DuckSouth.com

I have done a little business with Jeff Speed - the former owner - for several years. He is an alright guy, but it seemed like he was lacking a great customer service attitude. Every time I went in his store it seemed like he was irritated about something or he was always on the phone trying to work out some sort of problem. I do not know what type of a manager he was, or how organized he was, but he came across to me as if he really did not want to be there. I think the business was running him instead of him running it.

As far as Byron Barrett...... he is a much LOWER class individual. If you buy something from him you never know what you will get -- if you get anything at all. At least at the Mean Mallard you know what you got, even if you paid too much for it.

Apparently, some of you guys don't compare prices very much when it's time to buy hunting stuff, wheither it's duck calls or scent-lock suits. I buy several items every new season (Bow,Gun,Duck,Turkey), just to try out new stuff on the market. Without failure, MM was consistantly higher than MANY other stores shopped, not just by a few bucks, but 8-10 dollars higher, and nearly 20.00 higher on clothing, EVERY SINGLE TIME. Example- Pittman's new "FREAK" Turkey call. MM--$38.95 Hasseloff's--$24.95 Walmart--$19.99 Yea, I sure will drive across town to save 10 bucks or more, all day long. No, I don't buy everything @ Walmart. No, I don't complain a/b prices anywhere else(except Got Gear), because they always beat MM, and I would have liked to shop there.. And come on guys, it wasn't ALL a/b the money anyway, it was a/b the poor service. Hope that's over. Good luck Chris. I'll be one of your best customers, until the day that no coffee is ready!!!! I'M OUT on this topic.

Mean Mallard serves coffee?

I have been to the Outfitter 1 time and was treated fairly! I will be back!
I have not yet been to the MM (under new ownership), but... They WILL GET THEIR CHANCE!!!

I feel the same as Softcall, I like to put my hands on things before I buy them.

Again,... BEST OF LUCK TO BOTH ESTABLISHMENTS !!!

Rip Em !

Excellent points Goosebruce. I always try to shop local first to find what I need, rather than use the catalogs. The small cost savings does not outweigh the convenience of a local store. And if you do not support your local sporting goods store, pretty soon you will not have one. You could find yourself relegated to whatever Wally World has in stock ------what a living hell that would be.

Never been to the Mean Mallard , but now my interest has been peaked. Especially the location ---next to Hooters. Sounds like a great side trip on my next business trip south ------ duck stuff, chicken wings, cold beer, and hooters. I'll skip the coffee.

I went to the mean mallard for the first time this week. It was under some construction and it was hard to get around but they seemed to be getting some new stuff in and it all looked pretty good. Several people tried to help me and the new owner came up to me and apologized for the mess and said that he would be making some changes to the store. He was very friendly and seemed to be a nice guy. This is my first experience with the MM and although i don't live the metro area i do plan to return. Just my 2 bits.

I went to school with Jeff Speed from 1st grade up through my sophomore year..Knew him real well then. Once he opened the MM I have to agree that his attitude changed. He was terrible with the customers and had terrible help. As for the prices..well, they may have been higher than cabela's, but if the customer service, convenience and selection is there it's worth the extra money.

One other thing. I'm thinking of opening a store similiar to MM or Smith and Co. in the Cleveland area...Any of ya'll from the area?? Give me a little feedback on what you think,
thanks,
Theduckman.

I've thought that would be a great area for a hunting shop. I've actually considered it myself. But not being from the area, I thought I might have a disadvantage.

Good luck to you, I think it'll do well up there.

Duckman, did he get beat up alot in school? Maybe that's why he's so mean. Funny, his brother at North Jxn Honda is just the opposite. Really nice guy. Jeff was even that way when he opened the Camo Shop.

Well AJ, Jeff is ok..he was just in the wrong business. I know his brother also...and yes, he runs a very good business there at the Honda shop.

I'm stepping in on this one to say that until the Mean Mallard came along, the Jackson area was totally devoid of a high end hunting store...I like to shop at Van's and Surplus City but they did not carry the quality of merchandise that Speed carried...Basically you get what you pay for and if you did not like his prices, go somewhere else...Like all of us, Speed is not perfect but he worked his butt off and did the best he could... Bottomline is that he made a positive contribution with the Mallard and is not nearly as bad a guy as some of yall are trying to make him out to be...

As for the service, I'll admit that some of the kids working at the Mallard were snot nosed punks that needed their butts whipped but when you consider that Jackson city limits is over 70% African and that many of the Anglos here are well educated professionals and business owners, then you realize that finding good help is very difficult...Van has done a good job at that but he will be the first to tell you that it is not easy...Perhaps a Rogue or Great Scott approach- hiring pros and paying them well- would work but that seems mighty risky in a business as competitive as hunting goods...

As for Chris Bates, he is a quality individual and will work his butt off as well...You can expect the customer service aspect to improve but the merchandising side will probably slip since Chris will have to learn this side of the business...A side that Speed was a genius at incidentally...

Another difficulty Bates will face is that word on the street has it that BASS PRO is coming to Jackson (actually Flowood on Lakeland Drive)...No matter how good your service and merchandising, anybody would have a hard time competing with BASS PRO...Not to mention the new Wal-Mart going in at Madison, which will be way more convenient than the County Line Road location...Chris will need all of his accumulated business accumen to make it and he will need our support...The way I figure it, it is worth an extra buck or two to support local businesses rather than exporting money to Arkansas, Nebraska or Missouri...

HAMMER

I'm in....and if Bates can do as good or BETTER than Speed, I'll be a dedicated customer every different season that rolls around...I like to spend my wife's money!

Very well said Hammer. I have to agree with you totally. Jeff is not nearly as bad as some people made him out to be. He did fall a bit short on the customer service side, but definately made a positive impact and provided a great shop to the metro area's duck hunters. Anyway, I don't know Chris Bates but with the support that he will have from this site and from great Mississippi duckers I'm sure that he'll do fine and I wish him the best.

Cleveland already has two stores, The Bow Shop and Paul's Mart. The bow shop has been sold and I think they are building a new place in town. The bow shop has pretty good prices and is starting to get a lot better selection. Pauls Mart's prices are kind of high but they have a good selection and great customer service. By the way, if yall ever lose that old favorite lure, you probably can find it a Paul's even if it is discontinued. I always try to shop local and I try to stay out of Wal Mart just because I don't have to fight large crowds to run in and buy one or two things.

hello, i am new to the msducks.com website. and i have seen some nasty stuff wrote about jeff speed. i am from the metro-jackson area and i know jeff speed and chris bates both really well. i will tell you this jeff is not a bad guy. so what he is not perfect but who is. jeff has a big heart and would help anyone he could, i know this firsthand, and yeah jeff is laid back but thats how he is so what, ok he lacked a few customer service skills, it needed to be worked on i agree but don't say u hate someone for it, the MM was jeffs and it brought it up to where it is, and chris is a great business guy and he tends to peoples needs, and MM will be something no one ever thought it could be. something else i want you to be aware of the customer service part has changed dramatically the employees are so eager to help people and everytime i go in the MM there is someone to greet me, the MM is a new place a new atmosphere and yes the MM now offers coffee. so everyone please come check it out you will be pleased. and one more thing the prices are high but u have to think about the quality of the products you pay for what you get. the mark up is not that high compared to other places, you can't run a business and not make any profit, its a business you have to make something off of it. bye.