American Golf – Uncompetitive or what?

[Deleted member 18588]

No I perfectly understand the point, I agree with the points they are making.

My point is asking the question what is AG's USP?

They are not the cheapest, and in this scenario are quite a bit more expensive, they don't have knowledgeable staff to help you, and now they don't offer a good price on trade ins.

Most golfers looking for a new set will be wanting to sell the current set to part pay for the new set. Golf clubs are expensive after all.

If AG are consistently well below other seller in PX terms then they will continue to lose business. They lost the OP's business and I doubt that is a singular incident.

My point about the 2nd hand clubs is that they could sell them online like golfbidder, ergo not taking up shelf space. And Man In Black pointed out that they do have an eBay shop for second hand gear anyway.

Yes second hand golf gear isn't cash so can't pay overheads, but you know what also isn't cash, not making the sale as the customer can get it cheaper or better PX deal elsewhere.

It seems in this case you take the option on the PX clubs, make the sale, make some profit and give yourself the potential to recover the whole profit/make more profit by selling the 2nd hand clubs. Or you make no sale, no profit and have no potential to make anything more.

How many missed sales will it take before it starts biting their business

Or a third option.

Don't offer "trade in" deals, thereby saving time and floor space and enabling AG to offer keener prices on new stock.

At present the business seems to be falling between two stools, largely because of their previous ill advised double value (it wasn't) trade in promotion leading too many potential customers to still think that AG is the best option for disposing of old clubs.

In addition, and for some time now, their prices can be a long way from competitive.

I know that they offer price match but many people find that an unnecessary hassle.

 

[r0wly86]

Or a third option.

Don't offer "trade in" deals, thereby saving time and floor space and enabling AG to offer keener prices on new stock.

At present the business seems to be falling between two stools, largely because of their previous ill advised double value (it wasn't) trade in promotion leading too many potential customers to still think that AG is the best option for disposing of old clubs.

In addition, and for some time now, their prices can be a long way from competitive.

I know that they offer price match but many people find that an unnecessary hassle.

That would be fair enough. You are both right that probably offering a half arsed PX is the worst of both worlds

 

[Maninblack4612]

Its just a shame that MiB and his mate hadn't talked because otherwise both could have got the deal they wanted

I was really peed off. I play with him every Saturday & had no idea he was looking for new clubs

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I was really peed off. I play with him every Saturday & had no idea he was looking for new clubs

That would pee me off too, and possibly the source of your feelings

 

[Maninblack4612]

That would pee me off too, and possibly the source of your feelings

Nah, I was already peed off with the derisory offer & the couldn't care less attitude of the staff.

 

[hines57]

the pros at our club are very good when buying clubs and part exchanging. They price match online stores and offer the Golfbidder price for trade ins. On this basis, I'm vey happy to support the pros, obtain great deals and excellent service.

 

[slowhand]

the pros at our club are very good when buying clubs and part exchanging. They price match online stores and offer the Golfbidder price for trade ins. On this basis, I'm vey happy to support the pros, obtain great deals and excellent service.

The pros at one of my local clubs do this exact same thing and as such, am very happy to give them my business.

Not to mention you get excellent service and can be confident in their recommendations.

 

[Smasher]

AG just sent me the 'we've missed you' e-mail just as I was about to buy something 😀 lasts a week and I'm currently away on business for another week 😔

 

[Maninblack4612]

I had a long chat with a couple of the staff, who I know quite well, at my local store. They are completely frustrated at the number of deals they are losing because of the totally uncompetitive nature of the part exchange prices they are forced to offer. I told them that I would think twice, possibly three times, before I bought from them again. I appreciate what some people have said about the potential difficulties of dealing with used stock but I am convinced that this is losing AG a huge amount of business and, more importantly, sending potential customers elsewhere in the future. I think that their business model is wrong.

 

[Marshy77]

I think AG is in the market for the non member golfer who likes to try before they buy, who maybe doesn't shop online or is passing by and needs to pick up some balls/glove/tees etc. If they are a non member player then picking up balls/polo shirt is probably going to be cheaper than when they turn up at a course to play or a resort course - certainly a resort course.

 

[Slab]

I had a long chat with a couple of the staff, who I know quite well, at my local store. They are completely frustrated at the number of deals they are losing because of the totally uncompetitive nature of the part exchange prices they are forced to offer. I told them that I would think twice, possibly three times, before I bought from them again. I appreciate what some people have said about the potential difficulties of dealing with used stock but I am convinced that this is losing AG a huge amount of business and, more importantly, sending potential customers elsewhere in the future. I think that their business model is wrong.

Just a guess and could be totally wrong but I suspect local store staff are concerned with personal sales commissions/bonus & daily/weekly gross turnover for their branch (at a push monthly turnover) Their frustration is easy to understand, however for me, even knowing those numbers isn't sufficient to say whether the company business model is wrong