Disturbing & Shameful!

[BigFish]

Great story Mike! There are some great people in this world...but you have to wade through the crap to find them!

[BMEUPSCOTTY]

I cant believe this! I am so naive. I have seen the "watchers" and more than once have started to get annoyed that they were watching me, thinking "what did I do?" I had NO IDEA that people had to deal with theft in a roomful of fishermen.

[BigFish]

Yup! Its true! Very sad!

[Plum Crazy]

I can't believe the things I just read.
It turns my stomach.
I like to think that we all have some kind of bond as fishermen.
Most of us hold great respect for our resources, mother nature, the fish etc.
I would like to believe that that respect carried over to each other.
It's like stealing from family.
SCUMBAGS.
I hope I do not know or ever meet the kind of people who would steal from anyone, never mind from the hard working people at the shows who give us deals, save special items and donate to all of us non profit organizations.
I am sorry this happened to you guys.
I must be really naive to be as shocked as I am about this.
Even with this happening most of you STILL donated to our club.
Than you for that.
I will never be able to go to another show without thinking about this now.
I will pay more attention and keep my eyes open.

[Eliot]

Ah........'scuse me Lucy but it appears I labored in the Salty booth under false pretenses. My understanding was that Big Cat was the Rent a Cop and I was there to attract female plug chuckers into the booth and "push" the pink needles and the powder blue one eyed.......Jakes!!!!!!

Now the truth comes out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by Clammer

NIB;;
I,ve been hit alot :;

But you asked for something good ;;

here goes >.i told Vic & scott the other night ;;

One evening this week I stopped @ Ocean state job lot to get bird seed /I got a 50# & two 20#,s ...no doubt I needed a carriage . I paid by check so I had to show my ID >. I went to the truck & loaded the seed in the back ... I drown down the road a few miles & stopped at the store I get my dog food .. got it /but realized I didn,t have my wallet ;;
I pulled over looked all over the back /inder the seats ,etc >WTF I left it in the carriage ............ I drove back to OSJL >>>>>> the carriage was empty .I followed my path out /in case I had left it on the bumper ;; NOPE >>>>>> so I puuled near the entrance & went in & asked the girl register if anyone turn in a wallet ... she said yes . A nic eyoung boy .. I asked if was still there ,she said no but the manager was in the office trying to contact me from my business card . he came out gave me my wallet & I asked about the boy >>>>>>>> He has his name & number Alfonzo Resendies .. I talked him from the truck & identified myself ;; we talked & I asked were he lived ,he told me & I said I,ll be there in a couple of minutes ..
I went to the door & rang the bell after a short wait . a large man opened the door , I asked if I could speak to Alfonzo ?/ He said my son ,, yes sir >. the boy came /& gave a great handshake & said it was great to know there were good kids still around :: the father was beamimg & I told him he has to be a proud father .. his mother was in the kitchen & I yelled to her also ;;
Nice kid >I gave him all the money I had //$28 .. he didn,t want to take it & looked at his dad ;; [OK] I also said I did alot of fishing & it would be my pleasure to take them out fishing or if the didn,t care to fish ..I,d bring them fish ;;
I gave him my business card & said in about 3 weeks we,ll start to fill your freezer .. As I was leaving the mother yelled to me that they would be taking me up on that >>>>>> That ,s for sure .,. went I came home I put the paper in a safe place & they will be going fishing & they will fill their freezer ;;
I hope this helps somewhat >>.It made my night >>
MIKE

Two good people crossed paths that day Clammer. That story put a smile on my face.!

[ThrowingTimber]

Kadir,

Sorry to hear this man just read it been out trout fishing all weekend. PM and address and scotty and I will try and get something out to you before your season starts. I cant do the big o in trout but I can do chrome and I think blue mullet

[Rockport24]

really sorry to hear about this, scumbags is right. ya know I saw the "watcher" guys around Salty's and the SWE booth and I thought that was a good idea, it just gets so damn crowded in there at times, I'm surprised more booths don't do that. If anybody needs any "watches" for next year, I'd be happy to do it free of charge for a few hours.

[WoodyCT]

I had a run in with one such jerk at RISAA.
While talking to a plug builder/seller who has already chimed in on this thread, a guy over hears me ask the seller if he has a particular plug in his locked display case. Seller is over heard by the jerk as he says, "yes-I'll hold it in the back for you." 30 seconds later the jerk asks for the plug being held for me. In shock, and knowing I can get another one from the builder at a later date, I say in disgust- "TAKE IT!" That was Friday of RISAA. Monday that plug is for sale, at a mark up, on SOL. Turns out the guy is also flipping stuff from local shops on SOL and even on ebay.

And I thought we were all in this sport to help each other enjoy our resource...

Woody

[Raven]

of the thieves taking stuff really dredges up old bad memories like the one i posted...


so here's a big thank you to the Clammah Wizard for makin my day
with his good story...and yes it helps allot

[Rock Hopper]

Thanks folks for your thoughtfulness and overall concern, I know I appreciate it as do all the vendors that do these shows. If 10,000 people attend a show, chances are 9,900 are honest, morally correct and overall good people. That 1% however can leave a lot of people with a sour feeling and in some cases even disappointed in mankind (as Nils was). I lost a couple of plugs, no big deal...it's the action that is more troubling than the loss itself. What's next? My wallet or a purchase in a shopping bag under the table or behind the curtain??? Really messed up.

A year or two ago, at Suffern, NY, a large reel manufacturer got clipped for a bunch of high end reels and rods over the course of 4 days...now they have 10 people there...5 for the floor and 5 to watch from outside...another reel company rep. had to chase a guy through the isle to get his display reel back...and the show promoter got pissed at the rep. for making a scene when he caught the guy. All these things add to the bottom line for the ethical consumer in the overall cost of something. It could be the experience at the show itself, it could be availability of man. reps at shows or even the actual cost of the items the next season.

All in all we make our displays available to patrons and do not want to create a "lock-down" atmosphere but I can tell you guys, a lot of manufacturers are pissed that they keep coming back short from these shows. It is costing them way to much with man power, travel expenses, show expenses etc. and then to have stuff stolen...it's kinda like the straw that breaks the back. Again, I personally lost a couple of plugs...not a big deal but when you take into account all vendors and all the "lifting" that seems to take place from us all....it adds up to a lot of bucks.

Thank you once again for your gestures and offers, I personally appreciate it. Replacement plugs are great (but not necessary) and I thank those that offered them but what is even more valuable is to make sure that we watch out for one another...remember, even the vendors that are there are fisherman...and love the sport....otherwise they would be doing something else.... as this is one tough industry to make a living out of.

I ranted too much....sorry. Season is here, so have an awesome one, see some of you soon hopefully and tight lines to all!

Kadir