RE: ShopTalk: What's fair re;selling?

[Childers, Tedd A]

All,   I am also just a hobbyist, and see nothing wrong with any of the scenarios below, except #4.  In my mind, all of the other scenarios are fine, as your main intent is to hit balls on the range with your own clubs, but scenario #4 seems a bit too much like advertising to me.  If someone happens to approach you while you are at the range and asks about your clubs, or wants to buy one of your clubs, I see nothing wrong with it.  How is that different than someone approaching you if you happen to have the latest XYZ super duper OEM club and asking to try that, and then going off-range to the nearest golf superstore and buying the OEM club?     I have another scenario to consider.  I used to work at a driving range, and the range had a custom clubmaker that worked out of the range storefront.  I worked the range counter, and also helped with the occasional re-grip or minor repair (loft/lie adjustment), at the request of the clubmaker.  I did not ask or receive any payment for helping with the clubmaking part of the business.  Since I was also a hobbyist and built my own clubs (and some for my friends), I would occasionally get approached at the range (when I wasn't working) and asked about making clubs for someone.  I would always suggest that they talk to the clubmaker who worked at the range, but sometimes they were only interested in having me make the clubs (as I was willing to use a much wider range of components than the range guy, who used a very narrow list of suppliers, which might not include the club or clubs the customer liked)).  I never actually accepted one of these offers, as I felt it was not ethical.  The tough part was that the clubmaker at the range and I did not agree on custom-fitting, as he was a strict flat-line believer, and I am more of a fit-to -the individual swing kind of guy.  However, I think it is clear that it would have been wrong to accept any jobs from customers at the range.  What do you all think?   Tedd       From: tflan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 9:00 PM To: ShopTalk Subject: ShopTalk: What's fair re;selling? Hi;   Arnie and I have had a back and forth discussion about whether its fair and correct to sell one's wares at a driving range. That brings about a question of, I suppose, what's ethical in the world of business. I have no quarrel with anyone about this subject. Its just one of many subjects that has come up from time to time. So, I'll pose a couple of scenarios and sit back and read your responses. I should note that I have had some interesting experiences on this subject, both in business and since retirement. I'll share some later on . . . maybe.    - Suppose you're at a public driving range. You're hitting balls with your personal, home or business made golf clubs. A guy next to you watches for a while and asks where you got the clubs. You tell him you built them yourself. The guy asks to hit a few shots with the clubs. He likes them. He asks you if you can build a set for him. You agree. Is that fair and ethical as regards the operator of the public range?    - Or, suppose you are loading your clubs into your car in the parking lot and the same guy comes up and asks the same question. You agree again. Is that ethical?    - Or, suppose your car is parked in the street and the above occurs. Same question.    - Would it be ethical to go to the range with a bag full of different clubs and display them by leaning them against your bag or bag rack while you're practicing? You aren't advertising per se, but you'd like someone to show some interest in your products.    - Or, suppose you aren't a cut and glue guy. Suppose you have a business license and a store front. Further, suppose your business name and address is printed on your golf bag in 3" letters. You aren't doing anything but hitting balls on the range. Again, a guy comes up to you asking about custom clubs. Is it ethical to sell to that guy?    - Or, suppose you're in the coffee shop or bar of your local muny. The subject of custom clubmaking arises. Someone knows you're in the business or that you're an accomplished hobbyist. Again, a guy wants you to sell him some clubs. Is that O.K.?    - Finally, is there EVER a time when its perfectly fine to sell a piece of equipment outside your personal domain without telling the operators of the range, course, store, etc.?   As I said, I'm not interested in arguments. Just opinions and perhaps some lively discussion. Do ethics really exist in this biz, and if so, does it really matter?   TFlan   LEGAL NOTICE Unless expressly stated otherwise, this message is confidential and may be privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. Access to this E-mail by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not an addressee, any disclosure or copying of the contents of this E-mail or any action taken (or not taken) in reliance on it is unauthorized and may be unlawful. If you are not an addressee, please inform the sender immediately.