Bauer Rep

[Vapor 0]

Bauer rep set up a display in my local rink, she said that the XXX's are due out in December (when some stores will be getting their shipments, at least), and she was talking smack about Easton and their Stelth and the SyNergy skates (which were on display in my local hockey shop). She asked me if I was in the market for a stealth, and I said hells yeah, I will buy into any ghimick. She also was talking smack how the syNergy skates are WAY to stiff, and that there is no foward flex in them, and how the composite is glued on. I felt the SyNergy skates, and they didnt feel any lighter than my vector pros with tblades, actually heavier. She also said that the reebock helmet is a carbon copy of the 8000. I asked her if all bauer/nike sticks were still made by inno (I thought I heard rumors that they didnt anymore), she siad they were. She will be there tommarow, I believe, if there are any more questions anybody wants to ask.

[kosydar 0]

Of course she'll sa that the Stealth sucks and the Synergy skates are crap. Would you expect differently? It'd be nice if all company reps handled themselves like Justin and Paul do, as in not being negative about all other products on the market, but that just isn't going to happen.

[Veltri 0]

paul? you mean ryan? or am I missing something here

[kosydar 0]

Paul Murphy, works for Hespeler.

[PH_Hockey2 4]

Ryan is cool, He doesn't talk crap about other compaines stuff.

[kosydar 0]

I know, Ryan seems like a good guy. He yelled at me on CB though, and I don't forget things easily.

[JR Boucicaut 3760]

Paul Murphy, works for Hespeler.

WorkED...

Miseaujeu works for Hespeler now.

[PH_Hockey2 4]

I know, Ryan seems like a good guy. He yelled at me on CB though, and I don't forget things easily.

If I can ask kozy, What did he yell at you for?

[Cavs019 702]

I think the stealth comments are just insecurity on bauer's part. As of right now, they are the only one out of the "big three" without a superlight ops.

[kosydar 0]

There was just this huge long thread about Easton's '03 sticks and I made some comment about how I thought the durability was subpar. And this is before he was public that he worked for Easton, so we kinda got into an arguement. It doesn't matter though, I'm just playing. I've never talked to the man, but I hear hes a good guy.

[GekigangarIII 0]

She also said that the reebock helmet is a carbon copy of the 8000

Sounds like she's full of crap... I've seen the reebok helmet up close and it's NOTHING like the 8000.

[JR Boucicaut 3760]

I have met a few reps who aren't very knowledgeable about hockey equipment. (Actually, a lot) We are fortunate to have some really knowledgeable guys on board from all of the manufacturers. Keep in mind that every rep out there is not a former hockey player or something - just someone who can sell stuff...

[Ryan 0]

I'm actually of the opinion that reps are usually very little "in the know" or are often times the last to know about things. They aren't necessarily product experts...they are sales specialists. Granted this isn't all reps.

If you really want info, it's the internal guys that have what you want. Depending on the company as well, product managers often times keep quite a bit from the sales reps.

[Hiub 0]

Not knocking on Bauer or anything, which I love, but she does sound like she's talking out of her butt. If you do get a chance though, ask her about the upcoming Bauer Roller Hockey line. It would be nice to know something, but judging from the former posts the new roller skates will be lighter than the synergy skates or something :P

Thanks a lot, Fred.

[Chadd 916]

Most sales reps spend as much time talking crap about the competitors products as they do their own. Most of our members that are in sales don't do that.

[flaming_june 2]

would you ask if they're gona retail nazzy's woody quest stick?

;)

[kosydar 0]

Speaking of Nike, I came across something quite interesting at the rink the other day. Its this booklet called "The Progression Sessions #2" by Nike. Its basically a book that just talks to kids 12-15 about the importance of the look of skates, failing to mention fit, performance, ect.

[black296tuuk 3]

I'm actually of the opinion that reps are usually very little "in the know" or are often times the last to know about things.  They aren't necessarily product experts...they are sales specialists.  Granted this isn't all reps. 

If you really want info, it's the internal guys that have what you want.  Depending on the company as well, product managers often times keep quite a bit from the sales reps.

I would think that companies would be better off having someone with passion selling their product. I have zero respect for a sales rep when I know more about a new product than he/she does. Do you think that you could sell more skates with someone like JR selling your product or someone that is busy selling slow pitch softball bats?

[jay 1]

I'm actually of the opinion that reps are usually very little "in the know" or are often times the last to know about things.  They aren't necessarily product experts...they are sales specialists.  Granted this isn't all reps. 

If you really want info, it's the internal guys that have what you want.  Depending on the company as well, product managers often times keep quite a bit from the sales reps.

I would think that companies would be better off having someone with passion selling their product. I have zero respect for a sales rep when I know more about a new product than he/she does. Do you think that you could sell more skates with someone like JR selling your product or someone that is busy selling slow pitch softball bats?

Think about it this way (and I'm only palying devil's advocate here)...

Would you rather have someone selling product that recognizes what little tangible performance gains there are between skates or sticks from year to year or someone that will eat up all the marketing speak and spit it right back out when they're making the sales pitch. You know, the kind of guy who can actually feign excitement over the Dual 18' Taper Zones and Bioflex Manipulation Technology.

[Aussie Joe 0]

As a salesman its very important to know your product in and out to sell it. Especially hockey gear, If you know bugger all you will be caught out very quick by players, shop owners etc.

I sell TV's and DVD's and we get people coming in asking for 100 Hz TV's, asking me the diff between them and a 60 or 90 Hz model. Or if we stock LG model players with a dual laser reader. Theres usually no diff these are just marketing tools to trick people into thinking one product is better than the other. Like "Low Kickpoint" or "Ergo lock thumb"

In saying that I also failed a myster shop the otherday for being too honest and telling a customer that Orion TV's are junk. Be easy on the reps they BS to feed their kids. Or in my case I BS to buy new hockey gear, lol.

[JR Boucicaut 3760]

I'd rather buy from someone who is honest rather than someone who tries to BS. I have a rep who is not a hockey guy at all and he is the first to admit it. He is a sporting goods rep. He shows me the stuff, I try it on, and we go from there. It was a company that really did not interest me, so I was a little skeptical at first. But, he never came in and spewed off a bunch of technobabble and told me "This is the stuff you must have!" I consider him one of my best reps. We now carry a lot of his product in the store, and I currently use their sticks, gloves, helmet and skates... ;)

[Vapor 0]

Ahh, JR pimpin the Sande Skates

[Reaper 0]

Ahh, JR pimpin the Sande Skates

Sande doesn't make skates.

I believe JR was referring to Mission...

[thenizzle 0]

I think that all the hyped technology ("Supertaculary Thermo-XtraFoam Composite Nucleur Reactor Molding Thumb") just gets in the way when i consider new gear. Much like JR said, i would just like it if they let me spend 10- no 5- minutes with the friggen gear actually using it- then them saying it uses the most advanced heating goo ever to be made. maybe we could start to tell that to the reps- just let us try them out instead of get crap from u. Its a shame that most companies make u bs their product instead of letting the product do the talking.

[Chadd 916]

No company can afford to give away thousands of dollars worth of gear to each shop to test.