I was about to get to your
point eventually. I agree 100%. I've had it happen to me only a little
differently. I've had guys listen to conversations between me and a customer
as to how to do this or that. He'd then go buy components somewhere else,
assemble them, and bring them to me for corrective action. Also, I've had
guys listening in on conversations with another clubmaker who
followed the clubmaker out of the store to get him to build stuff rather
than pay me. Unconscionable to be sure.
Unethical? Well I must say that
ethics stop with customers. They're looking for the best deal. Businessmen
are fair game. Dickering, shopping around, lying about who's offering the
best deal . . . you name it, I've had it happen. Perhaps the prime example
of this occurred when I was working part-time for a high volume shop. The
guy sold OEM equipment only, no custom stuff at all, and he did a tremendous
repair business. This company grossed nearly a million a year in sales - no
exaggeration! Nearly every customer, from buyers of OEM new or used to
the guy who wanted a club regripped, shopped, dickered, lied about who sold
what for less, argued about prices, returned merchadise they bought because
they couldn't hit it, and on and on and on. The owner was a nervous wreck.
Customers drove the guy absolutely nuts with their demands for "deals." I
didn't have the problem. I just quoted the retail price and let the customer
argue with the boss. I'd say fully half of the "regulars" were as crooked as
hell. That ration wasn't as great in my shop simply because I absolutely
refused to dicker.
TFlan
Hi TFlan,
Here's a different spin,
Let's say you have a
stick n glue guy walk in your shop and buy iron heads for $55.60 and steel
shaft's for $22.00 and grips at a buck ea. while watching you sell the same
set for $300.00 and he tells your customer he can do the same thing for
$199.00, but you offered the place of business and the demo's to see what he
hit the best as well, as a selection of heads and shafts to pick from, this
guy would be considered a snake and thrown out of the store and limited to
mail order,
I believe as some have said that the line is drawn where it
either benefits your business or detracts from it.
If your actions at the
range detract from their business than they are UN ethical and if they don't
then they are not.
David
