How are dealerships determined?

[thumper]

I try to find a good dealer in a hundred mile range . I'll pass up a dealer ten miles away if the one a hundred miles away knows more , and is a personable type of guy .

[Jbehredt]

I try to find a good dealer in a hundred mile range . I'll pass up a dealer ten miles away if the one a hundred miles away knows more , and is a personable type of guy .

Same here. I pass three shops to get to mine 30 clicks out. I've learned the hard way over the years that its worth the drive.

[DAVE K]

Look guys, this is the way I see it from what I have witnessed and from being a dealer. If a dealer chooses not to stock bows ( and it is their choice ), then they must not want to sell bows very badly. The dealers that commit to program a minimum number of bows have their territory protected and generally stock bows for people to handle. Dealers who chose not to commit to the minimum are left unprotected and run a real risk of having another shop who will commit to minimums and stocking bows for customers open near them. Looking at how fast ELITE is growing, I would NOT want to risk my dealership by not protecting my territory. If a dealer is foolish enough to NOT stock bows to protect their territories then they run a risk of not being protected (simple as that). Elite only stays in business by selling bows ( give them some credit at least they are a pro shop brand and not an internet box store junk bow, so YES they protect independent pro shops). They are opening large dealers everyday now that they are growing and those 3 or 4 bow a year dealers will end up with a 30-40 bow dealers down the street.
Just my 2 cents. It's not to offend anybody. Picture yourself in Elite's shoes. Its a fine line, they need to protect dealers to a point. But if you are not growing your dieing.

[ratfart]

Look guys, this is the way I see it from what I have witnessed and from being a dealer. If a dealer chooses not to stock bows ( and it is their choice ), then they must not want to sell bows very badly. The dealers that commit to program a minimum number of bows have their territory protected and generally stock bows for people to handle. Dealers who chose not to commit to the minimum are left unprotected and run a real risk of having another shop who will commit to minimums and stocking bows for customers open near them. Looking at how fast ELITE is growing, I would NOT want to risk my dealership by not protecting my territory. If a dealer is foolish enough to NOT stock bows to protect their territories then they run a risk of not being protected (simple as that). Elite only stays in business by selling bows ( give them some credit at least they are a pro shop brand and not an internet box store junk bow, so YES they protect independent pro shops). They are opening large dealers everyday now that they are growing and those 3 or 4 bow a year dealers will end up with a 30-40 bow dealers down the street.
Just my 2 cents. It's not to offend anybody. Picture yourself in Elite's shoes. Its a fine line, they need to protect dealers to a point. But if you are not growing your dieing.

it kind of sounds to me, though, that the reps have all the decision making power and appear to be inconsistent just from the info posted here in this thread. And that would be my point. when I talked to the guy in Centerville, IA which must be a "protected" dealership he indicated to me he was primarily a construction contractor and the bow thing was on the side, needed to make an appointment to see a bow, replied "yeah I have a bag target outside you can shoot at", (mind you, it was winter at the time).
Now Bluff Creek Archery in Albia, IA has a full stock of the 2 bow brands they carry and wanted Elite but couldn't get it. They have a 40 yd indoor 3d area and run a league through the winter and early spring off season then go to outdoor 3d league after that. It's in the heart of bowhunting heaven kind of territory and is supported by at least a few big name outdoor industry folks. Why in the world would you pass up that opportunity when it appears the policy to protect is "loose at best".

[thumper]

If they only sell a couple a year , or don't carry any all year , pull the line from them ! JMO

[EliteBill]

Ratfart -
I think your dealer in Albia forgot to mention to you that we offered him the opportunity to carry Elite at one point and he turned us down. So being the growth minded company that we are, we found another dealer in the area and quite frankly, he is killing it with Elite sales. We couldn't be any happier with Mark at TMAO and we highly recommend him. Rest assured that we at the corporate office were very involved with the decision to open TMAO and this was not just left up to the local rep. We have no intention of opening another dealer in the area, especially one that turned us down when he had the opportunity to pick us up.

[andy6228]

EliteBill that just goes to show that there is always another side to the story.

Regarding the non-stocking dealers. I have one of those near me, he is a decent tuner and the only elite dealer out of the three local ones that has a drawboard in the shop. I chose to buy from the dealer that had the bows I could shoot. I still ordered the one I wanted, because I wanted 65lb. limbs, but I felt supporting the dealer who was stocking the bows and making an effort was important.

[ratfart]

Bill, I did not realize they turned you down at one point. I just got to know them this past year when they must have been trying again and have been very impressed with their service. I appreciate your info and candor. I guess it's true, you snooze you loose and there is always a flip side to every story.
I wonder why I don't see more Elite's in my region? The only ones I really know of are ones I have owned or suggested to hunting buddies for the most part.
I wish they would have taken you up on it when the offer was on the table, I believe it would have been a good match, they are a great shop.
For the record and for those scoring at home, I stand corrected and understand.