More Boatstore Blues
- Thread starter Ron20324
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Price-match ? ! ? Last time I asked about price match I was made to feel like a fool, while they "do price match" the sales person explained to me how identical chart chip was not the same product ! Excuse me it came in the same box from the same manufacture,equals same product in my mind. It was like telling someone milk is different because the cow was black and white not brown and white. I gave up and walked out of the store. Some one explain to me why they just can't price it reasonable to begin with rather then gouge you and only after making you run thru hoops and fire,they will price match.
As far as helping you that is great and I appreciate the help but after telling them I don't need help or just want to look around why can't they leave you alone ? The cash register attendant was very unprofessional to have even mentioned taking credit for a sale, now West Marine management has the employees putting the customers in the middle over who get credit for a sale. Is that the best idea west marine management could come up with to see who your best people are ??
I've found the food to be pretty much exactly as it was at the old location (pre-Katrina). Of course, to some that may be a bad thing! But I think the food is fine. The Tex-Mex enchiladas are great, and the tamales are good too. And the chicken taquitos!
The new self-serve format was working ok, but the big bottleneck was the taco section... I guess since tacos are not something you can simply scoop onto your plate quickly, and take a bit of time for klutzes like me to assemble. So they now have a separate "taco stand" with a server who makes your tacos to order.
--Michael
I popped into the Baton Rouge store once, and it did seem quite small... I remembered Mandeville as being a pretty decent size though. The Slidell store seems pretty big.
I've spotted 2 or 3 employees there who also worked at the old Slidell store, and I remembered these people as being pretty knowledgeable. Mark from the New Orleans store is there now too, and he seems to know his stuff.
--Michael
They still have the flag, but it's just for getting drinks, chips, sopapillas, etc... you go get the food yourself now.
--Michael
The Tex Mex enchilidas is what I went for. Good tex mex enchilidas are hard to find in this area. But they were cold. I'm from Houston and have been eating at Pancho's since I was a little boy.
One of the waitress at the new store is a lady I worked with back in 74 when the Metarie Pancho's first open.
My best Pancho's memory was being at the head of the serving line handling the hot plates (which the new store doesn't use) and realizing
that the guys I was serving were the Allman Brothers Band minus Greg.
Excuse me for taking this thread some where else.
One of the waitress at the new store is a lady I worked with back in 74 when the Metarie Pancho's first open.
My best Pancho's memory was being at the head of the serving line handling the hot plates (which the new store doesn't use) and realizing
that the guys I was serving were the Allman Brothers Band minus Greg.
Excuse me for taking this thread some where else.
This is a personality thing. I also can't stand pushy salespeople or salespeople who don't have a clue about what they are selling. In some locations salespeople tend to be more watchful of customers because it seems a very small percentage of those "customers" might walk out of the store with their "purchase" without bothering to stop at the checkout counter.
I have two sons who worked at both West Marine and Boaters World while they were in school. Its incredible the stories they relate about how rude that a precious few customers can be. They both agree that the problems are somewhat related to the ways certain managers choose to staff their stores. It seems that they try to be cost effective, but don't track potential high volume days, like spring weekends, and as a result are understaffed ( like only one salesperson) . Sales get missed because some people who truly need help finding product just can't be waiting around.
Here's another interesting point: Customer flow has changed since Boaters World announced their closing. They aren't happy when they come into a West Store and find little or no inventory for example, in the paint section. They complain about paint prices being higher and blame it entirely on West, apparently forgetting that petroleum prices going through the roof last year might also have something to do with it.
Finally, as a general observation, both of my sons agree that sailors in general are more patient, more knowledgeable, and easier to work with than powerboaters. (One of my sons happens to be a powerboater/fisherman.)
I have two sons who worked at both West Marine and Boaters World while they were in school. Its incredible the stories they relate about how rude that a precious few customers can be. They both agree that the problems are somewhat related to the ways certain managers choose to staff their stores. It seems that they try to be cost effective, but don't track potential high volume days, like spring weekends, and as a result are understaffed ( like only one salesperson) . Sales get missed because some people who truly need help finding product just can't be waiting around.
Here's another interesting point: Customer flow has changed since Boaters World announced their closing. They aren't happy when they come into a West Store and find little or no inventory for example, in the paint section. They complain about paint prices being higher and blame it entirely on West, apparently forgetting that petroleum prices going through the roof last year might also have something to do with it.
Finally, as a general observation, both of my sons agree that sailors in general are more patient, more knowledgeable, and easier to work with than powerboaters. (One of my sons happens to be a powerboater/fisherman.)
The people make the difference. The long time manager of my local WM recently left and the new manager does not seem to care much about the customers. He is also hiring kids with little or no retail experience let alone boating experience. I was in there on Saturday to return a few items and buy a few items. The girl at the checkout could not process my returns. I had to wait 10 minutes for the manager to help someone else who had just come into the store before he could help me. The 2 of them were the only staff that day.
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