I wasn’t even going to write a review, but after reading through the other reviews, I realized that many people have had the exact same experience I did. Seeing so many complaints about the same issues convinced me that this isn’t a one off incident, it’s a pattern. At that point, I felt it was worth sharing my experience as well.
Absolutely terrible customer service.
The in store manager is a major part of the problem. My last interaction with him left such a sour taste in my mouth that I almost didn’t come back. After today’s visit, despite him not even being there, it became obvious that the attitude and lack of customer service throughout the store starts with management. If this is the standard he’s setting, it’s no surprise the rest of the staff behaves the way they do.
The General Manager, or whoever oversees this location, needs to take a serious look at how this store is being managed. A manager should be developing a team that values customers, not creating an environment where employees are condescending, dismissive, and more interested in chatting with each other than helping the people who are paying their salaries.
The last time I was in, I bought a $350 driver. The manager told me the best they could do was $315, but when I got to the front, I ended up paying $260. I’m certainly not complaining about paying less, but it just goes to show how disconnected the management and staff are. If the cashier can sell the same club for far less than what the manager quoted minutes earlier, that says a lot about how the store is being run and how much money is likely being lost through inconsistent management and pricing.
The majority of the staff seemed far more interested in standing around chatting and watching the clock than helping customers.
What really bothered me is that it felt like if you don’t fit whatever image they have in their heads of what a golfer should look or act like, you’re treated differently. Golf is a sport for everyone. You shouldn’t have to look a certain way or act a certain way to receive basic respect and customer service. Instead, I felt like I was looked down on, as if I didn’t belong there, despite spending thousands of dollars on golf over the years.
I only come to the Aurora location because it’s the closest to my home, but after this, I’d rather drive 40 minutes to a proper golf shop where customers are treated with respect.
This isn’t just bad for the Aurora location. It’s bad for the Golf Town brand as a whole. Every negative interaction pushes customers to spend their money elsewhere. I genuinely hope someone from head office or the regional management team takes this seriously because this location is doing more harm than good for the franchise.