[Guest]

What is everyones opinion of the super stores coming to colorado . Cabela's, bass pro shops , gander mountain, and sportsmans warehouse . Sure as a consumer its great our prices are gonna drop quiet a bit . What about the charm of going into a family owned and operated tackle shop/fly shop and getting the scoop on whats hot and whats not . Or how after a few trips the shop owners will remeber your name and ask you to stop by after your done and tell them how you did . Im just not ready for all these small neighborhood shops to be taken out by huge companys and its happening right now . These huge stores have classes and guide services . whatever happend to going out into they outdoors and exploring and finding stuff out yourself . In my mind fishing isnt about how big your tackle box is or if your rod is the most expensive on the lake its about learning about yourself and being one with your surroundings(not trying to sound like a hippie) . Some of my favorite places to fish i found fishing every lake and pond that i could find . Its taken me a long time with many many fishless days to find all these lakes but I did by myself when I was a kid with a tackle box and rod and reel combo that couldnt have been worth more than 50 bucks combined . I understand that price wise its hard to do but try to support the local tackle shops as much as possible . I mean we did get by how long without these big shops ? sorry for such a long post but these topic hits home I work in a diesel repair shop that my dad owns and has owned for 20 years we have 4 employee's and the shop is a second home to many people . after 5 o'clock its like cheers everyone boozin and telling storys having fun . I wonder how many small tackle shop owners and there customers are losing there second home for us to save a buck or two on a lure .

 

[NeWcS]

I think you can look at it in many ways. Me, I like the big stores. Your sure to find what your looking at a lower price. As for the people who work there talking to you and giving you tips or remembering your name and all that....well I get that from the Aurora Gander mnt. Don and Jon both will spend hours talking fishing with you, Showing you good spots on the map and anything else. As will alot of the other guys in the fishing dept. there. The only mom and pop shop Ive gone to is Valley Country on Parker and Quincy. And to be honest with you im not so sure how much longer I can give them my money. She is nice but the guy thats always there is not "Mr. Customer Service". And there prices are to high. While I know that have to do this to stay in biz with the big boys lets face it, This is a money driven country and the lower prices seem to always win(For me)


IMO


[me=Jay_In_Parker] [/me]

 

[farmer ted]

I think that both the larger chain stores and the small mom and pop stores have their place and will be supported by different people. I tend to use both but always try to support the local stores when I can.

Interestingly enough, in Fort Collins, local stores Jax and Discount Fishing Tackle have a wider selection and cheaper prices than Fascist Mart (Wal-Mart) we don't have any large retail sporting goods stores yet so I cant compare to those.

Sometimes I like to feel anonymus (sp) in a store and don't want personal attention and I can see where some would be intimidated by a mom and pop store but sometimes I want to chat it up with the owner and such, so I can see both sides.

I used to work in the bicycle industry and the same arguments and concerns were had about local bike shops and chains such as Performance Bicycle and Bike Nashbar. In Fort Collins, The Performance bicycle went out of business and most of the local shops are still here (although they just opened a new Performance) so I think that both types can survive and after all, this is a (mostly) free market system so mom and pop have to know the game and the risks and play smart to survive, just like any other biz.

 

[James]

Really good topic. I'm not sure where I stand on it. I would love to say stick w/ the small shops, but as much as I spend on fishing, I personaly couldn't afford to. Also, the only small shops in my area only sell Trout fishing supplies.
I worked at a small ski/snowboard shop in Loveland, and we stayed in buissness by providing excellent custumer service. It's definatly not easy keeping up w/ stores that can purchase at a wholesale that's 20 - 25% lower than your wholesale (bulk discounts and all).
Right now custumer service seems hit or miss at the larger stores. The last couple of times I asked questions @ Sportsmans went completly different. I asked a guy about rigging something. He explained exactly how to do it, asked where I was fishing (Dixon), and gave me suggestions and tips that really paid off. The next time I asked a question, I asked about Pike fishing lures. The kid I asked hadn't Pike fished, but said he would find someone who would Know more. I could here him in the back room, the other guy told him "just recommend something big". The kid came back, and seemed as frustrated about the guys reply as I was. He said he'd try to ask someone else, but I told him not to worry about it. My first time at Gander. I asked advice on Bluegill flies, (at the time I didn't realize any fly will work for em ) and flies for a certain lake. The guy took time. Told me how long the fies would be getting hit, and recommended flies that would work all season. (Try going in a fly shop, and tell them you're a spin fisherman looking for Bluegill or Bass flies ). However in the same visit I asked (someone else) for bobbles. The showed me bobbers, and when I explained what I was looking for, they said they didn't have any. I found them myself.
Although I listed good and bad examples, most of the time I think custumer service is fine. I also think it will only improve as more compition moves in.
I guess by principal, I would love to support smaller buissness. The reality is I can't afford to. Even if I can go into a small shop, and get great tips and advice. I can't justify (or have the $$) to spend almost twice the ammount.

 

[fishingkats]

out here in the sticks where i live we only have one bait shop and walmart and well a guy that makes weights in his little shop by his house

the one bait shop well they look down at everyone and try not to talk or be nice to me only if they new what i spend in a year on fishing stuff

walmart has a few things and well most of them that work there dont fish

so what i do is mostly buy from my catalogs bass pro and cabelas

oh and the guy with the weights i see him once a year to buy about 50$ worth of weights but i sell most of them when im out fishing to guys that dont have the weights to get out in the deep water or they dont have the weight to hold them down in the river

so i cant wait to go to denver and go to the big stores and shop ;D ;D ;D

 

[Guest]

i used to go to sportsmans warehouse for my rods and reels but i got tired of feeling like I should look up to the dudes that work there . IMO alot of the guys that work at these places are good fishermen but horrible at customer service . Its like look dude im here to spend money not to be looked down opon cause im not droppin 500 bucks on a rod and reel and dont even get me started on fly shops . There is a store in silverthorn that you need a phd in fly fishing for those guys to give you any respect

 

[kirbydog]

I think the super stores are the future and the future has been here for a decade or more. Personally, I've patronized alot of the smaller mom and pop type stores in the past but the prices are too high and their selection is usually subpar too. So I get most of my stufff from the superstores or the BPS or Cabelas catalogue. I think the more you get into fishing the more your personal preferences for certain lures or colors or sizes developes and you just can't get this stuff at your local shop. Ed

 

[Guest]

I fish everyday and half my paychecks go into my gear. Im not saying i dont use these stores it just sucks that big corporations leave the little guys no hope .

 

[trouthunter]

FYI....

I went to "Dick's Sporting Goods" (formerly "Galyan's") at the Belmar Shopping area (Alameda and Wadsworth). To my suprise they did not have any live bait....not even a small mini fridge with worms. When I asked one of the workers for "live bait" he sort of smirked and said very arrogantly "You fish with bait?"  Not wanting to go Kevin Rogers : > on the guy I just walked away... Also when looking for Salmon Eggs another worker said yeah we have salmon eggs I walk over to where he pointed and there where just ATLAS eggs.... I have never tried ATLAS I have always used Green Label Pautzke's....Do ATLAS Eggs work?

Just wanted to chime in on this good thread..


Also a couple of good smaller bait shops:

1) If you are near Spinney or Elvenmile is Chapparral Park General Store. They are just about 1/2 a mile west of spinney main entrance. They are under new ownership his name is Rob Robinson... I walked in and they treated me by far the best customer service in a while. Also they even pointed me to some honey holes at spinney and ended up catching alot!! Good People.. Good selection of tackle that works in south park

2) Also in town I like the workers at High Country Bass Pro Shop in Denver south of mississippi and sheridan. They always help you out with any question and do not jump down you throat if you ask a novice question about a new tecnique or tackle.. They also have a good selection.

 

[Guest]

in my opinion good customer service goes a long way . I went and ate at ruby tuesdays off wadsworth in arvada last week . the last 5 times ive been out to eat ive been getting the waitresses that are rude and slow . this guy at ruby tuesdays was great he was friendly but not to the point it was annoying . he was quick with our food and as soon as our drinks were close to the bottom he offerd another . the bill came out to 40 bucks and I tipped him 15 . I also found the manager before I left and told him what a great time I had and was very pleased with the service . sorry a bit of topic but hey ......

 

[fishingkats]

the topic of this one shouldnt be super stores but
who ever has the best selection and customer service and decent prices will be the place most of us fishermen will shop

be it a small or a large store we as people will go where we feel welcome and wanted

and those will be the stores that make it

 

[Guest]

i was wondering when this topic would come up. i personally am worried how the small stores will survive good customer service or not the bottom line for a large majority of people in this country is price, hence the success of the wallmarts and made in china products.i myself will support the smaller stores even if it means paying a little more money. im tired of big corporations taking over its also the reason i look for products made in the usa. how many of you look for these? we keep talking about being good americans maybe its time we act on it.

 

[stuccoman01]

lower prices are my main cosideration plus i just landed the contract on bass pro to do there stucco. For small shops Alpine angler has been the best custmer service for years, if they don't have it he will order for you.

 

[work2fish]

I pretty much agree with Ed here. Big stores are the way things are and will continue to move for quite a while into the future. If you live near a metro area, you can pretty much count on it. Just look in these growing neighborhoods, how many little hardware stores or grocery stores are left? IMO, one of the problems with customer service in these big places can be pointed at high turnover and the fact that it's just another job to the salepeople. You aren't able to trust and rely on any one person because the next thing you know, they have moved on.

There are many times when I go into those fishing superstores that I feel like the guy in that Circuit City (or was it Best Buy?) commercial. Before I go in, my girlfriend and I agree that I will control myself but then I run through the door and go crazy, shopping and spending like mad anyway! (jk, sort of).

In any event, if we can't find a reliable source at the stores and since this is the environment we are going to have to deal with, maybe we just use things like this board for our fishing and tackle advice. In my opinion the great thing about these new stores is the selection and being the hopeless shopper that I am, I'm OK with having them as close as possible...

I do wonder how Dick's, Sportsmen's, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro and Cabelas can all survive but maybe I'm underestimating the market.

Just my $.02

 

[farmer ted]

I was going to point out the sales person part of the equation but work2fish beat me to it.

Why would an 18 year old working at Gander Mountian and making $6.00/hr care about customer service? They don't...they're probably being jerked around by the company, working holidays, weekends, etc and have to clean up puke after little Timmy had too many burritos at Taco Bell.

People who own the stores they work in have a much larger stake in things so they will tend to take the time to make sure customers are happy. This can include places like Bass Pro Shops whic typically aren't as big as Dick's or Gander Mtn.

As far as the 'Made in USA' thing goes: Long before I was born (1970) 'made in usa' meant something good and 'made in japan' was junk. fast forward to today and usually only high end things are 'made in usa' and they can be very high quality but quite expensive. 'made in japan' now means quality and usually high prices. 'made in mexico' or 'made in china' means lower or spotty quality and cheaper prices.

like it or not the billion plus people in china have gotten a taste of capitalism and they sure do like it. i wouldn't expect them to go anywhere but as they modernize and get better at manufacturing, their quality and prices will rise and the people will not continue to work so cheaply, and I must say that I have seen some pretty nice chinese stuff...not necessarily fishing tackle but other things. and also keep in mind it's the american, canadian, european, and japanese companies who are farming their production work to the chinese...these companies design and spec the items they are having china produce, not the chinese. diawa, shimano, and okuma aren't chinese companies but good luck finding a shimano reel that's still made in japan.

ok, rant is over. time for bed

 

[McFish]

I would like to say that I have had excellent customer service from both Cabelas and Bass Pro. That goes for instore or over the phone. Remember that these stores at one time were small operations and the owners put together a very good bussiness plan. That even goes for the evil dark dreaded monster of the known world Wall Mart. If you look at the owners of small shops they are probably going to take a hit. If you think about workers in these small shops they have much better oppertunities at the larger operations.

 

[Neal/CO]

I like the superstores alot!!!!! Alot of the small shop owners here in the Denver area were in my opinion arrogant and didn't appreciate my business anyway. The fly shops were the worse! They were also really jamming us price wise also! Just my opinion.

As far as customer service goes, no one is better at their job than Donald and the guys at Gander!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[meandmydog]

although i agree with the teenager and not caring on the other hand i was once 18( not to long ago) was working at wal-mart and even though i didn't make great money i believed these people are their to spend there money and i all ways did my best not for wal-mart but for my self i also agree on the price thing i got to thinking what if some of these small shops got togather and ordered in larger quanities even though they are competitors i think it would help lower cost and help all of them to compete with the real enemy not each other. a little ouut their but you either adapt and overcome or sorry to say it throw in the towel.

 

[work2fish]

McFish/Neal/meandmydog,

It's good to point out that there are exceptions to the rule. I'm sure there that there are salespeople in the superstores who actually do give a darn and, of course, they should be acknowledged for that...

Do you think the market is big enough for all of these superstores to survive?

 

[meandmydog]

i do believe the market is big enough not only do you have the everyday fisherman who enjoy and respect the sport and enviroment but now it seems that the weekend warriors #'s are booming annd it also seems that these individuals are willing to spend big buck$ to catch a fish