LedJube_at_aol.com wrote: > > At the risk of a public flogging, I have to point out that this issue may > never be resolved. Jed, no flogging (unless you are into S&M and really want one :-)). You have quite good points which I have snipped for space reasons. I just want to follow up on one thought you raised: > Retailers sell stuff, no sale / no food. They often employ people that > are not avid paddlers and hence, should not be considered an accurate source > of information. They'll tell you what they sell is the best, this is why they > exist, it's their job. Interesting point. A year or so ago, there was discussion in one of the east coast listservers regarding what one local club could do. I am not a member of it and never heard more about what direction things eventually took if at all. But there were on-line discussions and proposals to do some active work with retailers beyond just handing out club applications and notices for the retailers to have around. One idea (mine) was to offer store management visits by several designated club members with a store's sales staff to discuss cold water safety, good places to paddle etc. so that they understood local situations better and could deal intelligently with potential consumers. I felt that the point of sale (i.e. the sales person) is a critical juncture in getting people started on the right path and making staff smarter would be a very effective way to do so. I got the idea from being in stores and watching one interesting example of the profit motive at play. At times I have seen manufacturing reps come in to sit with store sales staff in some corner to discuss newest backpack internal frames, clothing materials, etc. The manufacturers clearly wanted to sell product and recognized that the store sales staff is an important clog in the machinery. It could work for safety considerations as well. Another proposal made by several people was to work up a list of local retailers for distribution by the club at shows, club meetings, in answer to queries, etc. This list would contain _just_ the names of those shops that seemed to be more responsible in the information they give to buyers regarding equipment, instructional needs and safety advice. Retail stores would be told of the list and its intention and the thought was that the list could act as a prod toward fostering retailers into getting their sales people into being more savvy on sea kayaking. One can argue the specifics of my or the other proposal, but they certainly are a pro-active approach that beats sitting on one's hands and doing nothing. I am a firm believer in trying to change things for the better. And I agree that government intervention and legislation is not the answer. One does not have to live in New Hampshire to have the spirit of "Live Free or Die" which I believe is your state's motto, Jed. :-) ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Feb 25 2000 - 11:14:36 PST
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