Bass Pro - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Bass Babe · 09-08-2005, 01:33 PM

Pete, Maybe I was just assuming more people would be like me in wanting to support small businesses. I'm sure it could cause issues for some B&Ts, having something big and corporate come in with cheap, generic lures and whatnot. I'll have to stop by the new BPS personally to see if they have employees who know their elbows from their rearends, though.

Pete_G · 09-08-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

Pete, Maybe I was just assuming more people would be like me in wanting to support small businesses. I'm sure it could cause issues for some B&Ts, having something big and corporate come in with cheap, generic lures and whatnot. I'll have to stop by the new BPS personally to see if they have employees who know their elbows from their rearends, though.

Not counting custom stuff from local builders, they typically have EVERYTHING. Van Staal, Stellas, Saltigas, right on down to the cheapest stuff. They're very thorough. They don't offer some Yozuri. They offer ALL the Yozuri, in every single color.

Your support of local shops is appreciated Bass Babe! Tackle shop owners and managers definitely notice and appreciate their regulars.

lurch · 09-10-2005, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

Pete, Maybe I was just assuming more people would be like me in wanting to support small businesses.

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!

MAC · 09-10-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

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 · 09-10-2005, 10:10 AM

Quote:

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 · 09-10-2005, 10:34 AM

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

-spence

Skip N · 09-10-2005, 11:21 AM

"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

lurch · 09-10-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-10-2005, 04:20 PM

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 · 09-10-2005, 09:42 PM

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 · 09-11-2005, 08:00 AM

Bass Babe · 09-10-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

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.