rev:text
| - This was the first outfitters I shopped at in Calgary and I have been a customer for probably 15 years or more. I remember the old building. I progressively purchase less and less here, even though I keep going back, hoping that my experiences are just a fluke and that I caught them on a bad day. I think that I am done trying anymore. Poor selection and horrible service will keep me away for good.
Over time, I have found that they offer less and less. Particularly in the clothing department. This would seem strange, given how big the space is, but they add more and more of their house brand and much less that will compete with what obviously makes them more money. This might be acceptable if prices were significantly better, but they are not. For instance, if an MEC product costs about the same as Patagonia or North Face etc. then shouldn't it offer the same quality and features? This is not the case. Also, I like the other brands as their offer more variety in styling and sizing. This brings me to my next point.
Who decides what sizes to bring in, how many of each and when to restock? This is not done with their local buyers in mind. All of one size and none of another. Mens (and Womens for that matter) is brought in (or made) with the same inseam no matter what the size. Maybe you get the odd "long" for men, but no "short". It is the opposite for women. God help you if you are a size small man of 5'6" because you have to buy a 32 inch inseam. Also, too bad if you are a tall, thin woman...wear floods. Or, they tell you to go online. Well, their online site sucks, and if I have to shop online, then why not go to a different store or a different online retailer?
On a similar note, re: availability, THIS IS CALGARY CORPORATE GENIUSES! You are an outfitter. Calgarians live in the mountains year round. And let me tell you something, it can be freezing in the mountains in August so that warm gear (like base layers) should be in stock and re-stocked year round. We are not Vancouver or Toronto! Please customize to the needs of your local community.
Finally, the service has been getting bad, really bad, but last time it was so horrendous that I left my soon-to-be purchases in the shoe department and walked out. You have to grab a number, even to ask a quick question. You wait forever...I have never had to wait like this anywhere else, especially on a weekday. I had one woman tell me she would be right there to help me and never came back, then later on, a guy did the same thing. They never came back, not 10-15 minutes later. And every single one of their staff that day seemed only willing to do the bare minimum, or tell me "I'm new" and shrug their shoulders.
And to top it all off, I have to fight downtown traffic and pay to park in a parking lot where I perpetually circle.
I am afraid I no longer need the priviledge of shopping here.Your staff tell me your market share has been slipping and this has been a concern...I wonder why?
Update: ok, I added a star because the selection in accessories is quite good, even though you pissed me off.
|