Dear Mr. Markwort,

This is to inform you of significant problems you may find at the end of your distribution chain on Long Island, N.Y.

As a potential customer of one of your products - the Markwort Heart-Gard (for my son) - I was unable to find it available throughout two of the major sporting goods retailers on Long Island: Modell's Sporting Goods and The Sports Authority.

In each case, representatives of the brick-and-mortar stores brushed aside my request, informing me hastily that they each had simply run out of the product in their inventories. In each case, the representatives of the respective stores told me - they "think" - that their stores re-ordered a new supply of heart guards weeks ago, but hadn't the slightest clue when they would arrive back in stock.

The representative for Modells, in fact, informed me that the store, next week, would be winding down its baseball sales for the season and simply consolidating all of its equipment - including protective gear such as your company manufactures - on the backburner until next season.

I hope you are just as appalled at this as I am.

There is a happy ending to the story, however. I did find your product available, online from Sports Plus, an online retail partner of Yahoo.com. Not only was the product available, but the company offered overnight delivery.

I request, Mr. Markwort, that you begin to ask tough questions of your retail partners, Modell's and The Sports Authority, as they are the primary suppliers of consumer sporting goods in this region. For them to run out of inventory on essential, protective sporting gear, and fail to restock on a timely basis is indicative of complete ineptitude or worse.

Further, I would ask that you provide, if possible, any special promotions or competitive advantages you could to retailers such as Sports Plus. They deserve it.

I would add that I took this opportunity to write you, instead of the retail stores in question, because I thought it would do the most good. Also, I believe the best response I would get out of the retail shops would be a coupon for a few percent off my next purchase. And, quite frankly, since they're inept at keeping stock of items I need, I doubt I would have use for it.

Congratulations on running a fine business, and all the best luck for your continued success.