My gripe about GolfTown!

For those of you here who live in Canada, I'm sure you are familiar with the big-box golf store GolfTown! This is a recent negative experience I had with them that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I purchased a club from the store after hitting 2 or 3 dozen balls in their virtual golf simulator. Prior to this purchase I did my research regarding the specs of this club (loft, lie, shaft flex and length). After my hitting session, I liked the club and I tell the sales associate (who has been watching me like a hawk) that "I'll take it." Then I asked to have it cut down as it is clearly too long for me (I'm choking down at least 1" on it as I hit balls). I ask the sales associate what the standard length of the club length is, and off the top of his head he tells me the length is 39"....which is incorrect by at least 3". So I specifically ask him to cut it 1" (my desired length) and he tells me "I think a 1/4" will do." I think "uhh...I don't think so." I pay for the club and services, then specify the grip and the length that I want the club at (1" shorter) before leaving. He acknowledges and tells me to pick it up in an hour.

An hour passes and I call the pro shop to inquire about the club. The fellow says "yep it's ready to be picked up". I think "awesome, great work guys!" Then I inquire about the length by which the club was shortened and grip. Low and behold, the fellow tells me it was shortened by 1/4" and it had the wrong grip. So I asked them to cut it shorter and to replace the grip. The fellow on the other line is now annoyed and angry after I explain to him that I had specified the length and grip. I'm not happy either and I tell him I'll pick it up tomorrow. I pick up the club the next day...all is good...correct length and grip.

I'm thinking I just dropped $250 on a club and balls and they're treating me like I'm just a nuisance. My gripe is not that they screwed up my order, it's their attitude. It's too bad that they are the only golf store around, because the way their customer service bites.

Which leads me to the question: Is GolfTown more interested in selling golf clubs then they are about helping your game via (fitting etc.)

I'll let you into a little secret, all the big box golf stores care far more about selling clubs than helping your game

I shop in my local independant store, which is next door to my office. They let me take out all the clubs I want to try on the course and driving range, let me look at the new stock out in their store room, ask about aspects of my game when I'm in and what I'm working on, and give professional advise on shafts, lengths, club etc basically heloing me pick the perfect equipment. On top of all this they always give me great deals, at or below the big golf stores prices.

Always shop local and make friends :)

my golf pro shop is great, and you can use all the clubs out on the course. I hate going to the big golf stores

I hate the big store as well, they just seem so soul-less!

If I go there its usually for things like balls or tees as the are usually a bit cheaper. Jut stuff I can pick up off the shelf tbh. I recently grabbed a 906F2 out of Nevada Bobs (UK) as it was going about £35 ($70) cheaper than I'd seen it anywhere else. Only had one in stock and when I pulled it I was shocked it was the right shaft, so I took it straight up and payed.

I would never trust any info or club fitting, alterations done in these stores!

The guys working at Golftown never listen to you. I bought a set of irons a few years back and told the guy I needed a 1/2 inch extension, midsize grip and a 2 degree upright lie angle. He gave me the old song and dance and started into the whole fitting routine until I grabbed the proper club out of the Ping fitting cart, put a piece of impact tape on the bottom, swung and had the mark dead center of the lines on the tape. I just smiled at the guy and told him to write up the work order.

I'm not sure why you would never trust these places in being fitted.

You're usually being fitted by certified pros, so I don't see what the problem would be.

These retail stores are in the business of selling you goods NOT services. I would rather pay the extra money and send my stuff to a place which specializes in custom club fitting, not selling shoes, clothing and accessories. More times then not, the big retail stores don't do the job right and you have to get it done again, just send to the right place and get it done right the first time.

Their fitting "pros" are probably graduates of a weekend course on how to install grips and shafts....now I am just getting mean :P

Ahh golftown, i love the look of the store and they have many great clubs for sale with the average price. Sometimes good deals there, but yes there salesman tend to be pushy on there way and rush the deal all the time. And the worst part of everything is being a teen like myself (16). They always assume your not buying and your just trying out clubs for the hell of it. So my advice for you the next time your there, is tell them your looking to buy. Yes your situation is different and that is a terrible salesmen u must have had.

Lange is right, At our store though, all of the salesmen are just excellent at Golftown. I'm usually always going there to purchase so thats when they take me seriously. Tonight though I am going to buy a few small things and try out a few sets of irons.

Thats when they give you that look of "like you can afford these..." Little do they know there is something called ebay.

Yeah, that's bad service. When I went and bought my Ping g10 at golf smith, it was very good service...they cut my driver down an 1.25 inches and it was done within 10 minutes...