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Quasimodo
Trad climber
CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 1, 2013 - 11:06pm PT
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Decided to retire my old rope while at Red Rocks last week. Went to Desert Rock Sports to buy a new cord. The prices seemed high so I asked, "Can you do better?". Bill said, " I just work here. The boss sells gear at the suggested retail price."
I believed him. I should have done my homework. Paid $324 plus tax for a Bluewater 70m bicolor double dry I could have bought from Bluewater for the Suggested Retail Price of $285. Called Bill back to complain about the overcharge.....he just blew me off. Can't believe a retailer does not care about having return customers. $39 is not a big issue..... just the lie.
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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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Bummed to hear about your experience, man. I've been shopping at DRS for 10 years and they have always been more then square with me and gone out of their way to help me get gear on more then one occasion. I am sending a text to the owner to let him know this is up, he's usually pretty good with the customer service.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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It sucks when people lie to you straight up..
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Even the msrp....jeez louise!!!
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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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Actually, if a shop is doing something like that, I'd post about it as well. I don't blame him for being upset.
I posted a rip-off that I was on the bad end of dealing with a supposed "climber friendly" motel in Josh.
I will say that I have never been lied to in all my years of shopping there, and the owner has a very high reputation in the local community for years of support for all climbers.
He's been made aware of the thread and is going to be looking into it, and knowing him if there was an issue he will do his best to make it right.
I'm happy that the OP posted somewhere where a person that knows the owner could bring it to his attention.
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Dingus McGee
Social climber
Laramie
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Quasimodo et al,
do you want it NOW? Then you have to pay and often much more,..
Do You use this web often??? Open your Frickin eyes!
Price finder is in this site's right column and there are many good deals on ropes & gear.
Retail shopping is about seeing/finding/feeling/driving to the place for the item you want and getting it now.
Web shopping is about gaining info on lowest prices knowing what you want(otherwise you pay return shipping).
And if you are one that must support the local business you did just that.
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Over the years I've had occasional problems with various companies from very small to very big. In each case, I've written a polite letter in which I give the company or business the benefit of the doubt in the transaction, while still explaining clearly what was wrong about it. The letter always goes to the president of the company or the owner of the business and always includes my suggestion for how to make things right.
So far, I've had 100% positive responses, in several cases considerably exceeding what I proposed as a fair accommodation.
It isn't magic or rocket science; if you have a fair claim, explain it clearly and without being snarky or downright insulting, send it to the very top---the big boss is always going to be more flexible than any employee---and make a fair proposal for how to settle things, my experience is that almost every situation can be resolved satisfactorily.
I guess there could be a time for an internet posting, but it would be after the above process had definitively failed; something I think is actually quite unlikely.
For openers in this situation, ditch the claim that Bill "lied." Bill did not lie. Bill simply assumed a mismarked price was the msrp because that was the store pricing policy. At least, that's the position I'd take in making a claim for an adjustment, and frankly, it is far more likely than supposing employees deliberately lie to customers.
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Rankin
Social climber
Greensboro, North Carolina
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That's a bummer and one would expect better service at a gear shop these days given the competition from online markets. I would just buy my gear from somewhere else.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Some people have difficulty with the concept of opportunity cost.
On the other hand if overcharges are common there then air it on the net.
But if a 14% bump gets you griping just be glad you aren't trying to buy ammunition right now.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Manufacturers suggested retail price.
There ya go.
This isn't Yelp! dude... before you flame a shop that has served thousands well for years, what was the rope exactly? What color was it? If one was a 9.5 and another a 9.9.... hard to grab my pitchfork when there's info left out. Prices go up, prices go down, based on lots of things (see shoes lately?), but I don't think it is a crime, or even unethical, for them to charge more. That's their right, just like ours to shop there.
I've only had stellar service there (in case you couldn't tell) so have to speak up for a completely opposite experience. They make little laminated topos with clip-in loops, man! This place has real climbers.
edit - very likely some dude read the wrong number on an excel spreadsheet with a price gun in his hand and zapped the wrong rope. I've done that before, but in every time spotted them the difference... but like RGold said, they were cool about it.
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msiddens
Trad climber
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great shop and sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I've happily paid full price there but buyer always has the option to walk out. On the bright side, you know have a nice rope. Use it and curse all Summer long.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Smart phones are good for price checks.
REI sells many things above MSRP these days as well...
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SicMic
climber
two miles from Eldorado
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It's hard to generate a lot of sympathy Semi. The store offered product at a price. You paid the price. It sounds like you learned to check the price you'd like to pay BEFORE plunking-down your cash. Reality is a cruel mistress. Enjoy your rope.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.
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justropes.com?
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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I buy gear at 1 of 3 shops:
1) IME in Utah because everyone there is awesome and they sold me my first quickdraws back in 1993
2) REI because they will return anything for damn near any reason
3) Sports LTD in South Lake because they are a good local shop and have a good selection
Being 1/32 Jew, the thought of buying gear on a road trip without shopping around makes me cringe.
I haven't bought anything at DRS since ~1995. They always seemed spendy to me.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Now I understand the 97% BS!
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cuvvy
Sport climber
arkansas
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Money isnt everything.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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Hey, looky there... Toker can convert fractions to percentages! Nice work.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Havng FLOWN into Vegas to climb at Red Rocks @ 10-15 years back and having forgotten the rope, paying full price was better than having a screwed up vacation. Crap, even then the money was a hell of a lot less than plane fare.
Sicmic makes a good point: "It's hard to generate a lot of sympathy Semi. The store offered product at a price. You paid the price. It sounds like you learned to check the price you'd like to pay BEFORE plunking-down your cash. Reality is a cruel mistress. Enjoy your rope."
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