I've bought in person and by mail from LV since the early 80's when
Leonard Lee started Lee Valley by opening a small store in Ottawa, Ontario.

Somehow they have managed to maintain a line of excellent products and
if a "dog" manages to get into their line they're the first to admit it.
Their customer service is next to none in any industry and you know
this costs them money. I once returned a product for sharpening twist
drills that I didn't particularly like and I said to the salesman "I
could have sharpened all my drills while I had this at home and just
returned it for the full cost" (I didn't by the way) and his reply was
that it was more important to them that they keep customers satisfied.

Are their prices always the cheapest, probably not, but I for one am not
complaining, there are plenty of places to buy cheap products that break
the first time you use them from people who would never take them back.

Cheers to Lee Valley!

Glen Duff
==============================

B Man wrote:

LOL!!

I couldn't agree more!

I remember when my company got into the MBA craze, and what a bunch of text
book smart dummies we had. And when they figured out that they weren't
gonna run the place in 2 years, they all quit.

I'm guessing, but I think Lee Valley's hiring criteria is mainly comprised
of three components:

1) Courtessy
2) Work Ethic
3) Tool Knowledge

I've not come across a single soul in that place that wasn't super friendly.
A couple of times I have to say that the staff who have answered my emailed
questions have gone the extra mile (or two) for me (when they didn't carry a
product I needed, they sniffed out other web sources when I couldn't find
them), and they always seem to know what I'm asking about when I've had
questions.

Outstanding. Nothing but wonderful experiences with these guys. Besides -
they always have such COOL kids stuff for Christmas - I get a lot of
stocking stuffers there.



Brian


"Jay Knepper" wrote in message
...

"Silvan" wrote in message
...
cooking up some heirs too, just in case.

The worst thing that could happen to Lee Valley is its being bought out
by
Conglom-O.


Nope, not even close. Everyone would immediately know what to expect.

Far worse for all of us would be for LV to hire a bunch of MBAs, and then
actually listen to them when they say profound MBA things, like (my
favorite) "If you can't measure it, then it doesn't matter."

Methinks that Delta must have made this fatal mistake some time ago.

Jay