Pos

[BigUmp56]

Good luck getting the pads this Summer. I talked to Jason in their customer service department about getting a spare set. He told me that not only were they back ordered, they were now in the wrong country. The back order had been filled by the manufacturer, but the pads were all sent to Europe. Now, instead of getting them sent back to the States via air, the pads are waiting on a dock to be shipped back on a damn boat.


Tim.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

That's a shame...they are the official supplier to Minor League Baseball. One would think that the AMLU members would be more than grateful. Oops, what did I just write?

+Plus is the official supplier for one reason - price. The shirts and pants fall apart, the jacket zippers break. Most of the umpires end up buying pants from Honigs or Gerry Davis to get through the year.

This year +POS was unable to deliver enough pants to MiLB, forcing them to go to Honigs. At least one pair of pants will last the season.

[ozzy6900]

My first choice is Gerry Davis Sports.

My Second choice is Honig's.

I have no third choice!

As you can see, +POS doesn't even enter my list! Past experiences proved to me that +POS is one of the worst business's to deal with. I have a couple of +POS lineup sheets left and when they are gone, I will be +POS FREE!

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

That's a shame...they are the official supplier to Minor League Baseball. One would think that the AMLU members would be more than grateful. Oops, what did I just write?

WWTB-
Its funny you mentioned that... In the middle of last season a MiLB Umpire I know was promoted mid-season to the MWL. He contact +POS to get 2 extra hats, and he recieved both in November. I have had very poor experiences with +POS service (delays, backorder, wrong merchandise) but I must admit, their pants are awesome! The athletic cut pants seem to fit my big a$$ better than any other.

[lawump]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

That's a shame...they are the official supplier to Minor League Baseball. One would think that the AMLU members would be more than grateful. Oops, what did I just write?

That's because they (+POS) made a deal with MiLB/PBUC, and not the umpires. We (umpires) were never contacted about our preferences and/or desires. Most of my colleagues at the time were not happy to very displeased with +POS's products/service.

Of course, since I'm no longer a minor league umpire, I cannot speak for current minor league umpires. I can only say that when I was umpiring we felt no need to be "grateful" since we had nothing to do with them becoming the official supplier to MiLB, and most of us did not hide our dislike of their product as compared to other products.

[gsf23]

I don't know, but I would have a hard time ordering anything from a company called POS.

[FVB9]

I think what you meant to say is that we lost Sylvia a few years ago, but from what I understand, Buck is still around. The thing I think killed POS was the emergence of GDS, and the top shelf customer service Scott Ehret showed us.

We have 300+ umpires and POS is in our backyard. I would love to tell our umpires to run over there and get what they need, but the warehouse is closed for lunch from 10-2, and everything gets back ordered. When Honigs can get me something tomorrow (with an ***'n discount), why would I pay pay full price for something I'll get in four weeks?

JMHO

[etn_ump]

Sounds like an old fashioned management problem, or lack of management and customer service. Closed for 4 hours for lunch? Sounds like they're not interested in selling anything. Maybe the umpire community should oblige them!

Too bad too, they had some nice stuff.

[Lawrence.Dorsey]

I've told this before but here it goes. In my first season back in 1991, I used borrowed gear (read: raft,catcher's mask, catcher's leg guards) during the spring season. I was asked to work an advanced fall league later that year and told to get my own gear. I had no idea where to look. The guy who was booking the umpires, who had originally asked me to join the league, gave me a +POS catalog and told me to give them a call. I picked out a starter set and gave them a call. It was around dinner time here in NC. I may have actually been talking to Buck without knowing it but the guy that helped me was outstanding. Anyway, this was on a Thursday and I needed the gear for a Saturday plate job. I had no concept of shipping times back then. When the assignor and I talked after I had ordered, he said he would call POS and tell them that I needed the gear ASAP or he was going to drop my schedule (a ploy and not true at all). POS overnighted the gear at no extra charge on the last flight out of Chicago. I had it the next evening. They had me as a customer for life or so I thought.

In 1998 when I moved up to the HS ranks, I bought some plate pants and their plate shoes. I still have the pants today and they are in good shape (I check them colorwise each season against some newer pants I have). The shoes are still being worn by a fellow umpire.

I never had any major customer service problems with them. I use Gerry Davis Sports as my number one option and Honigs if I get in a pinch (for everything except their shirts, I will never buy a shirt from them again). I left POS because after the early 90's they never seemed to offer anything innovative. I am always looking for the next best thing because anything that makes me more comfortable, lasts longer, or is safer is something I want to have. POS just never expanded and updated their product line.

Lawrence

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Owww...brain fart! FVB9 is correct and I spaced out about Buck. You are correct, Sylvia passed away and Buck is left pretty much without a helmsman. It is sad to see so many bad stories about the problems they are having. Maybe they will see some of these and fix it before it's too late. +POS was a pretty good company for a long time. I started dealing with them in the early 80s and have not encountered the issues you seem to see here. Oh well, if you can find better gear and service - go get it, life is too short.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

Many things changed when Buck died.

Buck was a Schaumburg fireman who revolutionized the umpiring equipment market. He was able to bring some pretty nice products to the customer. His cost was reasonable and they took pride in backing up their gear. He and Sylvia ran that place like it was their home.

He really had a Mom & Pop shop - if you have ever been to his warehouse, you know it is not a SportsAuthority. He donated a ton of gear to everyone from the local LL to Minor League aspirants. He held an annual garage sale every year to unload returns, seconds and close out gear - but he also cut the prices on his first rate stuff. He always gave me boxes of gear to use as handouts at my umpire clinics.

+POS took their first hit when the IHSA switched shirt styles (the button down Elbeco to a pull over). They were left holding the bag witha ton of useless product. Then the wheel of approved shirts started spinning. After that we saw that pants were modified. Each time, they were left with product that was useless to the umpire customer. This and the increased competition took it's toll and we lost Buck a few years ago. His wife is trying to maintain the course, but it is really tragic. They used to be the pinnacle of quality - product and service.

I have bought gear from every one of those mentioned. I have never had a problem with any of them - mainly because I'm a persistent SOB. I don't share the same feelings about +POS as some of you because they have been so good to me for a very long time.

Truthfully, +POS went to pot when Sylvia died of cancer a couple years ago. When I worked in the northwest suburbs back in the early and mid-1990's, I used to stop by +POS for lunch a couple times a week and shoot the proverbial schit with Buck, Sylvia, and Joanie, the latter being one of the nicest workers in retail I have ever met. I still see Joanie today from time to time, since she works part-time at Portillo's in Naperville.

During lunch, Buck often ripped his customers. Seriously, you wouldn't believe the way he so condescendingly talked about his customers.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by socalblue1

+Plus is the official supplier for one reason - price. The shirts and pants fall apart, the jacket zippers break. Most of the umpires end up buying pants from Honigs or Gerry Davis to get through the year.

This year +POS was unable to deliver enough pants to MiLB, forcing them to go to Honigs. At least one pair of pants will last the season.

Except that the guys have the red/white +POS embroidered onto the pants, as their supervisors do not allow them to wear anything but +POS unies. In fact, one of our Association members who's an MiLB umpire explained that if you're seen with non+POS pants, you're downgraded in your evaluation.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Except that the guys have the red/white +POS embroidered onto the pants, as their supervisors do not allow them to wear anything but +POS unies. In fact, one of our Association members who's an MiLB umpire explained that if you're seen with non+POS pants, you're downgraded in your evaluation.

Not this year!

[UMP25]

I'll see him Friday night and ask. That has been the practice since the contract was signed a few years back.

[BlueLawyer]

If they have this much difficulty, why do they advertise? For example, the AUL300 mask- a basic business principle (it seems to me, anyway): if you sell out of it all the time, KEEP IT IN STOCK! Same thing with pads, etc.

Strikes and outs!