Rockler clamp sale- Major dissatisfaction

Makes you wonder just how many "employee's" got first pick the night before? I'd be willing to bet that is the reason for much of the "low availability", especially when you see number like only two in stock for the sale.

It's not like these stores hire topless dancers who don't need "more clamps".

Reply to
Swingman
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And that's exactly the way to do it. The excuse that, "but that's what everyone else is doing!" is a mistake. It is a prescription for mediocrity. As a business, you should always try to exceed the expectations of your customers. Setting them up for disappointment is a very bad move.

-Peter De Smidt

Reply to
Peter De Smidt

Retail employees often get better pricing than ANY public sale, all the time. No need to pick the day before.

This is the primary reason for many people to take part-time jobs at places like Rockler, Woodcraft, REI, EMS, etc... I work 3-6 hours a week in a local bicycle shop for the simple reason of getting my gear and clothing at incredible prices. In fact, I often can buy my bikes for _less_ than the store does, directly from the manufacturer, via pro sponsorship deals. I am limited to how many I can buy each year and they have to be my size.

The only exceptions I know about are BORGS. Due to employees reselling merchandise, the stores in my area have "employee purchase days" 2-4 times a year.

One of the part timers at my local Woodcraft works at the millwork shop where I buy my wood. A few hours at the store saves him a ton on tools and supplies for his personal work.

Barry

Reply to
Ba r r y

SO TRUE. We don't have to play that game. Search online. Save gas. Even paying shipping, you can get a better deal on service and selection. Large corporations do not change unless forced by MONEY ISSUES, it's all they care about. Refusing to buy is the only way to send feedback they listen to.

I began tearing up Rockler flyers after I got sucked in a couple of times too many. They play this game a lot, it's not just Bessey, blaming their co-conspirators doesn't affect YOUR bottom line: you wasted time, hope and gasoline. The idea appears to be that buyers will forget the disappointment if they buy something else, especially after driving a long way. We're being played for suckers.

In the last four years, there has not been one thing I needed from Rockler I didn't get more easily from Lee Valley. And often cheaper too. Hooray for having stuff brought right to your door.

Reply to
mbrooks

Obviously for good reason ... it is amazing how many there are.

Reply to
Swingman

availability",

Agreed ... but with 'smart' POS terminals, indexed to inventory, some 'special sales items' can't even be rung up at the sale price until a certain date/time. I know for a fact that is often abused in favor of store employees, who can always "get there first".

As I implied, maybe these woodworking stores should take a hint from HOOTERS ... at least disgruntled latecomers would have something else to think about. ;)

Reply to
Swingman

Too many Re's to read so I'll just say call first-------George

Reply to
George G

Swingman responds:

No comment. I really don't know how store employees wanting sale product are handled at any of these chains, but I do know that Woodcraft, not my favorite company, offers an excellent discount program for corporate employees, so there's no need for sales most of the time.

Charlie Self "Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good." H. L. Mencken

Reply to
Charlie Self

Dooh! I was hoping you were going to offer to meet the Rockler deal to please the masses. That and free shipping would go a long way to win the public favor.

All in favor, say "aye"

laughingly,

Eric in MN (incidentally, a border state. Shipping would be minimal)

Reply to
mnterpfan

Rob Lee wrote: mucho snippage...

So! What you are saying is, Rocklers is/are the rat bastards I've always thought they were?

ok, i'll go now.

UA100, kicking dirt as he leaves the room...

Reply to
Unisaw A100

Odds are none of them got first pick. Management is obviously going to have a say in any given store, but a few years ago when moving from Minnesota to Wisconsin, I worked for a couple of weeks at the local K-mart while looking for a better job. The second week I was there was during the "Black Friday" promotions, and employees were not allowed to purchase anything that was on the 3-hour sale (or whatever the time length was) They pulled the same crap as anywhere, of course- most of the good sales were stocked in quantities like 5 or 10, and were sold out within minutes- but it wasn't because employees were taking them home.

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Reply to
Prometheus

Seems like that skirts the hairy edge of "bait and switch".

Any commentary on why?

Reply to
Mark & Juanita

I'm a former Walmart employee (8 years-sentence over), and we were never given any beforehand options to purchase items. We were told to have spouses or others show up just like the general public. ( I wouldn't ask an enemy to go into a battlegrounds like that).

Reply to
ToolMiser

I wouldn't call Wal-Mart and Kmart "typical" retail outlets, until the past few years. I know for a fact that we did it at Sears a good many years ago, and although I find it difficult to believe that things have actually become more ethical and kinder since then, times do change, sometimes even for the better it appears. :)

Reply to
Swingman

Rob, if you include free or subsidised shipping - I'm in.

Greg, in, ah, A u s t r a l i a

Reply to
Greg Millen

Hi Dale,

I read your message, and those from our other customers, with great dismay. We seriously underestimated the quantity needed of the K-Body Bessey clamp for this promotion. Our purchasing department looked at the sales from our last K-body Bessey clamp promotion and tripled the order to make sure that we would have enough product on hand. Unfortunately, this was not adequate stock - especially at some stores where we sold more clamps than anticipated prior to the sale. If you were one of the customers at our store at 7:00 AM on Saturday who did not get a clamp, please contact your local store at 1-877-ROCKLER. We want to make this up to you and are trying to get some additional clamps in by December 15.

I will personally make sure this never happens again.

Happy Woodworking!

Ann Rockler Jackson

Reply to
Ann Rockler Jackson

Good response!

-Peter De Smidt

Reply to
Peter De Smidt

I wrote an email to their customer service explaining that I drove for an hour and a half, waited in line and then had an employee be rude to me. It has been a week with no response. max

Reply to
max

I like it. Clear, to the point, gives a reasonable explanation and offers a solutions.

Good Job Rockler!

--RC

Sleep? Isn't that a totally inadequate substitute for caffine?

Reply to
rcook5

I kind of wonder about the " snipped-for-privacy@woodworking.com" address though.

-- Jack Novak Buffalo, NY - USA (Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

Reply to
Nova

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