Bauer Representatives

[Lostkoz 0]

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank the Bauer Rep who fitted my son for new skates at a local hockey shop this weekend. Probably the best fitting experience I have ever had either for me or my son. He tried him in several types of skates (not only Bauers) and finally confirmed that he has a Vapor foot (also his last two pairs were Vapors). A week or two earlier my son was fitted by a kid at the same LHS incorrectly in a pair of X:20s They were 1.5Ds. He tried to skate on them and it was very apparent that they were too big. His current Vapor XIVs were too small and hurting his feet bad so I needed to get him something again quickly. Went to the LHS for their big sale and they had a Bauer Rep there. He spent probably well over an hour sizing my son. Ended up getting a Vapor X:30 in size 1 D (better skate). I was just amazed at how professional and customer friendly this guy was, not to mention knowlegdgeable. Wish I could remember the guy's name, with service and professionalism like that, that company has a customer for life. This is probably confirming what alot of you guys who deal with the company already know but this was the first time for me.

[duch 0]

The rep was probably very good. Bauer skates seem to fit more different types of feet than most other brands and that really helps. I have been very impressed with the fit of most of Bauers protective over the last couple of years as well. Bauer is doing what is needed to be the industry leader of skates and equipment and the results speak for themselves.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Where was your LHS?

[Lostkoz 0]

Where was your LHS?

It was KO Sports in Canonsburg PA. The guy was about 5'7" and clean shaven on the head (Bald). He said he drove in from Jersey. Very good guy.

[number21 3]

Why not call the shop and ask for the guys name/contact info. Then let Bauer know about your experience.

[Axxion89 32]

Why not call the shop and ask for the guys name/contact info. Then let Bauer know about your experience.

Good idea but there is no number to contact Bauer I believe, I have been trying to contact them for months about a skate problem and can't get a number

[Shayno 1]

Why not call the shop and ask for the guys name/contact info. Then let Bauer know about your experience.

Great Idea! These guys need to be regognized with all the improper techinques some people are using these days!! Also, what did this guy do to ensure the fit was correct, that others don't? Might be worth listing here?

My 2 cents!

[hamstercaster 2]

That's nice to see that he didn't limit the fitting to Bauer products. From what I've read here about Bauer's Customer Service, it seems like the Rep was delivering the service we've come to expect from Bauer. They seem to put emphasis on customer service as much as R&D for exemple, at least from my experience and reading about Bauer here in the different threads that praise them.

[number21 3]

Well, if there isn't a good Bauer contact number, hopefully the Bauer people who are on MSH will see this post and it will get to the right ears that way.

[magmajesus 0]

KO's Bauer rep used to be Rick Orpik, Brooks's dad, he may still be. I know he's from the northeast. Description may not fit though.

[Lostkoz 0]

Great Idea! These guys need to be regognized with all the improper techinques some people are using these days!! Also, what did this guy do to ensure the fit was correct, that others don't? Might be worth listing here?

My 2 cents!

His patience in dealing with a 10 year old, being able to get the right kind of feedback from him, while trying on 6 or 8 pairs of skates while 1000 other people were getting fitted also (exageration). He was fitting at least 3 or 4 people at the same time. Not once did I ever get the feeling that he thought (being a rep and dealing with customers that are not the general public etc) that fitting skates was beneath him. I'm very sure he put in a long day. He did not at all seem to rush my son when he was walking around with the skates on to make a decision so room could be made for the next customer. Did not pressure me into buying a higher end skate than what was really needed. When the Vapor skate was decided to be the best fit, he brought out almost the entire line of skates, X20, X30, X40, and X60. I expressed my concern for the stiffness of the 40, and 60 as my boy is only 55lbs and was coming off of an older Vapor XIV which was a pretty flexible skate in a youth 12D. He is able to flex the new skate pretty comfortably with the top eyelet not laced. He assured me that the X:30 would last the season being on the ice 4-5 times a week. I'm happy if they last long, Im not the kind who wants to make his skates last as long as they can (excess growing room). I want them to fit properly now. Im sure when I go back to the store to get some more things they will tell me his name. I just wanted to express my gratitude for his service thats all, figured he may be a viewer on here.

[DarkStar50 679]

His name is Dennis Danforth. Dennis started working with me in my old shop, O'Shea Athletic Outfitters, when he was a teen-ager. We gave him some good training as a foundation in retail skate fitting and selling. Dennis has been in the hockey industry as a rep for a long time. He was formerly with Easton for a number of years. Dennis joined Bauer last September. He is extremely knowledgable about his product lines, will always insure that a player gets the right product to match his needs and game level, and has a passion for the game that goes beyond just selling the gear. I won't say you were lucky to have Dennis help you. I'll say you got the right guy at the right time to make the right fit for your son. Glad to hear of your experience with Dennis Danforth.

[raganblink 82]

Got to admit, watching bauer reps size up kids is quite a good feeling. They don't push their product over he other, and make sure the kid has what fits the best. Very professional. When other reps are in shop and start to size kids up or sell a product, they only want to sell their product and not a competitors. The lhs put ur kid in 1.5 cuz they were trying to help you, so you don't need new skates in literally 4 months. We size juniors up a half size from ideal fit so they aren't buying new skates anytime soon, and explain this amd what there ideal fit is....just saying. But if u go back there they should give you his email, or the shops email than they'd forward it.

[Lostkoz 0]

His name is Dennis Danforth. Dennis started working with me in my old shop, O'Shea Athletic Outfitters, when he was a teen-ager. We gave him some good training as a foundation in retail skate fitting and selling. Dennis has been in the hockey industry as a rep for a long time. He was formerly with Easton for a number of years. Dennis joined Bauer last September. He is extremely knowledgable about his product lines, will always insure that a player gets the right product to match his needs and game level, and has a passion for the game that goes beyond just selling the gear. I won't say you were lucky to have Dennis help you. I'll say you got the right guy at the right time to make the right fit for your son. Glad to hear of your experience with Dennis Danforth.

Thanks, whether he views this site and can see this or not, he is a very good guy and all that he did is fully appreciated. My son used the skates the next day and loved em, no complaints and never skipped a beat.

Got to admit, watching bauer reps size up kids is quite a good feeling. They don't push their product over he other, and make sure the kid has what fits the best. Very professional. When other reps are in shop and start to size kids up or sell a product, they only want to sell their product and not a competitors. The lhs put ur kid in 1.5 cuz they were trying to help you, so you don't need new skates in literally 4 months. We size juniors up a half size from ideal fit so they aren't buying new skates anytime soon, and explain this amd what there ideal fit is....just saying. But if u go back there they should give you his email, or the shops email than they'd forward it.

I understand they were trying to help and im not holding anything against them. I got my skates there and this will be the 4th pair for my son. I know my son can be hard to get info out of when he really didnt want to be there that day so he probably just agreed with him so we could get out of there earlier. He honestly tried to skate in the other skates and couldn't with out trouble and pain, foot sliding in boot etc. I just feel more comfortable with a skate that fits instead on one with too much growing room. Its probably from dealing with having to buy pointe and dance shoes for my daughter who has been in competitive dance for 12 years. it has to fit properly to get the most benefit and avoid injury.

[raganblink 82]

Ok, i just kinda got the vibe u didn't understand why they were slightly too big for him. Wish more parents like you existed. Last week this dad got a skate 1.5 sizes too big for him, against our suggestions. He said we were trying to screw him, making him having to buy another pair of skates too soon... gonna smile a bit when his kid complains about his skates, then he comes in asking for help lol

[jimmy 194]

Got to admit, watching bauer reps size up kids is quite a good feeling. They don't push their product over he other, and make sure the kid has what fits the best. Very professional. When other reps are in shop and start to size kids up or sell a product, they only want to sell their product and not a competitors. The lhs put ur kid in 1.5 cuz they were trying to help you, so you don't need new skates in literally 4 months. We size juniors up a half size from ideal fit so they aren't buying new skates anytime soon, and explain this amd what there ideal fit is....just saying. But if u go back there they should give you his email, or the shops email than they'd forward it.

Um, it's not all roses out there. I know of one store whose owner's dad is a Bauer rep, and that if anyone comes in looking for another brand is immediately steered into Bauer and the other brands slammed as junk. "Here, watch this video on the new Bauer", you don't want that junk". That's what they tell the customer. Nice huh.

I'd like to know what models and brands this Bauer rep let the customer's kid try before he proclaimed that the kid had a "vapor" foot. What exactly is that?

[troy 12]

I would guess a Vapor foot would be narrow, average arch, relatively low volume?

[DarkStar50 679]

Ok, so TSR's dad is a Bauer rep for like a million years. Old news.

I know the Bauer rep, Dennis, personally for over 20 years. He sold Easton skates for over 7 years as a rep. He knows his product and the competition's product better than most reps I have ever dealt with. We don't know if the LHS he was in had Easton, RBK, or CCM skates in comparable sizes or price points, do we? And if the LHS didn't have those other brands with depth, they are pretty darn smart in my book when it comes to managing inventory $$ in their LHS these days.

[jrhky36 1]

Good idea but there is no number to contact Bauer I believe, I have been trying to contact them for months about a skate problem and can't get a number

Bauer contact info. Hope it helps

CANADA 1-800-268-5896

USA 1-800-362-3146

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

There's quite a broad brush being used here guys, on both ends. Not all reps are the same, and not all companies' reputations can be cemented on the actions of one sales rep, in any direction.

[DarkStar50 679]

NP. To the OP, I know the person he dealt with and believed Dennis deserved his due. I agree with you JR, not all reps are cut from the same cloth.

[Lostkoz 0]

Um, it's not all roses out there. I know of one store whose owner's dad is a Bauer rep, and that if anyone comes in looking for another brand is immediately steered into Bauer and the other brands slammed as junk. "Here, watch this video on the new Bauer", you don't want that junk". That's what they tell the customer. Nice huh.

I'd like to know what models and brands this Bauer rep let the customer's kid try before he proclaimed that the kid had a "vapor" foot. What exactly is that?

He tried a CCM skate, Vector something, not sure of number. He had tried a CCM and Reebok skate also when he got fitted for the previous Vapor XIV and his foot was swimming, didnt like the fit at all. That was really all they had in his size. His past two pairs of skates were Vapors so it seems like that skate fits him pretty well. He honestly to me seemed more concerned about proper fit than skate brand and that is what really caught my attention.

There's quite a broad brush being used here guys, on both ends. Not all reps are the same, and not all companies' reputations can be cemented on the actions of one sales rep, in any direction.

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly with you on that one. It's just this was the first time that I ever came in contact with a hockey equipment manufacturers rep and my experience was a good one. That is all really that I wanted to convey. I usually have a hard time finding service like that from anyone in any given situation.

[chippa13 1844]

Um, it's not all roses out there. I know of one store whose owner's dad is a Bauer rep, and that if anyone comes in looking for another brand is immediately steered into Bauer and the other brands slammed as junk. "Here, watch this video on the new Bauer", you don't want that junk". That's what they tell the customer. Nice huh.

I'd like to know what models and brands this Bauer rep let the customer's kid try before he proclaimed that the kid had a "vapor" foot. What exactly is that?

You might consider this the bright side but right now those guys are sitting on a ton of Bauer goalie equipment, sometimes that connection can bite you in the end.

[hamstercaster 2]

Being a rep in that situation must have been hard. On the one hand you have to push your brand which happens to be what you are paid for. On the other hand, you've got a kid to whom you'd like to sell your product to but at the same time, at least in theory, need to care more for what truly fits the kid even though it may not be the product you are selling.

That being said, some people put in that situation will put themselves first and the customer second while others, like in the case of the OP's story, will put the customer first and himself second. It so happens that everyone was a winner in that particular case. The case was fitted properly, or so we can assume and the rep sold one of his products.

[Axxion89 32]

Bauer contact info. Hope it helps

CANADA 1-800-268-5896

USA 1-800-362-3146

Thanks a ton, going to call them after my class

As for the rest of this topic, whether the rep sells or does not sell a Bauer product is not as important as you may think. Being an honest person and helping a customer properly and politely while giving very insightful information can do A LOT more than pushing a pair of skates on one kid. If a customer has an experience such as the OP had with this Bauer rep, they may be more likely to look towards Bauer products in the future thinking that Bauer is an honest company focused more on the player than on sales figures. If the rep just said "Buy Vapors everything else sucks" and the skates did not fit right, you gain an immediate sale but you lose a valued customer for possibly life which when you add it up, could amount to thousands of dollars in sales.

Just my .02