[Witfull]

this is a fine line, ive been on both sides, actually all 3,,,lol

retailer, wholesaler, and hobbyist. in years gone by, LFS had good employees, back in the "Mom & Pop" stores. but now days, with profit margins and costs, its a real struggle for stores to stay economically viable.

there is a LOT of work to be done in a LFS. and you need people to do it. but also with the margins as they are today, its truely hard to pay experienced people what they are worth. so an owner is put in a position of hiring people at say 6-7 dollars an hour. along with this basic crew, you have your management, they people know more and get paid more. but they have alot more to do than assist every customer. so, on the floor you have basic knowedge sales people. answering what they can. sometime even when they shouldnt.

now flip side. some customers come in, look around, see something they like, say "ill take it" and never ask a question. is it the LFS responsibilty to instruct the buyer?

another customer type. they come in and ask all kinds of questions, talk to the kid, then the manager, and dont listen to them. they seem to hear words but not what is really being said and appear to be able to do the exact opposite of whats been said, then blame the LFS.

another type. they come in, ask, listen, read. they understand whats involved and even teach you a few things. and you wish you could hire them, but know you cant afford them.

these customer types apply to every form of retail. guy walks in to get a TV,,,sees one and says ill take it. sold

guy walks in and buys a tv, asks about picture and color and sound etc. salesman explains, if you have cable tv the picture is awesome, for the best sound youll need a surround sytem. guy walks out with just the TV, comes back a day later and complains about the lousy picture cause its hooked up to an arial antenna, the sound is meerely ok, and the stupid salesman didnt tell him anything.

so, what we need here is a meeting in the middle. but how do we achieve it?

Stores, expect your employees to know what they are selling. test them. make it comensurate with job retention. teach them selling techniques. how to elicit information from a customer. give employee bonus' for learning and making good sales.

customers. know what your buying. before you buy it. if you buy a chevette and expect it to be a corvette just because its a chevy, im sorry to say but thats on you, and cannot complain. if the sales man says "they are practically the same" and you buy it, once again,,,on you.

so what im saying is,,,the responsiblility is on ALL of us.