Shopping at Sail... Weird

[seabast]

Sometimes I wonder if each store doesn't have a different management that has the 'rule of the day' and no consistency. I visit the Sail in Ottawa on a regular basis and I know all the guys in the Hunting department by name. Never had an issue. I can tell you that I bought a Browning X-Bolt at Sail in November. After searching all of Canada and US there is no place you can buy an Browning and/or many other weapons cheaper than Sail. Lebaron, Bass Pro, Cabela's and Ellwood Epps are all on average $50 more.

For an extra 50$, I will go somewhere else. I might go back in a year to see if I still have to wait to customer service to pay for my ammo and if it's still the same I will be done with Sail.

[chris1395]

Went into sail today as they have 15% off hunting and fishing gear this weekend to maybe look at a new coat and pick up a few small odds and ends. Left there with two coats, more than a few odds and ends, and a new SXP that was just too good of a deal to let go. Buying a gun there is a hassle, your PAL gets scrutinised, photocopied and written down about half a dozen times, back and forth with paperwork and checkpoints, but other than that I actually left with merchandise they had in stock this time.

[Sal]

Went into sail today as they have 15% off hunting and fishing gear this weekend to maybe look at a new coat and pick up a few small odds and ends. Left there with two coats, more than a few odds and ends, and a new SXP that was just too good of a deal to let go. Buying a gun there is a hassle, your PAL gets scrutinised, photocopied and written down about half a dozen times, back and forth with paperwork and checkpoints, but other than that I actually left with merchandise they had in stock this time.

Hope you like that sxp man!

[chris1395]

Hope you like that sxp man!

Thanks! I picked up an SX3 a month ago and I liked it so much I had to bring home its little brother.

[Bigbear]

Perhaps I could be accused of having rich-white-guy complex, but I don't accept that everyone shopping in a store is automatically a shoplifting suspect.

Agreed. If you have a shoplifting problem, get cameras, hire more staff, or secure your items in a better fashion.

[Sal]

Thanks! I picked up an SX3 a month ago and I liked it so much I had to bring home its little brother.

No problem buddy, your going to love it.. I sold it to ya .. Sometimes customer service is slow.. I try to have my customers out quick time tho, and its way less paper work compared to another store i know.

[chris1395]

No problem buddy, your going to love it.. I sold it to ya .. Sometimes customer service is slow.. I try to have my customers out quick time tho, and its way less paper work compared to another store i know.

And might I add customer service was excellent that day

[Dogdunit]

I can see how store policy that does not follow the law can get the store in trouble or lose customers for them. Last fall I was going to go to the trap club with my son and stopped at SAIL in Burlington to buy a flat of trap loads. When I got to the courtousy desk the young man behind the counter asks to see my PAL. So far no problem. He records it in his system. Not a book, but in some database. This raised an eyebrow but didn't want to embarrass my son and said nothing. Then he asks my for my name and address. I politely declined. He says well we cannot complete the sale then. I told him you have everything you need with my PAL number. The CFO can match it to my address if he wants but your not putting my info in that computer. I walked out without the shells and paid twice as much at the club. Later I called the CFO directly. He stated the store broke the law in requiring your personal information that wasn't already on your PAL. Both he and I contacted the store manager to educate him. Even so that was my last purchase attempt at SAIL.

[Dogdunit]

As for Ellewood Epps being more expensive. Thats not true on guns. I was advised when I bought my sons 870 that they will price match any advertised price in Canada. He even looked up the Cabelas web site for me and knocked $40 off the price and gave my son a free box of trap loads. I would go back again.

[Flatliner]

I can see how the check out process may be a bit of a pain. To be honest I can't complain big fan of the place. The process is a minor inconvenience when you take the price of ammo in comparison to BP. Just as an example winchester xp2 30/06 @ BP wa selling for $ 24/box, sail was $16/box. For the price of 2 boxes @ BP you get 3 @ SAIL. Scopes tend to be anywhere from 10-20% less at SAIL.

A minor inconvenience when you looking at the savings. This might be a direct result of the theft deterrent procedures, which in turn benefits company and consumer.

Just my .02