Thumbs down for GI Joes, Issaquah!

Fuzzybutt & Angel · 06-02-2001, 01:21 PM

This morning I attended the Eastside Steelheaders Handicapped Kids Fishing Derby in Issaquah, WA, and had a great time, dispite of the weather.
However, before it began, I was asked to go to GI Joes in Issaquah, to pick up the 6 dozen night crawlers they said they would donate to the cause,when a member of the club went into the store a week ago. On my arrival, I spoke with Les, who is the District Manager of all the Washington and Western Oregon Stores. He outright refused, saying he knew nothing about it, and that he might be able to sell the 20 dozen worms he had in stock to the public, rather than donate them for nothing to these kids! How BAD is that!! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I for one, will not be supporting this store anymore!

Fuzzybutt
Silent Approach Jigs

FEAR NO FISH! · 06-02-2001, 02:02 PM

Fuzz and Angel,
In a situation like that you should have paid for the six dozen and shoved the other fourteen dozen up his arse! Like he was gonna make a huge profit off of them. GI SCHMOES has lost my business. My oldest daughter is challenged and that sob really plucked up! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

DanS · 06-02-2001, 02:41 PM

Well, gee Les. Whaddya say I drop a line to YOUR regional manager and tell him about your apparent disregard for handicapped children? Or how about we call the local news channel and let them know about it?

I'd say a public relations nightmare could be the outcome, and who knows if ol' Les will be able to keep his job. And for the want of, what, a $25-30 (maybe even tax deductible) donation. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

You sure as hell won't see ME in a GI Joes now. I'd rather NOT FISH [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] than buy gear or bait from a store with that attitude.

BTW: The phone # for GI Joes in Issy is 425-961-2000, give ol' Les a call and tell him what you think [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: DanS ]

FishinMission · 06-02-2001, 02:51 PM

Every District Manager has a supervisor. I think what I'd do is call their main office (or write) and ask for a REGIONAL manager. Explain your case and your feelings, explain Ifish.net and how many people read this BB and sit back and see what happens. I've been in situations where District Management people screw up...and this guy was way off base. Not the store's fault I don't think. Heck..you might even wanna talk to the store manager...he could send you in the right direction. I'm sure if he knew what happened...he'd be ******!!!!! Good luck!! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Fuzzybutt & Angel · 06-02-2001, 03:04 PM

I have already sent off an e-mail to GI Joes, and explained in great detail what happened this morning. Hopefully they will have the courtesy to send a reply!
If they do, I will post it here so you can see their response.

Angel
Silent Approach Jigs

ssteelheadsteve · 06-02-2001, 03:06 PM

Hey Folks
You couldn't find worms in your yard ?
Perhaps you did not know that GI JOE's has been on the verge of going "buns up " for quite some time.Financing is very shaky at Joe's.

Secondly.Sending a club member in to solicit products from a store is NOT the way things are done in the PA biz these days.

If you must conduct biz in a less than profesional way then at the very least you must present the local manager with a written request.Start a paper trail.Document.

In that request you should include the following:

Who your organization is
What they do
The date of the "event"
A contact person
A media contact person
BENEFITS TO TO PARTY MAKING THE DONATION.

Benefactors need a long lead time to get the most bang for the buck.Many like Joe's will help you get other sponsors and help with media coverage.
In most cases folks are willing to help if propperly approached.
Lead time is the KEY.........

Nobody owes you a thing.
Many have not figured out that to take a deduction for a donation you first must have a profit........
Joe's is not the greatest but down here the only alternative is Fishermen's Marine......
Hope this helps in the future......
Thanks for holding the event

[ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: BIGSTEW ]

FishinMission · 06-02-2001, 03:16 PM

I agree with the paper trail...but these folks spoke with the Store Manager and were told they would get their worms. Who would think they would have to cover their butts when the store manager told them it would be a "done deal". However you look at it...the store shoulda just gave them the worms. What's the alternative?? What you're reading here and many many more lost sales..along with bad PR??? It's a sad day when you need documentation for everything you are doing. What ever happened to a handshake and a promise??? I would like to think that I could still trust someone...even in these times.

sinker · 06-02-2001, 04:10 PM

I used to work retail. The key word here is management. From my experience with them they lie,lie and then lie about their lies. They'll tell you they'll do this at a later date knowing they won't be around when you come back in. This gets really bad when business is shaky. Not all people are like this, heck the majority might not be, but I've seen the crap people will pull to get into these district management jobs, I'll never trust one. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

DanS · 06-02-2001, 05:38 PM

steve,

Gee, I wonder why they're going out of business? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Any class manager/business would HAVE FOUND A WAY to make it happen, so you can save the corporate story line. When a business fails to keep customers happy, they inevitably go out of business. Right now, I'd say GI Joes is going to have some UNHAPPY customers, or should I say FORMER customers.

Of course they don't OWE us or the kids anything, but I don't OWE them my busines, either. The BENEFIT to them is that I would have continued to buy tackle there if I hadn't heard about this incident. My money will never be spent in GI Joes again. Do you think THAT'S going to help them stay in business? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: DanS ]

willierower · 06-02-2001, 06:20 PM

Just one more reason why GI Joes hasnt and will not get anymore of my buisness. Thats just wrong. There motto is Sieze the weekend. I guess Les thinks that doesnt apply to disadvantaged kids. What a shmuck!

Hookset · 06-02-2001, 07:34 PM

Maybe, just maybe there's another story behind this event and lack of support from GI Joes on this particluar day and this particular manager.

Remember the old saying, one bad apple doesn't destroy the whole bunch.

Before I take up sides banning GI Joes, there has to be more proof of wrong intent. First, the person who contacted Joes originaly for the worms, should have gotten this in writing. Espeically since they were sending someone else in their place.

Second, over the years GI Joes has supported a number of events by providing donated fishing tackle and free use of their meeting rooms in my area and I know other locations have recieved similar benfits too.

The local NW Steelheaders meet monthly for FREE in the GI Joes meeting room. I've attended a boaters safety course for 6 weeks at this same meeting room. The NW Steelheaders has also recieved donated fishing tackle for raffles and prizes. There are always free fishing clinics. I'm sure others on this board can relate similar events where GI Joes has provided support.

Now your going to say that many of these events are intened to get you into the store. Sure they are. And that's the way it should be. After all, they have to turn a profit to stay in business.

Looking at GI Joes past history and good public relations policy, I'm not going to jump to conclusions and condemn GI Joes for this one situation until I hear from boths sides. And I mean the original person who contacted GI Joes first and the manager they talked with. I'm sure there is a very logical explanation.

hook

[ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: hookset ]

Sparkey · 06-02-2001, 09:33 PM

They were just worms, how hard is it to hand over a few dozen worms.

I agree that it is best to request your desired donation in the most proffesional way possible but its not like they were talking a new Loomis rod.

smilesforu · 06-02-2001, 11:38 PM

I am involved in lots of PR donations for our community and we always ask for a letter head for the donation. Pretty easy to do and most all events are happy to provide us the paper for our records. The letter head comes back with what we told them we could give and we all go away happy. There are occasions where we do give on extremely short notice, but this doesn't sound like it. The problem I see with this donation is they agreed without a future stipulation. Then when they showed up ....nada. They need to answer for the poor relations...somebody screwed up. I look forward to their answer.

sinker · 06-03-2001, 12:26 AM

Just remember it isn't just Joes that does this. This could have happened anywhere there are multiple layers of management. This is how the big companies stay in business. Some small guy couldn't get away with it. For one thing he's usually THE employee and word travels fast about the small shops. Those guys are always on the brink of going out, they can't afford the bad publicity.
I still think this comes down to managemnt in general.

Get Bit · 06-03-2001, 06:52 AM

Not being a Joe's fan anyway, I would love the oportunity to rip into them. But in this cas, it sounds like one manager just screwed up! We can't write off Joe's for one guy that made a mistake. GI Joe's has supported a lot of NW Steelheader activities as well as many involving kids and the resource. Hope everyone doesn't swear off Joe's just because of this. It does seem pretty stupid the guy didn't just throw you a ten out of his own pocket for the few dozen you guys needed. Would have been pretty simple. Worms $6-$8 for six dz,// A whole lot of grief on IFISH $ ____?????

06-03-2001, 09:22 AM

Did you have any sort of identification that said that you were a representative of the charity? Other than a t-shirt which could be purchased pretty easily. Just making sure, cuz anyone can walk into a store and say they are with XYZ charity.

Spooled · 06-03-2001, 06:01 PM

I am amazed they actually had the worms. G.I. Joes is usually out of anything you actually need.

Trick · 06-03-2001, 06:19 PM

One more thing to point out. Many companies will only donate to non-profit organizations. The asking organization must provide a written request along with documentation showing their tax I.D. #. This needs to be done for companies to claim the write off on their taxes for donations, otherwise they might as well throw money into the street. Don't forget these are businesses designed to turn a profit and if they can't they will go under and then you'll be looking for someone else to sponsor you. I don't think most of you have any clue as to how many donation requests each store recieves each year and these stores have specific budget guidelines that they must stay within. It's a first come first serve basis.

Still, this district manner has poor manners and owes an apology to the organization for stating his refusal to donate product in the way he did. I still defend the right of anyone to refuse the right to donate. There are times in the winter when I have several groups of children collecting food and sometimes I can't fill every request or I'll go out of business. Or at least starve anyways. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 06-03-2001: Message edited by: tshickam ]

Tanner · 06-04-2001, 12:51 PM

GI Joes sucks and has for years. I get ****** off almost every time I go in there because they usually don't have everything I am looking for. However, their Tualatin store is 5 minutes from my house and when it is Friday night at 8:00 and I am getting my fishing gear ready and realize I need a few things, I have no problem going there. If Fisherman's Marine closed at 9:00 instead of 8:00 that might be a different story.

If any of you are as hard core as I am about fishing, you CANNOT tell me that you will cancel a fishing trip because you don't have all the gear you need rather than stop at Joes. Give me a break [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Sure, it's crappy what happened, it sounds like some people were trying to do some pretty special stuff for some disadvantaged children , but I agree with the fact that whoever originally talked to Joes should have got it in writing. Sounds like it wasn't done in a real organized or professional manner.

"What happened to a handshake and promise". You can thank greedy attorneys and sue happy people for that my friend. It's just a sign of the times.

Team "Oh my God I fished with a Bama Redneck and A Goat Farmer.
Alka Selzer Pro Staff

DanS · 06-04-2001, 02:24 PM

Tanner,

No, I won't cancel a trip, but I WILL make sure I have what I need so I'm not forced to patronize a business that I feel hasn't earned my hard-earned dollars.

There's too many sporting goods stores to think there isn't somebody who IS willing to go the extra mile. After all, we're not talking about a major donation here.....certainly not something worth getting bad publicity over.

Maybe after I cool down, I'll reconsider.....maybe not. I think Les could use some more training in the customer-service aspect of his job, though. Within reason, the customer is always right. I'm the customer here, and I don't think reasonable action was taken to keep the customer happy.

Fishhead · 06-04-2001, 09:43 PM

I read this same post on RT's other board and wrote G.I.Joes a letter about how if they are going to treat us northwest fisherpersons that way, then they had better expect the kind of backlash that those kind of actions deserve. My last comment to them said, "Word of mouth can be a good thing or it can be a BAD thing, its your choice!" I just left it like that. Maybe they'll think about the BAD public relations this has brought onto them and make some changes. And to think over some lousy stinkin' worms [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] My $.02 worth........Fishhead Vic [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

THE REEL HEY_YALL · 06-04-2001, 11:34 PM

You know, even if they don't have the tax write-off, that's an investment in advertising ESPECIALLY FOR FREAKIN' WORMS. I have worked in retail off and on over the years and I've seen the donations we would do and a lot of times there was no tax number needed. It's called a business giving back to the community without having the dollar amount next to the good deed they could have performed.
I'll ban them just from all the bad publicity they get, especially this scenario, and all because of ONE bad apple. Now if they go and do something to redeem themselves, then maybe they'll get my business, but that's a big maybe.

Just start a worm farm like I did last week and forget the $2 a pop whenever you need worms.

Hey_yall
Owner and President of Tumwater Valley Wiggler Ranch
Redneck Pro-Staff
Team Corona & Lime
N.W.O.

Osprey · 06-04-2001, 11:41 PM

they never have what I want anyway,
Looks like 1 less place that gets my money.....Os

Team-Wild Salmon Pale Ale
Redneck pro-staff
NWO

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: G.I Joes Regional Manager]

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: Osprey ]

Fuzzybutt & Angel · 06-05-2001, 10:11 AM

Fobbman, identification?? yes we had that the hat with our clubs name on it, and a t-shirt that was made especially for the kids and the people that attended and helped for that particular event?? hows that for identification?? and I was with last years club president.....its just beaurocratic bull, they could have....they didnt......bottom line, coulda...woulda....SHOULDA.

Fuzzy

Got Fish?? Silent Approach Jigs

06-05-2001, 10:36 AM

While I agree that the suit should have handled it a bit more gracefully, at the same time it would take me not much more than an evening to create both shirts and hats for my "charity" so I could try and scam some free stuff from local bleeding-heart merchants.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not questioning the validity of either you or the charity or the event. I'm just proposing the possible rationale of the suit's dumb-bass attitude..

fishbait · 06-05-2001, 11:35 PM

As far as I am concerned
GI Joes = high prices + poor selection + poor customer service. For over the last 3 years they have been my absolutely last choice. The last two times I needed something as I walked out without my items I asked myself why I even wasted my time going to their store. As far as I am concerned, if they go out of business it's no great loss.

If anyone knows anybody at GI Joes, e=mail them the address of this thread.......

Killertraylor · 06-05-2001, 11:58 PM

This is why I shoplift high price items I don't even need on a regular basis from Joe's. I also bend putters, spill motor oil on the clothing and return stuff to them at Christmas time that I didn't even buy there... [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

All kidding aside (I've really never bent more than one putter) I like Joe's for the most part, but there are better places to shop when you have time.