TEF responds:
TEF Apr 6, 4:19 pm show options
Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
From: "TEF" - Find messages by this author
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 19:19:37 -0400
Local: Wed, Apr 6 2005 4:19 pm
Subject: Woodcraft Store
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I don't get it. It would appear that many of the responder to this
thread
have some vested interest in Woodcraft. There seems to be all kinds of
justifications put forth as to why this store fails to have what Gerald
wants to purchase. Some are even critical of the guy for not calling
ahead.
As I understand it, Woodcraft is a specialty store for the woodworking
community. Therefore, to say that stocking a dovetail jig is something
extraordinary seems to be an odd defense.
OK. How about someone who doesn't have a vested interest in Woodcraft,
to the point of despising some of the people in the corporate offices?
If you've got much of a drive to make, it only makes sense to call
ahead. There is no way on earth to know if any particular dovetail jig
is on hand without asking, and if you're setting up 5-6 gallons of gas
and a couple hours time, it's foolish to take a chance. Most of these
stores, the franchises, are of moderate size. They can only stock so
many items of each kind. How many types of dovetail jigs can you name,
off-hand? P-C, OK. Whoops, also the P-C OmniJig (I think that still
comes in two sizes). Leigh. Keller (several of those). Akeda. The list
goes on. Should there be a dozen each in the back end of each of 60+
stores each day, every day?
If you have three and both sell within three days, what the hell. Just
go ahead and have corporate FedEx three more. Freight costs are
nominal. My butt.
Stocking "a" dovetail jig isn't extraordinary, but selling them isn't
either, which means stock does get depleted. Only a person interested
in a long drive on a nice day should go to buy one without calling
first.
Another point: this is not always the franchisee's fault. It is quite
possible for corporate to under-order tems, to misjudge the demand over
a particular period of time for any particular item. In fact, if
profits are considered, it's a lot better to under-order by a couple
than to over-order by a dozen you have to hang on to, only to get stuck
with the dozen when a new model is introduced. And that doesn't mention
the warehouse space used or not used.
Keeping enough stock on hand, but not too much, is a complex subject.
In fact, I'm pretty sure MBAs work pretty hard figuring it out for
class papers. It's not just a matter of loading up shelves. It's a
matter of budgets for product, space, rate of sale, predicted rate of
sale and much else.
There are two things I don't understand: why the OP didn't call ahead;
why the OP didn't just ask to have it shipped to his home.
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