When one speaks with a retail sales person on one of four JAX retail stores one is told that JAX supports local craftsmen by purchasing their goods for resale. However, when one examines the merchandise actually for sale in those stores, one is unable to find anything for sale that appears hand-made or from local craftsmen. National brand-names are predominantly displayed in clothing and accessories actually for sale.
When a local craftsmen takes them at their word and attempts to contact JAX buyers in October, to show one's wares for the holiday season, one gets a run-around and ultimately is brushed-off repeatedly. Phone calls are not returned, email messages go unanswered, and the buyer cannot be found. When one goes to the buyer's office hoping to show one's wares, one receives a cordial reception from staff but the buyer is away at a trade show. When the buyer returns, she does not contact the vendor within a reasonable period of time, (e.g., two weeks).
When one complains to the owner of the business, the buyer finally contacts the vendor and arranges a meeting to view the merchandise. This is high-quality, hand-made leather belts, purses, wallets and other small accessories which complement the manufactured goods and outdoor clothing sold in JAX stores. It is generally better quality and competitively priced with comparable merchandise in JAX stores.
When the merchandise of the local craftsman is viewed, the buyer seems enthusiastic and a small order of about $700.00 is made, conditioned on approval of the buyer's superior concerning inventory on hand. The local craftsman is asked to wait a week or two before filling the order, an unusual request.
That is, the buyer for this multi-store, multi-million dollar retail operation must seek approval for a small order from her superior, despite the fact she is routinely authorized to make large orders in the standard manner at trade shows, at which vendors will not accept conditional orders.
The buyer does not contact the local craftsmen for over two weeks about the order. When the local craftsman contacts the buyer, he is told JAX inventory is too high to warrant an additional purchase of $700.00 for the holidays, which would be on hand in the stores before Thanksgiving. She wants to hold off until Spring or Summer 2017, which would not provide as good a test of demand for such goods as would the holiday season. It appears the buyer was just going through the motions in meeting with the vendor to please her employer, but had no intention of completing a purchase.
A couple days after receiving this rejection from the JAX buyer, the vendor sold over $1200.00 worth of merchandise in two days at a local craft fair. This merchandise sells.
JAX Mercantile is misrepresenting its buying policy to consumers and vendors, by telling them they support local craftsmen (a popular position with the general public), but not acting on their representations. Local craftsmen get a run-around when they attempt to market their wares to JAX Mercantile. JAX does not have any merchandise obviously made by local craftsmen in its stores, yet their retail staff says JAX supports local craftsmen. This misrepresentation is not fair to consumers or vendors.
Jax Mercantile Co. Reviews
When one speaks with a retail sales person on one of four JAX retail stores one is told that JAX supports local craftsmen by purchasing their goods for resale. However, when one examines the merchandise actually for sale in those stores, one is unable to find anything for sale that appears hand-made or from local craftsmen. National brand-names are predominantly displayed in clothing and accessories actually for sale.
When a local craftsmen takes them at their word and attempts to contact JAX buyers in October, to show one's wares for the holiday season, one gets a run-around and ultimately is brushed-off repeatedly. Phone calls are not returned, email messages go unanswered, and the buyer cannot be found. When one goes to the buyer's office hoping to show one's wares, one receives a cordial reception from staff but the buyer is away at a trade show. When the buyer returns, she does not contact the vendor within a reasonable period of time, (e.g., two weeks).
When one complains to the owner of the business, the buyer finally contacts the vendor and arranges a meeting to view the merchandise. This is high-quality, hand-made leather belts, purses, wallets and other small accessories which complement the manufactured goods and outdoor clothing sold in JAX stores. It is generally better quality and competitively priced with comparable merchandise in JAX stores.
When the merchandise of the local craftsman is viewed, the buyer seems enthusiastic and a small order of about $700.00 is made, conditioned on approval of the buyer's superior concerning inventory on hand. The local craftsman is asked to wait a week or two before filling the order, an unusual request.
That is, the buyer for this multi-store, multi-million dollar retail operation must seek approval for a small order from her superior, despite the fact she is routinely authorized to make large orders in the standard manner at trade shows, at which vendors will not accept conditional orders.
The buyer does not contact the local craftsmen for over two weeks about the order. When the local craftsman contacts the buyer, he is told JAX inventory is too high to warrant an additional purchase of $700.00 for the holidays, which would be on hand in the stores before Thanksgiving. She wants to hold off until Spring or Summer 2017, which would not provide as good a test of demand for such goods as would the holiday season. It appears the buyer was just going through the motions in meeting with the vendor to please her employer, but had no intention of completing a purchase.
A couple days after receiving this rejection from the JAX buyer, the vendor sold over $1200.00 worth of merchandise in two days at a local craft fair. This merchandise sells.
JAX Mercantile is misrepresenting its buying policy to consumers and vendors, by telling them they support local craftsmen (a popular position with the general public), but not acting on their representations. Local craftsmen get a run-around when they attempt to market their wares to JAX Mercantile. JAX does not have any merchandise obviously made by local craftsmen in its stores, yet their retail staff says JAX supports local craftsmen. This misrepresentation is not fair to consumers or vendors.