How TS breeches became a debacle

[cruisecontrol]

I follow this blog pretty regularly as I enjoy reading the guest blogger DIY tutorials, It’s saved me from the boring work days I encounter frequently. Recently I was perusing the blog and found this post. I know some of you may follow the blogger and have already read it but I thought I might bring it up since we are constantly asking for reviews on the clothes we wear from schooling to the show ring.

I didn’t think this was actually possible but it happened…

http://hunkyhanoverian.com/opinion/tailored-sportsman-debacle/

[JenEM]

Did the original situation happen much earlier and is only now blowing up, or did something very similar happen before? Because I saw that linked on FB this morning, and read it, and swear I’d read something nearly identical within the last year or so.

[Jealoushe]

Saw that on FB. I heard it was not the first time she has acted like this.

I will not support that company, customer service is important in retail and she should know better.

[midstride]

@JenEM

Did the original situation happen much earlier and is only now blowing up, or did something very similar happen before? Because I saw that linked on FB this morning, and read it, and swear I’d read something nearly identical within the last year or so.

I immediately thought of this thread:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/off-course/9898017-need-advice-is-it-illegal-to-sell-used-tack

But, I believe this is a new separate incident.

[MIKES_MCS]

what many of you DON’T understand is that manufactures and Vendors are facing an outright assault from AMAZON. that is a direct threat to the existence of the BRICK and Mortar Tack stores. What happens is this , A large Retailer who buys large quantities gets a price break on their purchases , the discount can be significant sometimes as much as 30% depending on the quantity purchased, this gives them a Profit margin advantage say over a smaller shop and often these brick and mortars have their own online e commerce sights … ENTER AMAZON… they negotiate deals with these stores to buy large quantities of an item from these established retailers then turn around and sell them at deep discounts sometimes at cost sometimes even below cost (loss leader) through and by AMAZON in order to draw the customer to the Amazon website , hoping they will find it so convenient that customers will start to buy other products from them . The dealer that sells to AMAZON , because they are buying so much product from the vendor/ manufacturer , gets the best price for more in-store profit and increases their overall profit margin by selling large quantities to Amazon , which they could never sell through there own stores. Imagine a store who sells 200 pairs of Tailored’s per year , now sells that to there in store clients but sell 1000 more to Amazon that’s profit they will never see otherwise… Sounds great until 8 out of 10 Brick and motors go out of business because they can’t compete with Amazon… So the question becomes for the consumer , is Amazon the only retail choice you want ? Tailored sportsman like many other Vendors are trying to protect their retailers from unfair competition … While I think the owner was way off base to even engage a customer in a TXTING fight , I do understand her frustration… If AMAZON becomes the only outlet to purchase an item , you will see ( and are seeing ) many products you came to l love, disappear, especially products like Tailored’s which are I believe still made in the US . Amazon is branching out and are fast becoming a monopoly in the retail game , imagine what’s going to happen when they start manufacturing for themselves .

[trubandloki]

@JenEM

Did the original situation happen much earlier and is only now blowing up, or did something very similar happen before? Because I saw that linked on FB this morning, and read it, and swear I’d read something nearly identical within the last year or so.

The post on Facebook by Brianna were done on January 18th. So I think this is a new situation.

[trubandloki]

@MIKES MCS

what many of you DON’T understand is that manufactures and Vendors are facing an outright assault from AMAZON. that is a direct threat to the existence of the BRICK and Mortar Tack stores. What happens is this , A large Retailer who buys large quantities gets a price break on their purchases , the discount can be significant sometimes as much as 30% depending on the quantity purchased, this gives them a Profit margin advantage say over a smaller shop and often these brick and mortars have their own online e commerce sights … ENTER AMAZON… they negotiate deals with these stores to buy large quantities of an item from these established retailers then turn around and sell them at deep discounts sometimes at cost sometimes even below cost (loss leader) through and by AMAZON in order to draw the customer to the Amazon website , hoping they will find it so convenient that customers will start to buy other products from them . The dealer that sells to AMAZON , because they are buying so much product from the vendor/ manufacturer , gets the best price for more in-store profit and increases their overall profit margin by selling large quantities to Amazon , which they could never sell through there own stores. Imagine a store who sells 200 pairs of Tailored’s per year , now sells that to there in store clients but sell 1000 more to Amazon that’s profit they will never see otherwise… Sounds great until 8 out of 10 Brick and motors go out of business because they can’t compete with Amazon… So the question becomes for the consumer , is Amazon the only retail choice you want ? Tailored sportsman like many other Vendors are trying to protect their retailers from unfair competition … While I think the owner was way off base to even engage a customer in a TXTING fight , I do understand her frustration… If AMAZON becomes the only outlet to purchase an item , you will see ( and are seeing ) many products you came to l love, disappear, especially products like Tailored’s which are I believe still made in the US . Amazon is branching out and are fast becoming a monopoly in the retail game , imagine what’s going to happen when they start manufacturing for themselves .

Yes, but this does not apply here for a couple of reasons.
TS has a price point that retailers are required to not go under. No one who retails TS can sell under it. Even the big stores. Heck, not even Dover and Smartpak.

And the main reason is that this situation is a case of a private person selling (for slightly less than full retail) a pair of breeches they bought at full retail from a brick and mortar store. These breeches were bought and paid for at a store.
If you read the comments in the very long facebook discussion the person who bought/is selling had them longer than this retail store allows returns so this is how they are dealing with having a pair of breeches that does not fit them the way they want them to fit. Selling them.

And another point, if the owner of TS cares so much they need to learn to treat people a little nicer. The owner is pushing people away doing stuff like this.

[drafting_dots]

Unbelievable! Some people are literally insane. Things like this always make me want to start a business, because look at all the loonies that are successful!

[Jealoushe]

Um no sorry.

Get with the times or get left behind.

Amazon is not and WILL not be the only answer. As a business owner, you have to change with the times. A lot of companies big and small find a way.

[Natalie]

I don’t own a ton of TS stuff because I don’t find that their breeches or shirts fit as well as some other brands, for me, and frankly, at least in the case of the breeches, I think they lag in terms of tech fabrics and features for the price point. Also, I like being able to buy at a discount because I’m a deal hunter at heart, so the minimum pricing policy turns me off, even though I do completely understand it and don’t fault the brand for upholding it. I mean, Charles Owen is another company that does it too, and I love their helmets.

That said, once a customer has bought an item, it’s theirs to do with as they see fit. Watching the actual owner of TS literally try to shame and bully a customer reselling a single pair of breeches that she already bought at full price is making me swear off the brand entirely unless they change course. This singular woman (and anyone else reselling TS items) is not undercutting brick and mortar tack stores or TS itself in any significant way…to believe that a random ebay or Facebook seller is in any way comparable to a large company that buys out stock and resells at a drastically lower price on Amazon is absurd.

I saw one comment that pointed out that if Hermes doesn’t go after people for reselling their $15,000 Birkins, Susan should shut up about people doing so with $190 breeches. :lol:

[HP_sblueskyenterprise]

Yet another reason for me to not buy TS besides the fact they don’t fit me at all, and the clasp pinches and the velcro on the bottom sucks, and their too short.

[173north]

The ever-increasing ease of ordering inexpensive goods online makes customer service more important than ever for brick and mortar stores and their suppliers, not less. It’s on stores and vendors to figure out what they can offer their customers that the internet cannot, and pursue those avenues aggressively.

Amazon can’t fit a helmet, or a saddle, or a pair of tall boots. Amazon can’t tell you what coat color is hot on the winter circuits but might look a bit funny up North. Amazon can’t call their friend who works at a vendor and ask for a favor so you can have those breeches that are only available in Italy in time for your important clinic. Amazon can’t fly to a trade show and find a new line, or install your halter plate, or show your kid how to put on half chaps, or sponsor local teams and shows.

I’m sure my customers are buying gloves and horse treats and fly spray online, and I don’t get worked up about it. They still come to me when they need new boots, a beautiful gift, a girth suggestion for a fussy horse, to get kitted out for show season - becuase the internet cannot replicate the personal attention and knowledge of someone who spends all day, every day getting horses and riders prepared for our very specialized sport.

I have faith that excellent customer service and deep knowledge of our industry, area and customers can keep brick and mortar stores alive. Price protection from manufacturers is a big help - most of what I carry is precisely the same price on Amazon or at any of my big competitors. But it’s evolve or die right now for all of us and customer service is probably the single most important factor in that.

[skipollo]

There are so many other high quality breeches at a much better price point than TS available now. This is just one more reason for me to never purchase them :lol:

[JenEM]

@midstride

I immediately thought of this thread:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/off-course/9898017-need-advice-is-it-illegal-to-sell-used-tack

But, I believe this is a new separate incident.

Ah, that is what I was thinking of.

Not really a good impression to make if you’re trying to keep business, when there are plenty of other options out there with similar or better quality and price points.

[rosegold]

Yeah, this is absurd. It’s enough to convince me never to buy new TS, ever.

[vxf111]

The few interactions I’ve had with TS reps have been not only rude, but rude to a degree that was well beyond the norm in retail. I have no interest in giving them my money and I don’t find the thread on FB at all surprising.

[MIKES_MCS]

@Jealoushe

Um no sorry.

Get with the times or get left behind.

Amazon is not and WILL not be the only answer. As a business owner, you have to change with the times. A lot of companies big and small find a way.

Yeah like , Macy’s , Penny"s , Sams Club, Toys R Us , Sears … Most of the shopping Malls in America… Big enough for ya , Retailers are shutting down all across the Country in the thousands … wait til your local grocery store shuts down and you have to either drive 40 miles to get to one or pay high delivery charges to bring it to your door … If you don’t think Amazon is to big now to fail , wait another year or Two , just because your particular area hasn’t been affected by it yet it soon will be . TS like many have Price Protections in place to protect there retailers … I agree this woman’s response in this case was wrong … but I understand where she is coming from … Surviving in these times for a Brick and Mortar means surviving on a shoe string Budget in order to compete with the Online Giants. Hard to hire enough help to offer that GREAT customer service when you can barely pay the rent , or insurance , or taxes on that Brick and Mortar shop …
to answer someone else’s post regarding what people are purchasing online … it’s not just stable supplies it is Very common for an online customer to order 3 or 4 pair of boots or coats at a time and send back the ones that don’t fit , Even if they have to pay return shipping … when you get get a $400.00 Hunt coat for $150 and it only costs $17.00 to send the other 3 back well you do the Math , it’s a click and ship world, and while customer service means something to some customers … the majority of those customers are getting older and they won’t be around much longer , Convenience outweighs CS to the Generation who view life as , If it doesn’t live on their phone , it doesn’t exist

[vxf111]

MIKES MCS it’s a totally different context when the reseller is a non-commercial reseller. She bought the breeches for herself, PAID THE RETAIL MINIMUM PRICE SET BY TS, and now chooses to resell them on FB at her own loss. It’s a completely non-analogous situation to a commercial online retailer competing with a brick and mortar commercial retailer. TS already got paid and they got paid the minimum they set.

[Jealoushe]

@MIKES MCS I get most of my food from local farmers markets and no online retailer will replace that. I have been an online shopper since I was 14 (so…20 years). I love online shopping, but there are a LOT of people out there who do not even own a computer or a smart phone. Lets not forget, there is the whole free trade thing going on right now. Amazon can be successful, but it never has anything I need nor do I find their prices competitive. If it does take over the world as you suggest, it won’t be any time I am alive.

[Ibex]

TS is brutal to their small retailers anyways… I know at least one locally who won’t carry them any more.