed and he hung up on me...

[Cavs019 710]

The best is when they come back and complain that their feet are sliding around in the skate and their heel is picking up after they insist they go bigger than what actually fits.

[Chadd 916]

Some guy got into an argument over the phone with me one time.  He was convinced he was a size 8, and his whole argument was that he's always worn  8 and has been playing hockey for 32 years.

That's when I ask "in what brand?"

Too many people come in to the shops knowing exactly what they want regardless of practicality. More choices are based on color or marketing than on functionality for the player. I honestly think Easton should just paint all of the junior synergys black or orange anymore, I'm sick of seeing 100 flex sticks cut by a foot or more.