BPS Classic - dissapointing turnout

[bowhunter63]

10 years ago the one here in Springfield had Factory Reps every place,They even had a few shuttle cars for the parking lot.Now its just a few guys standing around the fish tank.But one good thing you can talk to the pros alot easier.Johnny keeps raising his prices for sure.Isnt like it used to be.

[eyedabassman]

Mr. Morris had to put the price of everything up to pay for his Top Of The Rock golf coarse!

[Bigbarge50]

1 hour ago, 0119 said:

Well I wouldn't call Peter Thliveros a none top level pro

Yeah no Peter Thliveros at the MD BPS, just crappie madness local pros....If I drove down to BPS in Richmond VA it was also crappie madness but with Ralph Riley.  Not quite when I spent the better part of the afternoon with Tim Horton at BPS.    

[aceman387]

I went on Friday and experienced minimal foot traffic.I picked up a few bitsy bug jigs for $1.69 and went home.

[Bankbeater]

The last time I went I was not impressed.  That was several years ago.  I don't think I am missing too much by not going.

[blckshirt98]

I have a question for people who did the BPS trade-in - do they give you a physical voucher and is it only good for that particular day?  Or can you leave and come back later and use the voucher on an item you may want that's not in stock that may be available later?

[U-boat Aficionado]

They hand you a slip of paper when you and them a rod or reel. It was a pre-printed form and the woman didn't write anything on it, just tore it off the pad and handed it to me. Didn't really look at my reel, just dropped it in a big bin.

I don't know if it was day specific; I don't think it was but you would need to go in and speak with a manager. Overall it seemed pretty casual. 

[Tommy X]

I was going to head down to PBS this coming Saturday for the trade in deal. I need a good drop shot reel to go with my st croix drop shot rod. I noticed in small print "select reels". So does that mean BPS reels or can you get other brands as well?

I mostly go to bps for the clothes (I really like the Redhead brand) and I'll just pick up some random tackle while I'm there. I seem to buy more tackle at Dicks.

[rboat]

My local BPS has been very disappointing. I used to spend a good deal of time and cash there. The last 2 years the prices have gone up a significant amount. They also do not have any of the new stuff out. They still do not have stuff from Icast 2 years ago. Nothing from the last Icast at all. They need to be a bit concerned, because Academy is building new stores around the area and Academy has much more variety, new products, better pricing, better staffing and much better pricing on guns. My money goes to ***, or locally to Academy or sometimes Dick's Sporting goods.

[BryanBrown]

50 minutes ago, Tommy X said:

I was going to head down to PBS this coming Saturday for the trade in deal. I need a good drop shot reel to go with my st croix drop shot rod. I noticed in small print "select reels". So does that mean BPS reels or can you get other brands as well?

I mostly go to bps for the clothes (I really like the Redhead brand) and I'll just pick up some random tackle while I'm there. I seem to buy more tackle at Dicks.

I took advantage of the reel trade-in this year and last year for a Shimano Curado I with no problems.  

[kickerfish1]

BPS and dissapointment in the same sentence seems about right to me. Outside of seeing something in person before buying it or swapping stories with the locals there I have no real reason to go there any more. It isn't the same store it was 3, 5, or even 10 years ago. Seems like a move on their part to cater to the newbie and budget fisherman. (See their move to discontinue carrying Daiwa products) 

[blckshirt98]

BPS is very strongly tied to some of the larger brands.  Not sure if they worked out really good purchasing deals through volume but you'll see that most of their lures are either Rapala, Berkley, Strike King, or an In House brand, or, soft plastics from the big players (Zoom, Yamamoto, Roboworm).  The two DSGs and all of the local tackle shops have a better selection of small-brand or Japanese manufacturers.  Unless you're looking for a BPS model rod or reel, the local tackle shops also have a better rod and reel selection.

[0119]

2 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

the local tackle shops also have a better rod and reel selection.

Maybe where you live, not here. Not by a long shot

[Rick Howard]

What eats me, is the house brand take overs.  Its not limited to one retailer.  The places that are suppose to have everything have replaced half the product with their in house brands, which is often what is on sale.  

I am not saying that retailers self branded stuff is not good I am just tired of seeing the depletion of everything else to be replaced by their brands.  

[Allen Der]

1 hour ago, Rick Howard said:

What eats me, is the house brand take overs.  Its not limited to one retailer.  The places that are suppose to have everything have replaced half the product with their in house brands, which is often what is on sale.  

I am not saying that retailers self branded stuff is not good I am just tired of seeing the depletion of everything else to be replaced by their brands.  

thank the internet and price matching for that.  exclusive products are the only way to make good margins

[tracker01]

Stopped in at my (45 mile's, one way) local  BPS. Three things on my list. #1 & #2  were sold out. I was told #3 is not carried in the store anymore. I got tired of looking at all their branded stuff and empty peg boards, so I left.

[Felix77]

The closest REAL BassPro (not an Outpost) is 3 hours away for me.  After last years major disappointment I decided to never go out of my way for their events.  Coming in early to buy ProQualifiers which were on sale they were sold out within the hour of opening.  It wasn't as if the place was very crowded yet and found it extremely hard to believe.  Felt like too much of a bait and switch tactic to me.  

[0119]

I found the Orlando BPS well stocked but lacking in higher end rods. Pete T. In attendance. Today I hit the Ft.Myers BPS to return the 2 reels I had bought in Orlando. They had a Pure Fishing trailer and tents running. Reps from Penn Berkely and Abu. We talked for almost 2 hours. Enjoyed them a lot. This store is salty in stock but had much more upper end rods.  Freshwater stock is improving and I still find them more friendly to deal with than my counties mom and pop stores.

[Darren.]

Went to the BPS in Hampton, VA this afternoon and it
was a ghost town. I was super disappointed.

I was hoping to buy some Stik-Os, but they're not on
sale until the Classic goes online-only. Used to be more
BPS baits were on some sort of sale, and the Stik-Os 
were usually 3 for $10! I know prices rise, but good
grief. Absolutely nothing like before. I realize I went on
the second-to-last day, but it wasn't the amount that
wasn't stocked, it's the lack of items actually on sale.

Ended up using my $10 in points to buy a lone 25 pack
of 1/0 Gamakatsu split/drop shot hooks. And they weren't
even on sale.

[Burtonxj]

Gonna check the one out in Ashland tomorrow

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, Burtonxj said:

Gonna check the one out in Ashland tomorrow

They're much bigger than the BPS in Hampton, which
happens to be (or was) the smallest BPS in the nation!

Either way, the sales are going to be the same. I'd be as
disappointed with the Richmond store as the Hampton
since the items I was really interested in are not on sale
or will be on sale, but online only. Grrr.

[bowhunter63]

I went tonight here in Springfield and  meet Edwin Evers and some local pros.Not a huge crowd but had some really good seminars.They had a good question and answer after wards.Edwin is a stand up guy and great for the sport.Stocked up on some Rage tails,line and Hooks.One thing you get more one on one with smaller crowds.

[Burtonxj]

4 hours ago, Darren. said:

They're much bigger than the BPS in Hampton, which
happens to be (or was) the smallest BPS in the nation!

Either way, the sales are going to be the same. I'd be as
disappointed with the Richmond store as the Hampton
since the items I was really interested in are not on sale
or will be on sale, but online only. Grrr.

Yeah, not expecting much. Gonna be in the area so I figured I'd stop by. Have an old Sedona I might trade in. I'll probably just end up grabbing some hooks and weights.

[Sam]

I hit the BPS on I-95 north of Richmond this Friday and the store was empty.

Picked up some XPS tungsten weights and spoke with three of the guys working the department.

Mr. Bill, the front end greeter, told me that they were bracing for a big Saturday but so far Friday was a bust.

 

 

 

[bflp3]

I was really disappointed this year. Last year the PQs were $50 and they had a big section of clearance rods, and this year the PQs were not on sale at all (never seen that) and no clearance rods at all. In fact the only rods I saw on sale was a section of walleye rods. I was looking for a rod trade in but ended up keeping my old rod.

There seemed to be very little actually on sale this year compared to years past, and a lot of their sale prices are normal prices elsewhere. I usually drop a nice chunk of change there every year, but barely spent anything this year.