Why I won't be buying a new kayak from Adventure Sports Kayak City

First off, they are probably a sponsor of this site, I will understand if this post gets pulled.

I will start this off by saying my first experience with ASKC was great! I went to Big Break Marina and was treated really well, the guy there,,, I think Jed? Was real nice, honest with me, I was looking at different styles and brands of kayaks, and my experience with him (and a few great members of this board) led me to believe that the Ride 135 was going to be my new boat. Well I haven’t had the funds to make this a reality until I sell my old boat, which MAY be happening today, so I was excited, and based on how well I was treated in Oakley, I drove out to ASKC on El Camino at lunch to window shop, and to look at accessories that I might want to buy at the same time.

Well I got there and started walking around, one of the younger guys was talking to me, showing me fishing gear, talking about the different features, everything was going swimmingly, until management got involved. The first manager out of the cage was a younger guy, he was at least polite, but did the old “well how much were you quoted?” opening to the game, without looking me in the eyes… This always pisses me off because when they do that, you immediately know they are playing you, this guy didn’t have the guile to pull this off in a way that seemed anything but shady, and that is actually a compliment to his character that he looked embarrassed when he asked me that question.

It was the second manager came in, the late middle-age guy, who really “un”-sealed the deal. I talked to him very briefly, told him the price I had been given in Oakley, and told him that I had seen other prices online that were close to what I was offered in Oakley, he immediately yells back to the other guy in the cage “open up the (name removed)-website! This guy says they have it for that price.” All yelled to his partner, loud enough so he was sure I could hear it, with a huge attitude and a derisive tone, suggesting very clearly that I was flat-out lying and trying to bullsh*t him, then he goes into a big spiel about how the kayak companies have guaranteed base prices, so they can NEVER go lower than a base price, blah-blah-blah, honestly at this point he has shown so little tact trying to game me that I didn’t believe a word he was saying.

The good sales people are always looking for ways to get you what you want, not telling you why you can’t have what you want.

If this was some attempt to begin haggling with me, it was the most rude and bumbling attempt I have ever seen. As a matter of fact, I can’t for the life of me imagine that someone who gives off that attitude (to someone about to spend $1200-$1400,) makes a living off of sales? Maybe internet sales are big for them?

I am a huge fan of customer service, because I don’t get it often, for the simple price of treating me kindly (I am not talking free things or discounts, or ass-kissing, just simple mutual respect) I will pay more money for items, I will tell everyone I know how great the experience is, I will guide customers to your store.

In the days of the internet, you can get almost anything cheaper online than you can locally, so the only real difference is CUSTOMER SERVICE. Now, where I would have happily paid another $100 on the kayak, and a few hundred on accessories to a shop with nice folks who I like, now I will (probably) be paying another that same money to a nameless faceless internet site, just so I don’t have to be treated like I was being an A-hole by an arrogant salesman.

Who knows, maybe the older guy is a fantastic accountant or a great warehouse supervisor, but I am a pretty low-key dude, I get along with just about anyone, talk to anyone, bathe regularly, don’t take myself seriously, and this yoker immediately put me on the defensive and pissed me off.

Note to folks trying to sell things; Customers don’t want to fight with you, we want to be your friends, we are more willing to pay you more if you are nice to us. I can give you a few examples, in private, of other places I shop that are known to be a little more expensive, but the folks there treat you like family, so myself (and the community at large) is willing to pay more when we feel like they GET more, even when the "more" is just a little politeness.

I have heard whispers around some folks I occasionally talk to, that ASKC in Sac is expensive and the people were occasionally less than polite, judging by the reception I just got from the senior staff (again NOT Oakley, not the younger guy who showed me around,) I can see that these rumors have been earned.

I was all ready to deal with the guys in Oakley again, Jed was nothing but awesome to me, unfortunately Oakley is an hour’s drive away, and I won’t be darkening the door of the El Camino site when both representatives of management showed such a lack of tact, poor judgment and disrespect.

The pisser is, I am not a rich guy, I have three kids, $1200 is the most I have ever contemplated on spending on something JUST for myself, to be honest I am still a little freaked over giving away that much cash, so this was a deep disappointment to me today being shut down so freakin hard by plain old attitude. And man, the old saying is “for one person who complains out loud, there are a hundred who just quietly walk away and won’t do business with you.” Judging from what I hear in the community, El Camino has got that going in spades. They really ought to think deeply if that is how they want to be known in the kayak community, and if it matters to them, do something about it.

So, now I am looking for recommendations on where a good place to buy a Camo Ride 135 (with rudder) is… Online or otherwise..sigh…




PS. Just to prove that I am not a total whiner, when I get GOOD customer service I post about that as well, if you look back on my posts I have recommended Oakley five or six times after the great experiences I had there.

Man that sucks that you had such a crummy experience...

I hope you find the yak that you are looking for somewhere soon...preferrably from a friendly salesperson.

 

Thanks for sharing with us.

Sincerely,

Jim

man that is weird because i had a pretty good experience with them, that is who i got my kayak from. sorry to hear that man. but i am glad you are gettign something that wont fit through the port gate slats so you wont get submerged again(teehee) sorry that was a pretty sketchy situation. that rudder is what almost ended everything... you sure you want to get another one lol...

Sorry to hear about your experience at Adventure Sports.  I have bought 3 kayaks from them over the past 20+ years when they where first on Fair Oaks Blvd., then Watt Ave., and then El Camino and I have always had a positive experience with them. 

spend your hard earned cash where YOU feel you have been treated well. I have gone to many, many stores where others bash only to have a good exp. When shopping for my AI I called all the Hobie dealers and a few were crossed of the list right away due to a crappy call.

It don't take much to loose someone!

spend your hard earned cash where YOU feel you have been treated well. I have gone to many, many stores where others bash only to have a good exp. When shopping for my AI I called all the Hobie dealers and a few were crossed of the list right away due to a crappy call.

It don't take much to loose someone!

+1 great advice

I agree, I had a bad expierence in a Sports Authority in Foster City last year, soured me on them for life.

In general I find customer service to be pretty hit and miss these days, but it's not often you get people metaphorically chasing you out of the store. Maybe better to find out now than later when you need something like warranty service?

All that said, I think you should by my Tarpon after you sell yours and save a few hundred bucks

Bummer. But your post was very thoughtful and informative, so I fully appreciate it...independent of how I feel about Kayak City (my lone experience was when it was on Watt and it was a bad one too). I'll keep an eye out for deals on a Ride 135.

Ugh, that sucks man. I have read mixed reviews about this place and have seen a few posts from people that work there on here. I agree with you 100% about the location in Oakley. Jed has excellent customer service and is very willing to answer any and all questions. When I was in the market to purchase my first boat I was renting them there three weekends in a row, sure I could have found a place closer to my house "Plumas Lake" but because of Jed's customer service I didn't mind driving 2+ hours.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for for what your looking for buddy.

JR

You might want to find out who the head honcho is and express your concerns to him or her. A company that has been in business for a good while has probably gotten that way due to good customer service. They would probably appreciate knowing that a middle manager with attitude is short curcuiting their sales.

I have done some business there.  Jed used to be a salesman there before he went to Oakley.  Call him up and tell him about your experience in Sac.  I'm sure he would make it worth your while to make the trip to Oakley and maybe get the Sac guys squared away while he's at it.

i am glad you are gettign something that wont fit through the port gate slats so you wont get submerged again(teehee)

Awwwwww!! (I actually have tears in my eyes laughing at that comment!)

All that said, I think you should by my Tarpon after you sell yours and save a few hundred bucks

Wait, wait,,, did you just say you want to buy my Dual Hatch Tarpon?? LOL!

It's a shame to let the Sac store attitude tarnish the good treatment you get from the Oakley store. Give Jed and the Oakley store a chance; they may actually be in competition with each other.