Mannors and Giving Thanks

[Guest lbt]

Hey

I know in the past that I have had some conterversial post on here but I think that the local flyshops will appreciate this one.

I was in one of the local flyshops yesterday around 9:30-10am and there was only one person working because the other employ was not able to come in later. The person that was working was trying to help customers and what I thought was doing a great job making his rounds. He was also taking a few orders off the phone. For a one man show he was doing a great job, then all the sudden this older man came in looking for something after the fact I asked and the person said he was looking for some midge jaws.

The phone rang and the person who was working who happens to be the owner said excuse me let me get this and take a message, Ill be right back. About 15 seconds maybe 30 seconds went by this older man stormed out of the store and said you don't need my money and was yelling thorwing a fit because this youg man answered the phone. The ownere asked him what the problem was and he again said you don't need my money if the phone call was more important. the older man left.

After that all happen I told the young man not to worry about because the older man was certainly way out of line and that you did nothing wrong. I belive that the old man owes this person an apology. Here the young man is trying to make a living and make money and try to survive in todays socity of the BIG BOX STORE.

I think that everyone of us owe a certain amount of Thanks to the mom&pops flyshop. With out them where would we go to the big box store where they will just tell you anything just to get you to spend money so that the big man can go on yet another trip or buy another jet or do what ever they do with there money.

I used to own a small store and now I'm doing other things because I could not take the up downs and the small busisness owners know what I mean. I buy everything in a the Small Fly Shop. So I Say thank you to the small man in todays World, and that goes out to everybody that owns a small busisness.

I was reading the lastes issue of FLY ROD and REEL and they were giving out what they call the KUDO'S award I give own to every Local Flyshop in the area that excludes the Bass Pro and Cabela's.

I was in one of the local f

[Leonard]

What we all do if none of the fly shops where around???

I agree with you 120% lbt...

To all our local fly shops A BIG THANK YOU!!!

Stan and Carol

Michael Kyle

Chuck

Brett Rader

Tim H

And to the rest that I havent shopped at "YET!"

Even A BIGGER THANKS to Phil... for having such a sight..

Fishing, hunting and BSing... you just cant get any better then this

Leonard

[Gary Lange]

Some people see themselves as being more important then they really are. I believe a little patients on the part of the older man would have gotten him what he needed and maybe more. The phone call could just as well been and emergency of somekind. I hope that as I gorow older I don't become impatient.

[Terry Beeson]

lbt,

Good post. And I do appreciate the small shops for sure.

I, too, owned a business years ago. It was somewhat aggrevating when I was by myself, had a couple of customers, and the phone rang. I would excuse myself and pick up the phone and ask them to hold while I took care of the customer at hand. Sometimes I would even joke about the ringing being a distraction to the in person customer.

I have to say that I am a stickler for good customer service when I am the customer (just ask a few restaurant managers and servers...) But I do try to take certain things into consideration. A store full of shoppers with an understaffed store (not due to anyone's fault) is reason enough to give the guy behind the counter some slack.

I wasn't there, but it certainly sounds as if the gentleman was out of order. I bet he would have been more POd if he was the guy on the phone and there was NO answer...

Good customer service is not as easy to find as it was 20 years ago. So, yes... kudos to almost every fly shop I have ever been in. I've been able to find good customer service in them...

[LostMyWife]

You guys are right on the money. I deal with guest service problems every day of my life. When you run restaurants, you run into all kinds on BOTH sides of the counter. I seem to spend half my life apologising to someone for something that someone else said or did.

It gives me a whole different perspective when I go into a business. You can tell if someone is swamped or if they are simply slackin. But I try to fall of the side of the guy working.

I learned to tip better as well. You have to appreciate good service.

I use the same fly shop most of the time. I have been in 3 in the Branson area, but mostly with one. I like it when people recognize me or know me by name. It makes me feel like my business is important to them. You do not get that from the "Big Box".

Besides, if it weren't for the small shops, I'd have to steal flies out of guys cars while they were fishing.

[Terry Beeson]

LMW,

Spot on about tipping. I tip according to the service vs. how busy they are. If the place is busy and the service is still dang good, I will up the ante. If I'm the only customer and I'm still waiting to get a "walk by" or my check, then the tip reflects that too... Of course, my step-daughter waits tables at the RiverBend in Mammoth Spring, AR... So I HAVE to tip well there...

I heard some restaurants have a practice that if you pay by credit card and don't actually write in the tip, the wait staff doesn't get it. I started making sure I wrote it in after that... any truth to that rumor you know of LMW?

Good point on thanking Phil there Leonard.... Yes... thanks Phil.

And yeah, thanks to Michael at BCO... Although I'm turning him in for violation of the child labor laws.... (He's got some cute kids there... Must take after their momma... )

[Greg]

Retail can be a brutal business from what I hear. There was an article a while back in one of the fly fishing magazines about the love/hate relationship some fly shop owners have with their customers. Numerous horror stories were told about rude customers but also about how many fly shop owners secretly dislike most of their customers and that only give good advice about fly patterns and where to go to certain of their customers.

I have NEVER had a single bad experience in any of the fly shops in Missouri though. And I've been in most all of them. I've always gotten "over the top" excellent service. I guess we are just extremely fortunate in this area.

Greg