Boy Scout Handbooks

[rehayes]

Okay, so I posted on this topic earlier today in another thread and Eagle732 responded regarding this thread which is newer but the same topic. Today I also received a response from a local SE with whom I inquired. His response was that the Scout Shcp inside our Council HQ office building is a National Scout shop. They (Supply Division) are aware of this quality issue and have put a plan in place to address this issue with the next print run. He went on to say that if we have defective books, to bring them into the Scout Shop and they will give us new ones. From other posts in this thread, it sounds like there is not a consistent response from each council. I will try to return the defective ones and see if my council does, in fact, replace them with new ones but the challenge is in the timing as I see it. Why bother getting a replacement book that is just as defective as the ones I'm returning only to have to go through the whole process again soon instead of just waiting until the next print run comes out. My other question is this: If Supply Division already knows about this problem, why are they continuing to sell the defective ones? Shouldn't they pull them from the shelves now so they don't create further ongoing customer satisfaction issues? I'll test this as well when I go to the shop this weekend.

[Eagle732]

I think one of the reasons why they keep selling them is because if they dump them they take a loss. How many boys buy a book and in 3 months they quit so they never get to the point where the book falls apart. Or, like some of my parents have done, they just go buy a new one?

[SSScout]

 

No need to "dump" them. Suggest that the Council Shop donate them to local public libraries. Many of the local libraries in my area have Scout sections, including MB books and other references. I would not expect any Media Specialist (read: Librarian) would EVER refuse a donation of books.

Or, pass htem on to the Learning for Life section. Maybe they could use them.

 

I the mean time, try pulling the binding apart, gently, spread some GOOP © in the cover, and push and mold the loose pages back into the book. GOOP© is tough, waterproof, flexible and almost as important on my camptrips as Duct Tape. Almost.

[Eagle732]

By "Dump" I meant to remove them from inventory. Wether they toss them in the dumpster, recycle them or give them away the end result is the same, no profit.

[Eagle92]

One reason for the different responses is that there are two categories of sellers: nationally owned Scout Shops and local distributors (local stores selling scout merchandise, local councils that own their own store, etc.)

 

I've been told that local distributors cannot return defective stuff without paying a restocking fee. Coming from the source, I believe them as they are 110% behind Scouting, provided a service when they opened up despite opposition from the national store about 45 minutes away (yes national scout shops do have a say in these things).

 

Because nationally owned stores don't have restock fees, have to honor national's policies, etc. it's best to return defective merchandise to them.

[BartHumphries]

As much as people complain here, it's not "official" complaining unless the material has actually been returned to a Scout Shop.

[Eagle732]

Well I have a dozen books to make an official complaint with but am still waiting for a reply to the email I sent over a week ago requesting an address and to whom they need to be sent to.