Wow! Where to begin regarding the Golf Galaxy on Research Boulevard in Austin Texas. First of all I've been going to the store for 10 plus years now and have made numerous purchases of golf equipment and golf apparel at this location during this time. The current staff in this location, Jason (who I've known and visited with for several years now), along with Tanner, Nelson, and Coach are fantastic. These guys are rock solid, gold, and are tremendous assets to this location.
Each and every visit has felt like a positive, friendly, professional experience and it is most certainly because of these great professional Golf Galaxy associates.
EXCEEEEEEEEPT for today. Today was a complete 180. Today, as soon as I walked into the store with two of my own clubs in my hand, one bald, over tattooed and over stuffed, bearded little guy, approached me asking if I needed anything. As soon as I was going to say I was going to hit golf balls in one of the two open bays on the left (which has always been used to the best of my knowledge for customers to try out new and/or used clubs and possibly swing their own clubs) the insecure, beared, overly stuffed little boy said in a direct, hastily tone, "We can't be the only driving range in town. Are you looking for anything?". When I tried to state that I may be interested in a three wood and/or a used driver, he again stated they can't be the only driving range in town (not sure what he meant considering the store is, in fact, not the only driving range in town. Interesting enough, on this particular day it happened to be raining heavily all day. What a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to have more customer flow and GENERATE SALES, than a rainy day. Terrible sales stradegy No. 1. If he and the situation weren't so insulting and ironic, it would be laughable. At this time another sales associate, Nelson, who I have worked with in the store swinging clubs on a couple of occasions, and who is nothing but, nice, personable and professional, recognized me and approached to shake my hand and say hello. At this time, again, for a third time, the rude, tattooed, hairless, sales associate repeated in front of Nelson that their store cannot be the only driving range in town, obviously trying to make it clear that they're store is not open to just come in and hit one's own personal golf clubs. (Despite the fact that the two open bays on the left, the ones that do not have the Track Man monitors, have a big soft leather chair for those waiting to hit balls in these open bays, appearing to present a comfortable atmosphere. You know what: duly noted, but ashame. Before its renovation, this was a great store which always welcomed people to come in and hit their own clubs for a spell. Even in the past month or so, a floor sales associate said to me directly to come in anytime and hit clubs in the open bays that are not used for club fitting. I will certainly consider the guidance of this poor excuse of a sales associate moving forward.)
So, to continue, before this rude sales associate could glean information that I may have been interested in looking at some used golf clubs, he made it clear that there would be no casual hitting of my own clubs. At this time Nelson proceeded to walk away and assist other guests and patrons. While I continued to look through the merchandise on the floor, I could hear the rude bald sales associate virtually yell loudly across the store in Nelson's direction but which could easily be heard from anywhere in the store, that "the store is not a public driving range but the point is to sell golf clubs. That's our goal. That's what we're supposed to be doing here."
Please know, this entire experience was nothing short of completely rude and unprofessional on this rude sales person's part. Just amazing. I was under the impression and still hoped that one's of this Golf Galaxy's goals was, while first and foremost in business to make a profit, to also overall promote the welfare and game of golf in a broader sense. Like I previously stated, I have been a devoted, frequenting customer of this Golf Galaxy location. This little rude sales associate obviously had a burr under his saddle about people coming in to hit clubs, and was overcompensating for some other deficiency that is going on in his little world; his small hands, small feet, whatever. It is hard to believe that he can last, let alone actually succeed, in the sales industry. One of just a few things is going to happen to this particular location: he will hopefully, eventually be jettisoned back where he belongs hustling in used cars or used mattress sales, or the remaining professional staff at this location will all leave, finding him to be the upbearable and complete jackass that he is, at which time the store itself will eventually fold with him anywhere near the helm. Best of luck. read more
