I drove forty-five minutes from my home in Napa to the Rockler store
in Pleasant Hill, CA with the sole purpose of buying the K-Body Kit
that was on sale for $99.99 for four hours only today. I arrived at
the store at 8 AM, granted this was one hour after the doors had
opened, to find three clerks standing behind the counter and one other
shopper in the store. I did a quick loop through the store and didn't
see any K-Body kits so I asked the clerks. They gave a slight chuckle
and said that they had sold out of their meager quantity of kits
within the first ten minutes after opening the door. I expressed my
disappointment but since they weren't offering rain checks there was
not much the clerks could do. I browsed around for few more minutes
and then approached the desk again- in the meantime they had taken a
phone call and turned away one other customer in the store for the
K-body kit. I mentioned to the clerks that if they could pass along
some info to their manager that I was very disppointed that they
hadn't planned well and should have had more stock on hand. They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well. Well for me it just ****ed me off and made me even more
likely to buy my woodworking supplies from on-line suppliers-
competitive pricing, often free shipping and rarely do I have to pay
sales tax. And because of my bad experience with Rockler's store it
will make me think twice before ordering anything from them on-line
when I can get the same or similar product from another supplier. I
told the clerks that if they continue to turn away customers empty
handed and upset then maybe Rockler should think twice before
participating in any more "manufacturer's" promotions such as this. I
should have bought some of the Jorgie cabinetmasters when Home Depot
was closing them out. Sigh. Out to the workshop for some therapy.

Dale

Dale wrote:

Lots of word the stores should read and digest!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Badger adds:

Thats whats known as a loss leader, its only function is to get bodies
through the doors, a bit like the January sale at Harrods, a few VERY
desireable items as much less than cost, loads marked down to average
price elseware (so still a good margin)....

Niel (Badger).

I am with you; I can't figure out why the stores have these dumb sales that
only antagonize customers.

OTOH - I passed by a store yesterday about noon, and stopped in to see if
they had sold out their $270 computer/monitor/printer specials. It was
about $200 below the normal price, so I figured they all went in the first
10 minutes, but I got one!

"Dale" wrote in message
K-body kit. I mentioned to the clerks that if they could pass along
some info to their manager that I was very disppointed that they
hadn't planned well and should have had more stock on hand. They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well.


I did not see the original promo, but most qualify "limited supplies" or
some such way to weasle out. Some even mention "25 per store" or whatever.
Personally, I don't see a problem with it. I'm old enough to know that is
is a promo, supplies may truly be limited and if they are gone, they are
gone forever. If I get one, I get a bargain.

If Bessey provided a limited number, you can't blame Rockler for bad
planning can you? They had a good deal and they advertised it (they should
have mentioned limitged quantities. Did they?). To me, that is not shifting
blame but telling the truth. None of these store can stay in business
selling merchandise below cost. When they offer a free lunch, you know you
have to pay for it somehow.
Ed

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
om...

"Dale" wrote in message
K-body kit. I mentioned to the clerks that if they could pass along
some info to their manager that I was very disppointed that they
hadn't planned well and should have had more stock on hand. They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well.


I did not see the original promo, but most qualify "limited supplies" or
some such way to weasle out. Some even mention "25 per store" or
whatever. Personally, I don't see a problem with it. I'm old enough to
know that is is a promo, supplies may truly be limited and if they are
gone, they are gone forever. If I get one, I get a bargain.

If Bessey provided a limited number, you can't blame Rockler for bad
planning can you? They had a good deal and they advertised it (they
should have mentioned limitged quantities. Did they?). To me, that is not
shifting blame but telling the truth. None of these store can stay in
business selling merchandise below cost. When they offer a free lunch,
you know you have to pay for it somehow.
Ed

I'm witchya on this one, Ed. The stores are very careful to advertise
"limited quantities" or "only 10 per store" so the alert customer will know
that early arrival is required. I once camped out next to the door of a
CompUSA to get a free (386) computer with purchase of another one. I was
third in line, and the manager came out just before opening to ask each of
the standees what promo they were going for. He then gave a purchase
authorization slip to each one in order until they ran out.
I appreciate the disappointment of the OP, and the OP of an earlier post,
but really can't blame the store or the chain for this one.

Bob

Hi Dale,

About a year ago, Rockler had an e-mail special of 50% off the 10 inch
Jorgensen cabinet clamps (wooden ones). They were selling them for
about $8 or so. I ordered 8 of them, within an hour, I got an e-mail
that they were all sold out.

This left me with a bad feeling for them & I never order anything from
them unless I can't find it anywhere else - which is seldom the case.

The good news (for you) is that Amazon currently has the 24/40 Bessey
on sale for $125 and you can apply the $25 off $125 coupon (check
around if you don't have one) & with free shipping, your net cost is
about $100. I bought this set at this price last week with no problem
about "running out of supply".

Good luck!

Lou

In article , Dale
wrote:

I drove forty-five minutes from my home in Napa to the Rockler store
in Pleasant Hill, CA with the sole purpose of buying the K-Body Kit
that was on sale for $99.99 for four hours only today. I arrived at
the store at 8 AM, granted this was one hour after the doors had
opened, to find three clerks standing behind the counter and one other
shopper in the store. I did a quick loop through the store and didn't
see any K-Body kits so I asked the clerks. They gave a slight chuckle
and said that they had sold out of their meager quantity of kits
within the first ten minutes after opening the door. I expressed my
disappointment but since they weren't offering rain checks there was
not much the clerks could do. I browsed around for few more minutes
and then approached the desk again- in the meantime they had taken a
phone call and turned away one other customer in the store for the
K-body kit. I mentioned to the clerks that if they could pass along
some info to their manager that I was very disppointed that they
hadn't planned well and should have had more stock on hand. They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well. Well for me it just ****ed me off and made me even more
likely to buy my woodworking supplies from on-line suppliers-
competitive pricing, often free shipping and rarely do I have to pay
sales tax. And because of my bad experience with Rockler's store it
will make me think twice before ordering anything from them on-line
when I can get the same or similar product from another supplier. I
told the clerks that if they continue to turn away customers empty
handed and upset then maybe Rockler should think twice before
participating in any more "manufacturer's" promotions such as this. I
should have bought some of the Jorgie cabinetmasters when Home Depot
was closing them out. Sigh. Out to the workshop for some therapy.

Dale

Think about it for a moment...why would Bessey mark the products down to
less than cost if they didn't have anything else featured? I doubt it was
Bessey's promotion.

I think someone else hit it right on the head when he said it was a loss
leader for the specific purpose of generating store traffic. The clerks at
the Pleasant Hill store probably just didn't want to catch the flak so they
passed the buck.

Rockler has a web site at http://www.rockler.com. It has their customer
service email address, the toll-free phone number and the snail mail
address. Contact corporate management and complain.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
om...

"Dale" wrote in message
K-body kit. I mentioned to the clerks that if they could pass along
some info to their manager that I was very disppointed that they
hadn't planned well and should have had more stock on hand. They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well.


I did not see the original promo, but most qualify "limited supplies" or
some such way to weasle out. Some even mention "25 per store" or
whatever.
Personally, I don't see a problem with it. I'm old enough to know that is
is a promo, supplies may truly be limited and if they are gone, they are
gone forever. If I get one, I get a bargain.

If Bessey provided a limited number, you can't blame Rockler for bad
planning can you? They had a good deal and they advertised it (they
should
have mentioned limitged quantities. Did they?). To me, that is not
shifting
blame but telling the truth. None of these store can stay in business
selling merchandise below cost. When they offer a free lunch, you know
you
have to pay for it somehow.
Ed

Chuck Hoffman responds:

Think about it for a moment...why would Bessey mark the products down to
less than cost if they didn't have anything else featured? I doubt it was
Bessey's promotion.

From my short experience in the woodworking retail world, I'd guess it was
Bessey's promotion, brought on by pressure from its retailers. Often, such
sales cycle through major retailers, taking place at one corporate entity one
month and at another the next month. The stores love 'em because they bring
bodies in, and any ****y feelings disappear in relatively short periods of
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

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 21:38:07 GMT, "toller" wrote:

I am with you; I can't figure out why the stores have these dumb sales that
only antagonize customers.

Maybe several people need to point out to them -- forcefully -- that
they are antagonizing customers -- and potentially their best
customers.

If the corporate offices hear it from several sources in different
parts of the country, they may listen and make some sort of
adjustment.

If it comes directly from you rather than being passed on by store
personnel it is likely to have a large effect. My wife was an
assistant manager for a fabric/crafts store for a number of years and
she quickly discovered that management was much more willing to listen
to suggestions from customers than they were from their own employees.

--RC


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

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:03:38 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Dale" wrote in message
K-body kit. I mentioned to the clerks that if they could pass along
some info to their manager that I was very disppointed that they
hadn't planned well and should have had more stock on hand. They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well.


I did not see the original promo, but most qualify "limited supplies" or
some such way to weasle out. Some even mention "25 per store" or whatever.
Personally, I don't see a problem with it.

The problem is that they are annoying people who are potentially their
best customers. You can argue whether this is unreasonable or not on
the customers' part, but that's the bottom line.

Personally I'd argue that if you've only got extremely limited
quantities available, it is not unreasonable for the customers to be
annoyed. The key here is 'extremely limited.' If you know you can't
meet demand for more than the first 15 minutes and you don't make a
big point of telling your customers how small your stock is and that
there will be no rain checks, then you're asking for trouble and
you're going to get it.

I'm old enough to know that is
is a promo, supplies may truly be limited and if they are gone, they are
gone forever. If I get one, I get a bargain.

If Bessey provided a limited number, you can't blame Rockler for bad
planning can you?

You sure as heck can. In fact most customers are going to blame
Rockler, not Bessey, and with a great deal of justification because
Rockler set themselves up to be blamed.

They had a good deal and they advertised it (they should
have mentioned limitged quantities. Did they?). To me, that is not shifting
blame but telling the truth.

It may in fact be true, but Rocklet still created a problem for
themselves by advertising an item without pointing out with great
emphasis that the stock was so limited it would be gone within
minutes.

There's also a matter of marketing strategy here. The purpose of the
promotion is to pull people into the store, but not all the company's
stores need the promotion equally. In a case like this you're supposed
to think strategically and allocate the supply of the product to those
stores where it can make the most difference. In other words, not all
stores run the promotion, but the ones that do have enough to last for
at least a few hours.

None of these store can stay in business
selling merchandise below cost. When they offer a free lunch, you know you
have to pay for it somehow.

Actually Ed, there's an entire industry that makes a practice of
selling merchandise below cost. It's the grocery business. Those real
low prices you see on specials in the grocery stores week after week
include loss leaders, a fair number of which are actually being sold
below cost. (Either by the producer or the retailer, depending.) The
trick, of course, is that they make it up on other items they know
you're likely to buy. Woodworking stores can do the same thing.

Of course making the strategy work requires some marketing
intelligence. Just getting a good deal on a popular product from the
manufacturer and spreading the available supply equally to all stores
doesn't.

--RC


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

I have to agree that this is standard practice at most stores--advertise
something for an extremely low price, then have only a few of them on hand.
Best Buy, Fry's, Microcenter, you name it. I'm not surprised Rockler did
the same thing.

The only time I can recall when a store did not pull one of these stunts was
when Meijer opened a new store in my area. They had Playstations and
Xbox'es advertised for $100. I expected they would have a dozen at best and
that I would have to hunt down an employee to unlock a cabinet. But they
had several PALLETS stacked waist high in the middle of the aisle. Help
yourself. I couldn't believe my eyes. As far as I know, they had stock for
the entire week of the sale.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
om...


If Bessey provided a limited number, you can't blame Rockler for bad
planning can you? They had a good deal and they advertised it (they
should have mentioned limitged quantities. Did they?). To me, that is
not shifting blame but telling the truth. None of these store can stay
in business selling merchandise below cost. When they offer a free
lunch, you know you have to pay for it somehow.
Ed

Just looked at my orignial e-mail for the sale and it just says "while
quantities last".
--
Paul O.

wrote in message

The problem is that they are annoying people who are potentially their
best customers. You can argue whether this is unreasonable or not on
the customers' part, but that's the bottom line.

As I stated, I've seen this type of promo enough that my expectations are
low. So low I'd not get out of bed early for any of them.



If you know you can't
meet demand for more than the first 15 minutes and you don't make a
big point of telling your customers how small your stock is and that
there will be no rain checks, then you're asking for trouble and
you're going to get it.

Sure, but how many times have you seen "free T-shirts for the first 25
customers" or the like. Maybe I'm cynical, but I don't get excited and
expect to get the free shirt.



You sure as heck can. In fact most customers are going to blame
Rockler, not Bessey, and with a great deal of justification because
Rockler set themselves up to be blamed.

How? They said while supplies last. They did not last long. Plan on being
in line early for the real bargains. An Ikea store opened in CT a few weeks
ago. People were in line the night before to get the freebies.



There's also a matter of marketing strategy here. The purpose of the
promotion is to pull people into the store, but not all the company's
stores need the promotion equally. In a case like this you're supposed
to think strategically and allocate the supply of the product to those
stores where it can make the most difference. In other words, not all
stores run the promotion, but the ones that do have enough to last for
at least a few hours.

You just **** of different people at different locations. If you were a
store manager, you'd want your share of the promo items, as would your
customers.


None of these store can stay in business
selling merchandise below cost. When they offer a free lunch, you know
you
have to pay for it somehow.

Actually Ed, there's an entire industry that makes a practice of
selling merchandise below cost.
It's the grocery business.

Not every item at every time. Somewhere along the line you are paying for
the bargfain. Sure, you can just grab the deals and head to the next store,
but as long as you continue to eat and b uy food, you pay for it along the
way. If you don't, your neighbors are.


Those real
low prices you see on specials in the grocery stores week after week
include loss leaders, a fair number of which are actually being sold
below cost. (Either by the producer or the retailer, depending.) The
trick, of course, is that they make it up on other items they know
you're likely to buy. Woodworking stores can do the same thing.

Rockler did just that. Woodcrarft has monthy specials but I don't know that
they are "loos leaders", just a discount.


Of course making the strategy work requires some marketing
intelligence. Just getting a good deal on a popular product from the
manufacturer and spreading the available supply equally to all stores
doesn't.

You mean they should have more of the bargains where you shop? I don't
necessarily agree. Distribution should be either equal for every store, or
pro-rated on store volume, but every store should have some minimum.

(Dale) wrote in
om:

snip

The Pleasant Hill store got 11 sets of clamps, and had no say in how many
they could offer - they were sent all that corporate allocated.

They could have sold 100 sets, without a problem, before noon.

Patriarch,
who spends a fair amount of cash there, but sought no more clamps today.
Hinges, plugs, a Forstner bit, a package of sanding disks, etc....

Dear Group,
Apparently a lot of unhappy customers this morning at the
Rockler stores around the country, according to the number of posts on
the rec. Here in Seattle, I was the first in line at opening at 7:00
am and made a bee line for the $99 Bessey clamp set advertized. There
was grand total of ............TWO........available. Within one
minute, I grabbed one and another fellow, the other. The third chap
was out of luck! I apologised to him and couldn't believe myself, that
there were only two. He was very gracious about it. I suggested he
demand that they give him the individual clamps off the rack and make
good on their offer. He smiled and said " I should"! I wouldn't have
been so tolerant, if the situation was reversed. Twenty sets seems
reasonable..........two appears downright fraudulant! I was one of the
lucky one's this morning, but had it not been for the few seconds
difference, I would have rightly been upset and dissapointed. Rockler
will, and should, receive some negative press from this ridiculous
oversight and hopefully, ..........get their act together!
Thanks,
Michael

loutent wrote in message ...

The good news (for you) is that Amazon currently has the 24/40 Bessey
on sale for $125 and you can apply the $25 off $125 coupon (check
around if you don't have one) & with free shipping, your net cost is
about $100. I bought this set at this price last week with no problem
about "running out of supply".


I called amazon and had them price match Rockler, I also get free
shipping and the total was 105.87.

Alan

In article ,
(Dale) wrote:

They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days

Same thing happened last year with a Jorgensen clamp promotion and
Woodcraft:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...8859-1&threadm
=tah3pv0lb15jc8gf5b4alt7f94laem78ps%404ax.com&rnum =12&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D
bessey%2Bsale%2Brockler%2BOR%2Bwoodcraft%2Bgroup:r ec.woodworking%26hl%3De
n%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DISO-8859-1%26as_drrb%3Db%26as_mind%3D1%26as
_minm%3D1%26as_miny%3D2003%26as_maxd%3D28%26as_max m%3D11%26as_maxy%3D2004
%26start%3D10%26sa%3DN

Just to add my 2cents, I'd be ****ed too. It would also sour me to that
retailer for a long time. Writing Ann Jackson Rockler or whoever's in
charge at Rockler these days would be the way to properly vent your
dissatisfaction.

--
Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company
____

"Sure we'll have fascism in America, but it'll come disguised
as 100% Americanism." -- Huey P. Long

rcook responds:

Actually Ed, there's an entire industry that makes a practice of
selling merchandise below cost. It's the grocery business. Those real
low prices you see on specials in the grocery stores week after week
include loss leaders, a fair number of which are actually being sold
below cost. (Either by the producer or the retailer, depending.) The
trick, of course, is that they make it up on other items they know
you're likely to buy. Woodworking stores can do the same thing.

Of course making the strategy work requires some marketing
intelligence. Just getting a good deal on a popular product from the
manufacturer and spreading the available supply equally to all stores
doesn't.

I'll agree with that. The aim is fairness, I guess, but the effect is stupid.

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

On 27 Nov 2004 12:54:31 -0800, (Dale)
wrote:


Sad story snipped...


I quit dealing with Rockler after they screwed me not once, but twice,
on Internet orders. The first was minor, only a dollar "price
increase" on an item that they said they would refund. Never
happened. These second involved a "15% off" promo that failed to work
out. So to hell with them.

But on the subject, I've made friends with a car salesman at a local
family-owned new car dealership. Been in business 80 years and the
owner is a pillar of the community. My friend told me that they will
advertise a car at a super low price and in order to comply with
advertising regulations, they do have one such car. It's usually a
puky color, doesn't have a radio and is a three-speed manual tranny.
In other words, something no one wants. But they *do have one for
sale* and they will sell it although the obvious tactic is to sell a
different car.

Our state Attorney Genenerl has filed suit against a different dealer
for one of its scams, however.

And on a closing note, the local blue borg has been kicked out of the
BBB.

"Dale" wrote in message
om...
snip

They
shifted the blame saying it was a manufacturer's promotion and that
Bessey had only supplied the whole chain with a limited amount of kits
to sell so after they were gone that was it. It seems that this is a
common tactic these days, not just in the woodworking field but in
electronics and other sectors as well- i.e. offer a special limited
promotion with a limited number of units to sell at a great price to
suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well.

snip

Dale


Dale -

I don't believe Bessey is to blame here...we have a similar offer from
Bessey, and will be running a promotion as well. From what I can see - it
appears that Rockler sold below their cost to draw people into the
stores.... which would explain the apparently limited stock, and the
availability in-store only (these are HEAVY, and expensive to ship by mail).

When we run the sale in the new year - the inventory will be "bottomless",
available by mail, but we won't be running it below cost...

Cheers -

Rob

"Charlie Self" wrote in message

I'll agree with that. The aim is fairness, I guess, but the effect is
stupid.

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".

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

Rob Lee wrote:


When we run the sale in the new year - the inventory will be "bottomless",
available by mail, but we won't be running it below cost...

Cheers -

Rob


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

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:42:40 -0600, "Swingman" wrote:


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.

Retail employees often get better pricing than ANY public sale, all
the time. G 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

(Dale) wrote in message . com...
I drove forty-five minutes from my home in Napa to the Rockler store...

suck people into the stores thinking they will buy other merchandise
as well. Well for me it just ****ed me off and made me even more
likely to buy my woodworking supplies from on-line suppliers-
competitive pricing, often free shipping and rarely do I have to pay
sales tax. And because of my bad experience with Rockler's store it
will make me think twice before ordering anything from them on-line
when I can get the same or similar product from another supplier.

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.

"mbrooks" wrote in message

We're being played for suckers.

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

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

"Ba r r y" wrote in message
On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:42:40 -0600, "Swingman" wrote:


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.

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

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.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

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

Swingman responds:


"Charlie Self" wrote in message

I'll agree with that. The aim is fairness, I guess, but the effect is
stupid.

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"

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

"Rob Lee" wrote in message news
When we run the sale in the new year - the inventory will be "bottomless",
available by mail, but we won't be running it below cost...

Cheers -

Rob


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)

Rob Lee wrote:
mucho snippage...

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

ok, i'll go now.

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

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:42:40 -0600, "Swingman" wrote:

"Charlie Self" wrote in message

I'll agree with that. The aim is fairness, I guess, but the effect is
stupid.

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".

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

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 08:05:39 -0700, Wes Stewart wrote:

On 27 Nov 2004 12:54:31 -0800, (Dale)
wrote:


Sad story snipped...



But on the subject, I've made friends with a car salesman at a local
family-owned new car dealership. Been in business 80 years and the
owner is a pillar of the community. My friend told me that they will
advertise a car at a super low price and in order to comply with
advertising regulations, they do have one such car. It's usually a
puky color, doesn't have a radio and is a three-speed manual tranny.
In other words, something no one wants. But they *do have one for
sale* and they will sell it although the obvious tactic is to sell a
different car.


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

Our state Attorney Genenerl has filed suit against a different dealer
for one of its scams, however.

And on a closing note, the local blue borg has been kicked out of the
BBB.

Any commentary on why?

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).

"ToolMiser" wrote in message ...
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).

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.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

"Rob Lee" wrote in message ...
When we run the sale in the new year - the inventory will be "bottomless",
available by mail, but we won't be running it below cost...

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

Greg, in, ah, whisperA u s t r a l i awhisper /off

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

Ann Rockler Jackson wrote:
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

Good response!
-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

Ann Rockler Jackson wrote:
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

Good response!
-Peter De Smidt

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 13:07:31 -0600, Peter De Smidt
pdesmidt*no*spam*@tds.*net* wrote:

Ann Rockler Jackson wrote:
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

Good response!
-Peter De Smidt

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?

wrote:

Ann Rockler Jackson

Good response!
-Peter De Smidt

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

Good Job Rockler!

I kind of wonder about the " address though.

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