Accuracy International Customer Experience at BSS

[Delivery]

"Praise in public, critique in private"

I too have done the thankless task of trade shows many times so can see it from both sides

My post was never intended to be a critique to AI I genuinely didnt expect anyone from AI to see it merely a question to others on the forum if I was the only person that felt this way - seems not
Some might say that if I didn't mean to critique I didn't need to name the company - but as per the point I made earlier if you are buying to a certain price point you might not expect the same amount of customer care, it was surprising to me that this happened with this premium brand so the name was relevant

The one time I tried to buy a new car and got ignored it was also a BMW and that was an absolute snub when the salesman saw I was driving a company van - so maybe there is an implied snobbery for certain brands and possibly maybe that might rub off on unintentional actions by others - I bought a new Audi instead and roughly 20 years later I have never owned a BMW but have owned too many Audis to count so there is something in it, this idea of treating any customer to the highest standard at all times

I never have criticized the hardware - except the lack of availability when I was getting it

 

[MarinePMI]

My apologies, I did not mean to say you intended to critique AI, and can understand your perspective as well.

LOL! As to the availability of (AI) hardware, I can whole heartily agree. It always seems to be out of stock or "coming soon". <shrug> I suppose it's just part of being such a widely popular product, along with their desire to have a product as perfect as they think it can be. I'm currently waiting to see when SAUM bolts will be available for the AT-XC, before I consider buying another one (I already have two short action AI's). Sure would be nice if they offered the AT-XC as a SAUM rifle from the factory, but I don't know if they will ever do that. If they did, I'd certainly be in line for one...

 

[Tazz]

I had the reverse experience on the Sauer stand, knowledgeable guys great advice and very interested in my experience with their rifles, customers hard to win easy to lose

 

[Bowland blades]

They should be employing professional sales people with some hunger, although in that specialist market they do need technical expertise.
Your man there obviously getting paid too much.

All salesmen should be commision only , However the Government didn't like it ! It works ! and the dollopers leave of their own accord through lack of cash while the best make good money . Govenment should stay the heck away from business!

 

[nick.308]

The simple solution would have been to tell them you work for the Kremlin and you just wanted a few pictures to copy their design.

 

[nick.308]

On a serious note, anyone remember the pictures of Russian special forces with an AI rifle hit the news around when the war kicked off?

 

[Cyres]

Not AI related but last year my partner was looking to buy a new car. We looked at Nissan and Toyota and we're treated OK
Lexus were next door so we took a look. She was completely ignored. She ended up buying a new Audi.
D

 

[tim@tcs]

It is difficult at a show to deal with the public. I don’t take my shop on the road but I’ve spent many years on the road with my wife and her business!
1. Guaranteed that the one customer you talk to isn’t really interested in your business.
2. Your phone will ring when a sensitive customer is trying to get your attention and he will walk off in a huff even if you take the call to tell them you will call back!
3. Most big buyers will have pretty much made up their mind before hand and you are better off just listening to them than trying your sales pitch!
4. No matter what price you have everyone wants a discount!
Essentially it’s bloody hard work dealing with the public and we now only do one event a year and the rest of our customers come via the internet or recommendation.
The amount of effort and cost in a public event is never worth the return but you need the exposure to the customer to build your brand! The market gets smaller year on year and flooding the market doesn’t really help!

 

[aris]

It is difficult at a show to deal with the public. I don’t take my shop on the road but I’ve spent many years on the road with my wife and her business!
1. Guaranteed that the one customer you talk to isn’t really interested in your business.
2. Your phone will ring when a sensitive customer is trying to get your attention and he will walk off in a huff even if you take the call to tell them you will call back!
3. Most big buyers will have pretty much made up their mind before hand and you are better off just listening to them than trying your sales pitch!
4. No matter what price you have everyone wants a discount!
Essentially it’s bloody hard work dealing with the public and we now only do one event a year and the rest of our customers come via the internet or recommendation.
The amount of effort and cost in a public event is never worth the return but you need the exposure to the customer to build your brand! The market gets smaller year on year and flooding the market doesn’t really help!

If you know all this in advance, plan and mitigate.

 

[tim@tcs]

If you know all this in advance, plan and mitigate.

You are welcome to have a go! Even my mother in law who has never been a fan of me told my wife that she thought I was a very good and competent salesman who knows the market and the goods.
The public are not the enemy even if they behave like one.
I would always go further for a polite customer than a shouty opinionated one who only deigns to visit your stand to tell you how good they are and you are talking rubbish about what you’re selling!
They all get treated with politeness and courtesy even after three very long days of hot game fair but the polite ones always get looked after a bit better as they tend to come back and give feedback that’s helpful!