Question About Selling Items From A Sponsor?

[buzzed bait]

So I was cruising another forum site in the "flea market" and ran across something that struck me as odd and wanted to get some opinions on the matter....  I saw a guy who was selling some Dobyns rods at some fairly reasonable prices, but then noticed that according to his signature on the site he was sponsored by Dobyns as well as about 5 other companies.  Now my question is this, assuming he either got these rods for free or at a GREATLY reduced price, does it seem wrong or immoral for this person to sell these items given that he is sponsored by them? 

Now if it clearly stated that proceeds went to a charity or something like that, I wouldn't have even thought about it.  BUT considering it seems that he was going to pocket the money, I was curious how others would see that?

Thanks!

[Choporoz]

I guess I don't see that they'd be worth less if he's sponsored by them.  If allowed by his contract, it's fine with me for him to get fair market value for them.  I don't think he should  be obligated to pass on any sort of 'deal' to the forum.

[Amarley]

I know gear doesn't pay for entry fees and gas, but if I were the sponsor I would not be too happy, especially if this person is advertising that he is sponsored by that company.

[Kevin22]

Unless he is a big tourney guy, he likely is only getting 10% off. So he's still selling them for less than he paid most likely. 

 

I was on a pro staff (promotional staff) for a small company that sold a lot of soft plastics as well as dobyns rods. So I got 15% off everything I bought there. The guy told me I could only get 10% off dobyns though since their pro staff members only get 10% off and he could not exceed that. I ended up overstocking myself with a bunch of their baits and went to sell some extras on a forum (not this one). My sig said I was on their pro staff and everyone went crazy telling me I was immoral and all sorts of things for trying to make a profit from the pro staff. What they didn't understand was that being sponsored by them didn't mean i got a bunch of free stuff, it just meant I got a small discount for working my butt off promoting their company. 

[deaknh03]

Whats the difference, its not like theyre stolen..even if they were free, if someone wants to buy them, so be it. I say mind your own business and worry about what your buying and selling. (not meant towards the OP)

[Long Mike]

Kevin22, thanks for putting things into perspective.

[F14A-B]

Yea I see it as a non- issue it's his business not mine.

[buzzed bait]

Unless he is a big tourney guy, he likely is only getting 10% off. So he's still selling them for less than he paid most likely. 

 

I was on a pro staff (promotional staff) for a small company that sold a lot of soft plastics as well as dobyns rods. So I got 15% off everything I bought there. The guy told me I could only get 10% off dobyns though since their pro staff members only get 10% off and he could not exceed that. I ended up overstocking myself with a bunch of their baits and went to sell some extras on a forum (not this one). My sig said I was on their pro staff and everyone went crazy telling me I was immoral and all sorts of things for trying to make a profit from the pro staff. What they didn't understand was that being sponsored by them didn't mean i got a bunch of free stuff, it just meant I got a small discount for working my butt off promoting their company. 

 

yeah, i'd say that about clears it up......

 

i certainly wasn't going to interfere with the sale he had going, it just hit me that it has to happen and so i thought i'd get some opinions here....  Kevin's reply really makes sense for me though.  I do not and have never fished a tournament so i'm unsure of how that goes and was obviously assuming either free or greatly reduced cost of materials for some of these guys.

[buzzed bait]

Whats the difference, its not like theyre stolen..even if they were free, if someone wants to buy them, so be it. I say mind your own business and worry about what your buying and selling. (not meant towards the OP)

 

certainly agree, and i can assure you i left the forum without a word as it is obviously his business and not mine since i wasn't buying....

[buzzed bait]

I guess I don't see that they'd be worth less if he's sponsored by them.  If allowed by his contract, it's fine with me for him to get fair market value for them.  I don't think he should  be obligated to pass on any sort of 'deal' to the forum.

 

 

and just to flaunt my ignorance on the topic i will ask, do these guys have contractual agreements with their sponsors?  I mean like a signed lawyer-lingo contract?  And i guess i'm referring to the local club guys, not ones seen on TV....

[Kevin22]

Depends. In my case I was friends with the owner so there was no contractual agreement. 

[Tywithay]

When I was bowling professionally, my sponsor made me sign a contract stating that I would not sell the bowling balls. My deal was a little different as I didn't have to pay for anything though. If you're paying your own money for something, discounted or not, I don't see a problem selling it. It's not like they're going to sell it for retail anyway; not going to make a huge profit on something like that.

[flyfisher]

I know many kayak companies have their pro staff and they get boats at pretty much wholesale cost and you have to be in the current year model boats so they encourage selling off the old ones to fund the next one.  Personally, I don't care how much they paid for them and if it is a price i am willing to pay, I'll buy it.

[buzzed bait]

I know many kayak companies have their pro staff and they get boats at pretty much wholesale cost and you have to be in the current year model boats so they encourage selling off the old ones to fund the next one.  Personally, I don't care how much they paid for them and if it is a price i am willing to pay, I'll buy it.

 

very fair point....  maybe he's upgrading to the next line of rods....

[JGBassinAL]

I'm pretty sure the Dobyns Pro Staff price is 35% off as I have talked to a few people on it and thats what they all told me. So the cheapest price for a Champion would be $155. I doubt he is making much money if any at all after paying shipping prices.

[buzzed bait]

I'm pretty sure the Dobyns Pro Staff price is 35% off as I have talked to a few people on it and thats what they all told me. So the cheapest price for a Champion would be $155. I doubt he is making much money if any at all after paying shipping prices.

 

thanks for the info....  wish i could get 35% off dobyns rods

[WIGuide]

If he's not in the Elites or FLW Tour, there's a pretty good chance he's still paying for his gear. Yes he might get discounts, but those are set so the company is still making money on the deal. Depending on how often he buys new stuff, he can't keep the old stuff forever. I really don't think there's anything wrong with it. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Unless he has a cottage industry of discount tackle going, in which case it won't last long anyway, I'd think the sponsor would be glad to have new customers enjoying their products. We used to go to Moto Cross Nationals and buy tires for cheap after they were used for 20 minutes.

[buzzed bait]

Unless he has a cottage industry of discount tackle going, in which case it won't last long anyway, I'd think the sponsor would be glad to have new customers enjoying their products. We used to go to Moto Cross Nationals and buy tires for cheap after they were used for 20 minutes.

 

A friend of mine used to ride MotoCross... he at times offered me some of his sponsored items for free (not motorcycle parts because i can't drive two wheels!!) but never even thought about asking for money from it.... there again all his stuff was given to him completely free.

 

Now that everyone has made it fairly clear that this fella is likely not an Elite level sponsor and likely pays for his gear it no longer even seems suspect to me.... 

[crazyjoeclemens]

Regardless of what he pays, what if he's just thinning out his collection and making room for some different gear?  Should he sell a good used rod for a fair price or should he just throw em away because he got a discount?

[buzzed bait]

Regardless of what he pays, what if he's just thinning out his collection and making room for some different gear?  Should he sell a good used rod for a fair price or should he just throw em away because he got a discount?

 

i think i'd mostly agree with you as long as he paid SOMETHING for the rods....  now if they were of no cost to him i would say either giving them to friends, family, charities, etc. would be a more honorable approach....  like i said that is if they were given free of charge.

[Dwight Hottle]

thanks for the info....  wish i could get 35% off dobyns rods

 

 

You can. Just step up your game & join the Dobyn's Pro Staff. 

[buzzed bait]

You can. Just step up your game & join the Dobyn's Pro Staff. 

 

i think i would also have to at least fish 1 tournament too right???  LOL i've never ever fished in a tournament and honestly don't think i'm competitive enough to compete for anything at a very high level!!  driven, determinated yeah but competitive just ain't me

[TrippyJai]

i think i'd mostly agree with you as long as he paid SOMETHING for the rods....  now if they were of no cost to him i would say either giving them to friends, family, charities, etc. would be a more honorable approach....  like i said that is if they were given free of charge.

 

They are his rods after he gets from them Dobyns and he can do whatever he wants unless it's written somewhere that he cannot resell them.

 

Either way Dobyns did not give him the rods for free. If he didn't pay with money for them, then he did so with his time. Being sponsored by a company doesn't mean you get free stuff for nothing.

[DTack]

Just because he has it in his signature does not mean he is on staff. You might be surprised how many are not on staff that do that.