Awkward Experience at GolfSmith

[acpar72]

I think its a "dont do it again" scenario. Dont go back there that is. Golfsmith is awful.

[mantan]

[quote name='Benzo' timestamp='1331091717' post='4452751']
i would have told them to FU*K off
[/quote]

Nice. You're in their store, using their equipment....and when they come and ask you a question about potentially breaking their policy you would tell them to F-off.

Of course you would. The customer is always right.

As I've said before, this could've been handled better by GS. But the OP likely had some culpability. He admitted he was wearing a jacket that could easily give the impression he was a golf professional giving a lesson or a fitting. He also said he thought the employee who asked 'was joking'. So it's reasonable to assume he was somewhat dismissive when he was asked a question by a store employee.

While we all aren't crazy about big box stores, it doesn't change the fact they that any business has a right to enforce their own policies and protect their own interest. If you were a client/customer at my business and told me to eff-off, you'd be tossed out in a hurry. I wouldn't want your business.

[RJRJRJ]

I dont know how anybody can defend these fools. If they had told me that, theyd have gotten a lot more than a handshake. Im a cool headed person, but that would really piss me off. Not only were they out of line by accusing you of something without first verifying it, but their lack of desire to back down (as you describe) is pathetic.

Furthermore, if I had a swing coach, I would damn well expect to be able to bring him with me into the store to help me pick out equipment. Obviously giving lessons should be prohibited, but if you wouldnt let the one person who knows my swing and game better than anybody else come along with me to help me out, then your store sucks.

[Rogala]

Just out of curiosity...what store was it ??

[JDSPGA]

I'm not going to name the specific location. I'm not really about that.

[dennis4190]

[quote name='Benzo' timestamp='1331091717' post='4452751']
i would have told them to FU*K off
[/quote]
Well, I work at a local range and someone that didn't like our rules said that to me once...do you know what range he hits at now? I don't either...

[The Golfing Boy]

Seems just like a common misunderstanding. You had on the jacket and right away the Golfsmith employees "just figured" you were giving a lesson. Bad communication on their part they should have came over at first and asked if you guys had any questions or needed any help finding anything.

[Pudgelewis]

On a side note, do any PGA teachers (that don't work out of that particular store) offer lessons at the big box retailers? Seems like a dumb conclusion to jump to just because some guy is wearing a PGA jacket.

[Medic]

Seems to me that, as a student, you just got an enormous benefit - a free education on how NOT to approach difficult situations and how NOT to treat people.

The manager, while well intended, was wrong because:
[list][*]he approached the situation with an adversarial outlook[*]he assumed you were doing something you were not[*]his entire approach was based off of this false assumption[/list]But there are other lessons to be learned here:


[list][*]never go in looking like a PGA rep of some sort[*]never assume yourself that others know what you are up to[*]always approach someone ahead of time to let them know what you are up to in the first place[*]defer, at least a little, to those who are actually working there and being paid to do what you were doing[*]only interfere if the actual sales person is making mistakes[/list]Was the manager wrong in his approach? Absolutely. But under the circumstances it was offsetting penalties in my humble.

[pingfool]

[quote name='Medic' timestamp='1331142262' post='4455889']
Seems to me that, as a student, you just got an enormous benefit - a free education on how NOT to approach difficult situations and how NOT to treat people.

The manager, while well intended, was wrong because:
[list][*]he approached the situation with an adversarial outlook[*]he assumed you were doing something you were not[*]his entire approach was based off of this false assumption[/list]But there are other lessons to be learned here:


[list][*]never go in looking like a PGA rep of some sort[*]never assume yourself that others know what you are up to[*]always approach someone ahead of time to let them know what you are up to in the first place[*]defer, at least a little, to those who are actually working there and being paid to do what you were doing[*]only interfere if the actual sales person is making mistakes[/list]Was the manager wrong in his approach? Absolutely. But under the circumstances it was offsetting penalties in my humble.



[/quote]


^^
more objective common-sense analysis

it is refreshing to see there are several people here that can identify right from wrong -- and both sides of an issue -- without dropping f-bombs or characterizing people they havent met/dont know negatively.

[54321bam]

Golfsmith is only good for one thing. That's to trade in your old junk for whatever little value you'll get anyways. For anything else I prefer Edwin Watts!