Done With Bass Pro Shop

[Darren.]

They may be by the boat sales area.  That is where they are in my BPS.

 

I'll keep my eye out. Only time I go into the boats section is when the boys want to go look. Otherwise it's tackle all the time for me.

[The Rooster]

EVERYTIME that I've asked for help, mostly at the reel counter, I got the vibe that it was a massive undertaking to help me.

That included pulling a 200HG off the shelf this morning at 9:01, when I was the ONLY person at the reel counter....with 3 BPS employees just staring at me.

Now, I do wear my TW shirts when I shop at BPS....and let loose of a little "rebellious" behavior...after many terrible experiences.

Last time I shopped at BPS I wore a brand new Cabela's hat. Not for spite, just cause I liked it. I had the BPS manager offer to trade me one of theirs for it, just to get me to take it off. I declined, and kept it on.

I don't understand everyone getting pestered by sales pitches and being bothered by it. Just blow them off. That's what I'd do. Wouldn't think a thing of it, being rude or otherwise. Heck I'd probably laugh afterwards, or maybe even while doing it.

As for the reel counter experience, I'd have had him set three of them out so I could open all the boxes and check each to see which was the smoothest.

If you want a good experience at any place you shop, it's always best when it just happens naturally but if the only way to get it is to take charge then that's what you do. Never let them run over you or take control. I'm always in control. It's what I want, when and how I want, or it's the highway, if it's the highway, then while I'm driving down that highway I'm also on the phone to some higher ups and somebody's getting a write up later that day. Take charge!

[Darren.]

Wow, I am so glad I've not noticed this before. I absolutely *hate* that sort of thing. My wife dragged me to a time-share deal in Myrtle Beach, SC once. It was awful. I think we got a $60 dinner voucher or something like that. I swore "never again!"

 

She has the kahunas to go and just get the freebies patiently waiting to say "no" at the end. I won't do it. On that, she's better than me, LOL.

 

When in college I did some time making ends meet with moving companies and telemarketing. The telemarketing thing was the worst gig I ever did. I felt awful every time someone said "no" and I had to flip the card templates to their "excuse" and read the rebuttal. Always felt that when I said "no" I meant "no", but they said "no" actually means "yes".

 

I was young and needed money. Never again!

[camovan]

There are usually 5+ people on staff trying to sell vacations....right between the tank and the fishing area here in Orlando.  They are VERY aggressive.  

 

I've used the ignore, the cell phone, the mad as hell, and the polite techniques.  None work any better than the other.  Now I just take extra time to just walk out of the way and avoid that whole deal.  It is a nightmare, and reminds me of people hassling me at a shopping mall.  

Terrible. 

 

Two words.  Squirt gun.

[The Rooster]

When it comes to telemarketers, the cutoff button is your friend. On my cell phone I can see what state the call is coming in from and most times I answer just long enough to hear a voice and then hang up on whoever it is. That way I don't get a voice mail left.

[crankcaster100]

LOL

[macmichael]

You know I bought one of thses 3 day 2 night excursions. $125. the wife and I had to sit through a 45 minute orientation. My brother in law and his wife went with us.  We shared the cost and I recieved $100 in Bass Pro gift certificates. It wasn't bad at all. We spent 45 minutes with them and the rest on Table Rock Lake. The accomadations are first class. We connected up with a guy and he rents us his timeshare for a full week twice a year. Again we split the cost. All we do is fish, fish, fish, and have fun. It's a great vacation. The ladies do most of the cooking and all the shopping. I would recommend this to everyone. The whole trip costs us about $ 500 per man and wife. 

[The Rooster]

There are usually 5+ people on staff trying to sell vacations....right between the tank and the fishing area here in Orlando. They are VERY aggressive.

I've used the ignore, the cell phone, the mad as hell, and the polite techniques. None work any better than the other. Now I just take extra time to just walk out of the way and avoid that whole deal. It is a nightmare, and reminds me of people hassling me at a shopping mall.

Terrible.

How does the ignore technique not work? I find it very effective. But if you want them to stop talking immediately, just tell them you're not even remotely interested, couldn't be less interested, and keep walking with your hand up in the "talk to the hand" gesture.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I had them pestering me about a vacation the first time I ever went there.  Someone asked me if I wanted to enter a sweepstakes for a free boat.  Hell yeah!  Why wouldn't I?  Didn't realize that that's how they get ya.  As I'm filling out the card, this guy approaches and starts with the 20 questions about where I usually go on vacation and how much I spend on one on average and if I'd ever been here or there and if I could go anywhere in the US where would it be and BPS has vacation packages available in this state and that state, etc. etc. etc...  Didn't bother him in the slightest when I told him I delivered pizzas for a living and could barely afford to pay my rent.  I even told the guy I only had enough money to pay for the rod I was planning on buying and the guy said that if I put that money towards one of their vacation that he'd give me that much plus an extra $25 bucks in BPS gift cards.  And then after I finally got away from them, I was approached 2 or 3 more times while I was shopping.  Very annoying.

[Bluebasser86]

Their prices kill me. Them and Cabela's both are always 1 or 2 dollars more per bait than TW and the other small shops around here. I can't go in there without spending $50 anyways so why not order it online and have it shipped to my house for free with no sales tax?? As far as the time share people, I'm good at telling people no, it's what I do for a living 

[FD.]

TW gets most of my business.  Now Ron will take a large portion from TW in the future.  I have not used BPS for several years.  If I need it now then it's Dicks or one of the small independent shops around here.

[SirSnookalot]

If you think BPS pesters you about time shares, don't go to a Mexican resort area or even Disney, they come in a pitch while you're having dinner.  When I go to BPS I'm focused on why I'm there, buy what I want and leave.  I do know a couple of guys that work in the fishing department, I see them at the jettie, can't complain about my experiences there.  I don't buy on line from them too often, don't care for their shipping rates, I will buy their hot lips bucktail jigs which is still cheaper and more convenient than driving 40 miles each way.

 

Not that I'm ranting because I just delete the emails without reading them, the subscription tackle sites are always sending me something.  They carry nothing I want.

[*Hootie]

WOW! BPS is taking a beating here. Now I thought that was against the rules. Oh well....lol.

Hootie

[jhoffman]

I was looking for a new pair of cold weather winter boots. Now, I am a BPS fan and never had a bad experience. I looked at the muck arctic which at the time was about $180 at BPS. I called up the local muck dealer... $112 out the door tax included.

 

I order any fishing stuff I can out of state, mainly TW because I dont pay tax and they always offer free shipping over $50.

[TrippyJai]

And it wasn't a one time event either.

A couple of months ago I asked an associate there if they had any of the live bait bait ball crank baits and the guy looked at me like I was an idiot because he had never heard of them.

He didn't even bother to say "I'll check on that" he just brushed me off.

I told him I saw the baits in a bass magazine too.

You would think that an employee of a company would be somewhat knowledgeable of what they sell

 

I remember my first experience at BPS, I asked if they carried Bandit crankbaits and got the same look. They didn't even know what Bandit crankbaits were.

[Oregon Native]

Well I just enjoy going threw all tackle stores. I've been around long enough and have been blessed to own quite a bit of tackle so I just enjoy seeing whats out there. The BBS here in east tenn to me seems to be pretty decent and as far as telemarketers I just stay away or say no quickly.

But I do love looking at tackle and do buy some online also but my favorite way to purchase is having in the hand when I leave a store.

Tight Lines

[Fishing Rhino]

Time shares are so .......................................................... yesterday.

 

I refuse to get into a conversation with anyone hawking time shares or anything else.  I look 'em square in the eye, shake my head no, look away, and keep on walking.  If they persist, I ignore them.  Works like a charm.

[Brian6428]

I was there yesterday. The employees at the local BPS are quite knowledgeable, actually. The timeshare people will ask but don't persist after you say "no." They didn't even bother to ask yesterday because it was just my brother and I there, and we're both 16. 

 

On a side note, this thread kinda makes me want to work there. It sounds like some stores have crappy employees, and I know enough to help a lot of customers. Maybe I'll look into it as a summer job.

[Teal]

BPS doesn't impress me anymore. I'm not so.e with them, but they are down on my list.

[jiggerpole]

I go to the BPS in Leeds Alabama and I have not had any problems with bad attitudes, pestering, or the likes. All is good here! I even met and talk to a few pro's about fishing. They all took time out to speak to me and was very pleasant. I invited one to go fish with me and he seemed interested, only his schedule is very busy. Perhaps one day we can make that happen. If not, it's all good. Being a Classic winner puts allot of extras into the fire.

[mnbassman23]

Their prices kill me. Them and Cabela's both are always 1 or 2 dollars more per bait than TW and the other small shops around here. I can't go in there without spending $50 anyways so why not order it online and have it shipped to my house for free with no sales tax?? As far as the time share people, I'm good at telling people no, it's what I do for a living 

X2 

[AQUA VELVA]

Sorry to hear so many of you are having a negative shopping experience with BPS. Ive been doing mail order with them since the mid 90's and have never had a problem. Sometimes they will drop a product but I can usually get what I need. Never had a problem with customer service or tech help. BPS is a big outfit and Im sure there will always be room for improvement.

[DevilDoc]

My work does a rewards program and BPS gift cards are one of the options, so free gear. I am happy that they participate in the program. Plus it sure beats going into any other store my wife enjoys hahahaha.

[aceman387]

I know what you guys mean, I can't stand the place either. I am thinking about heading over there after work today, any of you guys want to go with.

[camovan]

I know that I don't know about a lot of product out there but at least if we don't have it I'll offer to see if I can find it.

Good idea about the TW shirt.  Maybe I need to get some made up for you guys?

Ron

 

I think getting TW shirts made up is a bad move