this guy 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 So i go to get my skates sharpened and the guy there i know offers me a job. So those of you who work at a hockey store, what should i expect? And i was thinking about it on the way home, how are the hockey parents (of the 8-10 year olds)? Any suggestions? thanx on advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan_The_Man_16 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Man, go for it. Working in a proshop is great. Always remember to be helpful and don't push stuff, but encourage what you think is best for the kid (not always top of the line) and people willalweays like you and will comeback. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 LHS > McDonalds :)It's great, sharpening skates (for me at least) is tricky, but you do learn very quickly. As long as you like your manager I'd say go for it, thats the main thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 #1 get to know the gear and the pluses and minuses of the models. Also compare the various items at similar prices.#2 listen to what the parents are looking for. Don't try to sell them something more expensive than they want to spend.Do those things and you will have a lot of success. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JR Boucicaut 3801 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Well the moms usually are pretty hot at that age. Do not feel afraid to impose your opinion. I've found that most parents don't really know what is going on, therefore, need your opinion. I've made plenty of kids cry and refused to sell them something that I knew was not right. Today I made a 5 y/o kid cry because I told his mom I refused to lop off 2' off a Vector OPS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Well the moms usually are pretty hot at that age. Do not feel afraid to impose your opinion. I've found that most parents don't really know what is going on, therefore, need your opinion. I've made plenty of kids cry and refused to sell them something that I knew was not right. Today I made a 5 y/o kid cry because I told his mom I refused to lop off 2' off a Vector OPS. Maybe in your area. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshy207 15 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Also, be honest with your customers, always. Especially when it comes to quality of a product, fit, finding the best deal, whatever... you'll gain more "regular customers" that way. And with as competitive as the hockey business is, that's the main goal.And when it comes to sharpening... have patience! You probably won't learn right away, but if you have a chance, you can always watch and pick up little tips from the guys who are sharpening. A great rule of thumb is that, after hours of practice on rentals or pond skates, you should sharpen and skate on your own skates before you do any customers' skates, that way you know if you're doing a good job.Good luck, the hockey shop business can be lots of fun! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshy207 15 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Do not feel afraid to impose your opinion. I've found that most parents don't really know what is going on, therefore, need your opinion. I've made plenty of kids cry and refused to sell them something that I knew was not right. Today I made a 5 y/o kid cry because I told his mom I refused to lop off 2' off a Vector OPS. Just make sure that, like JR's and some of the other guys on here, your opinion is the right one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JR Boucicaut 3801 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 LOL yeah, honesty. That's kinda what I meant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 At some point you do have to give in if you can't convince the customer they are looking at the wrong product. You do your best to get tehm to buy the right thing but if they're going to walk out and buy it somewhere else, you have to make the sale. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biff44 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Protect you eyes when using that sharpening machine. Always use the plexiglass shield. You needs them to play hockey! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vapor 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 No Jr. vectors in your hood JR? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JR Boucicaut 3801 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 No. Won't be getting them either.I'm assuming you mean the yth ones. The stick he wanted was a junior. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thejackal 46 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 I'm assuming you mean the yth ones. I can clean out the stuff between my teeth with their shafts :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icedog03 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 So i go to get my skates sharpened and the guy there i know offers me a job. So those of you who work at a hockey store, what should i expect? And i was thinking about it on the way home, how are the hockey parents (of the 8-10 year olds)? Any suggestions? thanx on advance. Thats great dude. Actually the same thing happend to me yesterday when I went to get new skates. I used to work in a shop and the only time Id get attitudes from people was when there was a tourny and everone wanted skates sharpend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mickz 107 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 Yea, I always go to my lhs and instead of some place like Sportchek (nationwide in Canada). I've simply had bad experiences in places other than my lhs (Cyclone Taylor Sports) I bought all my gear from Cyclone Taylor, the guys that work there aren't pushy and they offer you suggestions on equipment you might be better suited for, not whats more expensive. Stores like Sportchek give their employees commission. I remember buying my last piece of equipment from there last year. I only bought it from Sportchek because I had this discount card which let me save money on purchases over $100. I ended up buying a pair of Mission roller blades and the sales person kept persuading me to the Mission D2's when all I needed was the Mission R's because I was only going to play outside anyway. After spending like $200 on the skates, he keeps bugging me about buying this $30 footbed! Like c'mon! I asked him if he had ever played hockey before. He replied with a no, figures. I ended up saying "no" to the cashier when she asked "did anyone help you with this?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Perry94 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 in the defense of sportchek, not all salespeople there are like that...I bought my Mission R's there...and the guy offered me RL's first, but then I told him that I played outdoors, and he steered me in the R direction. Some people just want to help out you know... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mickz 107 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 I don't think Sportchek should be having people that have never played hockey, selling roller blades for hockey if they have no idea what's the difference between all the models except for the price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockeydude2003 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 Protect you eyes when using that sharpening machine. Always use the plexiglass shield. You needs them to play hockey! actually plexi glass is crap it breaks over time and bends. Lexan is a stronger material. We used to use plexi and it was thin and got bent or broke easy now we use lexan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 Protect you eyes when using that sharpening machine. Always use the plexiglass shield. You needs them to play hockey! actually plexi glass is crap it breaks over time and bends. Lexan is a stronger material. We used to use plexi and it was thin and got bent or broke easy now we use lexan Blackstone ships with real glass in place of the plastic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 All the new people hired at Sports chek will work off of a pre-determined wage and not commission. Some guys are good, others are bad, it's the same everywhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjobity 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 All the new people hired at Sports chek will work off of a pre-determined wage and not commission.Where did you hear that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 23, 2004 Sports Chek, they said as of last september it would be implemented. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjobity 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2004 Sports Chek, they said as of last september it would be implemented. September '03, or September '04? Because I make commission (4.5%) at Sport Chek, and I started there in July. Could it just be certain stores, or is it the whole chain? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 23, 2004 '03, they told me that we were the last people to be hired on it. When I was there they had me do alot of odd jobs away from sales because they thought I was on the new system. I was told it was the whole chain as well. Maybe just certain areas or owners. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
