New owner of the Mean Mallard!

[MSDuckmen]

This is very good news. I look forward to welcoming the new owner with as much support as possible.

I dont think a retail store will ever come close to competing with the Cabelas of the world, as far as prices go!

I agree with this quote fully, however the price should never be higher than the cost of mail order items of the same name make and model plus the shipping.

If I can order an item for 100.00 plus 20.00 shipping I would not exspect to pay over 130.00 in a specialty shop period. If it was too high I would simply buy somewhere else or order it.

I will easily over look a price that is a little high when the customer service is good. But when it's too high and bad service, I just won't go there.

Good news and looking forward to the new store. However I will never give up that good old country service that Van's has always given me.

[booger]

All hail the new owner, I'm glad the business is open and serving sportsmen many are now gone.

As far as the other issues, it looks like some want a Browning Hydro-Fleece Parka at less than cost, while others want their butt kissed from door to cash register by the Duck Commander. I don't seek a balance, I seek a particular item.

These days all I ask for a business to do is have what I want, maybe I'm too picky or just in a hurry, but when I finally find exactly what I'm looking for I pay for it. Rarely is the perceived saving elswhere worth my time and effort.
And no, I'm not even close to being rich.

[MSDuckmen]

, it looks like some want a Browning Hydro-Fleece Parka at less than cost, while others want their butt kissed from door to cash register by the Duck Commander.

Well heck yeah I want it for less than cost.. Don't you? But I will take it at a fair price also. Not 100 mark up from some where else.

And As for a kissed butt, I would settle for good old customer service.
YOU KNOW. ----- Hello may I help you? , Yes sir I think we have those right over here.....
Not some snot nose kid talking to another snot nose kid about some other snot nose kid that he saw in town last night while ignoring you as you search up and down each row for the item you came in for.

And Besides if I wanted my booty kissed, Phil would be way down the list.

And stop lieing , We all know you are rolling in cash.

[Robinhood]

Wildflower, you're missing the point.

[Wildfowler]

Wildflower, you're missing the point.

Am I? What was the point then?

[Robinhood]

The point was that we can't all afford to pay whatever a store owner wants to jack his prices up to (such as MM did) just to be able to hunt. We're all confident this new owner won't do that, therefore creating more business for himself.

[BIG TIMBER]

THANK YOU Robinhood!! Somebody got what I was saying!

[Wildfowler]

The point was that we can't all afford to pay whatever a store owner wants to jack his prices up to (such as MM did) just to be able to hunt. We're all confident this new owner won't do that, therefore creating more business for himself.

How about you look for a less expensive hobby? I don't know, that would be a good start. You too Big Timber.

[Wildfowler]

Alright, the jokes on me. You can't possibly be serious with your argument. I fell for it. Har Har. YOu sure baited me in this time.

[RIP EM]

Yeah... I guess the joke is on me as well!

I aint got a clue as to what sent Hood, and Timber off on that tangent.

Did I miss something?

Aint no secret,... The sharpest tool in the shed, I AINT !

Later fellas!

[SoftCall]

The store changes hands and we still see these posts about the same old load of horse $#!+???? Come on guys, give me a break.

Robinhood – I think that “disgrace” is a pretty strong word to be spouting off about someone on this site. I have stuck my neck out for Jeff Speed before and I’ll continue to do so. Leave the man alone…he doesn’t have anything to do with the store anymore.

I buy one waterproof duck hunting parka every 8 years...and it's not a Browning..it costs too much anywhere in my opinion. If your buying a Browning..you ain’t frugal anyway. When I do buy a parka...do I care if the SOB costs $25 more in order to avoid shipping and handling while getting the satisfaction of being able to touch the product before I buy it??? Also - don't forget that taking it back is free if it tears up...there aren't any shipping charges.

The next time your bitching about costs, just go on out there to Cabelas, BPS, or Mack's and find out how much a dozen dekes or a case of shells really costs with the extra shipping charges and hazardous shipment fees. Put it this way - the stuff that I am likely to buy most frequently for duck hunting..waders, shells, socks, and maybe a new diddy bag weren’t overpriced. They were actually less than the mail order places and yes....they were purchased at the MM prior to the change in ownership.

Sportsman 450 and I finally agree on something.

With that being said - the new owner is one hell of a guy and an avid outdoorsman. He has loads of integrity and I am sure he will do you an honest fair deal. I wish Chris the best of luck and plan on spending a great deal of time in his store.

[goosebruce]

I haven't been to the store in question, as I'm not in that area. However, I assure you, a sporting goods store and the price difference from a catalog are more than worth it. Try calling cabela's 15 minutes beofre closing on a sat and tell them you are 30 minutes away, and need 3 out of state liscenes for the guys you just picked up from the airport, and whutever else they need. When you pull up, and see the light on FOR YOU, that price difference don't mean nothing. Same way when you can send your wife by at lunch to pick something up, and you'll pay for it next time in, or when they order something for you over the phone, and call you when it comes in, at work, or on your cell phone, because they know you and care. I won't even get into the real value of a set of waders when you ripped yours in the ice the 2nd week of jan when nobody else has any, or when you can buy a case of goose loads in feb a month after walmart has their roller skates and pool toys already out in 'sporting goods'. While not rich, I spend an enourmous amount of time and money on my hunting goods and don't care to be jacked off trying to get what I want when I want. I don't own a credit card, so even a call to 1-800-goodstuff is a pain in the ass, Id rather drive in the truck 20 minutes and get what i want from someone I know. Buy nuff $#!+ from one man, and the price will always come around.. maybe higher on one, but lower on another, it all works out.
A wise man who owned a kickass sporting goods store in our hometown once told me, I can't compete with walmart. I must have what they don't, when they don't. At 4 am, he would sell you a liscene, outlaw goose decoys, mount a scope, or trade a gun with you, and the coffee pot was ON when he opened the doors, and until he closed it. He provided services no one else did. So his gloves cost 2 bucks more than walmarts.... it aint worth 2 bucks to walk through the parking lot of walmart, and Ive never gotten a cup of coffee and a good lie there either. travis

[webfoot]

goosebruce: Good post and to the point. Amen

[MSDuckmen]

So his gloves cost 2 bucks more than walmarts.... it aint worth 2 bucks to walk through the parking lot of walmart, and Ive never gotten a cup of coffee and a good lie there either. travis

yep I agree with your post, I never once felt that at the old mean mallard. Plain and simple. But there are stores near Jackson that I have and continue too.

I look forward to the new mean mallard opening, and wish it all the luck in the world. You can rest assured many lost customers will be watching.

[RDB]

Goosebruce- You couldn't have said it better. I agree that personal service from a specialty store such as the MM or The Outfitter far outweighs the price difference in merchandise. I know I would rather talk with a live human being in person than I would a salesperson on the end of a phoneline. And besides the shipping charges usually takes care of the price difference on those mail order catalogs. I can tell you that the guy who runs the Outfitter has brought me items I needed on a Friday night when I was leaving for a hunt saving me the time and money of going and getting them, and they were the only one who had the merchandise I needed. I bet Cabelas or Wallyworld wouldn't do that for you.

And my god what in the world are Big Timber and Robinhood thinking? Well I can figure with Robinhood (steal from the rich and give to the poor), but let me ask them how many other stores that they purchase anything from do they go in and complain about prices? I once pointed it out to a customer of mine who complained about having to pay 50 cents more for a product at my business than he payed for across town that it would cost him more in gas and time to go across town and get it and when he saw how trivial it was he's been a valued customer ever since.
Some people just like to complain.

I hope the new owner of the MM does good as well as The Outfitter.