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Pro Shop horror stories
3/5/2011 2:34:28 PM
Just as any specialty store, you have your share of 'elitist' attitudes and today finds myself noticing that of the few local archery pro shops here just feel they dont have the time to even discuss an order OR they have no clue what they are doing. (on that note, I do have to say that the new place that opened up has GREAT potential to cleaning up the market if they just hire knowledgeable people)
Today, I called one place that has the bow I want but MAN they have the price so jacked high, it is cheaper for me to get it through Ebay with NO tax, NO shipping, yet sight unseen, makes me a tad weary.
It goes against my beliefs of patronizing the local shops AND Not buying anything sight unseen but we are talking a $46.00 difference in price.
What would you do?
Today, I called one place that has the bow I want but MAN they have the price so jacked high, it is cheaper for me to get it through Ebay with NO tax, NO shipping, yet sight unseen, makes me a tad weary.
It goes against my beliefs of patronizing the local shops AND Not buying anything sight unseen but we are talking a $46.00 difference in price.
What would you do?
3/5/2011 2:50:11 PM
I went over to the local traditional archery store to check out a long bow a buddy told me about, in the process of doing so the owner asked if I would like to go out back and try it. Well sure i did, we went out back and strung it up, drew it back and the fucker cracked. I've never seen one do anything like that, it just cracked somewhere around 25 inches of draw. Scared the living shit out of me and out and out confused the hell out of him. I know it was a fluke but I still don't have a long bow and am a bit weary of them to tell you the truth. Still want one though....
3/5/2011 5:12:39 PM
I am the same way about recurves... I was checking out the Martin jaguar but the reviews of limbs cracking are not that good. HEY! At least you tried it and broke there right?
3/5/2011 5:26:33 PM
My first and only bow. Two years ago when I was looking for a bow I had decided on the Mission Eliminator I had shot it and been measured at one shop but wound up going to another shop and purchasing it. The first shop had only been open for about 2 months the one I purchased from was an established shop been around forever and the owner was the only one that had ever worked there and was considered very knowledgeable. He convinced me that my draw length was longer than I had been measured for and me not knowing any better went with it. So for two year I have been drawing back to behind my ear.
Finally decided to go back to shop #1 got re measured and it was the same DL they told me the first time had them change out cams and things are good now. Of course I have 2 years of bad shooting form to correct from having the longer DL but I am coming around
ETA and I had to pay the $75 for a new cam
Finally decided to go back to shop #1 got re measured and it was the same DL they told me the first time had them change out cams and things are good now. Of course I have 2 years of bad shooting form to correct from having the longer DL but I am coming around
ETA and I had to pay the $75 for a new cam
3/5/2011 5:41:27 PM
On one hand, I like to see whatever I'm buying before I get it. On the other hand, I do all of my own set-up and tuning, so I don't need or want a proshop to help. I really like to support local businesses, but if they are unreasonable, I have no problem spending my money elsewhere.
3/7/2011 1:52:22 PM
I'm a huge proponent of using the local guys, but it comes with a caveat.
I'm willing to pay a few $ more at a local shop as I know they'll treat me right.
I can usually get a pretty good deal on a gun, bow, <insert major purchase here>, but should I need any tweaks, service or small bennies I'll get them. That makes me willing to pay a few $ more to buy accessories there as well and continue to go back.
Doesn't sound like your guys are willing to go the extra mile. When I see places like that, and we have them here, I put them in the same category as big box stores.....no knowledge, no value, no help, no need for my business.
I'm willing to pay a few $ more at a local shop as I know they'll treat me right.
I can usually get a pretty good deal on a gun, bow, <insert major purchase here>, but should I need any tweaks, service or small bennies I'll get them. That makes me willing to pay a few $ more to buy accessories there as well and continue to go back.
Doesn't sound like your guys are willing to go the extra mile. When I see places like that, and we have them here, I put them in the same category as big box stores.....no knowledge, no value, no help, no need for my business.
3/8/2011 6:45:26 AM
Originally Posted By DrFrige:
Just as any specialty store, you have your share of 'elitist' attitudes and today finds myself noticing that of the few local archery pro shops here just feel they dont have the time to even discuss an order OR they have no clue what they are doing. (on that note, I do have to say that the new place that opened up has GREAT potential to cleaning up the market if they just hire knowledgeable people)
Today, I called one place that has the bow I want but MAN they have the price so jacked high, it is cheaper for me to get it through Ebay with NO tax, NO shipping, yet sight unseen, makes me a tad weary.
It goes against my beliefs of patronizing the local shops AND Not buying anything sight unseen but we are talking a $46.00 difference in price.
What would you do?
Just as any specialty store, you have your share of 'elitist' attitudes and today finds myself noticing that of the few local archery pro shops here just feel they dont have the time to even discuss an order OR they have no clue what they are doing. (on that note, I do have to say that the new place that opened up has GREAT potential to cleaning up the market if they just hire knowledgeable people)
Today, I called one place that has the bow I want but MAN they have the price so jacked high, it is cheaper for me to get it through Ebay with NO tax, NO shipping, yet sight unseen, makes me a tad weary.
It goes against my beliefs of patronizing the local shops AND Not buying anything sight unseen but we are talking a $46.00 difference in price.
What would you do?
what is $46 when you are buying a $700+ bow? isn't it worth $46 bucks to have it in your mitts the minute you hand over your hard earned cash?
3/9/2011 1:28:33 PM
Originally Posted By Alaskagrown:
My first and only bow. Two years ago when I was looking for a bow I had decided on the Mission Eliminator I had shot it and been measured at one shop but wound up going to another shop and purchasing it. The first shop had only been open for about 2 months the one I purchased from was an established shop been around forever and the owner was the only one that had ever worked there and was considered very knowledgeable. He convinced me that my draw length was longer than I had been measured for and me not knowing any better went with it. So for two year I have been drawing back to behind my ear.
Finally decided to go back to shop #1 got re measured and it was the same DL they told me the first time had them change out cams and things are good now. Of course I have 2 years of bad shooting form to correct from having the longer DL but I am coming around
ETA and I had to pay the $75 for a new cam
My first and only bow. Two years ago when I was looking for a bow I had decided on the Mission Eliminator I had shot it and been measured at one shop but wound up going to another shop and purchasing it. The first shop had only been open for about 2 months the one I purchased from was an established shop been around forever and the owner was the only one that had ever worked there and was considered very knowledgeable. He convinced me that my draw length was longer than I had been measured for and me not knowing any better went with it. So for two year I have been drawing back to behind my ear.
Finally decided to go back to shop #1 got re measured and it was the same DL they told me the first time had them change out cams and things are good now. Of course I have 2 years of bad shooting form to correct from having the longer DL but I am coming around
ETA and I had to pay the $75 for a new cam
That used to piss me off to no end back when I worked at a shop. A guy would come in and waste my time acting like he was going to buy something just so he could go to the shop a couple of towns over and save a few bucks on a bow that they didn't know how to set up correctly.
3/9/2011 1:32:51 PM
It all depends on if you are capable of working on it yourself. If they don't know what they're doing then it's probably not worth paying extra to them, but it's probably worth finding someone who is knowledgeable. It will cost you close to $45 in labor to take an eBay bow into a shop to have it set up anyhow, so you might as well stay local.
3/10/2011 1:08:12 PM
Originally Posted By Buckshot4U:
That used to piss me off to no end back when I worked at a shop. A guy would come in and waste my time acting like he was going to buy something just so he could go to the shop a couple of towns over and save a few bucks on a bow that they didn't know how to set up correctly.
Originally Posted By Alaskagrown:
My first and only bow. Two years ago when I was looking for a bow I had decided on the Mission Eliminator I had shot it and been measured at one shop but wound up going to another shop and purchasing it. The first shop had only been open for about 2 months the one I purchased from was an established shop been around forever and the owner was the only one that had ever worked there and was considered very knowledgeable. He convinced me that my draw length was longer than I had been measured for and me not knowing any better went with it. So for two year I have been drawing back to behind my ear.
Finally decided to go back to shop #1 got re measured and it was the same DL they told me the first time had them change out cams and things are good now. Of course I have 2 years of bad shooting form to correct from having the longer DL but I am coming around
ETA and I had to pay the $75 for a new cam
My first and only bow. Two years ago when I was looking for a bow I had decided on the Mission Eliminator I had shot it and been measured at one shop but wound up going to another shop and purchasing it. The first shop had only been open for about 2 months the one I purchased from was an established shop been around forever and the owner was the only one that had ever worked there and was considered very knowledgeable. He convinced me that my draw length was longer than I had been measured for and me not knowing any better went with it. So for two year I have been drawing back to behind my ear.
Finally decided to go back to shop #1 got re measured and it was the same DL they told me the first time had them change out cams and things are good now. Of course I have 2 years of bad shooting form to correct from having the longer DL but I am coming around
ETA and I had to pay the $75 for a new cam
That used to piss me off to no end back when I worked at a shop. A guy would come in and waste my time acting like he was going to buy something just so he could go to the shop a couple of towns over and save a few bucks on a bow that they didn't know how to set up correctly.
yes thats exactly what happened... for starters I didn't save any money on the initial purchase and it cost me money in the long run. after checking out shop #1 work hours and their open hours kept me from going back and work had me about a mile away from shop #2. there is more but it doesn't change the fact that I got set up with a bow that didn't fit. the shop I did get the bow from up to that point and still is as far as others are concerned one the best shops with the most knowledgeable proshop owner around.
3/27/2011 9:06:04 PM
I believe in supporting local businesses when they treat you right, but we had a place open up locally a couple of years ago and I took my son there to get his first bow. I have always been a Mathews guy, but they didn't carry them so I figured I let him try one of the Hoyt or Bowtechs just to help support a local business. We ended up with a Bowtech and were really happy with it until we went to get arrows. I had them cut him 1/2 dozen Carbon Express arrows. While we were waiting the guy told us that they didn't have any of the correct size inserts. I always keep extra inserts in my archery box, so I went out and got him six. I already had the sights and rest so I put the bow together while the guy finished putting the arrows together. We then took the bow over to the range to paper tuned it and let my son shoot a few arrows. When it came time to pay up, the guy charged me $.50ea for the inserts that I given him and charged us for an hour of range time. When I brought it to his attention that I given him the inserts, he said "Well, I didn't charge you for cutting the arrows." I then asked him about getting charged an hour of range time for shooting 6 arrows. We're only talking about $13 for the inserts and range, but when you pay almost full MSRP for a bow and 1/2 dozen arrows you'd think that you would get treated a little better. Needless to say I've purchased two bows since then and both have come from somewhere else.
4/4/2011 12:23:03 PM
I went into Bass Pro Shop here in Phoenix and the archery guys acted very disinterested in me. I have never shot a bow and wanted to get a "starter" type bow to try out. I asked the guy behind the counter, who was talking to the other guy behind the counter, what would be a good bow for a beginner. He simply said "choose one and buy it, they all work" and kept talking to his buddy behind the counter as he worked on someone elses bow.
4/4/2011 1:46:52 PM
I took a class on Longbow making and just made my own. bone tips, almost 7 feet long. Used the tilloring rig to get the perfect bow. It is almost 7 feet long.
4/21/2011 6:59:26 PM
Originally Posted By Dace:
I went into Bass Pro Shop here in Phoenix and the archery guys acted very disinterested in me. I have never shot a bow and wanted to get a "starter" type bow to try out. I asked the guy behind the counter, who was talking to the other guy behind the counter, what would be a good bow for a beginner. He simply said "choose one and buy it, they all work" and kept talking to his buddy behind the counter as he worked on someone elses bow.
I went into Bass Pro Shop here in Phoenix and the archery guys acted very disinterested in me. I have never shot a bow and wanted to get a "starter" type bow to try out. I asked the guy behind the counter, who was talking to the other guy behind the counter, what would be a good bow for a beginner. He simply said "choose one and buy it, they all work" and kept talking to his buddy behind the counter as he worked on someone elses bow.
That would be the time to speak to the manager and explain why you are taking your business elsewhere.
5/9/2011 8:20:02 PM
I recently found out that I was going to be able to bowhunt again. My bowhunting buddy is moving back to
NY close to his families dairy farm. I have been out of archery for a good10+ years. On a whim, I stopped
by pretty much the only local shop near my home. Sight unseen I was treated to almost 2 hours of 1 on 1
time with the owner, discussing possibilities.
My info came primarily hunting shows (read big advertising) but he spent the time with me and told me to come
back when I was ready. I got to shoot many bows. His attitude, understanding and ability to keep a straight
face when I told him what I wanted was a pleasure. He said alot of guys would die for what you're talking about.
He was pretty surprised when I went in 2 days ago and put 500 bucks as a down payment for my setup. I told him
the reason I was paying "more" than internet was because he took the time to talk to me. Make me feel like a
good customer although I just walked in and I wanted to foster that good relationship with a local business. That why
I go to a butcher, and a fish market and buy produce from local farms when I can.
NY close to his families dairy farm. I have been out of archery for a good10+ years. On a whim, I stopped
by pretty much the only local shop near my home. Sight unseen I was treated to almost 2 hours of 1 on 1
time with the owner, discussing possibilities.
My info came primarily hunting shows (read big advertising) but he spent the time with me and told me to come
back when I was ready. I got to shoot many bows. His attitude, understanding and ability to keep a straight
face when I told him what I wanted was a pleasure. He said alot of guys would die for what you're talking about.
He was pretty surprised when I went in 2 days ago and put 500 bucks as a down payment for my setup. I told him
the reason I was paying "more" than internet was because he took the time to talk to me. Make me feel like a
good customer although I just walked in and I wanted to foster that good relationship with a local business. That why
I go to a butcher, and a fish market and buy produce from local farms when I can.
