Do You Support Your Local Bait and Tackle Shop?

[Fishes in trees]

I live on the fringe of the KC Metro area and I think that we are blessed in that we have a very good independent tackle store, i.e. Rogers in Liberty.   I have to drive by there 5 days a week on my way to work.   I've been to Mondo tackle in Lenexa once, and I dropped a couple of c-notes when I was there, but I generally don't get over into Kansas that often.

There is some stuff that I have to get through the internet because nobody chooses to carry them.  Brewer Slider heads would be one thing. Chompers offers a good selection of terminal tackle, jigs & stuff that aren't readily available, so I have to order from them from time to time.

While I prefer to shop local, I am, in addition to being a fisherman, a tackle junkie and lure collector.   I surf the internet often, just looking at stuff and when I see something unique, something that I think might work for me, I will call them up and buy some.  I think I've got a few years before I need to expand my tackle storage barn.

 

[kcdinkerz]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

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. 

I'll have to check out mondos, do you know their hours of operation? Rodgers is kinda far but I do visit once or twice a year.

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, kcdinkerz said:

I'll have to check out mondos, do you know their hours of operation? Rodgers is kinda far but I do visit once or twice a year.

M-F 8-5 I believe. They have a website but there's lots of stuff in the store not listed on there.

http://mondotackle.com/

[BrianinMD]

I would if there was one in my area.

[GetJigginWithIt]

11 hours ago, Kidflex said:

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. 

Kind of strong words to be calling someone a jackass because they are trying to save money by shopping for cheaper. Some folks do not have extra to spend.

[Bankbeater]

If I have a reel problem that I can't fix myself I take it to the local bait and tackle store.  I also buy my replacement skirts there.  They have a huge selection.

[Oregon Native]

I'm lucky to have a local shop close and it has a great selection.  Yes some things are a bit more but don't mind to much as time and travel to other places make it up.  Yes I can mail order and do at times but enjoy the hands on and the "BS" at times.  He and she also hired a young buck so it's also good to see that growth too.

Tight Lines

[speed craw]

YES ! I shop almost exclusively at a local store . However the store has a very close selection to tackle wear house . I routinely find brands such as , ima , megabass , imakatsu , duo , lucky craft to name a few . She will order anything I can find or like and then hold it for me or order it on someone else's order to get it sooner . I have been to several local tackle stores and mostly others carry about the same as academy and dicks sporting goods etc . The store owner calls the regulars for when stuff comes in or something new is coming up and even sponsors local tournaments . Not to mention the know your name when you come in is always pretty cool . The more and more I bounce around just for curiosity the more aggravation I find with having to go find someone to find what your are looking for or the big box stores carrying what your looking for in their own brand . I didn't come in here for a xps or cabelas branded product of what I am looking for . I am surprised they just done sell their own branded stuff and toss out other competitor brands anymore .

[MDBowHunter]

I did at one time, but when the old owner sold a local POS bought the store. The owner and his cronies poach the local woods for deer and over harvest blue crabs that he sells out of his store. He's been called on more then once but our lovely DNR here in MD just can't seem to get proof. Which is crazy because I see him dropping his boys off quite often during hunting season, the only thing is they're hunting county property that's posted. I know the skinny because my next door neighbor is really good friends with him and he has loose lips.

[roadwarrior]

Two stores which I really like are Big Red's Bait & Tackle in Lakeview, AR  http://redstackle.com/

Gray's Tackle Shop in Sheffield, AL  https://www.facebook.com/graystackleshop

 

[Cgolf]

I do shop my local shops some, but I did watch a few years back when they upped the price on everything a couple of bucks when new management took over which really bothered me that they did it all at once. They have gotten a bit better lately, and I do like the people that work there. The bulk of my tackle comes from TW, and with the deals they have and normal prices, you really can't beat them.

I will say that the local shop is now going to carry Zman stuff, so I don't have to order as heavy from TW, because I now have a place to buy it. When we vacation in the Northwoods, I do try to purchase from the same store every year that has really nice guys that run the shop.

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, roadwarrior said:

Two stores which I really like are Big Red's Bait & Tackle in Lakeview, AR  http://redstackle.com/

Gray's Tackle Shop in Sheffield, AL  https://www.facebook.com/graystackleshop

 

Red's is a great shop. We were having a rough trip at Bull Shoals a few years ago and decided to stop in there and regroup a little. The gentlemen working at the counter pointed me to a bait I'd heard about but never tried, the Keitech Swing Impact. He said to put it on an A rig or plain jighead and just reel it slow. I bought a few bags, and the trip turned around dramatically for us. I think we both bought 10 more bags that night after we got off the water. I think that's one of the biggest things you can get from the small shops, actual local knowledge. 

[Lendiesel22]

The big thing for me with a local shop is the experience. Its should be like Cheers when you walk in. If you are any sort of regular they should know your name and the 1st minute or two you walk in should leave you smiling as you get what you need. Hanging with a customer going over new products and bull shittin is case by case. Some guys just want to get in and get out. I worked a local shop in my 20s and it was the most fun you can have at work. I made sure to know my customers, and get a few laughs after they come through the door. If the staff sucks, and the prices are crazy there are just too many other options. If its like Cheers when you walk in, and you spend 45 min longer than you had going in bc you are BSin and carrying on with the guys then I am paying what they are asking. 

[scaleface]

The only independently run tackle shop around here caters to the crappie and catfish anglers . I buy nightcrawlers from them , that is all. 

[Scarborough817]

I'm not always concerned with price I think customer service is worth a lot more than the dollar I will save getting it somewhere else. obviously there is a line that has to be drawn but I think we all have our own idea of where that line is. a larger store that is somewhat close has abraz-x for $17, bps has it for $30 and the local shop has it for $18.50 obviously I'm going to support the shop that is local to where I fish. there are certain things that i cannot find locally that i unfortunately have to pay a little more for but for any of my usual stuff i always stop in at my local shop on the way up to the lake.

there is also another local shop that carries a few more things that are difficult to acquire in Canada such as bull shads, jackall gantarel, lucky craft real gill. even though the prices are a little higher it is better than importing from the US and paying the exchange rate 

[stkbassn]

I won't support a local business for the sake of supporting a local business if that makes sense. They have to earn my business. If you had what I needed at the time and I had to pay more I would gladly do so. If you carried a lot of the items that I like and use and your prices weren't over the moon I'm sure I would frequent your store but make no mistake, I don't shop anywhere with a dual purpose meaning I don't do it for me and to help them, I shop for me. So if that means I can save bucks and get what I want I will go to the place that has it the cheapest. Sadly you're right about the smaller brick and mortar stores being able to compete with the online retailers and Ebay but that's the way of it these days. I do wish you the best and I'm glad you're working in a place that you genuinely care about. You alone could be the difference between someone buying from you and not. The best thing about local shops is the interaction with patrons which we don't get when we're just pointing and clicking on the internet. So I'd say it's customer service and going the extra mile that will win you business. 30 cents more for Senko's doesn't sound all that crazy to me though   I think Senko's are expensive either way. As for rods and reels I would guess those prices are similar to retail prices across the board. Ebay is hard to compete with there. I don't buy rods and reels locally unless it's pure impulse or I need it next day.

Good luck bro, keep up the good work!

[hawgenvy]

I'll go to a local shop occasionally, and I never complain about the prices there. But they won't have most the items or colors I want. And it's just way too easy to shop on-line at TW and have your goodies on your doorstep in a couple of days.  Especially when you know exactly what you want, and you see photos and reviews. Or it's something costly and you can verify the price on-line. I'm glad to support my local shop and pay an extra couple of bucks. But to fight the traffic, spend the extra time, risk not having precisely what I want -- forget it! Sorry!

[Munkin]

The closest one to me is like 45 minutes away in VA?

 

Allen

[blckshirt98]

I support my local tackle shop(Coyote Bait and Tackle) and try to spend about hundred bucks there each month, even if it's stuff I may never use.  Sure you can find cheaper online but they have a frequent buyer program where for every $50 bucks you spend you get a card stamp, and once you get 10 stamps the card will get you $50 in free stuff.  That more than makes up for any 30-50 cent discount I might save from a big box store.  Yes I still buy my share of stuff from sales when i see 20-50% off, but the local BPS that just opened up last year has only seen me for some of the Strike King KVD silent cranks and rattling squarebills because both of those are exclusive to BPS.

One thing my local tackle shop has really emphasized is customer service.  Everyone from the owner down to every employee they hire is focused on customer service and some of the friendliest and most helpful people I've seen in any retail environment.  It's like the fishing tackle shop version of Cheers when regulars(and non-regulars) walk in.  Local shop owners that don't recognize this as a way to differentiate themselves from the big box stores, and are cranky and don't hire friendly staff, will find themselves out of business very quickly.

As for the dude complaining about 30 cents, some people are just like that.  My mother worked in food service her whole life and would mention those one or two people asking for a 10 cent discount on a $4 sandwich.  The monetary value is insignificant, some people just like to ***** about little things.  I understand times are tough and people need to save money where they can but the OP mentioned the guy rolled up in $100k+ worth of truck and boat, so complaining about 30 cents on a pack of plastics has less to do with his financial situation and more about the type of person he is.

[Jaderose]

My locals only cater to Cat fishermen.  I do go to Roger's in Liberty.  I prefer it to BPS or Cabela's.  When I'm up in northern Minnesota, I think I SINGLEHANDEDLY keep these folks going...lol.  

http://www.frontiersports.net/

[Avalonjohn44]

I didn't know my town had a local shop until just recently. Since then I've gone through them for just about everything I need. Winchester VA - Jake's Bait & Tackle:

http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/

 

[WI_Angler1989]

I do. I try to take my business to Buroker's Taxidermy and Bait as much as I can. That being said, I don't have a lot of extra money. All of my big purchases: rods, reels, etc, are made with "special" money like taxes and xmas or bday money. When it comes to tackle I like going there for some my mainstays like Mepps and powerworms. 

I don't shop local exclusively, but I do what I can because I like local, the people are very nice and to support them. 

[GoCougs14]

the idea of shopping at a local shop even though they have higher prices, is nice but I think its doomed for failure.

I agree experience is a big part of it, also with carrying some tackle that alot of big box stores dont. I think Bluebasser86's local shop sounded really cool. I like the idea of homemade baits. If you just got a few locals to pour jigheads and maybe some soft plastics. That could really offer something that big box stores cant that would probably be better priced.

[blckshirt98]

One way the local shop here differentiates themselves is by carrying a lot of the smaller brands that the big box stores don't carry.  They have lots of 6th Sense stuff (they won 6th Sense's 2015 Store Of the Year), local/regional jigs, and a lot of swimbaits (stuff hard to find online too - Roman Made, Trap Bass, JSJ, Black Dog, etc).

[Kidflex]

13 hours ago, GetJigginWithIt said:

Kind of strong words to be calling someone a jackass because they are trying to save money by shopping for cheaper. Some folks do not have extra to spend.

I was referring to the people who come into the store and complain. Complaining to a worker about prices is ridiculous. I don't have a problem with someone trying to save money. But don't run your mouth about someone's prices. Either buy or don't.