Yelping for Some Help

Calling turkeys is one thing; attracting help on the sales floor is something else entirely

Kentucky and southern Indiana are home to some great turkey hunting. My cover story was that I was a brand-new gobbler hunter. I knew nothing about turkey calling and wanted to outfit myself with a kit a newbie could master.

Store A

My first stop was at a beautifully built log-fronted sporting goods store just off of I-65 in Clarksville, Indiana. I made my way to the hunting section on the second floor and gazed at all of the mounts. I immediately spotted the turkey calls, near where a salesperson lounged against an archery counter. I stood there and looked at the calls for several minutes while he stared off into space.

Realizing he wasn’t going to approach me, I walked over and greeted him, asking how he was doing. It was as if I had just moved the mouse on my computer that had been on screen saver. He sprang to life, asking, “How can I help you today?” I told him I wanted to get into turkey hunting and needed to learn how to call.

The first call he showed me was a Primos Power Crystal for .99, then the Hatchet by M.A.D. Calls. I asked if he had any calls I could try. He pulled out a huge box of turkey calls in every size, shape and configuration. It was overwhelming. “How many calls do you really need?” I asked.

“How many lures do you need in your tackle box?” he replied. After showing me several more calls, he said his favorites were the Knight & Hale Ol’ Yellar and the Primos Power Crystal.

Store B

The next store was another retail giant sharing the same parking lot. I walked in the door and saw the hunting section in the back left corner. I began looking at the calls, when a salesman came out of the back room and greeted me.

I told him my cover story and he began giving me a mini turkey hunting seminar. “Since you’re just getting started, you might want to consider the Primos gun-mountable, push-pull spring hen call,” he said. “It’s the easiest to use.” It was priced at .99, but the store was selling it at a 20 percent markdown. I asked if he had one I could try. “Let’s just open this package,” he said, and showed me how to use it.

Next he turned to box calls. He explained how different woods make different sounds and that a box call sound carries farther. Then he moved on to slate calls, demonstrating how to use them. He recommended the HS Little Deuce II (at .99, less 20 percent).

Turning to the diaphragm calls he explained that they would be the hardest to master, and he wouldn’t recommend using them if I was going out in the morning. “You’ll want to learn how to use them eventually if you’re going to continue,” he said. He found me a Primos turkey calling CD packaged with three calls for .99 (and again mentioned the 20 percent discount). “This package will help you more than anything else I can show you,” he said.

When we finished looking at calls he showed me the camouflage section and instructed me on the importance of good camouflage in turkey hunting. As I walked away I felt as if he genuinely wanted to help me as much as sell me something.

Store C

A small sporting goods store in Louisville, Kentucky, was my next stop. I had called ahead for directions and their store hours, and confirmed that they carried turkey calls. I was assured that they did, but as I walked into the store, I thought I was at the wrong place. The address and name matched the one on my list but all I could see was baseball, basketball and football equipment. I asked the college-age salesperson where I could find the turkey calls and he gave me a dumfounded look. “We don’t carry anything like that,” he said. I had just driven 20 minutes out of my way because a salesperson thought they were being cute.

Store D

A large supercenter in LaGrange, Kentucky, known for its “always-low prices” was my next stop in my search for a turkey call. I headed to their sporting goods section in the back corner of the sales floor and told the young salesperson my cover story. He immediately smiled and pointed out a Penn’s Wood cut and cluck call for . “Here’s a good beginner’s call,” he said, opening the package. He demonstrated how to use the call, and then offered it to me to try.

“Box calls are probably the easiest to use,” he said, “but you can learn how to use a slate call in about fifteen minutes.” He went on to warn me that diaphragm calls were the hardest to master.

Despite the product overview, the only call he could offer me was the Penn’s Wood call. I asked when they would be getting some more calls in stock; there were still several weeks of turkey season left. He shook his head and apologized. “We won’t have any more calls until next spring,” he said.

How Did They Do?

STORE A

Customer Service: ★★ The salesman was leaning up against an archery counter and had a vacant look on his face until I approached him and asked for help. Then he was helpful.

Product Knowledge: ★★★★ He understood turkey calls and could operate them well.

Product Availability: ★★★★★ The store had an excellent selection of turkey calls from almost every call manufacturer.

STORE B

Customer Service: ★★★★★ I was only in the hunting section of the store for a short period before a salesman approached me and asked if he could help. He opened up any call I wanted to try.

Product Knowledge: ★★★★★ An avid turkey hunter, he’d used pretty much the entire stock. He was able to instruct and sell at the same time.

Product Availability:★★★★ Though Store A had a larger selection, Store B was very well stocked, with a good selection of different styles.

STORE C

Customer Service: No Stars. I was misled to believe that the store carried hunting equipment. That’s the opposite of customer service.

Product Knowledge: No Stars. If I wanted to purchase a basketball they could help. Otherwise, no dice.

Product Availability: No Stars. No products were available.

STORE D

Customer Service: ★★★★ The young salesman was very helpful and genuinely wanted to help me find a turkey call.

Product Knowledge: ★★★★ His proven experience with calls was not at all what I expected from his youthful countenance.

Product Availability: ★ The racks that held turkey calls were bare, and they wouldn’t be filling up again until next season.

And the Winner Is:

STORE B
The salesman made all of the difference on this undercover shopping experience. He took the time to explain the calls and the functions of each one. As I was getting ready to leave, he said, "Let me show you one more thing." He took me to the camouflage section and suggested patterns that were good for that region, and explained to me the importance of good camo when hunting turkeys.

Dick’s Sporting Goods
River Falls Mall,
951 East Lewis and Clark Parkway
Clarksville, IN 47129
812-288-2194