NUCLEAR PLANT FISHER
01-31-2004, 01:46 PM
I took my annual trip to Penn yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised. Each year I take my reels in for repair at the Penn facility in Philadelphia. I really go there to attend WING BOWL, but I tell my wife I'm going to get my reels repaired.
After WING BOWL, I drove over to Penn. In the past, this was a horrible experience. One year, I had to take a leak, and they wouldn't let me inside to go to a bathroom. I had to walk to a pizza parlor. Another year, I waited 45 minutes before someone checked in my reels. This year was different.
I walked upstairs to the greeting area, which used to look like a dungeon. They've fixed it up, and I was able to sit and read a magazine. In the past, they would take my reels and tell me to come back in a month to pick them up, or, I could have them shipped to my house and pay for it.
This year, they told me if I wanted to wait, my reels would be fixed in less than an hour. I thought they were joking me, but they were serious. They put in a new repair system, and were confident the reels could be fixed. I decided to wait.
The lady behind the counter was very friendly. One year I went there, the lady told me to shut up and wait for someone, they were very busy. This year, they were very nice, and I was even able to buy a Penn hat for just $5 and I needed it, it was only 20 degrees outside.
I sat there for about 15 minutes wondering if I was being joked on. I expected after an hour some mean woman would come out and tell me to go home and they would ship my reels to me next month. But then this guy walked out, put something on the table, and asked if i was being taken care of. I said yes, but then I thought I'd really put them to the test - I asked this guy if I could go to the bathroom.
He said sure and invited me in. I really didn't have to take a leak, but I just wanted to see what was inside. I've heard so many stories about what a dump this place is, I had to see it for myself. After fishing Penn reels for 20 years, I was finally in the hallowed gorund.
The place looked beautiful. Nothing extravagant, but very nice. People were talking to each other and looked happy. This guy takes me to the bathroom and I went inside and pretended to take a leak. When I come out, he asks if I've ever seen the place where they fix reels. I said no, and he took me on a tour. I couldn't believe this was happening.
First he took me where they put the reels together. There must have been 100 people all assembling reels from scratch. He told me they do several thousand reels a day and everyone was very busy, so I guess they are doing good. The people kept calling this guy Mr. Kevin, I suddenly realized this was the President. He seemed like a regular guy. The President of my company is an *******. He makes us call him sir, and if i ever called him Mr. Robert I'd be fired.
This Kevin guy then takes me to the repair area, where they have about 10 people who just fix reels that come in from all over the country. Really nice people. One guy there has been with Penn for 47 years and is a great guy. He can fix any reel. I was able to watch some of my reels being repaired.
I must admit I was impressed. These people are working their asses off so I can fish. They know their stuff. I told them a few things I was doing to my reels and they showed me the right way to do it without making me feel like some dumb shmuck.
My reels were finished in 45 minutes. Mr. Kevin gave me the managers phone number to call if I had any problems. I put my new hat on and started the long drive home. The WING BOWL was a lot of fun this year, but I think I'll remember my trip to Penn for many years.
[ 02-04-2004, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Ron Redington ]
After WING BOWL, I drove over to Penn. In the past, this was a horrible experience. One year, I had to take a leak, and they wouldn't let me inside to go to a bathroom. I had to walk to a pizza parlor. Another year, I waited 45 minutes before someone checked in my reels. This year was different.
I walked upstairs to the greeting area, which used to look like a dungeon. They've fixed it up, and I was able to sit and read a magazine. In the past, they would take my reels and tell me to come back in a month to pick them up, or, I could have them shipped to my house and pay for it.
This year, they told me if I wanted to wait, my reels would be fixed in less than an hour. I thought they were joking me, but they were serious. They put in a new repair system, and were confident the reels could be fixed. I decided to wait.
The lady behind the counter was very friendly. One year I went there, the lady told me to shut up and wait for someone, they were very busy. This year, they were very nice, and I was even able to buy a Penn hat for just $5 and I needed it, it was only 20 degrees outside.
I sat there for about 15 minutes wondering if I was being joked on. I expected after an hour some mean woman would come out and tell me to go home and they would ship my reels to me next month. But then this guy walked out, put something on the table, and asked if i was being taken care of. I said yes, but then I thought I'd really put them to the test - I asked this guy if I could go to the bathroom.
He said sure and invited me in. I really didn't have to take a leak, but I just wanted to see what was inside. I've heard so many stories about what a dump this place is, I had to see it for myself. After fishing Penn reels for 20 years, I was finally in the hallowed gorund.
The place looked beautiful. Nothing extravagant, but very nice. People were talking to each other and looked happy. This guy takes me to the bathroom and I went inside and pretended to take a leak. When I come out, he asks if I've ever seen the place where they fix reels. I said no, and he took me on a tour. I couldn't believe this was happening.
First he took me where they put the reels together. There must have been 100 people all assembling reels from scratch. He told me they do several thousand reels a day and everyone was very busy, so I guess they are doing good. The people kept calling this guy Mr. Kevin, I suddenly realized this was the President. He seemed like a regular guy. The President of my company is an *******. He makes us call him sir, and if i ever called him Mr. Robert I'd be fired.
This Kevin guy then takes me to the repair area, where they have about 10 people who just fix reels that come in from all over the country. Really nice people. One guy there has been with Penn for 47 years and is a great guy. He can fix any reel. I was able to watch some of my reels being repaired.
I must admit I was impressed. These people are working their asses off so I can fish. They know their stuff. I told them a few things I was doing to my reels and they showed me the right way to do it without making me feel like some dumb shmuck.
My reels were finished in 45 minutes. Mr. Kevin gave me the managers phone number to call if I had any problems. I put my new hat on and started the long drive home. The WING BOWL was a lot of fun this year, but I think I'll remember my trip to Penn for many years.
[ 02-04-2004, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Ron Redington ]