Bass Pro Shops Vs. Walmart

[Jaw1]

Sorry wrong quote

[Jaw1]

Man yall are lucky i live 15-20 minutes from toledo bend . Our walmart sucks and theres no big fishing stores within 2hrs. We do have a dicks and academy about 45 min to an hr away. Luckily a guy i work with also owns a tackle shop so he helps me out with deals.

This is the one that should have been quoted. I've been to Toledotackle and like it but I like most of the smaller shops.

[bassarmy7]

This is the one that should have been quoted. I've been to Toledotackle and like it but I like most of the smaller shops.

That one is a drive from where im at B&B outdoor and tidbits and tackle are both on my way to the lake

[Ratherbfishing]

Good luck trying to get a Walmart "associate" to go back at the counter to sell you a fishing license.  I swear I see tumble weeds bouncing past.

[ogbfishing]

Both stores are unreliable, easier to just save money and time searching and buy everything on Tackle Warehouse, plus the 20% off sales are clean af.

[Scarborough817]

I have bought at both bps and wal-mart I prefer bps but I still find it annoying that they don't have an online stock system. Instead their site is an online store then when you go to store they don't have what you saw on the site that you wanted. I have recently been going to both sail as well as a shop on the way up to my cottage, I like their selection and price as well and why not support a local place if I need something really specific I will probably end up ordering them from tw 

[basscatcher8]

This is why I build as much of my own stuff as I can. Beats hunting down what you want or being stuck with what the big companies want you to use, also beats waiting on the UPS guy to show up. It makes it easier cause when I do need something its simple like a live bait hook or something and Walmart always has that as well as a full stock of Gammy hooks so I can get those easy. Now I'm building rods cause I'm tired of chasing down what I want across the internet or BPS stores.

[boostr]

You also got to remember that BPS has 2 different stores, a mega, and an outpost. The Mega having the restaurant and or bar, plus the candle shop etc with the larger selection of gear, then the outpost is smaller with non of the frills and less gear. Op might be comparing an outpost to the Walmart.

[soflabasser]

I buy in Wal-Mart when it has the exact tackle I want and it is usually cheaper than Bass Pro Shops. If Wal-Mart doesn't  have what I want I go to Bass Pro Shops and purchase it there.

[RMcDuffee726]

Both stores are unreliable, easier to just save money and time searching and buy everything on Tackle Warehouse, plus the 20% off sales are clean af.

Trueeeeeeeeee.

[Missourifishin]

In my neck of the woods it is the exact opposite.  My local super Walmart's fishing section is nothing more than pathetic.  It consists of one 20' shelf section, with lures, line,rods,reels, etc. on one side, and boating equipment on the other.  On the other hand,  BPS's store has aisle upon aisle of fishing gear.  Further, my local Academy Sports store also blows Walmart out of the water with it's selection.

This has been my experience as well. My local bass pro blows my local walmart supercenter away. However, one of the things I used to love about the bass pro here was the whole shopping experience. There were several guys in the fishing department who were truly passionate about fishing and seemed to thoroughly enjoy answering any questions you had. Unfortunately, at least 2 of them seem to be gone now, so it has gotten harder to find someone who is both knowledgeable and excited about fishing. Also, the people selling timeshares and/or vacation packages have really decreased how much I enjoy shopping there. 

[blckshirt98]

This has been my experience as well. My local bass pro blows my local walmart supercenter away. However, one of the things I used to love about the bass pro here was the whole shopping experience. There were several guys in the fishing department who were truly passionate about fishing and seemed to thoroughly enjoy answering any questions you had. Unfortunately, at least 2 of them seem to be gone now, so it has gotten harder to find someone who is both knowledgeable and excited about fishing. Also, the people selling timeshares and/or vacation packages have really decreased how much I enjoy shopping there. 

 

LOL YES the vacation packages!  They hang out by the big display fish tank too so you have to kind of work to avoid them by waiting until they're looking the other way or walking past them with a quick nod.

[HoosierHawgs]

I wrote a case study on Walmart for my MBA.

In short they were charged with, and found guilty of locking employees in stores until they were finished working while not paying them OT.

They also bought a chain of stores in Canada as part of their expansion: only the chain's non-union stores.

I could go on for pages....

I don't shop there.

As far a BPS, they've got nearly everything I look for though I've noticed during the last year or so much more shelf space is allocated to the 'house brand', which makes sense from a retail perspective. After all, whose name is on the door?

I also do not shop at Walmart. I will no longer step foot in one if given the option to go somewhere else. As for BPS, the house brand stuff is one of the main reasons I go there. I have two BPS rods, and plan on buying a third. I also like the baits, good colors and decent quality at a good price. I own several. Also, each BPS will vary from location to location. The BPS in Destin, FL carries much more saltwater fishing equipment, while the BPS in Clarksville, IN carries lots of Bass and Deer equipment, because that's what people do around here, so that's what sells. I love the Clarksville location, its one of the biggest I've been to. For reference I've been too locations in Pigeon Forge, Destin, Lawrenceville, Cincinnati, Clarksville, and Myrtle Beach. I plan on visiting the Portage location next spring.  

[HoosierHawgs]

I didn't know the Foxboro store was in Indianapolis.

Lets be real now.... I'm from Indy and we suck. We thought buying a back would solve our running game... Oh wait we need an O-Line too? Who would've thought?!?!

[Big C]

Lets be real now.... I'm from Indy and we suck. We thought buying a back would solve our running game... Oh wait we need an O-Line too? Who would've thought?!?!

 

 

Last year it looked like we were on the right track, but this year...

[NathanW]

I have been very unimpressed by both BPS and Cabellas when it comes to selection of bass fishing gear. Still enjoy going into the store, especially with the kids.

 

I have absolutely no moral or social discrimination against Wal-Mart. I have a hard time dogging on a company allows me to save money and provides a steady paycheck to the disabled as well as many folks who would struggle to find employment elsewhere. They have a decent selection of hard lures, line, Planos and soft-baits at okay pricing. They typically don't beat online retailers in price but sometimes are very convenient. You want union checkers? Go to Safeway where it will cost you about $15-$20 a trip when you are filling up your shopping cart. 

[buzzed bait]

I've been in HQ Sales and Retail for a while and the point that is missed here is that the individual stores have little or no say over what they carry.  Buying decisions for Walmart are made in Bentonville, AR and BPS from Springfield, MO.  

Regional leaders can influence the decisions to some degree, but ultimately it all comes down to a decision made at the HQ level.  It all boils down to shelf space, product turns/inventory and brand.  

Both of these retailers are hit or miss for me.  In my area, I prefer Dick's Sporting Goods or whenever I come across them, ACADEMY (hard to beat these guys).

Funny side note, go to a K Mart (yes they still exist) in South Florida.  I was blown away at the amount of fishing stuff they had there.  And good selections too!

[HoosierHawgs]

I've been in HQ Sales and Retail for a while and the point that is missed here is that the individual stores have little or no say over what they carry. Buying decisions for Walmart are made in Bentonville, AR and BPS from Springfield, MO.

Regional leaders can influence the decisions to some degree, but ultimately it all comes down to a decision made at the HQ level. It all boils down to shelf space, product turns/inventory and brand.

Both of these retailers are hit or miss for me. In my area, I prefer Dick's Sporting Goods or whenever I come across them, ACADEMY (hard to beat these guys).

Funny side note, go to a K Mart (yes they still exist) in South Florida. I was blown away at the amount of fishing stuff they had there. And good selections too!

DSG stores are based on the individual store. Each store makes its buying decisions, and then some stores are "dumping grounds" where overstock inventory goes, like one in town here. The other one hs a better, but not great selection.

[buzzed bait]

DSG stores are based on the individual store. Each store makes its buying decisions, and then some stores are "dumping grounds" where overstock inventory goes, like one in town here. The other one hs a better, but not great selection.

 

not to say that individual stores can't ask for particular assortments of products, but an individual store cannot just start carrying brand X or item X without it first being approved/negotiated/etc. at a corporate level.  

There is a huge shift right now in retail from carrying items/assortments based on experiences/habits of buyers/regional managers and store managers to now making those decisions solely based on analytics and SKU rationalization.

[Bob C]

I have not entered a Walmart in over 10 years, and have no intention of doing so for exactly the reasons mentioned by Dogbone and WRB above. The closest two BPS are two hours away; I will stop and browse if I'm in the area, but I don't stock up on anything there. I have DSG, Cablea's and Gander in town, and will occasionally visit them for deals.

 

But it's my local independent store that always gets my in-person business first; been around for 50 years, and the tackle guys there know every local species and body of water like the backs of their hands. If they don't have what i want, they can order it, or I'll order it online from TW, or get it direct from the company; online storefronts of regional tacklemakers will always get a look.

Same here. Haven't been in Wal Mart in years. I'm not sure why anyone would go there or to Sams.

[Cheo Carrillo]

We don't have BPS or Cabelas in El Paso but we have lots of Walmart 2 Academy's and 1 Dicks . Academy has a very wide variety and competitive prices with Walmart. Dick's is ok and the guy in charge of the fishing department does not have a clue about tackle, lures hooks etc. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I like mom and pop stores but very rare to find.like others have said they usaully have odd things i need and sometimes better prices on usual things.if i was a single guy with no family i wouldnt mind paying a premium for hunting and fishing stuff and id mom and pop all the time,but now its a case of do i feed your family or mine thats a no brainer.

[HoosierHawgs]

I like mom and pop stores but very rare to find.like others have said they usaully have odd things i need and sometimes better prices on usual things.if i was a single guy with no family i wouldnt mind paying a premium for hunting and fishing stuff and id mom and pop all the time,but now its a case of do i feed your family or mine thats a no brainer.

Sorry kiddies, daddy wanted a new Lucky Craft, so no dinner tonight!

[Bankbeater]

I usually go to BPS or shop online at TW. I do swing by Wal-mart every once in a while because you can get some good deals usually in the fall or spring when they change the inventory.

[PourMyOwn]

I like mom and pop stores but very rare to find.like others have said they usaully have odd things i need and sometimes better prices on usual things.if i was a single guy with no family i wouldnt mind paying a premium for hunting and fishing stuff and id mom and pop all the time,but now its a case of do i feed your family or mine thats a no brainer.

I agree completely.

I would argue that the mom and pop stores in 2015 are all online anyway. Overhead is low, and they can be competitive and still offer a good selection.