Sales assisstants

The Novacastrian

At present I am trying to get a new set of clubs, I'm off 17 and playing badly. Whenever you go into any of the major golf stores, some arrogant little 'I play off 4, can I help you?' comes over. They try and help but ask questions like - how much of a divot do you take? Firstly, I don't measaure them, secondly, I am off 17 which implies inconsistency, which means different size divits everytime!

Then I tell them I want 3 - PW, they say, we wont sell you a set with a 3 and 4 iron as you cant hit them???? How do they know this? I always use my 3 & 4 iron as I like them.

Then they say, make an appointment to get measured and we'll fit them for you.......

At this point I walk out thinking ebay is better and cheaper, then I read the thread about ebay's fake clubs and cry!!!

Rant over...

DJB

I bought new clubs yesterday. I had those same kinda questions but basically I had done my research online and had asked a friend for advice, so when I was in store I just knew what clubs I wanted. That cut out a lot.

I feel your pain! :mad:

Mister Sifter

I hear where you're coming from mate. I'm not sure where you live, but the best customer service i have had by a country mile in Dublin is American Golf out at Tallaght.

The guys out at Premier Golf in Santry are also pretty good although their prices are waaaaaay too high.

If i could give you one piece of advice it would be be strong when you go in. Tell them what you want and don't let them dictate to you too much. However, most of them do know what they are talking about so take what they say on board.

At the end of the day, you are paying good money (probably quite a few hundred euro) for something so make sure you get what YOU want and not necessarily what they want to sell you.

If they recommend something you don't want then stand up for yourself and tell them straight out.

Good luck.

P.S - i've bought about 10 clubs off ebay and only ever had one problem so don't be too afraid! If you're buying second hand then i guarantee you'll be fine too.

WHIP IT!

I used to go to the Golf Warehouse in CherryOrchard quite a bit, but have stopped as I find the older man in there to be far too pushy. He's patronising and also uses (as far as I can tell, although I may be wrong) other customers (friends) as a 'shell'... He'll be showing you a club and he'll turn to some guy and say "You bought one of these didn't you, how're you hitting it?" and inevitably the guy will say "Out of this world, fantastic, a bargain" etc etc...

I bought a LW there a few months back and he actually tried to convince me to buy two (the one I wanted, and a cheaper one) in case one broke... Intelligence duly insulted, I thought to myself!

I find the lads in American Golf fine as well although I bought new irons in Premier Golf (Newlands X) at the backend of last year and the lads in there were sound too.

BrianD3

One chap was trying to sell me a new Taylor Made driver, I wasn't showing much enthusiasm so he produces a list of all the pros that use that model of driver and how many pro tournaments had been won with it. As that is of any relevance to me Still he was pleasant enough about it and you can't blame the guy for trying. But it just shows how much marketing and hype there is associated with golf equipment.

Also, once or twice I have come across patronising w*nkers working in golf shops.

MisterAnarchy

how much of a divit do you take

Very strange and silly question to ask.
The shops here are a joke compared with the US.
You can go in to a Golfsmith or similar type store over there ,get a real custom fit using the latest technology that the pros use not the crap that constitues a 'custom fit' here.
Its amazing how detailed the customising is over there and it is dead cheap too.

Mister Sifter

MisterAnarchy wrote:

Very strange and silly question to ask.

yeh, it is. probably just someone trying to sound like they know what they're talking about.

Would maybe be a releveant question if you were getting a lesson, but i don't see why he would need to know that to determine a suitable set of clubs for you.

copacetic

MisterAnarchy wrote:

Very strange and silly question to ask.
The shops here are a joke compared with the US.
You can go in to a Golfsmith or similar type store over there ,get a real custom fit using the latest technology that the pros use not the crap that constitues a 'custom fit' here.
Its amazing how detailed the customising is over there and it is dead cheap too.

it's actually quite a good question to ask, assuming you are consistent enough, whether you are a 'picker' or a 'digger' is a good indication of what kind of sole would suit you on your irons.

Certain grinds aren't suitable for certain types of players.

TheDoc

alot of my friends work in stores as assistants and they know so much about golf youd be wise to listen to them.

They ask those silly questions you might think, but to them draws a rough sketch of your swing and what you need.