Let's hear your experiences, at the mo, bad outweighs good. As I've said, I find it teeth-grindingly awful. The best service has come from Leslie's of Luton on mail order. Up here in the North the shops' attitudes are a DISGRACE!!

My local tackle shop (M A Wickems in East Grinstead) is great, always helpfull. Good service, friendly etc etc.
Have to say though every tackle shop I've used, except one, has been good.

ive found the best way to get some info and help paul is to go in the shops when its quiet they usually have more time for you also picking the right person working there helps.as like you say theres alot of miserable gits who cant be arsed shame for the youngstres that how do they go on.

I agree with Paul. We may even use the same shop/shops.
Daves of Middlewhich is my favourite for advice and tackle.

we have one great tackle shop down here NATHANS OF DERBY and one half decent one

How about Derby Angling mate?

Who said info and help? Getting a pint of reds is a massive imposition on their smoking and farting time....

rochdale angling center are always good when i go in

Went to a tackle shop in Eastbourne to ask for some help with a shimano hyperloop 390 with a faulty butt ring lining and was told that as I didn"t "have my receipt"I would have to pay for repairs myself. when I explained that the rod was a gift given to me by my wife some eight months previously I was told by the young man in the shop that I should learn from this and always keep the receipt.then the owner of the shop came over and wasn"t prepared to help me in any way, "take it or leave it Mate we only make a couple of quid profit on Shimano rods" I asked if the rod was guaranteed for 12months and was to F**K OFF! out of his shop and "don"t come back"

Re to eastbourne tackle shop and shimano rod . the rod was purchased there and I had not mistreated or had been careless or negligent in any way with it, it was a genuine fault and I was treated in a disgraceful manner both by the assistant and the shop owner.I went along to my nearest Argos store and purchased a replacement rod and was told that the rod was guaranteed for 24 months, I have used it and have had no problems with it or the rings. I took the mans advice and "F***ED OFF"and I now buy my bait and tackle from a very plesant helpful man named GLYN at the ANGLERS DEN -PEVENSEY .Vote with yer feet!!!!

If you want good service from a tackle shop in the North, then I really can't fault Padiham Angling Centre for consistently good service and help.

I wandered in on a whim last year, not having a clue, but desperate to learn to fish. I could so easily have been ripped off. Instead I was given loads of helpful advice and Steve (the owner) set me up with my first feeder rod, reel and all the bits I needed for less than half what I expected to pay, together with lots of advice to get me started. I had no idea how to tie a knot, how to set a rod up etc, but he took time to show me, load my reel for me and tell me what I needed to know to start fishing.

On subsequent visits, he consistently offered sound advice, and even stopped me from wasting money by buying things that I didn't really need. Every time I picked up the latest "must have" bit of kit, he'd tell me that I didn't need it, and gently steer me in the direction of what I actually did need.

Since then I've bought three more rods from him, a couple of new Shimano reels, rod bags, waders, my lovely fly fishing outfit, and enough "bits" to start a shop on my own. If I need something that he doesn't stock, he brings out his catalogues for me to look at, and orders it for me. Because of the hours I work, I can't always get into the shop before closing time, but that's no problem. All I have to do is give him a call, tell him what I want and he meets me in the pub.

Everyone who walks through the door is met with a smile and a "Hello mate, do you want a brew?" Sometimes it seems like more of a cafe than a shop as anglers gather for a drink and a natter whilst they buy their bait etc.

I've been in other tackle shops where I've just been ignored - is it because I'm a woman? Needless to say, they don't get my business. I'll stay loyal to the shop that looks after me and makes me feel like a valued customer.

Funnily enough, the best tackle shps i have ever known have always had one thing in common.

A cup of coffee!

Even Richard Foster, owner of one of (if not the) largest tackle shop in the midlands is not above getting the tea in!

Funny well not so had the same piss off or buy a new one treatment from Gerry's of wimbledon over again a shimano rod but this was a fly rod. I contacted shimano direct and was told to take the rod back to Gerry's who will have been contacted to arrange its return got there and wasn't the most popular guy but they sent it back and it was replaced free of charge I had to collect it and again was not made welcome so haven't been back must have spent thousands on tackle since then!

Roy,
have you still got the shimano rod? If you contact me i will send you the contact name and numbers that you need to get it repaired.

Regards
Steve
Padiham Angling Centre
01282 779131
enquiries@padihamanglingcentre.co.uk

I called Allans tackle in Worcester and asked if he had any Shakespeare Mach 3 reels in stock. "OOOhh nasty" he said.

How come said I? "Just nasty mate" was his reply, "loads gone faulty and even the Shakespeare rep said it was nasty".

I pointed out that I had one of these reels and was searching for another as it was so good. In fact it was so new I asked how can he say that loads had gone faulty? Was he a Shakespeare dealer at all? "well no" said the clown I just know!!

In my job I am expected to know a little bit about my industry but to come out with guff like this makes you wonder.

Baz, Derby Angling Centre you mean, its not a bad shop get a lot of anglers just standing around supping tea and getting in the road ,this does not happen at nathans also Nathans aftersales service is second to none, i do use both shops

yes the Rochdale Angling centre and Trafford Angling Centre have both served me well over the years also the North West Angling Centre at Hindley

I find almost everyone on ebay so nice and helpful.

The Yateley Angling Centre too, really made me feel welcome, gave me a brew and loads of advice and help, I could even understand the lauguage, well some of it at least!

If ur ever in the cold and nasty North East drop into Keith's Tackle at Saltburn, Cleveland. Great people, great deals, none of that snobby know-it-all crap which seems so prevalent nowadays and they'll move heaven and earth to get you what you're looking for.
Top,cheap repair service too. Can't recommend them too highly.