Beware hard sell in Marine Superstore!

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Richard_Peevor

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I was in the Marine Superstore in Port Solent on Friday evening and the big boss was going through the musto range with a couple of the teenagers who work there too. He was explaining the differences between the inshore and coastal jackets and gave them the selling techniques and told them the things to say to get people to buy the more expensive suit!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

He said, "You can always get people to buy the more expensive suit if you say the right things!!!!!!!!!!!"

Not impressed! Watch out if you are new to sailing/boating and dont know what you want before you go in there!
 
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standard sales technique, I'd say.

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True, and I give them that but to be openly talking about in front of a customer /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
That's nothing. Some years ago I was in there for a fairly big shopping spree. So spent some time wandering around looking for what I wanted, so I didn't have to carry armfuls of stuff around with me for 40 minutes.

Idiot pimply youth by till started stating loudly to his colleagues - 'watch that one, he looks like a shop lifter'

After I'd finished deciding what I wanted, I wandered around in about 3 minutes and picked up everthing I wanted, wandered over to till, dumped it on counter, and slapped down a platinum card.

His colleague just looked at him and said 'Your big mouth is going to get you into serious trouble one day'


After that, anytime I went in with friends, club members, etc, I used to walk in and announce really loudly - 'You have to be careful in here, as if you spend more than 30 seconds looking around, some pimply faced employee will start telling his colleagues you are probably shoplifting'.
 
If you had been a shoplifter and if he'd said nothing, I have no doubt that you'd make a post pointing out that the pimply one wasn't doing his job and should be serving fries instead. I think he deserves a promotion.
 
Always thought quite highly of Marine Superstore and still do. Competitive prices, no problems returning stuff and healthy stock.

Was a bit silly doing it openly, but suspect they are no different to anyone else. If you don't sell the benefits of more expensive stuff, then people will only choose on price. At least people can make their own choice.
 
Good point and training has to be done at some time. Its good to know that some product knowledge is passed on.

Brendan, excellent response. You could have added some 'revenge'. How about giving them the choice, a healthy discount, or we can discuss the failed sale with the manager in the morning. Get the little sod focused on real customers.
 
Re: Why use Marine Superstore?

When you next go out to sea from Port Solent hang in a right halfway down the Harbour and stop on Hardway Sailing Club's pontoon (free for short stay, but check the depth.)
I do recommend that chandlery next door.
 
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'Your big mouth is going to get you into serious trouble one day'


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I would have preferred 'Your big mouth has just got you the sack' /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
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He said, "You can always get people to buy the more expensive suit if you say the right things!!!!!!!!!!!"

Not impressed! Watch out if you are new to sailing/boating and dont know what you want before you go in there!

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Dont know about Marine superstore, but agree in principle.

I went to Practical Hi Fi in Manchester the other day to spec and price a fairly simple home cinema system for the bedroom I will be spending a bit of time in after my forthcoming op.. The room may then become an office/den.

There was no doubt in my mind that the guy, (Martin), who gave me some advice, wanted to make sure I got what was right for me, and not necessarily what made him the most money, (although I obviously dont know where his biggest margins lie). He made it quite clear that I could spend more money on the "next best" thing, (eg Sony TV rather than Samsung, or Onkyo 605 AV receiver, rather than the 505), but suggested that the extra money would provide very little in terms of obvious benefits/improvements.

Had exactly the same experience at the same shop about 6 years ago, so guess why I went back, and why I am unlikely to shop around? When I'm ready to buy, I'll be checking that their prices are competitive, which they seem to be at the moment, then I'll do the deed over the phone and await the free delivery and £40 basic setup.

If I ever get upsold into something I later find I dont need, I'm unlikely to go back with any enthusiasm, and if I ever feel like I'm being upsold, (e.g. PCWORLD), I'm out of there like a shot.
 
The seller has to be a bit of a psychologist, a bit of an accountant and in this case a bit of a boatie, there will be a fair proportion who want to be persuaded to buy.
So maybe a bit wrong for him to suggest that he sells as high as he can to everyone - he should have some discretion.
If he sells £1000 worth of kit to someone who doesn't really need it but really wants it - no worries, both parties are happy.
But if he sells the same kit to someone who doesn't need it but doesn't know they don't need it (still with me? - not sure I am!) then he's dishonest.
 
In my IT sales days, I actually persuaded a few depts in large companies to scale down their plans for big system implementations, and hence my sale. I wanted happy customers that would come back and buy upgrades to projects delivered on time and on budget.

Most IT sales guys would just have taken the sale, then left the devastation in their wake, happy to have hit target. Guess who got the upgrades and repeat customers.

Though the way sales were set up then, you only had your customer for a year, so no repeat sales, so you didn't reap the rewards of happy customers, and sales people just went for the biggest sales they could get, no matter the consequences.

Does that ring any bells in huge government IT projects?
 
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Idiot pimply youth by till started stating loudly to his colleagues - 'watch that one, he looks like a shop lifter'

After I'd finished deciding what I wanted, I wandered around in about 3 minutes and picked up everthing I wanted, wandered over to till, dumped it on counter, and slapped down a platinum card.

His colleague just looked at him and said 'Your big mouth is going to get you into serious trouble one day'


After that, anytime I went in with friends, club members, etc, I used to walk in and announce really loudly - 'You have to be careful in here, as if you spend more than 30 seconds looking around, some pimply faced employee will start telling his colleagues you are probably shoplifting'.

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How long ago was that, Brendan?

I frequently visit Marine Superstore, not only for myself, but on behalf of the other organisations that I work for/with. I've never had any comments like that. Just good service, although I do know where the 'management' hide away.

Mind you, if the cap fits............................ /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Why would tbe cap fit?, I went in on a genuine shopping trip, and made no attempt to put the weather proof gear for my girlfriend on, and walk out wearing it as it would not have fitted me, which was one of the items on my list, and was about when he started making the comments. I bought the items I picked up and looked at, and never tried to put any of them under the coat I wasn't wearing, so difficult to see where I'd have stored all the stuff I couldn't have shop lifted.

It was a few years ago, so I hope things have improved, but I buy mainly internet these days. Have bought some nav stuff from an online chandlers who posts here, etc, and just look for good price and friendly service

I don't see any reason why I should be on personal terms with the management of any shop to get good service /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Now they've stopped taking cheques, I go elsewhere.
If they can't be bothered to take a perfectly legal form of currency, then they can obviously afford to turn business away.
I'd rather give it to a small chandler who needs the business.
 
There is absolutely no fear of a hardsell from their sunday staff. They can't get out from behind the counter and nor, seemingly, can they manage to construct sentances. I think we are safe.
 
My 19 years old son needed a camera for his art course work, and I'd never bought him one, so I sent him off to do some research/window shopping just after Christmas.

He asked to see a Nikon SLR in PC world. Not only was the assistant very jumpy about allowing him to handle it, but my son was aware that a not so subtle assembly of assistants were suddenly closer than they might be. Becoming aware of their proximity, my son looked over his specs and down at the assistant (he is 6ft 3in)..and said, "Look, I'm not a shop lifter, and neither do I intend doing a runner with this camera, but I do rather think I am going elsewhere"

He was quite upset about it as it happens. One can only suppose PC World have had trouble with runners.

Tim
 
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That's nothing. Some years ago I was in there for a fairly big shopping spree. So spent some time wandering around looking for what I wanted, so I didn't have to carry armfuls of stuff around with me for 40 minutes.

Idiot pimply youth by till started stating loudly to his colleagues - 'watch that one, he looks like a shop lifter'

After I'd finished deciding what I wanted, I wandered around in about 3 minutes and picked up everthing I wanted, wandered over to till, dumped it on counter, and slapped down a platinum card.



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Your big chance to be Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman and you forgot your lines. You just smile, say "big mistake" and walk away tucking said credit card back in your wallet.
 
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