more wholesale sports bs

[John in B.C.]

Oops

You smart ass I live on Northern Vancouver Island so jaunting down there isnt a weekend event for me. Do they have a website?

lol....sorry about that. I had no idea where you lived Sorry no website that I know of.

I guess that is the problem vague 'Location's under the avatar. Can lead to confusion on my part

John

 

[zthou]

I live in Edmonton and have had better luck dealing with wss in calgary over the phone and through the mail than with the edmonton store. I would recommend checking out p&d enterprises in edmonton. They may be the little guys compared to wss, but they have qualified staff behind the counter and can get you anything wss can and maybe a little more. when you place an order with them you will always get a call back. they may be one or two dollars more in price, but it is money well spent because of their customer service. wss forgot what that means.

 

[kokanee king]

lol....sorry about that. I had no idea where you lived Sorry no website that I know of.

I guess that is the problem vague 'Location's under the avatar. Can lead to confusion on my part

John

No worries John.......My hometown only has 2500 people in it and most people who live in BC have NO IDEA where Port McNeill is.

 

[stevebc]

So true, but in the end many will shop at the small shops, decide what they want, and end up dropping their cash at WSS to save a few bucks. That of, course, will be followed by starting yet another new thread on CGN about how the underpayed clerk at WSS didn't hold there hand.

No, no way a thread like that would ever get started in CGN.....

 

[stevebc]

No worries John.......My hometown only has 2500 people in it and most people who live in BC have NO IDEA where Port McNeill is.

Except for the ones who spent 9 years living in the pouring rain at Fort Rupert...

 

[kokanee king]

Except for the ones who spent 9 years living in the pouring rain at Fort Rupert...

Aha.......Looks like yet another North Islander pops up outta the blue How long you been off the North Island for?

 

[armorman]

I've had mixed results at WSS in Edmonton. Sometimes I get average service...other times well below average. Shopping at WSS is like shopping at Home Depot. Don't expect the person/expert working there to answer any of your questions. You need to do all your homework before you get there.

The other day I phoned the WSS in Edmonton looking for any variety of large rifle primer. The guy on the other end tells me that the ENTIRE city is dry on primers...(why he told me that is a mystery 'cause I'm sure he knew that another local store had them just by talking with other customers). Anyways, I knew already that P&D had lots so that where I went. I ended up paying slightly more but at least they have them and more importantly they have the staff that can answer any question you throw at them.

 

[stevebc]

Aha.......Looks like yet another North Islander pops up outta the blue How long you been off the North Island for?

I left in '89, moved to the semi-desert country at Ashcroft. As little rain as possible. Actually, I loved my time on the North Island. I used to run the shop at Constant F**king Noise and Irritation, then I tried my hand at running my own business, and finally I got a gov't job and decent pay. I loved the fishing, the people, the landscape, the skiing at Mt. Cain... but when I got a chance to move off the island and outta the rain, I couldn't say no. Sometimes I miss the place, though. Can't believe almost 20 years have gone by...

 

[4runner]

WSS blows goats.....6000 gallons of deer piss and nothing else in stock. I will be glad when Bass Pro opens this spring and finally puts WSS out of business. Oh wait a second all the dumb ass that work at WSS will just get jobs at Bass Pro.....then we will get the same story of "we can order that" or "we will be getting that in soon" and my favorite excuse is " .223 is only for shooting in your assault rifle and the government is limiting sales of this armor piercing round." what a ####ing joke, shut up and give me my ammo.

 

[kokanee king]

I left in '89, moved to the semi-desert country at Ashcroft. As little rain as possible. Actually, I loved my time on the North Island. I used to run the shop at Constant F**king Noise and Irritation, then I tried my hand at running my own business, and finally I got a gov't job and decent pay. I loved the fishing, the people, the landscape, the skiing at Mt. Cain... but when I got a chance to move off the island and outta the rain, I couldn't say no. Sometimes I miss the place, though. Can't believe almost 20 years have gone by...

Ah yes......CFNI, the real reason I got satellite radio. Hmm, racking my brain and getting nothing as to who you are

 

[Covey Ridge]

I dont have any real problem with WSS as a mail order store. It was just their cop out on telling me that the CCI primers i ordered thru them werent available cause they all go to the US Army. He didnt even offer a suggestion of another primer brand, thats the part that burns my ass. I live in an area where big box sporting goods stores are about a 4hr drive away, more if i have to get on the ferry and go across to Vancouver. Gets expensive real fast

None of the ammo companies make components for loaders, however they sell the surplus from their loading operation for reloaders. The Federal Cartidge company has a military contract and offers little for sale. This creats a shortage througout the whole industy, and especially the stuff exported to Canada. Get used to it. It is not going to get better soon. Not the retailer's fault.

 

[Sharps '63]

Wholesale Sports

I recently called two Wholesale Sports outlets trying to talk to someone with firsthand experience with electronic powder measures.

Yeah, right ....

I ended up calling the Powder Keg in Kamloops, getting the feedback I wanted and ordering from them off the shelf. Price was $5 more than listed by Wholesale Sports and I believe I could have weasled that down if I had pursued it.
I considered it the cost of getting the info and the service.

In the past, I have had no trouble with WS when ordering bullets and reloading dies.

A while back, I was severely dumped on for admitting on this forum that I ordered a tactical stock from a US supplier. After getting the usual 'out of stock', 'we bought when the dollar was low', 'we'll have to order that in for you', run around, I got fed up.

I rarely have done this, except when the article I want is simply unavailable except from the maker. In other words, no dealer distributorship in Canada or the US.

 

[kokanee king]

None of the ammo companies make components for loaders, however they sell the surplus from their loading operation for reloaders. The Federal Cartidge company has a military contract and offers little for sale. This creats a shortage througout the whole industy, and especially the stuff exported to Canada. Get used to it. It is not going to get better soon. Not the retailer's fault.

Interesting as i got a couple boxes (1000's) of small and large pistol Federal primers through my local sporting goods store. Sure i'll get used to it. I never said it was the retailers fault The NOT offering an alternative brand of primers is where the burn comes from.
Im in the wholesale foods industry. If you dont have a certain product that the customer wants, you OFFER an item that is similar to what they want. If you dont, the repercussions are tremendous. Lost customer. Losing a customer is the easy part, getting them back is an uphill battle.

 

[Covey Ridge]

I recently called two Wholesale Sports outlets trying to talk to someone with firsthand experience with electronic powder measures.

Yeah, right ....

Now let me understand you? The requirement for good service is to have hands on experience with every gizmo and do dad that the customer/you may want? And you think that just because there was no such person there when you called, that is bad service? Yeah. right? In addition to not really making a lot of $money$ you expect this knowledge without owning the product? I have been in the shooting sports for over 4 decades and have been reloading near that amount of time and even though I can afford one of those electronic powder measures, I really don't need one and can think of lots of other stuff that I want more. You should take a little more responsibility for your own education and not rely on sales staff. Ask your fellow reloaders! Go on line! Ask CGN! Call on the sales person to do what he does best! That is try to give you the product you want and do it as quick as possible so that the line up does not get too long.

 

[stevebc]

I tried to buy some Varget from WSS in Kamloops (only because Powderkeg was out and doesn't expect any until the new year) and when I asked for 2 lbs, was told I'd have to sign some dog-eared book they kept behind the counter. I said that it wasn't a gov't requirement, and was told "No, it's a store policy", to which I replied "Goodbye."
I did a search here and one thread says it is a gov't requirement, but I've bought powder before, and never been asked to sign my name for it. So does anyone know for sure, is signing for powder a government requirement or not?
I went back to Powderkeg, bought a primer pocket tool, gave them my name and number and asked them to call me when they get some Varget in. I'd rather deal with them anyway.

 

[BCFred]

Now let me understand you? The requirement for good service is to have hands on experience with every gizmo and do dad that the customer/you may want?

Really CR I have to say that I expect a clerk to be knowledgeable about the area he or she is working in and, especially in relation to his or her inventory. Maybe I'm old fashioned this way. I've dealt with Wholesale Sports for many years and early on I found a very good level of knowledge in the people one talked to over the phone in Calgary. I felt they were at least in command of their shelves and that they knew when stuff would be in. I drifted away after a number of years because I began feeling this wasn't the case when I ordered from them. On the other hand, it isn't fair to compare WSS to the Powderkeg in Kamloops, another place I have dealt with off and on for years, because the Powderkeg is generally a specialty store, and the guys there are very knowledgeable, especially in certain areas. You won't find them not knowing what they have in the store either. In my opinion, one will generally be better off dealing with a specialty store for specialty items, and as has already been said, I accept paying a bit of a premium for that. I think when WSS started in Kamloops it took time for them to find staff and to stock shelves. They don't appear to be quite up to what I expected even yet, though they are a lot better than when they started out. Being a much bigger store, they carry a much broader inventory than the Powderkeg, e.g. fishing and camping. There is at least one person working there that can talk guns and components, but that may be about it, and it will take time for them to get better. Really, trying to compare the two stores is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. I do feel, however, that people working in a specialty area like shooting must be knowledgeable, much like guys or girls working in a tool store (Another place I try to avoid at all costs... unsuccessfully in both cases I'm afraid ) Just my $0.02 worth...fred

 

[adriel]

You can't call up a call center and expect to talk to someone with firsthand experience with one of their thousands of products. You're trading price and variety for something. Do you call up Sears and expect the person on the other end to wax poetic about advantages and disadvantages of various jigsaws?

You have three choices:
1. Do the research yourself
2. Pay more for the product from somewhere that spends more on staff/training.
3. Purchase the product from a retailer that specializes in that category or directly from a vendor.

Personally, I trust what I read online more than what I hear in-store. Less bias, more variety of answers to see.

As for the primer availability excuse, I don't buy it. P&D NEVER fails to have at least 2 brands of every type of primer and carries most popular types of powder, no matter if there's a war or not.

 

[BCFred]

X2 Had a long post bemoaning the passing of the good old days...yada, yada, yada, but Adriel's right. fred

 

[TDC]

WSS blows goats.....6000 gallons of deer piss and nothing else in stock. I will be glad when Bass Pro opens this spring and finally puts WSS out of business. Oh wait a second all the dumb ass that work at WSS will just get jobs at Bass Pro.....then we will get the same story of "we can order that" or "we will be getting that in soon" and my favorite excuse is " .223 is only for shooting in your assault rifle and the government is limiting sales of this armor piercing round." what a f**king joke, shut up and give me my ammo.

I think 4runner has hit the hot spot. It amazes me that everytime I try to purchase ammo I have to A) take a number and wait for someone to serve me even though most times the counter is vacant of staff and other customers. B) the staff usually have to go look in the back for the ammo you want because there isn't any on the shelf and if there is they have no idea where to find it. C)When you do receive some service the ability to multi task is something foreign. The staff insist on sourcing your items individually. D) If and when you get what you're looking for it takes the old bed sh*ter another 15 minutes to figure out how to use the computer. You'd think after using the computer all day everyday one would have an idea how to run it. Not to mention the over saturation of computers in everyday society for the last oh, 15 years or more. There is no excuse for being computer illiterate. Its called stupidity coupled with a resistance to change and/or learn.

While I'm on my soapbox lets touch on other problems with WS. Their new flagship store in Calgary is a nice store. Unfortunately its overstocked with fishing crap,yuppy designer clothing, and a distinct lack of counter staff. Product knowledge is nowhere to be found and price tags are often absent as well. There's no shortage of retards who feel it necessary to point a firearm at other customers and/or dry fire said firearm.

TDC

 

[Covey Ridge]

Really CR I have to say that I expect a clerk to be knowledgeable about the area he or she is working in and, especially in relation to his or her inventory. Maybe I'm old fashioned this way. I've dealt with Wholesale Sports for many years and early on I found a very good level of knowledge in the people one talked to over the phone in Calgary. I felt they were at least in command of their shelves and that they knew when stuff would be in. I drifted away after a number of years because I began feeling this wasn't the case when I ordered from them. On the other hand, it isn't fair to compare WSS to the Powderkeg in Kamloops, another place I have dealt with off and on for years, because the Powderkeg is generally a specialty store, and the guys there are very knowledgeable, especially in certain areas. You won't find them not knowing what they have in the store either. In my opinion, one will generally be better off dealing with a specialty store for specialty items, and as has already been said, I accept paying a bit of a premium for that. I think when WSS started in Kamloops it took time for them to find staff and to stock shelves. They don't appear to be quite up to what I expected even yet, though they are a lot better than when they started out. Being a much bigger store, they carry a much broader inventory than the Powderkeg, e.g. fishing and camping. There is at least one person working there that can talk guns and components, but that may be about it, and it will take time for them to get better. Really, trying to compare the two stores is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. I do feel, however, that people working in a specialty area like shooting must be knowledgeable, much like guys or girls working in a tool store (Another place I try to avoid at all costs... unsuccessfully in both cases I'm afraid ) Just my $0.02 worth...fred

Fred,
Read the post again! The poster expected first hand experience. If that is what he meant he was asking that the salesman had actually used the item or actually owns that exact item. Not realistic. Ya don't have to actually have used an electric doo dad to sell a doo dad!