Iv'e always supported my local shop as much as possible - even though I could get tackle elsewhere (mail order, internet) a lot cheeper, however, he recently closed down!! This is sad, but I feel some of it was his own doing. He was a match boy - now before anyone jumps down my throat - I'm NOT having a go at all. But because of his background, all he basically sold was match gear! Added to this his assistant was also a match angler!
Personally, I've bought 2 x carp rods from him, 1 match rod, 2 x Fox Micron SX's, loads of other stuff such as hooks and bait, a brotel, landing net, keep net and so on..... But I had to order most!!
But as I have gotten myself more and more into carp fishing, the more I realise how little he sells to cater for me! Apart from the obvious which I've already mentioned, he sells bugger all! I have to travel elsewhere for other items if I want them quickly.
He was always helpful and would order me something, but this always meant waiting a week or more, which I'm not always prepared to do. And then it usually meant that I had to order larger quantities than I really wanted.
He would offer a discount on bulk orders, but he would still be a lot dearer than mail order and the internet for instance.
Other carper's I spoke to felt the same as me - basically that he was too expensive and never had what we wanted.
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