Tackle shops v's internet.

[Bob Bone 2]

I'm all for supporting small local independant businesses so today whilst I had a few hours to kill I thought I would go into my local tackle shop for some odd's and ends for the weekends fishing. The shop was empty I was the only customer in it and I was treated like it was to much bother talking to me like it was a hassle (I may have interupted a cup of tea and a read of the daily toilet paper). I can see why some tackle shops may have problems staying open if this is the way they go about there business. I certainly would have stayed longer and spent more money if I had been treated in the right way.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA-Life Member)]

This isn't like my local shop. I get the vast majority of my coarse fishing stuff from there and in the last 7 years I have spent several thousand pounds I guess.

I can't get fly gear however and for most of that I use the internet and mail order.

 

[Chris Bishop]

I go to a little tackle shop for everything I can and send other people there.

You can't beat the service, the day you left your wallet at the office but still needed bait or all the other added-value things the guy provides.

I probably could get the hooks and sundries I buy there cheaper online.

What's the point if we all do that and he closes down..?

I've seen parents come in because their son wants to go fishing and the bloke who runs it devote his time to helping out.

He's a real ambassador for fishing and the local clubs.

You don't get that online.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

This is much like a reply from an earlier thread regarding Tackle Shops:

I only use my 2 local tackle shops and buy everything from bait to hooks new rods, reels and all sundries.

Like Chris so rightly says, what is the point if he closes down?

I know that there are good and bad shops /owners or attendants but my advice would be to use your local shop, get to know the people who run it and give them your trade and support.

I am pretty lucky inasmuch as I have 2 well run and well stocked shops available, however one is 12 miles away and the other is over 20 miles, yet I still use them both.

If they don't have what I want in stock I order it and wait, usually only a few days or a week at the most. both shops will take phone orders as well once they know a customer.

The Internet is a grand idea, but it will never replace the good old fashioned "face-to-face service" that you get from a good tackle shop.

 

[GrahamM]

But Peter, that only works if you get that good old fashioned face to face service.

Of the four tackle shops within reasonable distance from me, two offer a great, friendly, helpful service, whilst the other two are just the opposite. One of the poor ones is a medium sized shop where the same old locals hang around the counter every day supping tea and chatting to the owner and look at you like you shouldn't be there when you walk in. The owner doesn't help and his mates offer the odd sarcastic remark.

The other poor shop is very large, an angling superstore. Most of the assistants spend most of their time chatting to each other and can't be bothered to help anyone who has questions to ask.

It doesn't follow, as some would think, that it's the bigger stores that are unfriendly. Three of the best large tackle shops I've been in are Pickerings of Burslem, Daves of Middlewich and one I've only ever visited once while I was in the area, which was Ted Carters of Preston, where the service was superb.

 

[Bob Bone 2]

I think its hit and miss. Im gonna hunt down another shop untill then i can ask questions on here and make my purchases online.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

Graham,

I totally agree with you that there are good and bad shops, owners and attendants.

Before I found the 2 shops that I now use exclusively I used to use a shop that sounds just like the 2 that you mention.

I sought out the owner and made my complaints clearly to him and based on his (somewhat indifferent) reaction then made my choice not to go back there again.

In this "Internet" and mail order age it would be really good to maybe get the views from some tackle shop owners or managers?
(maybe the seed for some research for an article?)

As you know I did some extensive accounting research into the possibility of buying a shop a few years ago, and some of the findings were disquieting to say the least, the amount of investment, value of stock on shelves and varying degrees of customer loyalty were enough to make me think twice.

 

[BAZ (Angel of the North) aka Fester]

I couldn't agree more about Daves of Middlewich. I have been going there for a good number of years now, and the service has always been spot on.

 

[Beecy]

My first ever Job was in a tackle shop. The first thing the owner taught me was to make eye contact and smile and greet a customer as soon as they walk through the door, make them feel welcome and comfortable.

The chap who ran the shop was a true gent and is sadly no longer with us, he ran the best tackle shop in our area and it was always packed all day on a Saturday.


I have the choice of about 8 tackle shops within a 10 mile radius of my house including 1 ?superstore? type. I go in most except for one of the smaller ones that is run by the same sort of guy as described above by Bob ie, he makes you feel as though you are inconveniencing him by being in his shop ?. It?s a shame, this is the same shop I used to work in !

 

[glider]

i recently returned to fishing and have spend online and locally and had good results with both, in particular i ordered two okuma epic pro`s for ?53.00 each plus a bout ?250.00 worth of other gear from one shop that sold on the internet after a week nothing ,so i rang up and basically got messed around for another 4 or 5 days until i finally told the young lad on the other end of the phone if they didn`t have the goods i wanted a refund he then went round the shop as he spoke to me and pulled out my order apart from the reels and after another rant from from me said he also thought his boss was a pratt and would send two replacement reels which turned out ot be shimano xte 10000`s for ?53.00 each result eh?

 

[Graham Daubney 2]

I use the local tackle shop whenever possible but you can't rely on it.

The internet is mostly fine but I did have one nightmare over an Igloo coat, must have taken four months to resolve but I got it in the end at a very good price. I don't know if I'm allowed to name the company on here but I've never known such amateurism.

I also buy quite a lot of stuff from America. Their service in my experience is second to none and if you don't get caught for taxes is also very cheap.

 

[Andrew Turton]

I have talked about my feelings on supporting your local tackle shop before on this forum, and once again it a shame to hear of someone finding shoddy service.
My advice is to go back to the shop and try again, make conversation with the guy, ask about a local water, you may find that he is quite responsive and you will bocome a regular and therefore gain access to some good info. It's worth cultivating these relationships with a shop ownwer as it will benefit both of you. Good luck.

 

[Bob Bone 2]

I went back in for some bait a different guy this time with a different gaggleof tea drinkers I think Imay have interupted a conversation aboutthe weather or something. He looked pained when I asked for a pint of maggots that were sitting right infront of him. I am seeking alternative shops.

 

[Phil Adams]

If thats how they behave then take your business elsewhere mate.

I usualy go to Leslies of Luton (since its 10 mins from me). The service is good and I can usualy have a bit of a chat to some of the staff if it's not to busy.

There have been occasions when staff seemed somewhat "prickly" but most have been fine.

Strangley I've found that the most chatty/friendly of the staff have been the younger of the bunch.

Anyway, find another shop and use them as much as possible, its amazing the info and tips you can pick up sometimes!

 

[Chris Bishop]

I still like little tackle shops. I'd be heartbroken if the one I get most of my bait from closed down, so I make a point of going there even when I can sometimes get cheaper bait, because I know he'll always have the baits I prefer and when he's low he'll keep a bit back somewhere.

 

[Peter Bishop]

Always support your local tackle shop if you can for all your day to day needs. Those in my neck of the woods, on the Wirral, are all mini performance theatres. not only do you get the tackle you need, good service and banter, you are often treated to some damn good entertainment and exaggeration while you stand by the counter! It is fact though none of them now sell the more expensive items and brand name rods and reels. They say they cannot compete with mail order prices. Living in Cheshire if I want to see the best selection of name poles and rods in the region I go to Stapeley water Gardens, but apart from one very helpful lady there, the service is usually crap, kids working weekends etc.

 

[Ivan]

I have only just returned to fishin after about 20 years so need a little help with all these new innovations (not sure they make any more enjoyable as such but sure seems to make the box heavier!).

Anyway went into a shop today - Blean Angling, Canterbury. As I had my 5 y.o. son with me would have been pretty clear I wasn't gonna spend a fortune that day but I still got offered cups of tea and "can I help" twice within 5 minutes.

Same in a shop just outside Sandwich where the chap (and the seemingly ever present old boys) seem more than happy to answer daft questions over the winter about where I might get a bite (whilst puffing pipes and roll ups sagely!)

This sort of service certainly helps to keep you off the net and in the shops.

 

[Paul Clarke]

i use both enviroments to be honest - Using the internet means you can visit plenty of different shops , online , to compare prices and you can find some decent bargains . However , i still go into my local tackle dealer for bits , bobs and snippets of info . He also now knocks off 10% if i make any 'major' purchases - i.e I got a Drennan Tench float mk IV for ?116 ( RRP ?129 ) and he's offered me an Okuma Aventa pro for ?80 ( RRP ?89:99 ) - and the couple who run it are really nice people who will order anything that they don't stock . It'd be nice if the two mediums could run side by side

 

[Bob Bone 2]

I was after a new rod recently and went to my local tackle shop. The guy there was nice fella and said that he didn't have much in of what I was after and that he would have a look through his catalogue and if I was to come in a few days later he would order me one in. Good servive, kind, helpfull. Good stuff.

I went back later on in the week and it took him a while to remember me and what I was after. He hadn't looked in the catalogue,then offered me a rod at ?180 which is stupid money for me. I left empty handed.

Within half an hour of me getting home I had ordered a rod from climax tackle online which then arived within two days all for ?40. 12ft nash specialist avon 1.25 tc.

The shop is goodfr bait and bits everything elsewill be bought throughthe net from now on.

 

[Chris Bishop]

Internet's revolutionised my fishing but I still like popping into the tackle shop for a chinwag when I need some bait, hooks or whatever.