jashobeam
Member
A few weeks ago I made up my mind to purchase a CZ P-01. The gun shop I work at does not have this gun in stock so, like any regular customer, I filled out a "Special Order" form. The next step in the process would be for the owner of the shop to let me know the price of the gun. If the price he quotes is acceptable, a percentage of the total cost is paid and then the gun is ordered. I submitted my request on December 23, and noting as I did so that there were already several other special order forms filed, some a week old. I was kind of surprised; I had figured that these were looked at and processed on a more or less daily basis. On January 5, my request form had not been touched. I had wanted to buy the gun at the shop I work at, NOT because I get a discount (which I do not) but because I wanted to be a loyal employee (yes, an $8/hr employee can be loyal) and imagined that it would be good PR to tell customers that I bought my gun there at the store. Also, I wanted to be like one of those happy, excited customers that I have the privilege of seeing actually buy the firearm of their choice. Obviously, if he had quoted me an unreasonable price I would have looked elsewhere.
CONTRAST:
I walk into Kerley's Hunting and Fishing on Stevens Creek Blvd. I'm talking to a clerk there about guns and books, and ask him about the CZ P-01. He immediately gets on the phone and gets me a price and finds out about availability. He tells me $505. I said, "Let's do it," and he filled out the order form. Simple. That's good customer service.
What my boss doesn't understand is that all those "Special Order" forms represent real people who have expressed a desire to become his customers. It's a big deal (for poor folks like me anyway) to actually decide to spend money on a new gun. I always get so happy for customers who are looking to buy guns. I'm always very patient because I know it's a big decision. They want to make the right choice and buy the gun they really want. I'll come into work and see a customer that I recognize standing at the sales counter and filling out paper work, and I'll go up to him and say, "Hey, all right! What'd ya decide to get?"
I'll be happy to get my new gun, but I'm sort of disappointed that I couldn't have had this experience in the gun shop I enjoy working at. My co-workers would've shared my joy as well. I guess I'll have to buy another gun!
The owner is too busy running the business to remember the business! Shame on him.
CONTRAST:
I walk into Kerley's Hunting and Fishing on Stevens Creek Blvd. I'm talking to a clerk there about guns and books, and ask him about the CZ P-01. He immediately gets on the phone and gets me a price and finds out about availability. He tells me $505. I said, "Let's do it," and he filled out the order form. Simple. That's good customer service.
What my boss doesn't understand is that all those "Special Order" forms represent real people who have expressed a desire to become his customers. It's a big deal (for poor folks like me anyway) to actually decide to spend money on a new gun. I always get so happy for customers who are looking to buy guns. I'm always very patient because I know it's a big decision. They want to make the right choice and buy the gun they really want. I'll come into work and see a customer that I recognize standing at the sales counter and filling out paper work, and I'll go up to him and say, "Hey, all right! What'd ya decide to get?"
I'll be happy to get my new gun, but I'm sort of disappointed that I couldn't have had this experience in the gun shop I enjoy working at. My co-workers would've shared my joy as well. I guess I'll have to buy another gun!
The owner is too busy running the business to remember the business! Shame on him.