Kurt Kamperman at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) made an exclusive backroom deal with a single online retailer for the exclusive sale of 10 and Under Tennis Equipment. According to Kamperman, the USTA does Not get anything from the retailer for this exclusive deal. Why did Kamperman sign an exlusive deal when the USTA is trying to grow tennis and get their 10 and Under Tennis program off the ground. Most conclude that Kamperman must be getting some type of kickback from the online retailer.
The USTA and Kamperman have yet to produce the signed contract. Take a moment to e-mail Gordon Smith and request a copy of the contract... [email protected].
The USTA has a national campaign including TV commercials driving consumers to the official 10andUnderTennis.com website where they are encouraged to purchase all their equipment from TW. This is Not good for T-E-N-N-I-S. This does not Grow the Game. Our industry needs a network of healthy tennis retailers.
If you visit 10andunderTennis.com and click on the button throughout the site “Find Equipment”, you are directed to Tennis Warehouse. TW has been exclusively featured throughout this website for some time now. Either no retailer should be mentioned here or most retailers that sell this equipment should be mentioned.
The USTA is now promoting similar exclusive TW Links on USTA.com under the Youth Tennis pages. This situation is very unfortunate and should never have occurred. In the past, similar Quick Start websites listed the names of over 50 different retailers that carry 10 and under equipment. This seems the only Fair thing to do. Let’s go back to that method today.
It’s very disappointing that this happened under the current USTA leadership that has roots in the tennis industry. Retailers want to get more involved with the USTA and support 10 and under Tennis but need fairness and HONESTY.
The good news is this can be easily remedied. List the various equipment on the 10andUnderTennis.com site with image, description and suggested retail price. Within each description include a hyper link “Find Equipment Now”. This would take consumers to a list of retailers searchable by location.
Featuring one retailer is Not in the best interest of Growing Tennis and goes directly against the USTA’s mission. Please take a Stand and demand that the USTA resolve this issue Today. Please Call Kurt Kamperman at the USTA Today begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 914-696-7053 end_of_the_skype_highligor [email protected]. Also, contact the USTA Board Members directly.
Play Tennis, Be Happy...
Brad