Bass Pro

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by lurch

This question is for the local plug builders...habs, salty, tattoo et all. If BP came knocking on your door would you sell to them?? If they asked you to lower your price (like wal mart would) would you?

I think that the folks at SWE and Cape Cod Tackle and other great local shops have nothing to worry about. There shops are some of the best in all of NE!!! The reason why I say this is because a van stall at SWE is the same price at BP. Plus if you know a lure is the lure that is working you wont run to BP to get a new one, you will go to the local shop and get it there. Also you cant get custom stuff like rods or most importantly UP TO DATE FISHING INFORMATION from BP!

I honestly do not see a huge savings at BP compared to the local shops. Now if the prices are the same then there is no reason to go to BP.

Someone posted that when they eliminate the local shops they will raise prices well if they do a local shop will open up and take business from them. The free market will fix everything because competition is always the best for the consumer!!!

I see a huge advantage with BP in the clothing, hunting, and their own BP stuff because no one else make is......but what local B&T sells clothing or hunting stuff

To be honest, they don't really concern me. Smaller shops which aren't online and aren't as focused on what is taking place in the market and aren't open to change or don't know how to adapt are in trouble. As Joe said, they were already in trouble even before any sort of Cabelas or BPS shows up. You can chalk it up to capitalism, Internet-only shops, and the march of time, but it's still sad to see it happen.

Years ago there was a great fishing shop in Seekonk, MA. They weren't exactly surf focused, but they were a great shop and they covered almost all the bases. Great people, decent prices. I used to go there as a kid every day during the summer after fishing in the morning. Basically I grew up visiting that place. Afterhours worked there for a while as well.

Sports Authority was the last straw for them. It opened up a mile down the street and sucked business away. I think the owners were looking to retire maybe as well, but that was the last straw. They closed the doors not too long after SA arrived. Because of that, I still hold a particular grudge against any large market dominating business like BPS or Cabelas. Sports Authority and #^&#^&#^&#^&s as well.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by lurch

As much as I like the local shops and the great support I support my wallet first! lets be honest, if a local shop sells the same stuff for 25% more I am sorry I will go to BP because there will be less of a hit on my wallet. If we are talking the same price OR a savings of 30 cents well then I will go to the local shop...who wouldnt!

Is BP going to replace a rod tip on short notice? Are they going to give you information on fish movements? Will they custom order an item for you? Will they wrap a rod or repair your reel? The answert is NO to all these questions. I say NO to the big boxes. Support your local shops. If an item costs a little more so what, you are keeping money in the local economy. If money is that tight that you can't spend a little extra then maybe you shouldn't be buying custom rods and fancy reels when "off the rack" stuff will suffice for the most part. I like quality and don't mind spending a little extra to get it. As far as custom plug prices go, you get what you pay for. Why would these guys sell to a "big box" for less money when they can't keep up with demand as it is. Why should they work for less money. Apparently you have no idea on what goes into making a quality plug. Believe me it is a lot more than you think. On another note; would you do your same job ( whatever that is) if the management wanted to cut your pay? How much money do you think these guys should make? They aren't getting rich doing this believe me. They do it because they have a passion for it. Nothing is better than a guy telling you he did very well with a plug you built and thanking you. Or when they tell you they got their "personal best" on one of your plugs.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by lurch

As much as I like the local shops and the great support I support my wallet first! lets be honest, if a local shop sells the same stuff for 25% more I am sorry I will go to BP because there will be less of a hit on my wallet. If we are talking the same price OR a savings of 30 cents well then I will go to the local shop...who wouldnt!

I've been matching BPS and Cabelas for years. Unless you're somewhere like Block Island, if you're a shop and you're not matching those prices people know it and you will suffer.

Consumers are very saavy these days with the Internet, you just can't have significantly higher prices if you expect to be competitive. People understandably have to look out for #1 and will usually head towads the lower prices.

This is one reason Cabelas and BPS are such a rough influence for most shops.

The shop that used to make $4 when he sold an item lowers his prices and then makes only $2, and he might sell less overall if he's located near a BPS. Doesn't take a math major to figure out why that hurts.

[spence]

I can't tell you the last time I was in a Wal-Mart, #^&#^&#^&#^&s, SA or other big box store.

-spence

[Skip N]

"Years ago there was a great fishing shop in Seekonk, MA. They weren't exactly surf focused, but they were a great shop and they covered almost all the bases. Great people, decent prices. I used to go there as a kid every day during the summer after fishing in the morning. Basically I grew up visiting that place. Afterhours worked there for a while as well."

Thompsons i'm assuming your referring too. My folks got me my first surf rod there when i was 12....Used to love going there and looking around at all the stuff. More of a outdoors store if i remember correctly..Hunting, fishing, camping and all sorts of cool stuff. Not many around like that anymore

[Bass Babe]

Originally Posted by lurch

As much as I like the local shops and the great support I support my wallet first! lets be honest, if a local shop sells the same stuff for 25% more I am sorry I will go to BP because there will be less of a hit on my wallet. If we are talking the same price OR a savings of 30 cents well then I will go to the local shop...who wouldnt!

I've set foot in #^&#^&#^&#^&'s. I've purchased things at #^&#^&#^&#^&'s. I just don't like #^&#^&#^&#^&'s. If they send me a coupon, I'll go in and buy stuff I wouldn't usually buy. If Wal-Mart is very close and open, I'll go buy a few jig heads. I've bought rods and reels there. I think having the "vegan mentality" with anything is a bit scary.
Price doesn't have a huge bearing on where I get my stuff. If I don't want or need it enough to pay the highest ticket price, then I shouldn't buy it anyways. I will still get things at the big chains, but I prefer the smaller shops and give them my business when I can. That's all most of us can do, short of devoting our lives to "save the local B&T" activism and boycotting.

[lurch]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I've been matching BPS and Cabelas for years. Unless you're somewhere like Block Island, if you're a shop and you're not matching those prices people know it and you will suffer.

Consumers are very saavy these days with the Internet, you just can't have significantly higher prices if you expect to be competitive. People understandably have to look out for #1 and will usually head towads the lower prices.

This is one reason Cabelas and BPS are such a rough influence for most shops.

The shop that used to make $4 when he sold an item lowers his prices and then makes only $2, and he might sell less overall if he's located near a BPS. Doesn't take a math major to figure out why that hurts.

If local shops match plus the fact that they can give the extra support (rod repair and fishing movements) BP will not even be a concern.

I have never been in SWE (For shame!) but have delt with them online and their service has been excellent so I can only imagine what it is like in the shop!

[snake slinger]

you cant beat local a shop with a knowledge of the area.i went into saltwater edge this spring i needed some tail hooks for needle plugs they had the ones i needed and pete tied bucktail on while i waited BPS wont do that for you.how can you beat surfcasting-RI where the owner answers any questions we have rite on this site.shops like quaker lane where once they know you they let you pick your owne eels and steve van staal works behind the counter.il stick with the local shops.

[dickmont]

in case you haven't been paying attention the last 10 or so years this is a quick overview. walmart has become the largest co in the usa. everywhere they open a new store local businesses go under. the ripple effects to the local economy not only include loss of jobs, but leases stop being paid, property taxes stop being paid, and people become unemployed. walmart on the other hand, negotiates reduced tax deals with local govts., lowers the wage base by 30% or more and offers nearly worthless benefits. their employes end up in the public hospitals without insurance and guess who gets to pick up the tab. you got it, that's right, it's the rest of us. local taxes have to go up to make up the shortfall. if you're among the poorest people in our country you might say it's still a good deal. they sell everthing cheap, pay just above minimum wages, and will hire you with no other skill sets. if you opt for their insurance you'll make a little over $5 an hr. there is a reason that the waltons are the richest family in our land. that said, BP is not walmart. no they are far smaller, but they are made in the same image. their impact on local businesses that they compete with will be similar. we all get to vote with our feet-wallets. i'll stick with the local B&T's. when i walk in the door they know my name and make me feel at home.

[pmueller]

Amen

[TheSpecialist]

If you compare the prices at BassPro on reels, line hooks etc, there really are not any cheaper than the B&T shops. I hit the B&T's when ever I am fishing whether I need something or not. That being said sometimes you just can't make a shop before they close, those times I find my self in SA, wally world etc. I doubt that Bass Pro 35 miles from the ocean is going to put that big a dent in the B&T shops.

[boot man]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

If you compare the prices at BassPro on reels, line hooks etc, there really are not any cheaper than the B&T shops.

This is important to know!!!! They only have the perception of being cheaper. I buy local 99%. My job puts me on the road, I kill time price shopping items sometimes. Havent seen many identical fishing supplies cheaper at big box stores. WalMart gets you in with cheap soda and toilet paper and hope you go to the fishing section while you're there.

SHOP LOCAL MOM and POP's!!

[Raven]

how Cabela's is coming to Conneticut....and now Basspro is now coming to massachusetts and at the same time the nimby's are closing down access to
fishing areas because of a handful of SLOBS. You would think that the representatives behind these corporations would have lobbiests for fisherman access (and hunting access) to increase the amount of access, which would directly increase sales of their product lines. pardon me if that didnt translate to well.

[lurch]

That is a great point! More fishing access = more fishing sales....for local shops as well!

[zimmy]

for example: Cabela's in PA is near where I grew up and where my family is. Stopped in to check it out. Didn't find several things I was looking for including 300 yd+ spools of 50 lb powerpro. and the line prices were around what I would pay at many of the local BT. I was hoping to find some 3-5 oz unpainted bullets for the canal. Something like $3.50 for 2. Around the canal I pay 80-90 cents a piece. So approximately 3 @ local places for the price of 2 at Cabelas. Big places you can clean up on reel sales and such because of the high purchase volume. I'd just rather support people I know and like who are knowledgable fisherman and provide top notch customer service. Worth the price to me...

[kayaman]

just like the hardware stores... I'll always go to the local guys first.........

[Vermonter]

I'll stick with the smaller B&t's. While I'm guessing Basspro has better prices on the larger ticket items like reels and rods due to their volume buying, you have to look at the bigger picture. Doubt they have the ability to stock a lot of high end surf rods, let alone a selection of quality blanks at good prices like M&D's if you want to make yourself a rod over the winter . No one at Basspro is going to mag/trick out that Ambassadeur you bought 8 dollars cheaper, or stock plugs from area lure builders. And while Im not personally familiar with Basspro due to where I live, I highly doubt their fishing advice/reports will match up with that of the smaller tackle shops.