have you noticed how the best fishing gear is getting more and more expensive. It used to be that the good stuff was 50% more or even double. Now the best stuff is like 3X to 10X more than the low quality stuff. I guess its still worth it cause i'm still buying it but at some point , somethings going to bust open at the seams.

You do get more features or noticeably better performance but some of the things are just getting way out there in dollars.

Anyway , just one of my MSBA show observations.

Poor people don't go fishing anymore.

It's across the board. Used to be able to buy a home for what an average entry level college graduate made. Now it takes a minimum of 5 years of the same person's salary to get into an entry level house.

Cars, can't even touch anything other than a box on wheels for less than what most people earn in a year...

I think cost "overrun" is spreading........

The 1% wealthy Americans who own all these companies are in the process of squeezing out the other 99% Americans from the American dream.....what a country....

Im sure theres more than a couple guys waiting for the Orvis Surfcasting store :rolleyes:

I hear ya Saltheart, we debated long and hard this year to up the cost of the teaser rigs by .50 each, after not having to raise the price for 3 years. But the reason I had to do that is because the cost of materials killed us this year even at cost. ALso if we included time into the cost we would be losing money.

But I agree some stuff is just getting a little caried away and I think eventually it will peak out just like fresh water and fly fishing.:rolleyes:

Yes...stuff is expensive.
The low-end stuff has had the margin knocked out by Wal-Mart so the only money in the tackle business is selling the high end stuff (and bait).....
Joe-schmo tackle shop owner has to pay the same living expenses as everyone else. Same 25,000 car same 250,00 mortgage. Same retirement to fund.

What Joe Said.
Plus we are now getting hit with increase in price also $5 delivery charge plus fuel charges on each order on bait.:smash:

The "coupla plugs and some bait" shops dont cut it anymore. They gotta give me a reason to go shop there.
That means service, product availability, product range etc.
Th shops making money are the ones on the fore-front of the industry

I myself love to use Kastmasters especially in the spring when the first bluefish arrive but I got sticker shock when I looked at the prices this past weekend. I can't remeber what I last paid for them but I am sure it wasn't the 7.00-8.00 I saw them ticketed this past weekend.

try to buy a house.what cost 200,000 3 yrs ago is 760 now.I hear what ur sayin seems to be the tackle companies make a low end an a high end.the middle is gettin smaller an smalller.200 dry tops 300 blanks 600 reels 135 for a plug bag.i thought S-Bass fisherman where stingy.Some is worth it others I don't know.I like the Van Stahl an all but I just can't convince myself its as good as 4- 706's.Why is a 3 once leadhead worth 2.50 each.I guess cause they sell.An it seems 20 is the price of a 2 oz wooden swimmer. Madness I tell ya thats why I make most of my own stuff.I make things better anyway.But even things like hooks an stuff is gettin stupid.

:topic: I thought we were tackling the high price of tackle here?:confused:

Its all relative big guy how can housing triple an everything else stay the same.

Good point NIB, can't argue that....but I would if I could.:laugha:

I don't own a tackle shop!!!

Let's look at the local tackle shop.

Before they open their door for bussiness they have to have upfront monies to stock it.
Then there is the rent or mortgage,insurance, heat and electric bill. And pay the help if any. All this before they make a dime!!
Then add medical insurance if any out of there own pocket.. And they don't get 2weeks paid vacation or a 401k. And most have to make there money in a short period of time. Winters are slow.
And when you go to your local tackle shop you know or meet people, you also hear about the hot spots that you don't get at Wallyworld!!!

"SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TACKLE SHOP"!!!! :) :cool:

[.An it seems 20 is the price of a 2 oz wooden swimmer. Madness I tell ya thats why I make most of my own stuff.I make things better anyway.But even things like hooks an stuff is gettin stupid. [/B][/QUOTE]


WOW. It seems I'm selling my wood plugs wayyyyyy to cheap.
;) ;) ;)

Ain't never met a rich tackle shop owner, at least not in the last 20-30 years. They do it 'cause they love it, and meybe us, (well SOME of us) ;).
NIB is right even the price of hooks (quality ones) is getting whacked. Custom plugs, even if you make them, using quality hardware, and material + BIG $ And some of the stuff selling is junk, pure and simple.
I would like to know how much of the increase of tackle, is due to the resurgence in popularity of SW fishing..... the 'ol supply and demand thing.... I think the manufacturers know that you make hay while the sun shines.

doesn't Bush keep on telling us that there is NO inflation??? I guess he doesn't go fishing.

When I was at the Rhody show I was offering some items at discount – but admittedly, they were still pretty expensive, overall.

About 2/3 of the people would check out the price and make some comment and shake their heads and walk away. About half of the remaining people would comment that it was a good price and buy one or two. The other half of the remaining third would say that the price represented a very good deal and buy several.

I remember from my old economics class that there is always a market segment that will accept no substitute, regardless of price. The marketplace now has several items of unmatched quality along with a base of consumers who will accept no substitute. For example: If a certain popular lure sold out in 2 hours at one price how fast would they have sold out at triple the price? (Yes, it’s very bad for business to gouge the public - that's not my point.) My point is that it was obvious that they would have gone by day three at almost any price.

:) Last year went to Sports Authority bought a rappla mag cd-18 for 10 bucks Went to local tackle shop a week later same plug wanted 16 bucks Told him what I had paid for it and said that I didn't mind paying a buck or two more being local and didn't want to drive 20 minutes. He charged me me 11 bucks and he agreed that his were a little over priced.

Anybody that tries to rob the public will lose in the end

Fly Rod, I would like to support my local tackle shop and I do when it is possible, but it's hard to justify paying $9.99 for a plug when I can buy it at wallyworld for $6.99. I wouldn't mind paying $7.99 to the local guy but I work hard for my money and save when I can. Let's face it the future is going to be made up of big companies. The little guy doesn't have a chance. By the way my parents, brother and sister all have there own businesses and it is tough. :(

Remember Vaurnet sunglasses and what a friggin big deal they were suppossed to be ?
In the early eighties a pair of good shades would set you back $50-75 clams ? And then one day this companie Revo shows up with the $125 pair and they are suppossed to be even better (bullshiite). Within 2 years the average decent pair of shades went to $150-300 !. And it has only gotten worse.

IMO they have ridiculous margins in their selling schemes and it has become a marketing and fashion scam.

As for fishing. I agree with you there Salt. And on top of it most is only marginally better. Not the 3-10 times better that the cost reflects :smash: :smash: :smash:

:af: :af: :af:

:)6.99 for a rappla cd-18 ????

Now that is cheap I will have to check that out at wallyworld for them cd-18

Last year the cheapest i seen them was 8.99

fishing is a luxury and we have fun. Owner of small shops are great. I support them when ever I can. I wish they would have bucket that i could dump my loose change into. If my local bait shop closed it wpould ruin the day. If they all closed I would give up fishing. Part of the experience is visting talking and learning from these guys. i have never met one that is grumpy or doesnt like what he/she are doing. Try asking someone at wally world. Buisness owners are a different breed and Tackle oshop owners are the best of that breed. If only they could make a buck or two. I dont think the local guy does it for the money. He has fun.
Have a great day and enjoy fishing and talking to the shop owner.;)

Just want to say i didn't start this thread to complain about tackle shop prices. my point is how much more expensive the top of the line stuff is. you can still get a penn reel for reasonable prices but the most expensives reels are now way out of reach. You can still get good foul weather gear reasonable but the best stuff is 6 or sevn times more now. Anyway , that's my point. The best stuff is soooo expensive now.

considering where most of the stuff is made, with cheap labor, yeah stuff is over priced.

wally world doesn't have awesome gatherings with fantastic food
like say Mike cc does for members of S-B and thats a huge difference between the nice little tackle store and the biggest retailer that JUST hit a trillion dollars in sales.

Originally posted by TheSpecialist
considering where most of the stuff is made, with cheap labor, yeah stuff is over priced.
I second that!:af:

Don't look now but spare spools and parts for penn reels just went way up....

Here's a good example of Wally World's buying power.....They sell the storm shads at lower retail price than I can get them wholesale! :eek: :eek:

wally world doesn't have awesome gatherings with fantastic food
And X-mart doesnt have RS blanks at giveaway prices worth driving 2 hours from CT to pickup, along with other building materials and instruction on build Q's, like Mike CC does. :btu:
Give me a reason to shop at B&T and I will

:) Right on "Specialist"!!!!!!;)
Look at LL Bean & Kittery Trading Post. Nothing is made in this country and they still keep their prices high.

Our local tackle shop on Saturday has a big thing going on with a few distributors showing up and also a striped bass presentation and a few give aways and "FOOD"!!! :D
You don't get that at Wallyworld!!!:smash:

Yeah, stuff is getting expensive and occasionally I'll shop for small stuff at Wallyworld - especially the clearance stuff if it's any good - but in almost every case I'll shop at my local B & T regardless.

Ya see, Wallyworld doesn't carry eels, let me cull my own or give me a :rolleyes: if I jokingly ask for pogies - and they sure don't know what was shaking last nite even if it's only a sly hint and a wink because of a crowd in the shop. Say no more, ya know?

W-world doesn't give me free coffee, laugh at a joke even if they've heard it before, tell me one I haven't heard or give me an attaboy for a decent fish. They have never given me something for nothing before a trip somewhere 'cause they thought it would work there, or be genuinely interested to hear the low-down from distant places (which would be anywhere more than 20 minutes off island) when I got back. Or gimme one of these :wave: when I was headed around to the next point to fish a favorite spot. Or not follow me there, either.

I don't have a helluva lot of cash, I have no illusions about retiring early or, in fact probably being able to retire at all (and I don't wanna anyway) and oughta be trying to save a little but...

Bottom line, unless something is half-price or less at Wallyworld (like a clearance), I'll support the little guy every time.
I know what a small business guy goes thru in a small town with a seasonal business.

And while the little yellow rollback smiley-face guy is still handsomer than old Bobby, it ain't got the same ...uhhh.. poisonality, or something. I dunno.

Hey, I may have to be a little thrifty, but I just can't be that cheap. Besides I hate shopping centers and chain stores.

I support my local tackle shop probably more than I should I am running out of room to store my rods and reels :)

Bummed about the high cost of lures these days? You could always try this simple solution, which requires only a one-time investment or some fleet feet:

http://www.wmi.org/saltfish/saltboard/surf_fishing/T6810.htm

:laughs: :biglaugh: :rotf3:

I wonder how many lures the inshore lobster guys pick up in a season? They seem to always set around our favorite casting spots around here. I might suggest the wmi guy hang a floating tether off his shopping cart and get a lobster license and he'd be all legal. :D

hey Mike, that sounds like one of the most ignorant mean things I've heard in quite a while. It's amazing how people have lost all sence of decency isn't it?????

Originally posted by jeffsod
I myself love to use Kastmasters especially in the spring when the first bluefish arrive but I got sticker shock when I looked at the prices this past weekend. I can't remeber what I last paid for them but I am sure it wasn't the 7.00-8.00 I saw them ticketed this past weekend.
Cabelas has some Kastmaster knockoffs that I think are under $10 for 6:D you need to assemble them
Pete