Ryan "Ribblecraft" Turner
New member
I can't believe how difficult it is for the small/new tackle shop to actually buy tackle! I have started using a new local shop, "The Rod Rest" in Heywood near Rochdale. [I will post details on the shop list]. It's run by two brothers, they're top chaps, the shop has certainly got that old style, "wanna brew n a fag mate?" feel to it. Over the last six months or so the lads have been trying to give their customers a good range of tackle, I'm not talking about specialised gear or hand built cane here, just your normal stuff like line, leads and groundbait. The trouble is, the neighbouring tackle shop that's situated in the next town about six miles away wont let the reps sell to them, they will pull their order if the rep stocks them! I could name names but i will just name makes. Van den eynde, Sensas, Maver, Nash, the list does go on. The gangster attitude of this much bigger shop that has already pushed a very old and much loved shop under in the last few weeks, [surely they are hell bent on world domination!] has certainly lost them a customer or two over here. The deceased shop I mention is on the list on this site, sadly it serves as an epitaph to a friendly family business of fifty years that my grandad first took me to. I dont mean to bang on but it really is a poor do when one shop in one town can tell the kids in another town that they're not allowed to use these very popular brands of tackle,it's these brands that the kids of Heywood are reading about. Anyway it ticks me off and i had to say something. Before i forget, i do want to thank a few manufacturers and reps for not letting another fine shop die before my eyes, Dynamite Baits, Middy, Octoplus and Shakespeare have all been cool therefore I am now buying the said brands, as for The Gangster Angling centre they should be arrested!