One in a while, we have to take a gamble and try a new venue to see what the customer interest is in a specific geographic area. The Fredericksburg Outdoor Show was exactly such a venue. Despite being visited by numerous existing customers and meeting new friends and making new customers, the foot traffic was dismal at the event. The gun show going on next door was absolutely packing them in there like sardines but hardly any overflow traffic rolled over into the Outdoor Show venue. Even though your entry ticket allowed you to visit both sides of the hall, we seldom saw a gun show visitor on our side of the convention center. So, looks like we won't be returning to the Fredericksburg Outdoor Show next year unless there are some drastic changes in the way the venue is operated or advertised. Thanks to all our old and new friends for visiting us in the booth and we hope to see you at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival next month in Waynesboro.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Trials and Tribulations of Customer Service
We have been operating for seven years at Fly Fishing Benefactors and over the course of those seven years, we have had to switch web hosts and merchant service accounts many times. The sad part about those web hosting sites and merchant services accounts is that they absolutely don't care what kind of service they provide you once they have your money and sign-up for a contract. Now, since I try real hard to do the expenses as cheaply as I can (to maximize my donations), I obviously felt I would have to expect some lackluster service for the price I pay but lately, it is amazing what these people have done. I am soon to be leaving my merchant services account, as soon as the show season is over. I hate to have to do this because it causes me much grief to have to "start over" again somewhere else but these guys take the cake. Before anyone signs up for One Stop Merchant Services in Rhode Island, please call me. I'll tell you how they have lied to me, cheated me, plain didn't care about my website or services, yet insist on me paying them for absolutely the worst service I have ever received since I started this company. As a retired federal law enforcement officer (married to an attorney), I have never seen an organization so pathetic in all my years and so absolutely worth a letter campaign to the Better Business Bureau and Interstate Commerce Commission. Since this is a "G" Rated blog site, I cannot use the language I would like to use to describe the customer service I have yet to receive from this company. So, stay tuned to where I land and I will let you know when I turn the switch. At Fly Fishing Benefactors, we will try and do everything these guys don't do. That is a promise from me. I may not be able to transact business as well and efficiently as I would like but I will ALWAYS give my customers the customer service they deserve!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Middleburg Fly Fishing Show
Wow! Once again the Rapidan Chapter put on a great show! Thanks Fred for a great job! Lots of turn out and the new venue at the Faquier High School allows for a lot more breathing room for both the vendors and the attendees. We got a chance to show off the new Jim Hicks Fly Rod and Steve Moore did well with his new Rappahannock Wading Book! The next show is the NCC-TU show at Georgetown Prep on March 12, 2011. Hope to see you there!
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