Rude people out and active, crappies not so much.

[th64]

Got to the bait store at 6am when it was supposed to be open-nobody home so I went to the gas station and even though the door was open the gal inside did not want me to use the bathroom because the gas station was closed. Almost gave up on the baitstore but I really wanted minnows.

The guy shows up over a half hour late, he gets me my minnows but asked me to wait while he got his register set up-Really!? I asked-you are going to charge me! He gave me the minnows but never did apologize-Then this guy at the lake roars up to where I'm fishing rolls down his window and barks "how many, how big" I said could you say "hello first?" What do you want!! he replies-was I asking for fifty bucks! Just a "hello"

Am I becoming a grouchy old man?

Got a few fish, beautiful day-birds singing etc.

[stjoeguy]

I was out for about 5 hours today. During that time, I watched a dad pull some kids on a sled behind a snowmobile, saw a father on his snowmobile riding beside his son on a mini-snowmobile, and a fellow pulled up by me on a Ranger. He asked how fishing was and then drew a map in the snow pointing out spots for me to try. I got no fish but it sounds like I had a better day. Let's hope that tomorrow you have better luck with people and I have better luck with fish. You're right, though, it was a beautiful day.

[PurpleFloyd]

Got to the bait store at 6am when it was supposed to be open-nobody home so I went to the gas station and even though the door was open the gal inside did not want me to use the bathroom because the gas station was closed. Almost gave up on the baitstore but I really wanted minnows.

The guy shows up over a half hour late, he gets me my minnows but asked me to wait while he got his register set up-Really!? I asked-you are going to charge me! He gave me the minnows but never did apologize-Then this guy at the lake roars up to where I'm fishing rolls down his window and barks "how many, how big" I said could you say "hello first?" What do you want!! he replies-was I asking for fifty bucks! Just a "hello"

Am I becoming a grouchy old man?

Got a few fish, beautiful day-birds singing etc.

Fishing should be relaxing. Did you by chance ask about his day? Maybe he got run off the road by a guy rushing to the bait shop for minnows . You get a lot farther with sugar than vinegar.

[th64]

Everyone has been nice today-I have met so many nice fisherman out on the lake, so many great tips at bait stores-one baitstore owner drove us to a great spot (for real) I put my car into a ditch up in Mora I had at least 3 guys offer to pull me out ( guy who did had a brand new Chevy diesel, wow what a nice truck that thing could have pulled me out and a stump at the same time) More nice

people than skunks.

[Big Dave2]

Am I becoming a grouchy old man?

Judging by this post I'd have to say yes.

[th64]

BD2

Do you like it when someone is 40 min.late and no apology?

Are you Ok with waiting to use the bathroom when the door is open anyway?

Strangers demanding information W/O any routine courtesy(hello or good morning)

If these 3 things line up in the same morning again maybe I'll be grouchy again

(nice to be out in the warm sun though)

[Bobby Bass]

Well you kind of leave yourself open here for some shots. I agree on the guy just demanding for info with out going through the fake hiya, how ya doing. Guy late to the bait shop, it happens. No law that I know that says a store HAS to be open by the time posted on the door. You failed to mention if you bought anything at the gas station, I guess not since the gal told you it was closed. Kind of an unspoken thing that you usually buy something at a store when you use the bathroom. Last but not least the free bait you demanded. At best I would have rounded the price down for ya if you were a reguler but I would not have given it to you free and the store is open when I get there just like the store is closed when I finally get out after people coming in at closing time needing just one thing. But all in all it was a nice warm pre spring day.

[Big Dave2]

BD2

Do you like it when someone is 40 min.late and no apology?

Are you Ok with waiting to use the bathroom when the door is open anyway?

Strangers demanding information W/O any routine courtesy(hello or good morning)

If these 3 things line up in the same morning again maybe I'll be grouchy again

(nice to be out in the warm sun though)

[river rat316]

The guy at the bait shop probably works 6-7 days a week and is there from open to close, or pretty close, so I think it's you who is being the donkey in this situation. It is also his store and does not need to apologize to any one for anything, if you don't like it go somewhere else next time.

[minky]

No mercy on here!

[th64]

Where do I start? I have met the owner-that's not the owner so when the sign says 6 he cannot decide 6:40 is Ok-no law yep no law on 'hello' either-Bought gas. coffee and a water.

I am almast never late to work and if it effects anyone I apologize.

40 min. late=100% free minnows every time absolutely-IMHO

Nother great day today BTW

[mn_al]

I knew a guy like you once. He ended up dying a grumpy lonely old man. Life is to short to think you are entitled to everything in life and be as someone else stated, be a donkey. Lighten up a bit and you might actually find out it is quite nice to have friends.

[th64]

Lol

My free minnows are in the garage-hope I can use them one more time-I don't hold a grudge but the occasional mini rant on this forum is kinda fun-My wife just got home with tacos and I would give one to any one of those goof balls who bugged me on Sunday!

[Cheers]

If the guy was not the owner then how can you expect him to give away the merchandise for free ? You admit being late for work , should your company donate its profits for that time frame ? Just food for thought

[aanderud]

should your company donate its profits for that time frame ? Just food for thought

If a business is customer service oriented, and some subset of customers have recently been poorly served, then I'd actually be more surprised to see a business that was NOT willing to offer some fairly cheap token as a gesture of good will in return for their (hopefully) continued service. If you don't think companies 'donate profits' to remedy poor customer service situations, you're not looking around. I've called the store manager after poor experiences at a fast food restaurant and gotten vouchers for a free value meal (even more expensive than a scoop of free minnnows). I've had several meal 'comped' or discounted heavily at a sit-down restaurant after receiving poor service from either the wait staff, the cook, or both.

Actually, I'd guess that almost every company that's in the business of retail CUSTOMER SERVICE already has policies (sometimes written, often unwritten) that include the ability to offer perks where necessary to maintain customer relations -- discounts to attract new customers, to retain old customers, or to remedy poor customer service incidents, etc. Call it 'donating profits' if you want, but I look at it as a cost of doing business.

Customer acquisition and retention isn't free, and the more times the bait store is 40 minutes late to open, the more it's going to cost them -- costs in either lost customers, or free bait or other perks to try to retain or regain that lost customer.

Just food for thought

[nofishfisherman]

aanderud, I think you are right for the most part but remember we are talking about a small bait shop not a large retail chain, they are going to operate totally differently. Most of the experiences and policies you talk about are from large retail chains. They certainly have put more thought into customer retention and how to handle complaints. The reason that you are able to get free product from these companies is because it had already been previously authorized for designated reasons, or because the issue was escalated to a manger who had the authority to give product away. When talking about retail chains we are also talking about $100's of millions of dollars in sales, they aren't likely to feel the pinch of a few freebies given.

However, in the case of the OP we are talking about a small bait shop with probably only 2-3 employees including the owner. Unless the owner is the Warren Buffet of minnows he's not making huge money and every scoop of minnows counts. The guy who was working was not the owner and was probably just some know-nothing peon. Its very likely the owner has never thought about how to handle complaints ot to authorize his employees to give product away in certain cases. There is no manager on hand to get approval from and I'm guessing he wasn't about to go wake up the owner to get his approval.

[th64]

Big amen to aanderund and his comments are just as relevant for a small business-You could argue that overall the margin of error for a small business is smaller so that said -BE ON TIME.

I know too that bait is a tough business so I always try to buy other stuff at a bait store if I can.

Got my smoked Tullies back from the butcher shop in Robinsdale-great price,great service.

[pathogen]

Jerks are where you find them. Luckily the nice people outnumber them significantly. But one bad experience seems to sour an otherwise happy day.

[Big Dave2]

Is it a good business practice to try to appease customers who receive a poor experience from your business? absolutely!

Is it mandatory? No.

Are you "entitled" to free stuff for experiencing poor service? No. The only thing you are "entitled" to is the ability to go somewhere else next time.

You keep assuming this store employee was late for work but we don't know that at all. If the employee told his boss the day before that he would be 40 minutes late tomorrow morning, was he really late for work? Maybe the store owner just shrugged and said "Don't worry about it, the only customers we get at that time of the morning are a couple of grumps who want everything for free anyway."

[Big Dave2]

Actually, I'd guess that almost every company that's in the business of retail CUSTOMER SERVICE already has policies (sometimes written, often unwritten) that include the ability to offer perks where necessary to maintain customer relations -- discounts to attract new customers, to retain old customers, or to remedy poor customer service incidents, etc.

I'm guessing you have never worked for one of these small mom and pop retail stores. Most of these people don't think that way at all. You're absolutely right if you say that they should but that doesn't mean that they do.

What you have outlined is one of the main reason most people these days prefer to do business with large chains rather than local mom and pops.

[elkrivermn]

Is it a good business practice to try to appease customers who receive a poor experience from your business? absolutely!

Is it mandatory? No.

Are you "entitled" to free stuff for experiencing poor service? No. The only thing you are "entitled" to is the ability to go somewhere else next time.

You keep assuming this store employee was late for work but we don't know that at all. If the employee told his boss the day before that he would be 40 minutes late tomorrow morning, was he really late for work? Maybe the store owner just shrugged and said "Don't worry about it, the only customers we get at that time of the morning are a couple of grumps who want everything for free anyway."

Aint got time for people that are late, and son if your late at your workplace and that affects me I will no longer support your workplace. plain and simple

[grasshopper]

My dad always said it's better being early. If their late, I won't come back.

[Finns]

elkrivermn, grasshopper, I'm so glad you two have NEVER been late!

[Big Dave2]

and son if your late at your workplace and that affects me I will no longer support your workplace. plain and simple

[th64]

Never felt like I was 'entitled' but it was my right to think the guy was crazy for trying to charge me-the big picture of keeping your costumers happy is more important than the cost of the minnows.

Anyone can be late but the guy did not even apologize-he did not have permission from his boss,

pretty sure his boss had to call him to wake him up. When your late w/o a reason or an apology you are saying your time is more valuable than mine.(wow thought this post was dead)

Golden Rule baby.