We have lots in stock...new,,,$15/10. Phil.
WSS salesman.......
- Thread starter powder burner
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We have lots in stock...new,,,$15/10. Phil.
Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The problem of poor service & lack of product knowledge is common in any large retail store.
I have not been to any of the WSS locations but I have been to three LeBaron stores where some of the senior people are helpfull but most of the staff are indifferent. The same applies at Bass Pro in Vaughan Mills Mall.
I find it frustrating that whatever I seem to need is perpetually "out of stock".
I can't blame the sales staff for this. I blame those in charge of inventory.
I have dealt with WSS mailorder & find the girls who answer the phone are courteous & helpful. I know what I want when ordering & do not depend on the store staff to explain things to me. However if I were just starting in this hobby I would find it useful if the staff were more informed on features & benefits of the items the store carries. This situation is where I recommend those who are new to the sport go to a "real" gun shop.
The above is not a rant but simply constructive criticsm. I understand that most of these people are not earning large wages & have to put up with a lot of crap. There is also the frustration of having to deal with know it all types that come into the store demand a lot of service & repeatedly buy nothing.
Just my .02 cents on this topic
I have not been to any of the WSS locations but I have been to three LeBaron stores where some of the senior people are helpfull but most of the staff are indifferent. The same applies at Bass Pro in Vaughan Mills Mall.
I find it frustrating that whatever I seem to need is perpetually "out of stock".
I can't blame the sales staff for this. I blame those in charge of inventory.
I have dealt with WSS mailorder & find the girls who answer the phone are courteous & helpful. I know what I want when ordering & do not depend on the store staff to explain things to me. However if I were just starting in this hobby I would find it useful if the staff were more informed on features & benefits of the items the store carries. This situation is where I recommend those who are new to the sport go to a "real" gun shop.
The above is not a rant but simply constructive criticsm. I understand that most of these people are not earning large wages & have to put up with a lot of crap. There is also the frustration of having to deal with know it all types that come into the store demand a lot of service & repeatedly buy nothing.
Just my .02 cents on this topic
Ak, you're the guy that brings a new gun for him to check out once in a while.
" Sorry sir. my job is just to deal with writing up bill and doing transfers"
" I am only allowed to do easy stuff like....."
"Sorry sir, I am one one the knowledgable types and I only deal with people who really require help"
" Sorry sir. my job is just to deal with writing up bill and doing transfers"
" I am only allowed to do easy stuff like....."
"Sorry sir, I am one one the knowledgeable types and I only deal with people who really require help"
So true. Don't forget the ones that just scurry away and hide.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I always get a kick out of the kids at Canadian Tire that do that.
" Sorry sir. my job is just to deal with writing up bill and doing transfers"
" I am only allowed to do easy stuff like....."
"Sorry sir, I am one one the knowledgable types and I only deal with people who really require help"
Apparently you dont go into WSS to pick up a box of ammo or something quick like a bottle of powder.
I for one would rather have some young kid or person without any gun knowlege just running the till behind the counter.
When you need a box of ammo (like many people I see waiting in hour long line ups), the person at the till behind the gun counter could grab it off the self for you and ring the sale in.
Is there any value added in waiting in an hour long line up to get someone to grab a box of ammo for you? I really dont care who hands me that box of ammo. If they could train a dog to fetch it for me, I'd be fine with that too.
19 times out of 20 when I go to the gun counter at WSS, I need something quick. Something that someone with absolutely no knowledge of guns or firearms could do.
ahh yes...the WSS salesman, so dumb, so useless. speaking as one I can tell you that stupidity, arrogance and frustration is not limited to being behind the counter, there's quite a bit of on the other side too. I try not to take it personally when people talk down to me or call me stupid, just because we are out of stock of an item or don't carry what they want, but I wish they'd understand, I didn't make the item, I didn't do the buying, the pricing or the shipping. and yes, I can see how it frustrating it can be when the person behind the counter doesn't always have the right answer, but with a quarter million various products on one department, they can't know it all. and it takes a massive amount of patience to deal with people who are unsure of what they need, want or have. for example consider the following;
Customer “I need a scope and mounts for a .30-06”
Me “of course, what kind of gun is it?”
Customer “it’s a 30-06”
Me”yes... what is the model of the gun, who made it?”
Customer “I don’t know, but it’s a good moose gun”
Now repeat that and other similar transactions at least 3 times a day, you can see how it quickly goes from amusing to tiring. Also I’m not authorized to make deals, I can’t give you a better price on that gun, and I can’t throw in a box of ammo. especially if it’s a Stevens 200 and the cheapest Tasco scope in the case. All I can do is make sure you won’t pay more down the street and that you’ll get the best service I can possibly give. This means that even if a customer is taking up a lot of my time I can’t walk away from him to help someone else. You wouldn’t like it if I did it to you, would you? I can’t make your warranty service faster, shouldn’t have brought it in 2 days before deer season expecting it to fixed on the spot, and don’t be mad that we have a very limited selections at this time of year, but it is the middle of hunting season and it’s never a good idea to leave these things till the last possible moment, I know, I’ve done it too many times myself. And please, PLEASE, when you bring a gun to me to mount a scope or fix a simple problem, verify it is empty, 3 times in the past 2 years I have loaded firearms pointed in my direction before I had a chance to come over and safe it., and is not a pleasant experience, and if you where to pull such a boner, I will make sure you are sufficiently embarrassed to never let it happen again. I’m not trying to sound like I’m complaining about customers, or that I feel superior because I work in a gun store, because I don’t. in the past 2 years I have met some terrific folks, and have learned a lot, from both customers and other staff. I have also met some that I want to hide from and never deal with again, but will still give them a friendly greeting and ask if there is anything I can help wit. But those unpleasant ones are few. I’ve found it a great place to work, and it’s very satisfying helping get someone a set up with what they need to start there hunting career. I guess all I’m trying to say is just consider this next time dealing with retail staff, in ANY business. Us gun monkeys have feelings too.
Customer “I need a scope and mounts for a .30-06”
Me “of course, what kind of gun is it?”
Customer “it’s a 30-06”
Me”yes... what is the model of the gun, who made it?”
Customer “I don’t know, but it’s a good moose gun”
Now repeat that and other similar transactions at least 3 times a day, you can see how it quickly goes from amusing to tiring. Also I’m not authorized to make deals, I can’t give you a better price on that gun, and I can’t throw in a box of ammo. especially if it’s a Stevens 200 and the cheapest Tasco scope in the case. All I can do is make sure you won’t pay more down the street and that you’ll get the best service I can possibly give. This means that even if a customer is taking up a lot of my time I can’t walk away from him to help someone else. You wouldn’t like it if I did it to you, would you? I can’t make your warranty service faster, shouldn’t have brought it in 2 days before deer season expecting it to fixed on the spot, and don’t be mad that we have a very limited selections at this time of year, but it is the middle of hunting season and it’s never a good idea to leave these things till the last possible moment, I know, I’ve done it too many times myself. And please, PLEASE, when you bring a gun to me to mount a scope or fix a simple problem, verify it is empty, 3 times in the past 2 years I have loaded firearms pointed in my direction before I had a chance to come over and safe it., and is not a pleasant experience, and if you where to pull such a boner, I will make sure you are sufficiently embarrassed to never let it happen again. I’m not trying to sound like I’m complaining about customers, or that I feel superior because I work in a gun store, because I don’t. in the past 2 years I have met some terrific folks, and have learned a lot, from both customers and other staff. I have also met some that I want to hide from and never deal with again, but will still give them a friendly greeting and ask if there is anything I can help wit. But those unpleasant ones are few. I’ve found it a great place to work, and it’s very satisfying helping get someone a set up with what they need to start there hunting career. I guess all I’m trying to say is just consider this next time dealing with retail staff, in ANY business. Us gun monkeys have feelings too.
I'm sure it's a tough job that I don't envy and likely more a case of a few bad eggs ruining it for all. My last WSS experience.
Me....Can I please get some 50 cal 50 grain Pyrodex Pellets.
Salesman....There's no such thing
Me....Yes, there are, I use them all the time.
Salesman....Well they must be new because we don't carry them.
Me....No, they've been around ten years or so.
Salesman....Well we don't carry them.
Me....Would it be possible to talk with someone more familiar with muzzleloading supplies?
Salesman.....We don't carry them
Me.....shaking my head walking out the door....
Not painting all WSS salesmen with same brush but some just shouldn't be behind the counter. This was not a wet-behind-the ears kid either........ Oh well......I went to Russell's and WSS still got my money but I got my Pyrodex. Always two sides to story for sure.........
Me....Can I please get some 50 cal 50 grain Pyrodex Pellets.
Salesman....There's no such thing
Me....Yes, there are, I use them all the time.
Salesman....Well they must be new because we don't carry them.
Me....No, they've been around ten years or so.
Salesman....Well we don't carry them.
Me....Would it be possible to talk with someone more familiar with muzzleloading supplies?
Salesman.....We don't carry them
Me.....shaking my head walking out the door....
Not painting all WSS salesmen with same brush but some just shouldn't be behind the counter. This was not a wet-behind-the ears kid either........ Oh well......I went to Russell's and WSS still got my money but I got my Pyrodex. Always two sides to story for sure.........
yep, and it's unfortunate that's the way it was for you TJ, i've seen that happen all to often myself, both at mine and at other stores, i always try and keep an ear open for those kind of coversations, both to make sure that the customer gets the right product/info and the staff member learns form the experiance.
WSS has tons of goods & sometimes it is hard to keep track of it all including prices. They have an online inventory but it is not to be trusted 100% since it takes afew days to update since the stores sells so much more than the other ones.
As for the black powder comment, I can tell that they do supply but in a limited quantity & most staff would be very limited or basically knowledged on them, probably because of lack of interest & encounters in that specific field. I personally am not into those so I know the basics that is all.
As for the black powder comment, I can tell that they do supply but in a limited quantity & most staff would be very limited or basically knowledged on them, probably because of lack of interest & encounters in that specific field. I personally am not into those so I know the basics that is all.
Ya, I'm sure you do.....sadly it only takes one of those experiences to make you forget about 50 good ones......this sadly was one of those older gentlemen that I think was done learning! He knew it all! Sure you get many customers with the same affliction....I've seen them in line as well.
oh yes, they're my favourite. you albertans don't have a muzzle loading saeson do you? here in Manitoba it's as big as rifle season, if not more popular.
Unfortunately, what I asked for is a common item that I've bought there many times. He never looked at the computer or asked any one else for help.....that's what pissed me off. I don't expect people to be familiar with every item.....but this was rediculous with no excuse!
There is a muzzleloader season on the base in Wainwright, I got drawn last year after applying for 4 years and got a nice non-typical whitetail buck.
The best Wholesale Sports I have been to is in Saskatoon, it sucks that there is PST on stuff there but they tend to have more of what I am usually looking for, like reloading components.
The problem with this senereo is that more often than not, the customer might need some help and runs into the young fellow behind the gun counter without any gun knowlede and expects some help. When the young fellow tells the customer that he doesn't know anything and refuses to show him a firearm there will be a CGN thread started about the sales person being incompetant. If he does show the firearm, your shell and powder grabber gets tied up and again pisses off fellows like yourself who have been made to wait. WSS has on several occasions put staff on the counter just to help ones like yourself and will probably do so again. Often they will address the mobb and say, WHO NEEDS JUST AMMO AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Now it would be nice if just persons like yourself would answer the call, but more often than not, after the shell grabber brings him what he requests, he will ask some question about the difference between ballistic tips and accubonds and what about those fusion bullets, or he really did not know what he wanted and while he is here, can I look at that black powder rifle and which is better........
meanwhile number holding people are pissed off because they have been jumpedMaybe if you really know exactly what you want you could phone the gun counter the very first thing in the morning, before the mobb arrives and have one of the guys pick exactly what you want and have it waiting for you at customer service. Be sure to phone first thing in the morning because nothing ticks off someone that is waiting more than seeing someone answer a phone while he is made ot wait.
During busy times gun counter staff are caught between the devil and the deep and just do their best to serve as many as they can in the order they came. It is not easy to detect those who know axactly what they want from the others who are just impatient and the ones that don't have a clue. They all wear camo
Hope no one check my spelun or gramer cause I did not go to Lethbridge Special college
