LDC shop change
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5098
Printed Date: 18 Jan 26 at 10:53am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: LDC shop change
Posted By: Xpletive
Subject: LDC shop change
Date Posted: 24 Jan 09 at 4:49pm
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I've always found LDC shop really handy, as the nearest available to me (35 miles away). Not having been there for a couple of months, it was a bit of a shock to find today that you can no longer browse around for items. Everything - hardware, rope, clothing, etc. - it's all behind a counter and has to be asked for and fetched - like an auto parts department! What did we customers do to deserve being shut out, I wonder? It'll probably have to be the Dinghy Store at Datchet for me, now, for anything not suitable to buy online. |
Replies:
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 24 Jan 09 at 4:51pm
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That way they can stock more items and hold a larger quantity. I am sure if you wanted to see items ie harnesses they would bring them all out to you. ------------- |
Posted By: pondscum
Date Posted: 24 Jan 09 at 5:50pm
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Guildford Marine (actually in Old Woking) may be closer
to you and are always very helpful and browsing is no problem |
Posted By: pete_chinnock
Date Posted: 24 Jan 09 at 8:27pm
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Guildford Marine is definately very good! They don't mind you browsing and are very helpful! Even made me a cuppa n some xmas cake when i missed the bus... ------------- Pete RS700 702 |
Posted By: Roger
Date Posted: 24 Jan 09 at 8:36pm
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I am sure they have their reasons, but I cant believe it will help increase sales, we all like to browse and make impulse purchaces don't we...... |
Posted By: Jamesd
Date Posted: 24 Jan 09 at 9:34pm
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do many people go in there to buy things? im sure if you asked to view things they would let you come round the back. ive been out back there multiple times. perhaps with it on view, it is more likely to get robbed, its not the best of areas and chavs do like henri lloyd!! |
Posted By: rogerd
Date Posted: 25 Jan 09 at 9:33am
| It could be a way to reduce shoplifting. I know of one other sports supplier who reckoned he lost over 10 grand a year to theives. I hope not but a sad reflection on our times |
Posted By: Adam@LDC
Date Posted: 25 Jan 09 at 12:29pm
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The shop change has happened for many reasons. But the main reason is stock, whilst we have been in Chandlers Ford we have grown massively, and our very short on space. Therefore half of the old shop has turned into the clothing store room. This allows us to be able to stock and store RS spares much more efficiently where the clothes were previously stored. The system the we have implemented also makes the mail order much easier and is the main part of the retail side of the business. The shop is not closed it has just changed in shape and stlye. At the moment it is still not finished, and it will be displaying ranges of clothing and hardware. As always we are more than willing to get products from our store rooms to show you. We still stock large ranges of hardware and clothing. We are very happy with the change, however if you think anything needs modifing or changing please let us know. ------------- Retail Manager, LDC Racing Sailboats |
Posted By: Xpletive
Date Posted: 25 Jan 09 at 8:37pm
Thanks for the reply Adam. I'm only one voice, but personally, I preferred it as it was. As a customer, if you know precisely what you want when you arrive, you have only to ask for it, of course. If you need to assess the suitability of what's available, and with clothing, gloves, wetsuits, boots etc., that is more likely, it is far less customer-friendly, no matter how keen your very pleasant staff are. Very awkward for her when more than one customer arrives searching for suitable stuff, as happened when I was there? I felt it was easier to give up! I think you will lose trade from impulse buying when people like me turn up for one item and spot others they need as well. Of course, if it's just a question of you running out of room, or just preferring to concentrate on online sales, that's obviously your company's commercial decision. Anyway, thanks for the response 
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Posted By: Jimbob
Date Posted: 25 Jan 09 at 10:57pm
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Xpletive. I agree. Boat Chandlers are browsing places. If I can't browse I don't go. ------------- Jimbob |
Posted By: Ian99
Date Posted: 25 Jan 09 at 11:30pm
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It makes sense to me - I'd find a 'trade counter' type arrangement much easier to use than rooting round on loads of shelves to try to work out whether there any of a certain type of cleat in stock, and ending up having to ask the staff where it is anyway! This type of store seems to be growing in popularity for large range, small sales volume products, just look at the massive growth of places like Screwfix in the last few years. |
Posted By: bert
Date Posted: 26 Jan 09 at 12:44am
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I must agree with Jimbob / xpletive about browsing.
However I haven`t found this to be the overlaying tread in Chandlers in my area and they get a fair amount of my - got to have that now / impulse purchases. But when I know what I want then for most things I use the internet & as such LDC could easily be a chandler that I might use. ------------- Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586 |
Posted By: Iain C
Date Posted: 26 Jan 09 at 1:41pm
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I think browsing trade is likely to go with that style too...I either browse at a shop and spend lots more than I intended to, or I just order a specific thing online. This model might work in SMOD land when you want a "spinnaker sock for an RS200" but won't work when you are fiddling with stuff and looking at it and working out the best way of sorting out a tack line take up on an 18. ------------- RS700 GBR922 "Wirespeed" Fireball GBR14474 "Eleven Parsecs" Enterprise GBR21970 Bavaria 32 GBR4755L "Adastra" |
Posted By: Xpletive
Date Posted: 26 Jan 09 at 4:35pm
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Yep, that's my point really. Sometimes you might have an idea in mind that is just waiting until you see the right bit of kit to get it to work. You might end up standing in the shop looking like a prat with a furrowed brow for 10 mins while you work it out, but at least you can if the stuff's accessible to you! (Just as a postscript, I managed to get exactly what I needed after my dissapointing trip there after sending an email query via their website. It's on its way! |
)Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 29 Jan 09 at 4:56pm
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Certainly seems to work! Placed an order Tuesday morning, was here on Wednesday. Called up as I had ordered the wrong bungs, was told they were out of stock, but I should have them by the weekend .. Went home a lunch today, found I had a package with 2 bungs in it! Less than 24 hours from out of stock to on the doormat! Then phoned up this morning as I ordered the wrong size (The neck hole on a Medium sized Maic Marine mid layer fleece is NOT a standard Medium!! I couldnt even get it over my head!!!!) ... Don't think it'll be long before I have the Large one in my hands! Great service, all I have to say! ------------- Vareo - 149 "Secrets" http://www.TandyUKServers.co.uk" rel="nofollow - TandyUK Servers |