Support your local dealer

I agree, but then again when someone makes you mad well, its takes a while to get over it. I also have done countless thousands with the lights off because they caught my in the parking lot!

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Brad Stephens
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Amen. I'm one of those people. I won't buy from Kmart or Home Despot because of ill treatment. There are too many other places that want my money. Home Despot's CEO just lost his job because his attitude trickled down to the sales floor.

Brad you'll have an email soon.

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TC

Rockets,

Hasn't that dealer been there for years? I think that is the dealer some friends form years ago (20+) bought stuff for their Hobies. My parents in '71 bought a 18' trimaram sailbought from a dealer on 404 just at the causeway there

That'd be the place. Don't know how long the present owner has had it. He seems like a nice guy, but to call me up to tell me my parts are in, then won't take my money because he's "closed"...isn't a very nice thing to do. IMO

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TC

I know that place has had to be there since the early '70's probably. I grew up in Titusville and we use to go over to Merritt Island often and sailed in the Indian River. The closest dealers to where I am in CA are 2 hours away.

I know it's a haul from Merritt, but you might give a ring to the folks in South Daytona (and I'm hoping these are the people that shafted you)...

Sandy Point Progressive Sports is actually one of my suppliers (windsurfing gear). The owners are Marty and Steve, and are good people.

Brian C

Just to be fair and clear, my local guy didn't steal my money or anything that bad, so I don't feel shafted really. Inconvenienced, yes...

I'll keep the Daytona folks in mind if I have any heavy or bulky items. For now I'm going to work with Brad @ Sunjammers and mail order my parts.

Thanks for the help.

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TC

Not a problem... And I'm sure Brad will do a fine job. Especially since you just finished telling us about some problems with a different dealer.

Brian C

Interesting thread. If you were to just sit in a shop and sell Hobie gear you would reap a pretty meager return... unless you had a killer location and sold a mass amount of their awesome kayaks...which is a formula that works for a few guys here in the west. Under our contract with Hobie, we are not supposed to ship into other dealer's areas, but due to experiences like Rockets had it's going to happen. Talk to Hobie for the deatails of dealer requirements. It's a hard slog, but I have met some great people and make a decent living. It's a TON of work in the summer. I typically work 12 hours a day 7 days a week in the summer. But then I loaf in the winter. I just got back from sailing H20's in 30kts and warm Oahu water, so getting hobie parts to people was a week delayed.
Not to defend any actions about not getting parts to customers etc, etc, I know a few dealers that have "day jobs"...especially in the winter. Maybe something like that happened? It still wouldn't be smart to turn someone away at the door. (That happened to me the other day while getting a package from UPS, OOOH I was mad). Remember the guy is just a human, prone to making mistakes, maybe a second chance is in order?

There are two sides to every story, but conversely, the customer is ALWAYS right:)

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Sail Revolution
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Retail of any kind is a tough business. Been there done that. Most retail the season is the opposite of yours, where the summer sucks! When ever possible I normally would agree to support the local guy. Hell, I buy American when ever possible. Like buying a Little Giant ladder when a foreign knock off can be had for half the cost. Some would argue that's a stupid thing to do. Spend twice as much for the same item, but that's not the point...and could be another thread...

I don't want to paint this guy as a jerk, because I don't know that he really is one. He may just be a poor business man...I don't know. However, I really don't have the desire to go back and find out either. The only thing that would have made the experience worse is if I had needed the parts to go sailing that day.

He very well may have had his reasons for turning me away, and now I have my reasons not to return. Meanwhile, I'll take my money where it's appreciated and not a burden. Hopefully, where good dependable service will be found.

Honestly, my first passing thought after this happened was that I should look into becoming a dealer. Fortunately, I think, it passed fairly quickly.

Yes, the first rule in business is the customer's always right, followed by rule number two: service thy customer. . .

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TC