Funny,
I knew who he was talking about....
Back during my Arrowhead days Tony wasn't a shop shooter, but had a full contract with PSE archery. I know of only six people in Florida that had full on corporate shooting contracts; he was that good. There's hundred of guys that buy their shirts and walk around saying, I'm shooting for PSE or Matthews or Bear, et al. There are a lot of "Shop Shooters" through the discount programs the manufactureres provide the pro-shops, but I always got a chuckle at the guys at the 3-d shoots walking around wearing shirts and patches and talking about their sponsors....what a bunch of wannabe's, lolol.
Tony was one of only six in Florida, during my days in the pro-shop game, that was an honest to goodness, corporate sponsored shooter. However, I understand that his personality and aggression was a bit off-putting to some folks. A genuinely nice guy if you got to know him, but he was bound to self destruct at any moment. The new owners of the shop couldn't keep a handle on him I suppose...
He is a great shooter there is no doubt about that,and I knew that he wasnt actually employed there but to the person just coming off the street it seemed like he did work there and his people skills are extremely lacking. I know of 3 people that will not go back in there just because of there experience with him. Thats too bad too because the owners are pretty good people. They have to realize though that we can get the same products for alot less money at other places. The only reason to get your stuff from them is the customer service of a mom and pop shop and if you start letting that slip then you are on your way to going out of buisiness.
Exactly, JD used to drive it into us that the ONLY thing a proshop has that other places don't is SERVICE!!! Once that's compromised, forget it, your business is in trouble!
Did any of you ever go to the Archery shop in Largo? That's where I went back in the 80's and early 90's.
