Ping at Dick's

obsessedgolfer · February 23, 2009

What?

I was at Dick's and saw they had ping putters, I was surprised because I thought they lost their buying contract years ago, does anyone know whats going on with Dick's and ping. Why only putters?

Carolina Golfer 2 · February 23, 2009

I was at Dick's and saw they had ping putters, I was surprised because I thought they lost their buying contract years ago, does anyone know whats going on with Dick's and ping. Why only putters?

I know a guy who works as the lead in the golf department here, and he told me this a couple weeks ago. They are going to start with putters and see how the response is to those, if it is receptive then move into Drivers and FW and eventually irons. I don't know the whole story, but I believe PING cut them off several years ago for discounting. Obviously the thinking must have changed at PING.

blinden · February 23, 2009

I was in a Dicks store in Charleston and they had all the Ping clubs in stock.

Brian

tbowles411 · February 23, 2009

The economy his hurting everyone. Ping either forgave them, or they need to move some product.

rrkman · February 23, 2009

This is interesting...I was in a local GG a couple weeks back and was talking to the manager about the new pricing, etc. Topic kind of went towards Dick's and I said something along the lines of 'does this mean that Dick's will carry PING now'....manager shot me a dirty look and said NO!. I guess he was wrong.

glenwayputters · February 23, 2009

I am not so sure that it wasn't Dick's doing an about face.

Dick's and other retailers need Ping as much as Ping needs them.

toys4tots16 · February 23, 2009

I worked as a golf lead for a long time. Here's the deal: Dick's couldn't sell Ping due to the discounting that they had been doing (this happened quite some time ago), however when Dick's bought Golf Galaxy, they made an agreement with Ping to sell their stuff. The deal included a guaranteed that Dick's wouldn't sell Ping for a certain amount of time to allow Golf Galaxy to modify their "selling techniques." As of now, the exclusion time is up for Dick's and they will begin selling Ping immediately. Dick's stores in some markets that do not have Ping as readily available (IE no Golf Galaxy there yet) will carry a full line right away, others will slowly start selling them. Stores will be given materials based off of sales for the initial process as well (if you sell a lot, you'll get Ping before other stores.) I think that answers everything.

Carolina Golfer 2 · February 24, 2009

I worked as a golf lead for a long time. Here's the deal: Dick's couldn't sell Ping due to the discounting that they had been doing (this happened quite some time ago), however when Dick's bought Golf Galaxy, they made an agreement with Ping to sell their stuff. The deal included a guaranteed that Dick's wouldn't sell Ping for a certain amount of time to allow Golf Galaxy to modify their "selling techniques." As of now, the exclusion time is up for Dick's and they will begin selling Ping immediately. Dick's stores in some markets that do not have Ping as readily available (IE no Golf Galaxy there yet) will carry a full line right away, others will slowly start selling them. Stores will be given materials based off of sales for the initial process as well (if you sell a lot, you'll get Ping before other stores.) I think that answers everything.

toys, thanks that is pretty much what the golf lead guy I know told me, but in more detail. Thanks for the additional info.

generalpatton · February 24, 2009

From what I've seen, Dicks is way behind all the other retailers as far as discounting goes. I was in a store last week and saw some R7 TP fairways that were still full price. Saw some Adams A3 hybrids at full price too. Same for bags.....2 year old Ogio designs were still $179. They follow the manufacturers mark-downs on the big ticket items such as drivers but they're slow to clear out the rest of the stuff. So much though that it seems to hurt them in having the latest and greatest model of anything.

herd8497 · February 24, 2009

From what I've seen, Dicks is way behind all the other retailers as far as discounting goes. I was in a store last week and saw some R7 TP fairways that were still full price. Saw some Adams A3 hybrids at full price too. Same for bags.....2 year old Ogio designs were still $179. They follow the manufacturers mark-downs on the big ticket items such as drivers but they're slow to clear out the rest of the stuff. So much though that it seems to hurt them in having the latest and greatest model of anything.

Both the Dick's and GG in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio are the same Generalpatton. I can't understand who pays full boat for these clubs at retail stores like these???

toys4tots16 · February 24, 2009

To answer those: The markdowns are actually there, they just aren't marked, especially for bags. This is because the process for changing signs is inefficient and the checks to see if it was ever done are non-existent. The company is run very poorly. In fact, there is a class action law suit being started against them right now for treating employees unfairly.

Carolina Golfer 2 · February 24, 2009

In fact, there is a class action law suit being started against them right now for treating employees unfairly.

yes they have sent a letter to all past employees asking if they were ever denied taking a lunch break. From the guy I talked to this happens just about everyday. Their managers rarely ever let them take a 30 minute lunch if they are working more than 5 hours. In those rare instances where they do, they often make them grab a quick sandwich or snack in in the stock room and interupt it if a customer needs help.

Tanner25 · February 24, 2009

I was in a Dicks store in Charleston and they had all the Ping clubs in stock.

Brian

wow, c'mon Ping snobs chime in. Can you believe your beloved clubs are at a big box retailer. I remember a similar thread a year ago, " Ping would never go into Dicks ".

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · February 24, 2009

Dick's just laid off a LOT of Golf Galaxy asst. managers....

Freak2 · February 24, 2009

Dick's just laid off a LOT of Golf Galaxy managers....

They just didn't drop the ax on GG managers

frozen_rope · February 24, 2009

Consumers with a sense of decency ?

From what I've seen, Dicks is way behind all the other retailers as far as discounting goes. I was in a store last week and saw some R7 TP fairways that were still full price. Saw some Adams A3 hybrids at full price too. Same for bags.....2 year old Ogio designs were still $179. They follow the manufacturers mark-downs on the big ticket items such as drivers but they're slow to clear out the rest of the stuff. So much though that it seems to hurt them in having the latest and greatest model of anything.

Both the Dick's and GG in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio are the same Generalpatton. I can't understand who pays full boat for these clubs at retail stores like these???