Waukesha Gun Show Employees

[MKEgal]

What I suggested ("Your actions are completely inappropriate, your sexual advances unwelcome. Stop right now.") isn't verbal assault, it's being assertive.

So now he replies with, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT ******?!
So now what? You can't hit him for being an *******

Why would I hit him? He's just a short-word-for-a-donkey.*
First, I'd smile. One of those smiles that says "just you wait & see what happens, & you're not going to like it". In part because it's not a reaction he'd be expecting; probably he's used to people getting mad in return.

Get another employee to get the manager of the show, & perhaps the facility manager.
Give them the opportunity to apologize for their employee, & they can refund my money.

Write the company that owns the facility (in this case, the county).
Tell friends what happened, maybe they'll write or boycott.

*Now if he were stupid enough to follow me outside & continue to escalate/harrass I'd treat him like any other attacker. Probably would be enough people around that making noise would attract attention unwelcome to him.

 

[safcrkr]

Just out of curiosity... what did this employee look like? About how old was he?

The reason I'm asking is this: I've attended Bob & Rocco shows in Eagle River & Antigo for about the past 15 years. In that time, the same two guys always worked the shows. Same guy taking admissions, same guy checking guns. I've brought both my wife and daughter to several shows. Both employees were nothing but gentlemen, and polite. The guy taking the money and stamping hands was always an older grey-haired guy with glasses, maybe 70's (as of now). I've had several conversations with him over the years, and I'd be very surprised if he acted that way. Just doesn't seem the type, if you know what I mean. More of a quiet and reserved type.

However, at the last Eagle River show, just the past Labor Day weekend, there was a much younger guy taking money and stamping hands. My first impression was he was a real "smart-ass". A "new" employee perhaps? Or a "substitute" for the regular guy? Not an excuse, but possibly a new guy that Pucci isn't aware is an a-hole.

 

[civilwarguy]

Just out of curiosity... what did this employee look like? About how old was he?

The reason I'm asking is this: I've attended Bob & Rocco shows in Eagle River & Antigo for about the past 15 years. In that time, the same two guys always worked the shows. Same guy taking admissions, same guy checking guns. I've brought both my wife and daughter to several shows. Both employees were nothing but gentlemen, and polite. The guy taking the money and stamping hands was always an older grey-haired guy with glasses, maybe 70's (as of now). I've had several conversations with him over the years, and I'd be very surprised if he acted that way. Just doesn't seem the type, if you know what I mean. More of a quiet and reserved type.

However, at the last Eagle River show, just the past Labor Day weekend, there was a much younger guy taking money and stamping hands. My first impression was he was a real "smart-ass". A "new" employee perhaps? Or a "substitute" for the regular guy? Not an excuse, but possibly a new guy that Pucci isn't aware is an a-hole.

He was a heavier set guy i would say late 20s early 30s with a pony tail. And i am sorry i refuse to accept that he is unaware of the actions as here we are Wed. night and the email was sent Sat. afternoon. I have owned a business and when i was "the boss" more than 3 business days to respond to an email was not acceptable.

 

[civilwarguy]

So as an update as i promised from the beginning to keep this thread updated about any response i will also keep updated as to who emails or phone calls are sent to. I have sent an email to the expo admins and both the senator and rep. for the district his company is located in. I will be calling the Waukesha co board chair tomorrow. I guess we will see if anyone cares about what actions their name is being associated with.

 

[safcrkr]

He was a heavier set guy i would say late 20s early 30s with a pony tail. And i am sorry i refuse to accept that he is unaware of the actions as here we are Wed. night and the email was sent Sat. afternoon. I have owned a business and when i was "the boss" more than 3 business days to respond to an email was not acceptable.

Was your business only open a few 3 day weekends per month? Again, not making any excuses for Bob Pucci. But not everyone "lives" at a computer monitor, and reads their e-mail on a daily basis. FWIW, I too own a business, and I've had e-mails sit for days/weeks before opening them if I didn't recognize the sender. My business does not depend on e-mail to survive. I've also had private messages on internet forums go un-opened for a month. My time at a computer is limited, and there are priorities on how I spend that time. AFAIK, Pucci guides goose hunting trips for the "Take a Kid Hunting" org. This is goose season. He's busy this time of year... very busy.

Again... not making excuses, just looking at all possible explanations why you haven't gotten a reply.

 

[civilwarguy]

Was your business only open a few 3 day weekends per month? Again, not making any excuses for Bob Pucci. But not everyone "lives" at a computer monitor, and reads their e-mail on a daily basis. FWIW, I too own a business, and I've had e-mails sit for days/weeks before opening them if I didn't recognize the sender. My business does not depend on e-mail to survive. I've also had private messages on internet forums go un-opened for a month. My time at a computer is limited, and there are priorities on how I spend that time. AFAIK, Pucci guides goose hunting trips for the "Take a Kid Hunting" org. This is goose season. He's busy this time of year... very busy.

Again... not making excuses, just looking at all possible explanations why you haven't gotten a reply.

My company was open 7 days a week and 364 days a year (DJ Company) and we got very busy durring wedding season but i still answered emails within 3 days or less. I understand busy season but in this day and age any company with a email posted on their web page should respond quickly again this is just my opinion and others may run differently but that is how i did it and so that has remained my standard.

 

[civilwarguy]

Two Responses I Received

Ok here are two responses I have received:

First from The Expo Manager:

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX,



Thank you for letting me know about this. I will have a discussion with the promoter and his door staff. I want to apologize for this inappropriate behavior. I find this completely unacceptable. Please express my apology to your girlfriend, this is not representative of the way women are treated at the Expo Center.



Thank you for your input.



Teri Adlam

Manager

262-548-7202

And the second was a phone call from the County Board Chair Jim Dwyer about a hour after I received this email.

He said he was very disappointed to hear that anyone was treating women in such a manner in his county and that he would remain in contact with Teri Adlam to ensure that this was taken care of and that although they cant control how persons who rent the expo act they can control who rents it. He said that he would ask that Teri keep me updated as to what was done so that i would know that this was not just swept under the rug and that it was taken care of. He also said that if they rent to Bob and Rocco again that he hopes that any incidents like this were brought to his attention as he doesn't want these actions to be associated with Waukesha Co.



This may have all been lip service we will see, but i am just passing along updates as i said i would.

 

[Lurchiron]

Rather than writing out this twice i will just post the letter to the owner of the co. that puts this show on it explains what happened.


Bob,
I feel it is only right to make you aware of the actions of your employees. My girlfriend and I attended your show in Waukesha on 9/17. When we arrived at the location and went to the admission table to pay (approx. 1:30-2:00pm) the individual you had working admissions proceeded to make in appropriate comments to my girlfriend of a sexual nature. This was her first time going to a gun show and due to his actions she has stated she has no desire to attend again. After paying admission we proceeded to the gun check table. As we walked away from the admissions table to gun check table the individual then made grunting/moaning type noises. We proceeded inside at my urging as she wanted to leave at that point. As we exited the show the same individual made the comment "Bye Baby."

I find it very disturbing that you allow employees to act this way especially ones with such direct contact with the public. I hope you understand the damage this does to the efforts being made by numerous 2nd amendment groups and gun enthusiast groups (especially the NRA) to draw women into the hobby.Not to mention the 4H organization that's name is on the hall your use for the show. I will be posting this letter on the firearm and outdoors forums that i am on. To be fair and just i will also post any response you may send back as to let every individual decide if he or she will continue to visit your shows.


XXXXXXX

Instead of writing this, why wasn't your index & middle fingers crammed up his nostrils; back-walking him to the nearest LEO???

 

[thebigsd]

SNIP This may have all been lip service we will see, but i am just passing along updates as i said i would.

To me it sounds like progress. The first indicator is that they responded to you. The second indicator is that they responded personally. They did not have a subordinate answer for them. One even to the time to call. If they truly didn't care thy woukdn't have answered at all. Good work! Keep it up!!

 

[civilwarguy]

Another response

Hello Mr. XXXXXXX,



I left a message for Bob Pucci to give me a call to discuss your complaint. I believe he is setting up for another show this weekend, so I may not hear from him until Monday. I spoke with my assistant about your concerns and she said that Bob never opens or reads e-mail, that someone from a printing company does that for him periodically. He asked us to mail or call him directly with any questions we have. That may explain why he never responded to you.



I am passing on his phone number if you wish to call him. I will be addressing your concerns with him and I will directly speak to his staff at the beginning of his next show. It is my expectation that they will behave as gentlemen and in a manner that doesn’t offend the public or embarrass this facility. Feel free to call me if you have further questions or issues. Thanks again for your input.



Bob Pucci: 608-752-6677





Teri Adlam
Waukesha County Expo Center Manager

262-548-7202


My response back:
Teri Adlam,

Thank you for looking into this matter. I was unaware of the fact that he doesn't read his emails. I assumed that since it was on his contact page that like other companies that have emails on their contact pages that he actually used it for that purpose. I will pass this on to others who have tried to contact him as well due to being concerned about the incident.

Thanks Again
XXXXXX

 

[xd shooter]

I will also add, it's great that you're getting responses.

It would be awesome to hear that this individual will no longer work the door, or at any show belonging to this company, and that he knows WHY.

I believe he is setting up for another show this weekend,

Hopefully some other Lady this weekend won't suffer the same abuse.

 

[MKEgal]

Instead of writing this, why wasn't your index & middle fingers crammed up his nostrils; back-walking him to the nearest LEO???

Because that would be battery, & since he was armed it could have been charged as a more serious crime.
Also, it's not an appropriate reaction to an insult, at least not in civilized society.
Even if the employee wasn't civilized, that doesn't give the rest of us an excuse not to be.

 

[Grapeshot]

Instead of writing this, why wasn't your index & middle fingers crammed up his nostrils; back-walking him to the nearest LEO???

Because that would be battery, & since he was armed it could have been charged as a more serious crime.
Also, it's not an appropriate reaction to an insult, at least not in civilized society.
Even if the employee wasn't civilized, that doesn't give the rest of us an excuse not to be.

Big +1

 

[civilwarguy]

Because that would be battery, & since he was armed it could have been charged as a more serious crime.
Also, it's not an appropriate reaction to an insult, at least not in civilized society.
Even if the employee wasn't civilized, that doesn't give the rest of us an excuse not to be.

thanks MKEGal I have decided to stop justifying my actions since this post was to alert everyone about a problematic employee not have people weigh in with ideas of how i could have successfully escalated the situation and get arrested.....

 

[Lurchiron]

Because that would be battery, & since he was armed it could have been charged as a more serious crime.
Also, it's not an appropriate reaction to an insult, at least not in civilized society.
Even if the employee wasn't civilized, that doesn't give the rest of us an excuse not to be.

I don't know...can't get Don McLean's "American Pie" outta my head,

"Pushed your Chevy, over the Levee;

the Day, that virtue died."(Paraphrase)...


but, then I've always been a Ford fan & a door opener

 

[LaBomba]

Ok here are two responses I have received:

First from The Expo Manager:

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for letting me know about this. I will have a discussion with the promoter and his door staff. I want to apologize for this inappropriate behavior. I find this completely unacceptable. Please express my apology to your girlfriend, this is not representative of the way women are treated at the Expo Center.

Thank you for your input.

Teri Adlam

Manager

262-548-7202

And the second was a phone call from the County Board Chair Jim Dwyer about a hour after I received this email.

He said he was very disappointed to hear that anyone was treating women in such a manner in his county and that he would remain in contact with Teri Adlam to ensure that this was taken care of and that although they cant control how persons who rent the expo act they can control who rents it. He said that he would ask that Teri keep me updated as to what was done so that i would know that this was not just swept under the rug and that it was taken care of. He also said that if they rent to Bob and Rocco again that he hopes that any incidents like this were brought to his attention as he doesn't want these actions to be associated with Waukesha Co.

This may have all been lip service we will see, but i am just passing along updates as i said i would.

Well played, Civil War Guy. The County is taking your beef very seriously. It's great that Dwyer is even suggesting this could jeopardize a show operator's ability to stage future shows at the Expo Center. Promoters love that venue because it's one of the cheapest locations you can rent and attract the Milwaukee metro population. I bet Rocco would hate to lose it.

How fun would it be to see Teri Adlam confront the door guy? If the door guy's as crass as you make out, he could easily say something to her that escalates the situation and gets him fired or arrested or both.

 

[civilwarguy]

Response From The Expo Manager

Hello Mr. XXXXXXX,

I just spoke with Bob Pucci. He said he would address it with his staff and that it should not happen again.

Thank You,

Teri Adlam


I guess I should be happy, but the part that concerns me about this response it the "it should not happen again" part. IMHO it should not have ever happened in the first place. Somehow I do not get the feeling that it even is gonna be addressed by Mr. Pucci and that he is just saying what he has to say to make people happy.... again this is just my .02 take it for what its worth.