Do You Support Your Local Bait and Tackle Shop?

[The Young Gun]

Hey everyone, 

I've been working at a local bait and tackle shop and wildlife studio here in Wisconsin for over two and a half years. Before being hired, I was the local kid who spent hours every day looking at every lure, every bobber, every fish REPLICA, and every single package of hooks hung in the store. And I really love it, I love helping people get set up for local fishing waters and helping them chase fish of their dreams. But here is my problem...

I'm very dissapointed by the number of anglers who come in and complain that our prices are just way to astronomical, and then they go on and compare a local shop to their home town BPS or tackle warehouse. This happened just the other day because a bright angler who was driving a brand new aluminum f150 with a new ranger reata decided to throw a fit and yell at me because he can get senkos for $7.19 a bag when I have them at $7.49.  This happens all the way from plastics and hooks, up to fish finders. And for most people who don't understand, its very very hard to compete with box stores who can order a specific lure by the thousands and get better prices than your local shop. 

So my questions for you guys are, when you go to your local bait shop, if you were looking to buy a bag of senkos, would you make a big stink about that 30 cents? And my other question is when you go into your mom and pop shop, do you negotiate about the prices? I mean by walking up to the counter and saying "Can you match the price on this new shimano curado I, with the price I can get it on ebay?". 

How do you guys feel about your local shops? 

[Kidflex]

If the local shop has what I need I pay the asking price. Common sense will tell you that the small stores will be more expensive. Those are jackasses that complain. If I want a discount I'll order them but if I need them now I'll buy with no hesitation. Just like when on the water and there's a certain bait that's biting and your partner doesn't have any.....the price goes up on the water! Lol. 

[Scott F]

I had a local shop I was was trying to support. I could have ordered the high end reel I wanted online, but I decided to get it from my local guy who had to order it as well. He told me 3 or 4 days to get it which was fine. After a week when it wasn't in he said 2 more days. Another week went by and it still wasn't in. He acted like I was too much trouble to deal with.  It took a month to get. If a small shop wants my business, he should provide a bit of customer service to make up for his lack of selection and higher prices. 

[atcoha]

I do, can't buy live shrimp online by the dozen...I don't think. Most of the tackle shops around here are geared for saltwater angling.

There is a small freshwater tackle shop right up the road from me, I have been in there twice in 20 years. Nobody seemed to want to help me out the first time, and they don't even sell licenses. Went back in last year, they opened up to selling guns too, stopped by to look at guns and tackle...they still don't sell licenses, and the guy blew me off...won't go back. His guns were overpriced junk anyway.

[whitwolf]

I buy from many places but the majority of my gear comes from the local tackle shop. Those guys are great! They are more than willing to help anyone who comes In. If they don't have It they will get It. As for the prices they might be a little high but there's really not enough difference to think about it. 

I will keep as much money as possible local and one of the great things about this shop Is you can go In there, buy a few things, shoot the bull for however long you want and there's never a time when you want to leave. They are so durn good to their customers that I wouldn't ever think of not going there.

[kickerfish1]

We don't have the independent local shops around here much any more. We have the chain retailers like BPS, Cabelas, Scheels, Dicks, etc. We used to have an Omaha Sports store and an Anglers Supply. Neither are around any more. These shops have probably fallen by the wayside for one main reason - the presence of online retailers presence.

I would never complain about paying a touch more for something I needed from a local shop. It only would bother me if I was dropping significant money. Say I bought $300 worth of gear from the shop. Lets also say I bough 50 bags of plastics and each was $.30 more per bag. In this example I would have paid more than $15 vs an online retailer like say TW. Also take into consideration sales tax which would probably be around $20. The total of $35 is a good amount of money in this example. I really believe that for this reason many people have choosen to take their purchases online. The selection is also usually better online. Really the only downside would be the wait time associated with shipping.

If we had local shops here that were independent specialty shops I would probably help support them but since we don't I would rather buy online than give the $ to BPS and Cabelas.

[MIbassyaker]

I get a lot of my stuff online, but I make a point to stop by my local tackle shop before any of the big chain stores (I have a gander, cabelas & 2 DSGs in town) when I want to get something in person, or want to browse. The guys at the local shop have way, way more knowledge about local waters, conditions, and gear (especially lures, reels and rods above the "budget" level) than the folks at the chain stores. They also sell some things by small local tackle-makers that I can't get anywhere else. I have zero problem paying a little more, as long as I'm getting that kind of service.

[flffemt86]

I'd rather shop at a local shop, but, alas, there are no local freshwater shops near me. I've often thought about opening up a shop, but I don't even know where to begin...

[Burtonxj]

Not too many local tackle shops in the Northern VA area (few fly fishing shops) but nothing else that I'm aware of. Usually have to drive ~90 minutes to a Bass Pro. If I'm in a pinch I'll go to a DSG or Gander Mountain and they both are usually lacking in product.

 

[slonezp]

I buy live bait at my local bait shop.

 

[topwaterbob]

I support the one close to me for rod and reel repair. I used to buy Case plastics from them but don't use that brand anymore. Most of their items are at a plus suggested retail. Hard to pay full retail plus a couple bucks more for a bait.  Although I always add something to the list when I get a repair.

[burrows]

I order online usually when I buy a bunch of stuff but if its just a couple of bags of soft plastics and hooks I spend a few more dollars at my local tackle shop.

[ward131]

Live bait only. My local place is over priced. ( I know why) but when I drop 50 bucks and get twice as much on sale at Dicks or Bass Pro I can't justify it. As far as local knowledge, they told me my pond was bad fishing..because they are trout fishermen.

 

[lo n slo]

used to be all we had was the local shops, now it's the big boys and internet sites. i remember buying rods and reels at Rob and Don's over in Denver, NC and getting my Diamond Back lizards at Ron's in Concord. local gas stations would dip you out way too many minnows, way too cheap, but would make up for it with their prices on hot sausages, cheese crackers and beer. one local guy would let you dip your own minnows and leave the money under a brick if he was gone or closed. the good old days.

[flyfisher]

i do for pretty much everything unless they don't carry it and can't get it.  Prices are a little more expensive but it is one mile from my house, the staff is great and i like supporting a local business.

[Darren.]

I go to one local shop for live bait, the other local
shop for rod tip fixes mostly.

Both places have good folks and good support.

BPS, DSG, and TW, etc., have more variety on the
tackle front, so I go there for other necessities.

[tbone1993]

Those guys are the same ones to complain about being overcharged at BPS for a rod/reel that I have $10 cheaper.  

[F14A-B]

Do I support my local bait & tackleshops?

Nope.. BPS, cabelas ran them outta business.

The two strongest held on for 2 years after BPS opened & ultimately closed doors.. I hate it too.

Miss those places.

[IowaHusker28]

There really isn't many local places around me... There is one that I will buy stuff from because I know the guy who owns it and I like helping him out, but not a lot of big purchases from their. The scheels in town is awesome, the staff is super friendly, their selection the past 2 years has been incredible and they have amazing deals at the end of the year. I stop in at least two times a week and talk shop with the fishing managers. They will continue to get my business, not because of their prices, but because they go out of their way to help and have the resources to do so.  

[kcdinkerz]

I still go to a local bait store for live minnows but the gear and lures selection is poor.

[Master Bait'r]

I would if I had one 

[BaitMonkey1984]

20 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

I would if I had one 

x2.

[Fishinthefish]

I have one small local bait shop that I personally shop at. I know the guy who owns it and hes poured his heart and soul into the place over the years. If several people mention a specific lure and that it has been working for them in our area he starts stocking it nearly immediately. I've heard stories of him buying them for retail price and reselling them for the same price just to keep people coming in while he was short stocked or couldn't get his hands on a bait quickly enough that people wanted.

[Shaggie]

I do my best to buy from my local shops. I live within a mile of a fantastic shop that up until last year stock a ton of bass stuff. They are now focusing more on their fly fishing gear. They've moved out most of their bass stuff and now host fly tying classes in that area. I don't blame them a bit since the best fly river in the state runs right past their back door. The other option I have is the same distance away as a Dicks. I still prefer the local shop. Dicks has a better selection but I've also found myself leaning toward things made in the U.S. rather than imported stuff.

[Bluebasser86]

3 hours ago, kcdinkerz said:

I still go to a local bait store for live minnows but the gear and lures selection is poor.

Mondo Tackle in Lenexa or Roger's in Liberty, both have great selection and lots of stuff you won't find at BPS or Cabela's.

 

I shop at Mondo Tackle about 15 minutes from my house because he carries lots of stuff that I can't get at the BPS I have to drive by to get there. One of the few times a small shop has by far the better prices too. He carries one of my favorite jerkbaits, the Luck-E-Strike STX for $7, it's $10 at BPS. The other nice thing is, anything I want that he doesn't carry, he'll order in for me. It takes awhile sometimes, but it still gets there. He also carries lots of homegrown baits from local builders, which is always nice to get stuff that's not mass produced.