American Golf Discount?

I agree with Duckster on pretty much everything he has said! the two local AG stores to me I now try and avoid due to the heavy approach as you walk in! Bolton in particular is a right nightmare!

with regards to pouncing on the customer as soon as they walk in as a horrid tactic! I was a very successful retail manger for 15 years within the mobile phone industry and we always advised my staff to let the customer feel comfortable within the store then introduce yourself!

there is nothing wrong with acknowledinging a customer when they walk through the door but that is all you need to do!

I could go on about this topic all night as I am so passionate about good customer service and the shopping experience, but you would be glad to know I won't lol :)

finally well done that AG manager for coming online and defending his business, good mystery shop scores too at 90%.:thup:

justvthink what the score could be if you take onboard the forums feedback ;)
 
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Never been an especial fan of AG - although that's no great matter as I'm not an especial fan of lots of things. Had a poor experience a few years ago but that was a one off and could have had similar off anyone. Main reason I don't go often is that the two most local aren't that convenient. (Perhaps Mr AGPGA could say whether they always build them on one side of a dual carriageway :))

But a recent chance visit was a pleasant surprise and the sales staff saved me nearly £250 - by effectively persuading me I didn't need a new driver. A bit of a chat, a few waggles, and a brief look at my stance and he determined I was standing too close to the ball and said something to the effect that it was worth having a try. No pressure to buy. It works and I'm not buying new any time soon. But if I do, I may easily be persuaded to visit them.
 
It certainly depends on who you speak to at certain stores.

My tart bought me the DNA's last April from the Warrington store, last month I played and noticed one of the spikes had snapped off and the thread was stuck in the shoe.

She spoke to Warrington branch and they said take them back to our local store and he'd call ahead let them know. All of that happened no probs and I was told I'd hear within a week of the outcome. I called about 9days later on a Friday only to speak to somebody else and the response was " no, we haven't heard anything" I asked if he could investigate and he said "he couldn't, I'd just have to wait".

I called into the store on the following Tuesday and the chap I'd spoke to on the Friday was more interested in hanging clothes on the sale rail than finding out what was happening with my shoes. Luckily the lad who had dealt with me at the start came out and after a quick conversation he was on the phone to the returns dept to find they'd been credited the week before.

I've went in last week to order the FJ Hyperflex BOA and dealt with another lad who was great.

So in that particular store 2 out of 3 were very helpful.

I buy online for most of my gear as we don't have a pro shop.
 
From my own experience and from comments on here it seems that the only real way that AG fall down is in their consistency and continuity across their network of stores. Back in Essex there was one particular store manager who worked on one of the retail parks in mid essex who was nothing more than a jumped up market trader ..."i'll do you a deal guv". I saw some grandparents who came in there to buy a starter set for their grandchild and they were visibly shaken by his approach ....... was horrible to see. This was in stark contrast to another Essex based AG store that was onsite at my old club where the service and consultative approach was superb. I personally like AG and enjoy browsing and seeing all the latest gear in one place. I still think they have geographical gaps in their network which could be exploited , my nearest one is a 40 minute drive either way, and their website is poor but overall I much prefer them to DG.
 
Birthday today, email off AG, £10.00 voucher, (minimum spend £50.00). Email off DG 10% voucher, (no minimum spend)
Good marketing😃
 
Bought a 3 wood from my local AG in Sunderland last week. I need to take it back as one of the weights will not screw in, will see what there aftersales department is like tonight. I will say that they did price match the 3 wood though so thumbs up for that.
 
I think they are good at what they do! Have purchased from them before and probably will again but like to support our club pro as much as I can too (He just doesn't stock all the brands)

Was at my local driving range last week when a guy next to me was testing out fairways and hybrids and the AG employee was very helpful and at the end of the session conceded that he didn't think there would be any great benefit in changing clubs from his current set up which I personally thought was superb service... he did ask was there any other clubs he'd like to try out which any good sales person should do but wasn't pushy. The employees know that if they aren't pushy but helpful when the actual time comes to change they are more than likely to come back.
 
No issues with the bristol branch, friendly helpful and not pushy.
They've had a few quid off me in the last few months, irons, driver, bushnell and a scotty Cameron all bought from them in the last few months. All price matched and sweetened the deal with a dozen zstars when I got the driver.
 
AGPGA said:
This all makes for an interesting read - always seems very negative towards AG. I'm a store manager with American Golf and have been for the past 4 years. The picture painted on here doesn't really replicate what happens in store...well, my store anyway.
I have 3 PGA Qualified staff members who offer an exceptional level of custom fitting in store..far better than my surrounding PGA competitors. We have an unrivalled level of stock in our store which means that if you want something, there is a good chance that we'll have it.
The level of customer service in my store is of an extremely high standard and something that is reviewed on a daily basis. When you ask "Why do a lot of people want to use them" I often ask myself why not.
I've been a PGA Professional since 1994 and on joining AG I admit I wondered if I was selling my soul to the devil - but they have been a brilliant company to work with, offering amazing training and support. Our current CEO has implemented that our companies existence is to improve peoples games and I can see the company really going all out to do that with everyone who comes through the door. I daily see customers leaving my store with not only incredible value, but with hope in the products that we have helped them pick. Under no circumstances do we ever do the following:
"Oh sir - you're a standard fit, just so happens I have them in stock"
"TaylorMade are fantastic, but you need to get yourself one of the Nicklaus or John Letters drivers."
It's all a myth - I can assure you. Our goal is to help our customers and, in my store, this happens day in day out.

So in response now to the customer who started this thread - go to your local AG store and have a friendly conversation with them about what you are looking to buy and, if you want, tell them you're after a deal or have seen them cheaper online. The salesman will welcome this - after all we'd rather you bought from us than from someone else. We of course price match and there is no problem there. The products must be like for like and you can't trade in when having a price match. Don't go in there with the attitude that we're there to rob you of your money or sell you something you don't need - I can assure that the sales associate is there hoping that he can help you and will do his best to provide you with the right product at the right price. It won't cost you anything to give him a chance.

Best of luck!
:)
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only part I am surprised about- maybe a 'Customer Service thought' he wants in peoples minds, as I think AG's existence is to make a profitable business.


As I said already I've enjoyed good to very good CS from AG across 5 different stores so training and recruitment is working. Ongoing training and refresher courses would be useful as people change their approach depending upon personal and brance circumstances. I had one AG PGA chap try and convince me that all golf manufacturers have lengthened their shafts by 1" in the last 2 years as the human race are all taller:rofl:

Every business, especially large ones, will have a certain percentage of imperfect staff, it's human beings we are dealing with not automatons, but if they stick with their standard parts and let their natural personality show through - while listening to the customer - they will do well.
 
Guess I am one of the unlucy ones as I have not found a club pro that offers anywhere near the service that many on here describe. Price match, no, show an interest in my game and recomment gear, no, provide a detailed fitting service, no. In fact some of the pro shops around me have basically become a shop window for Ping and they just book them an appointment at Gainsborough.

On the other hand, I have never had a problem with AG or, in fact, DG either. Never been unhappy with the service, always been happy with the price and always been happy with what I have walked out with. Do not get to use them mutch anymore a there is not one near me but on a weekend away I did use the Slough store and they were very helpful, no pressure and I walked out a satisfied customer.

There are many on here that say use your club pro and if you have a good one then I totally agree. Unfortunately the pros that I have experience with have been very lacking and would not get my business on that basis.
 
I took part in a group lesson last night. The pro took hold of one the pupils drivers and said straight away, this is an inch shorter than standard. The golfer looked sheepish and waited to be told off, as you do in those situations. The pro then looked up and said how that made sense as mfrs had lengthened shafts in order to obtain more speed, distance etc. The downside was that for most golfers it also made it harder to control. Reducing the shaft length to "old sizes" is probably a good move for most amateur golfers. I tend to believe the pro last night rather than the need to lengthen due to a growing, height, population.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
I took part in a group lesson last night. The pro took hold of one the pupils drivers and said straight away, this is an inch shorter than standard. The golfer looked sheepish and waited to be told off, as you do in those situations. The pro then looked up and said how that made sense as mfrs had lengthened shafts in order to obtain more speed, distance etc. The downside was that for most golfers it also made it harder to control. Reducing the shaft length to "old sizes" is probably a good move for most amateur golfers. I tend to believe the pro last night rather than the need to lengthen due to a growing, height, population.
Click to expand...

just to be clear the pro I saw was obviously mistaken and probably spins that line to everyone he thinks he can get away with it- he didnt with me, especially after my degree in Calcium Anthropology.

p.s when are you back on the box- been missing ya ;)
 
CMAC said:
As I said already I've enjoyed good to very good CS from AG across 5 different stores so training and recruitment is working.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting the feedback all - it's great to hear that the time, effort and investment in the standard of customer care across the business, is starting to pay off. Long may it continue.

Have a great season all..

AGPGA
 
AGPGA said:
Thanks for posting the feedback all - it's great to hear that the time, effort and investment in the standard of customer care across the business, is starting to pay off. Long may it continue.

Have a great season all..

AGPGA
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Cheers for coming on and putting yourself in a potential firing line, overall it all boils down to the member of staff you deal with on the day to what experience you get with AG and DG and if either will do a discount etc.

I have used both and had good experiences and bad experiences but it's down to the staff at the stores as I could have purchased the items anywhere.
 
A typical American Golf store is pretty much hog heaven isn't it

I mean its a store full of golf gear for gawds sake!
(and some even have ranges/putting greens attached)

If you're only in for a glove you can still spend half an hour looking at stuff even if you were in there the week before.

Some sound like they don't like golf at all, its not like spending the afternoon shopping to replace the beans you ate last week or a new washing machine

And I know we're all captains of commerce & industry on here but when the definition of bad service has reached a level such that someone asking if they can help you, too soon after your arrival, is all that's required for a poor review, then things must've picked up since I left UK shores
(I realise some have worse examples)

I'll say it again, its a shop full of golf stuff! Old, new, 2nd hand, all kinds of gear, accessories, try before you buy facilities, discounts, specials etc etc

I'm as happy as a pig in poo when in an AG (or any other well stocked golf store for that matter)
 
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