You sure you were not at "Three Rivers"

I stop by Ted's occassionally, mainly to b.s. with Mike but usually spend a few bucks. I don't know the other guys but have chatted with them a little, never had any problem with them.

I don't know what went down there the other day and am not defending them, but if they've dealt with some of the people I've dealt with lately I can possibly understand there actions.
In the past week or so I've dealt with probably 3 or 4 guys who for 1 reason or another have decided that the week before opening day is the time to put their boats together, they come into the store (Boaters World) with a list and when you don't have everything they need, they get bent out of shape. I had a guy read me the riot act because he needed a certain seat for his boat and I told him it had to be special ordered and would be in Sunday or Monday, he needed them by today (opening day), I suggested a couple options but he didn't like them, I finally had enough of him and told him it wasn't my fault he waited till the last minute and there was nothing more I could do for him (which there wasn't since he wouldn't compromise) he stomped out and mumbled something about West Marine. I try to do whatever I can to keep customers happy but some situations are doomed from the beginning.

Hockana, how do you really feel about 3 Rivers? Never mind, after talking to you, I already know!

AKKings, you work at Boater's World? I shop at the Everett one, good bunch of guys there. They definitely go the extra mile to keep the customers happy.

Dan

Thanks Slacktide, if your in before May 12th (my last day before heading north) introduce yourself. I'm the good-looking, mid 30's, bald guy.

Been following this thread with some interest...time to put in my 2 centavos worth.

The #1 trait needed for anyone to work in retail sales is being personable...just an inborn like of people. Product knowledge is secondary to this, IMO. A pleasant demeanor and a genuine personality come first in my 25 yrs. experience in sales. The rest will follow.

Having a good attitude is not always possible...there are many factors we all have in our lives that can affect how we appear to other people...even if we try to hide those issues...they can still affect mood and attitude.

OK, so the guy was having a bad day, he was irked about something that was going on...but that does not mean it was personal to you...ie: most likely his bad mood had nothing to do with your purchase. Could be any of a thousand things that effected the way he dealt with you. (although in the long-run that's not really an excuse.)

Granted, you were the customer...but maybe this guy just needed a good word from somebody to brighten his day up..could have been you!

I have never shopped there..too far away, but I know my brother thinks highly of the place and people there.

Give them another shot, but don't go in with a chip-on-your-shoulder. People are people and we all have bad days.

Mike B

Ted's is great....nuff said.....

Been a Ted's customer for 15 years or so. In the days I still lived on the "other side", I lived just a few blocks away and spent an awful lot of time in there.

They've always bent over backwards to help me out.

As tackle shops go, it's ceratinly one of the best we have!

Teds has always treated me tops.

Retail is like this board or anywhere else. One customer doesn't want to be bothered and considers it an annoyance where the next is put off because he wasn't escorted through the store. How many stores have you been in where they pester you non-stop and then the one time you want help there's nobody to be found? No matter how good you treat your customers there's always going to be some that are just having a bad day.