In defense of tackle retailers..... all of 'em.

[Straydog]

I have read with interest all of the comments concerning GI Joe's in two different threads and would like to add the perspective of someone in the industry.

I have heard these same comments for over 25 years and suspect I will continue to hear them for as long as I am working in the industry.

When I read and hear comments from folks about how retail should work, I always wonder what they do for a living and if they seek or expect advise on how they do their jobs from outside thier area of expertise. I suppose they do, there are "arm chair experts" in every field.

I too get frustrated when ad goods are not available or a clerk or manager is not up to my expectations when I encounter them. Same as when I go to the auto repair shop I have been using for years and the new mechanic is an ^%$hole or the work wasn't right or whatever. The bottom line is, we are dealing with humans and they are not all going to meet our expectations at all times for many reasons. Maybe his boss just chewed his butt and he is ticked, maybe he is hungover and not feeling right, maybe his mom just died and he is depressed.... none of this excuses rude behavior but if anyone on this board can say day to day life does not affect how they react to a stituation at any given time is not being honest.

I would also remind anyone over 30 on this board that at some point they too were a "zit covered" teen that was just learning life's skills and was not perfect either.

As for the mechandise flow, it is obvious most don't have a clue when it comes to predicting product demand, product availablity, seasonal changes, international econimic condtions that affect production and world events that affect production. (Federal Ammo is way behind production because we at war but I bet most people would be ****** at GI Joes if they were on their way goose hunting and Joe's is out of the right load..... in your mind it will be Joe's fault, right?)

I just returned from a three day dealer show of sporting goods and much of the conversation centered around what a great year we had last year with the return of our fish runs and what a SCRAMBLE IT WAS TO KEEP MERCHANDISE ON HAND BECAUSE OF IT. We in the industry hope we can be better prepared this season as we expect another banner return of fish.

To read these threads on this board concerning Joe's it is obvious most believe all Joe's has to do is order the goods and they will appear. It is also obvious that most believe that the buyers and managers have crystal balls that tell them how much product they will sell for a particular ad or period of time and will always be right on the money. Never mind the factory might be behind in production. Never mind the distributor may have underbought. Never mind the distributor may have had one unexpected huge order that put him out of stock. Never mind we couldn't predict the best fish run in decades, you expect goods on the shelf when you want them.

This longer than most will read already but could be much longer if anyone is interested.

My main message would be to realize you are dealing with humans and they will not always be perfect.

Also, realize we in the industry at all levels would like to sell as much merchandise as possible. The notion that ads are built to attract people without having to sell them the goods is simply not done. It is not a cost effective way to do business.

Remember you too were once a zit covered kid working at minimum wage and were probably not as good at what you do as you are today.

Also, and I have been on both sides of the retail counter, realize that many shoppers come in with a chip on thier shoulder and an attitude that can tick off even the most seasoned professional.
Retail clerks were not invented so you would have someone to kick around when you were having a bad day.

As in anything, sugar will get you much further than vinegar, even when seeking something so important in life as 12LB Max Ultra green.

Smile, lighten up and thank God we live in a country that has free trade to offer us the goods and services we have and the next time you want to punch out a store manager because he can't get you the right colored shirt, consider how the person hiding in a cave in the Afghan desert might deal with the situation......... oh yea, he can't run down to Joe's for a new shirt, now can he?
:shocked:

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: Straydog ]</p>

[FEAR NO FISH!]

Stray Dog,
Never enough tackle! I have never met a tackle shop I didn't like. No matter where I am, I have to stop and see the goodies! Let me rephrase that. I have to stop and buy the goodies! :grin:

[Trick]

Excellent post......

I'd like to add a couple more points to the above.

I think alot of us have worked retail once during are lives and hopefully can recall the tremendous drain working with the public can be. This time of the year were dealing with alot of worn out employees that are probally having inventories as we speak as the fiscal year comes to a close.

The holidays are also very draining to the shoppers also and the combination of the two can be damaging during certain situations...."we're all human". We need to forgive and give second chances when appropriate. It's sad how it's human nature to that our mind will focus on a bad business experience and mentally erase the dozens of previous good or uneventful dealings, but that's the way the mind works.

I too also have a long tenure in retail and am a manager for a large company. I will second the points that Straydog made about all the variables that affect our ability to provide goods at any given moment in time. I could go into a long discussion about how things work but the only thing I would like to point out that it is always our intention to be instock, 100% all the time, on ad and basic goods. Why would any business strive for anything less.

When demand is high we will actually go out and strip other retailers so that we have product for ads on certain occasions, but even then we will run out. We issue rainchecks and make real attempts to obtain more product to fill them, but on many occasions it can take weeks to months to obtain product, if even at all. Manufacturers of goods are filing bankruptcy at an alarming rate and consolidation is the norm in America for businesses. This affects everything from product availabilty to shipping times.

Thanks again Stray for a different perspective.

:smile:

[Thumper]

Straydog --- a great post. Thanks.