--- In aushiker@..., Andrew Priest <andrew@a...> wrote:
>
> Dear All
>
> I am surprised I am writing this as a long-term Mainpeak club member
> and customer, but today I came pretty close to canceling my Mainpeak
> membership. I specifically phoned Mainpeak Osborne Park store this
> afternoon to ask if they had titanium tents peg in stock and if they
> did not, if they had pegs such as the Wilderness Equipment (Sea to
> Summit) or MSR ones. First up the salesperson had not heard of
> titanium tent pegs which should have warned me or am I being
> unreasonable to expect them to keep up with developments in their own
> industry? After all titanium pegs are well known in the US market.
>
> Anyway the sales person went off to check if they had any MSR or Sea
> to Summit pegs. Yep they had them. Okay, times really precious today,
> so reassured they had them and given Osborne Park is reasonably close
> and accessible, I head out there.
>
> Walked into the store, which too me is looking more empty than my
> previous visits, two staff are leaning on the counter doing nothing.
> Asked about the pegs, assured they have and off we go to look at the
> pegs. Guess what? Not a peg insight! Both staff check the computer
> .... ah ah ah we don't have any, ahhhh none of stores have any. This
> is after I phoned to check and made a special trip to their store.
> Had I known I would have gone straight to Mountain Designs in the city.
>
> I am dumb struck that a outdoor retailer does not have tent pegs!
>
> Get home, still fuming, ring the Mainpeak in the City and speak to
> John Mustard. Tell him how I am feeling. He asks to call me back ....
> Call backs with two types of pegs in hot little hands (Osborne Park
> said they had none), then he offers to drop six off to me on his way
> home and for no charge.
>
> Good customer service? Probably yes. Redeeming? Will I continue to
> support Mainpeak? Probably not for two reasons. Not carrying basic
> outdoor gear on the floor of their stores (not the first time) and
> the staff at Osborne Park clearly where really not motivated or
> interested and to me lacked knowledge of their industry. Maybe I am
> expecting too much, I don't know.
>
> I would be interested in others experience of Mainpeak and for that
> matter other retailers.
>
> I suspect in future my first port of call will be Mountain Designs in
> the city even if going their is a more of hassle in terms of parking
etc.
>
> Regards
> Andrew
>

What a nightmare ! I'm sorry you had that sort of thing happen to you,
I know well the feeling.

Aaron.