Service Issue???

I took my wife and 21/2 year old daughter out to White Bear Lake today to find some bluegills. I stopped at the bait store on the way, (I will not name it) it is on the north west corner of the lake, always has dogs laying around,Just off of White bear ave and 96. anyway I walked in and asked for a dozen angle worms and some waxies. I asked the clerk how the bluegills were biting and his reply was don’t know I do’nt fish for them. My reply was you do run a bait store though? $6.50 in american money later I walked out of there confused. Was I right in being miffed at the fact that he could have been a little friendlier and at least lied to me and told me it has been slow but Northerns are biting on white spinner baits. I do’nt know I do’nt fish for them really got under my skin, just ask my wife because I repeated that phrase 50 times today. In todays economy the ma and pa bait stores are being put out of business by the Gander Mountains and Joes, I would have expected bend over backwards service, Yes I got what I needed but the exchange could have been positively memorable not the other way around. I usually do not sweat the small stuff do you think I overreacted? By the way the fishing was good all small ones but the family had fun and that is what it’s really all about>
Zoomer

I dont think you were wrong in being upset. He runs a bait shop if he has been listening to his customers her should know what is going on. Oh wait i bet i know what it is, with his attitude he probably has lost most of his customers and actually doesnt know. I know me personally never go back to a small sports shop when I think the owner/employee has been rude.

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Oh wait i bet i know what it is, with his attitude he probably has lost most of his customers and actually doesnt know.

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you hit the nail on the head here plus they probably blame ther lack of customers on the big store, not the attitude.

I understand your frustration with the service. I agree with most of what you said, you would think they would go out of their way to be nice and want repeat service. I stopped at the same bait shop and had a different experience back in april. I asked where the crappies were biting and they did tell me where. I did catch crappies too. I think If I ran a shop I would tell what they were biting on and try to sell you that bait or lure. The small bait shops are necessary because a lot of the chain stores are not between my house and where I fish. I also think they have a lot of jerks come into the store and get frustrated with those people. They might tell people the fish are biting and then those people don’t get fish. So, then they come back to the store and complain to the bait shop workers about not catching fish and bad info. Location and bait are only part of catching fish. You also have to factor in presentation, weather, time of day etc. It’s definitely not an easy business to run. But, I agree some could use help in the customer service area.

Any time you deal with the public you are plain and simple going to have to deal with the jerks. Let’s face it though the jerks, the nice guys AND the guys in between are putting food on the table and paying the rent jerks or not they should ALL get blow your socks off service. I have a choice on where to spend my money and yes this particular independent has a great location (right on the way to White bear and Bald Eagle lakes) but in the future I will possibly go 10 or 15 miles out of the way to yes a big box store to spend my $6.50. Convenience is not everything. I know I am the one that is responsible for finding the fish and I guess I was expecting a few helpful bits of information and all I got was a I do’nt know I do’nt care attitude, that upset me enough to leave the above post. I think I got it off my chest but will definitely think twice before stopping in there again.

Zoomer, I agree, if I had poor service I would go elsewhere too. Some people just don’t get it that good service is more important than price, location or selection. Thanks for venting your situation.

Sorry you had a bad experience at the shop you spoke of. I have had pretty good luck there. But it does sort of depend on who is minding the store. Most of the time I have been able to get some information about WBL or Bald Eagle, bait, location, depths. The guy I believe is the owner gave me a great tip last winter on some huge man eating blue gills at a little lake I didn’t know existed. But that info is only as good as the last time they were out or reports from customers. A lot can change in just one day. I am not trying to stick up for this shop, bad service sucks, but maybe give them another shot. And I agree, that is a great spot for a bait store. Good luck.

well if its the store im thinking i would just call the store early and ask for jim ( owner ) and i know he wouldent stand for it ! give a lil discription on what he looked like , it probably wouldent happen again . jim is a good guy he wont stand for that kinda service .
jus a suggestion

I agree with Crappiechaser, you should let Jim know about the problem. If he does’nt know about it he can’t fix it. That is definitely not typical service!

Well, unfortunately I ran into a similar situation this weekend at this bait shop. I was pretty disappointed as I’ve gone to this shop often the past 6-7 years. The older gentleman behind the counter (I’m assuming that’s Jim) is always helpful and since reading this post, I’ve made a point to ask whoever is there what’s biting in the area just to see if I’d get the same response that was mentioned, I never got any advice worth using, but over all they always have at least feigned some information.
Well, Sunday the 12th, I stopped in for my third time that week, spent about $12 on misc. tackle and asked for a carton of crawlers…I paid, and then asked again, politely, for the crawlers since the younger guy with a junior high attempt at a beard and an attitude just as spotty, apparently forgot about them. No big deal except that he then THREW them down on the counter and walked away without the “Good luck” or “Thank you” I’m used to from this shop. I wasn’t terribly offended, crawlers sure aren’t a carton of eggs or anything, but I’ve grown used to them giving great service and was very surprised at this. I’m not sure if this is the same person you dealt with, but I really hope he doesn’t do that to everyone or they’ll be losing lots of business, or worse, they already have!

NEXT TIME IM IN ILL MENTION IT TO JIM , SOMEONE SHOULD DEFINITLY SAY SOMETHING ! UNLESS THERES ANOTHER BAIT STORE AROUND