It always amazes me....

[Waterfoul]

Most of you know where I work.  It just amazes me the number of men who come in my store for spark plugs or filters or what ever for their motor and have NO IDEA what they have in/on their boat! 

Customer:  "Yeah, it's black... I think around 150 or 200 horsepower.  What spark plug do I need and how many?"

Me:  Do you know what year it is?

Customer:  "Well I think the boat is a 1999.  Can you look up what my boat should have on it?"

Yes, I got that question today.  From a bassboat guy.

Help us retailers out guys... know your motor!!  We are not great prognasticators and I cannot cojur up your recent memories to see the motor thru your eyes.

Please and thank you.   

[Manxfishing]

Look at it this way
At least they trust you

I'd say
Take the guys credit info, Have hime call you back with a ser. # or info
And then mail him the plugs or have him pick them up at a later date.

it's only a problem if you let it be a problem

[Skulley]

Most of you know where I work.  It just amazes me the number of men who come in my store for spark plugs or filters or what ever for their motor and have NO IDEA what they have in/on their boat! 

Customer:  "Yeah, it's black... I think around 150 or 200 horsepower.  What spark plug do I need and how many?"

Me:  Do you know what year it is?

Customer:  "Well I think the boat is a 1999.  Can you look up what my boat should have on it?"

Yes, I got that question today.  From a bassboat guy.

Help us retailers out guys... know your motor!!  We are not great prognasticators and I cannot cojur up your recent memories to see the motor thru your eyes.

Please and thank you.   

You think that people would know what they need when going to buy components for their boats.  When it comes to spark plugs, the model number is on the ceramic in most cases.  You should be able to lift the hood, read the number, write it down, take it to your local boat dealer that would sell that particular plug.  I definitely see your point Waterfoul.

Look at it this way
At least they trust you

I'd say
Take the guys credit info, Have hime call you back with a ser. # or info
And then mail him the plugs or have him pick them up at a later date.

it's only a problem if you let it be a problem

I get this reasoning as well.  Waterfoul, as the retailer, you want the customer to always come back so for you to go the extra mile will always keep them coming back but I'm sure that I don't have to tell you this.  Manxfishing is right about trust.  The rest of his advice is pretty sound, however I do get the frustration of the retailer in this case Waterfoul.  And I agree with not making it more of an issue than it already is.  The customer in this case is lazy.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Lazy......or he didn't think of finding out what components model numbers are when shopping for these items.  I want to make it as easy as possible for me and for the retailer.  Easy is good.  Your customer obviously isn't the "sharpest tool in the shed."  But you do want his return business and any other business he can send your way.  Frustration is a difficult thing to master or control.  We all get frustrated from one time to another.  I get mostly frustrated with my kids and their narrow attention span and it's not even the attention span but the fact that they think they know everything already.  Teenagers............what can I say.


BD                                   

[Waterfoul]

We cannot write down a customers credit card number.  Against company policy, and I don't know about any of you but I don't think I want anyone to write down my credit card number.

[tim4081]

I've worked as a retail manager for many years and it never ceases to amaze me how many people are like this.  I've actually had people who can't even tell if their range is gas or electric let alone the model number of their lawn mower.

My company will take phone orders but personally i would never do that as you never know if someone's going to write down your card number and use it themselves.

On the other hand we also get people who are so paranoid that they won't even give their name or phone number for us to register their purchase.  I had one a couple weeks ago who didn't want to give his address but wanted his item delivered...... huh?!?!

[YpsiBass]

I'm a bass boat guy. I can tell you what the model number is, but everything under the hood is so very, very confusing to me.  Like I had no idea that evinrude motors should have champion spark plugs in them rather than NGK.  I don't know what goes with what.  I can kind of see where the guy is coming from.  Most things on my boat I refer to as thingies still.

[Dan]

So much for bass boats as important as they may be, but I found many dads that had no idea what their child's teacher's name was or is.

[t-bone]

I just got a boat with an Evinrude Etec engine - I went to buy Oil at Wilson Marine and asked what the best oil to buy for the engine would be and they said "will it depends on what the engine is programmed for". I said "and how do I know that"? I resolved this by getting a hold of the previous owner on the cell but I was also thinking that the companies are making this a bit complicated too. I can't just go in an buy an oil for an Etec - I have to buy the XD100, not the 50 or 30.

I'm a bass boat guy. I can tell you what the model number is, but everything under the hood is so very, very confusing to me.  Like I had no idea that evinrude motors should have champion spark plugs in them rather than NGK.  I don't know what goes with what.  I can kind of see where the guy is coming from.  Most things on my boat I refer to as thingies still.

[TimH]

In high school I worked at a plumbing supply store.  People would come in every weekend needing a replacement stem for a shower or a faucet, but not bring in anything.  No part, no information, no brand, nothing.  When they found out I needed that information to help them, I would get "well, its chrome and has three handles."  Or I would get the response of "just give me a standard one, I'm sure it will fit."  99% of the time, people who did this had to come back to the store, but at least from that point on, they new what it actually was that they needed

[Jmeis]

Mike, I could only wish we had CS I  the Holland store. I went in yesterday even th ough I had sworn off doing that years ago. My visit yesterday reinforced my previous beliefs.

[djkimmel]

I wish people (and phones and computers) could read my mind... I know other people wish I could do that!! I know sometimes I know EXACTLY what I need when I leave home... but by the time I get to the store... it might not even be the store I left home originally to go to in the first place...!?! I think it might be aliens... or scientology...?? something like that - to blame. (I apologize to any scientologists... please don't send Cruise or Travolta to get me - unless they like bass fishing!)

I would just look at those customers as revenue enhancement opportunities (if that is what you're in to?)... 'Sir, you better buy all 3 of these just to make sure you have the right [size, weight, bend, blend, etc...]'

[Firefighter Jeff]

   Just shows that anyone can buy a boat.  Some are more aware of what they bought and others know where the key goes.  LOLOL

[Firefighter Jeff]

I just got a boat with an Evinrude Etec engine - I went to buy Oil at Wilson Marine and asked what the best oil to buy for the engine would be and they said "will it depends on what the engine is programmed for". I said "and how do I know that"? I resolved this by getting a hold of the previous owner on the cell but I was also thinking that the companies are making this a bit complicated too. I can't just go in an buy an oil for an Etec - I have to buy the XD100, not the 50 or 30.


Mine's set up for XD50

[djkimmel]

Sometimes the key goes in the wrong place...

[YpsiBass]

Sometimes the key goes in the wrong place...

Like the side of a highway attached to a towel?

[Frank-o]

Just shows that anyone can buy a boat.  Some are more aware of what they bought and others know where the key goes.  LOLOL

Key ?!?!?
My Ranger didn't come with a key !! (groan)
Waterfoul ? Help ??

lol