BPS stores

[TOXIC]

Hmmmmmmmm......I see a pattern.  Nobody buys from BPS or buys very little from BPS.  Makes me wonder how Johnny is making all that $$???  SOMEBODY is obviously buying BPS merchandise.  {{{{insert sarcasm}}}}

 

Let's face it, y'all are not his target demographic but whoever is, makes him a very wealthy man.  

[lo n slo]

i get the BPS gift cards too and i save them for the March Madness (or the on-line Spring Fling) event where things like Zoom plastics are usually 20-25 % off, just a little bit cheaper than another site. i buy in bulk, on-line. if they pull the plug on this, i’m done. i used to buy my Gamakatsu hooks, in bulk, from them but they have now replaced them with “other” brands at the reduced price. no thanks. i kinda like the rod/reel trade in deals and like to play with the display fish finders when i actually go to the store. 

[Brett's_daddy]

16 hours ago, Luke G. said:

BPS is like Disneyland

Yup, where a cheeseburger costs you $7, same deal with BPS where a bag of plastics costs you $8 but you could have bought online for $5. It's good to go and see the stuff in person but save your money and purchase it cheaper elsewhere. Of course it helps that my nearest BP is a 2-1/2 hour drive for me plus it's in NH where they have a no lead law which means BPS bait selection is lobotomized by at least 1/3.

[Johnbt]

"in Richmond, Virginia as we have BPS, Green Top and Cabela's."

 

We're lucky, but Hopkins in Mechanicsville gets most of my business these days. It's just how it's worked out. Two brothers named Hopkins founded Green Top in 1947 and sold it in '93. Fwiw, it was sold again in 2008 when Charles Thalhimer died. I still like GT better than BP or Cabela's and I used to get hard bound catalogs from Cabela's long before they opened the store here. (My girlfriend buys gifts for me at Cabela's and BP.  )

 

I bought a 1648 Grizzly from BP in '12 and got a 9.9 for $500 off plus 10% off a couple of grand worth of stuff for opening a charge card - got a Maxxum 70, Lowrance Elite 5 whatever it is, and everything I needed to rig the boat except carpet and a spare. It was my first boat and I needed everything. But their stuff is a little high, but that is the price for stocking a lot of stuff.

 

Oh yeah, Bass Pro and Green Top are both easily seen from I-95 and are close to each other. They stay busy.

 

John

[Cgolf]

For a long time BPS got most of my fishing budget each year that is until I discovered TW. Now they haven't gotten an order from me in over 5 years. I have used Cabela's for their bargain cave online for mostly stuff other than fishing though (rod combo I picked up recently is the exception), and the local store will have random markdowns on some stuff if you are patient enough to walk through all the aisles. 

 

A couple of years ago when I priced out like baits between Cabela's, BPS, and TW the difference was eye popping. Cabela's and BPS overall were similar, but TW was much cheaper. These were the standard prices too. I do miss getting the BPS master catalog as it was nice to look through once in a while. I am starting to look at other online stores too, some can't be mentioned, and places like Sieberts for jigs. 

[tander]

I have got a BPS about 20 minutes from my house, go there to look and occasionally buy some things but I wouldn't be too sad if it ever closed.

[Russ E]

I live 5 minutes from Cabelas, 15 minutes from Bass pro, 1/2 hour from academy, and 1/2 hour from scheels.

this time of year I spend quite a bit of time at all of them.

While I buy a lot of tackle online,it's still nice to go into a store to see what is new.

They all are similar in price, but carry different selections.

[Deeare]

20 hours ago, 1201vilbig said:

I only go if there is a sale on a particular item I'm looking for. It's usually during their big Spring expo, but sometimes something in a flier will get my attention.

 

I'm in the same boat.  I'll go there during the spring sale /rod and reel trade in.  But I usually don't end up buying much because all the good brands and colors are limited or sold out. I'd say more than half the fishing tackle is their brand. 

[Cory Doras]

Cabelas is 10 mins from my house. I go once a week just to see whats in the bargain cave. Ever since BPS bought them, its a waste of time. 

Before the BPS acquisition, I use to get 15-20% off coupons all the time. Now, nothing. 

20+ yrs ago, BPS was the place to go. Prices were good and they had the selection. Now, its a money making operation off our dimes. I do still buy things there but very little. 

[IndianaFinesse]

14 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Hmmmmmmmm......I see a pattern.  Nobody buys from BPS or buys very little from BPS.  Makes me wonder how Johnny is making all that $$???  SOMEBODY is obviously buying BPS merchandise.  {{{{insert sarcasm}}}}

 

Let's face it, y'all are not his target demographic but whoever is, makes him a very wealthy man.  

IMO, his targeted population is the inexperienced fishermen who don't realize they are getting ripped off, people who buy clothing, and non-fishermen buying gifts for fishermen.

[Bankbeater]

I usually get gift cards for my birthday and for Christmas. I’ll go to BPS to see what new merchandise they have but the only time I really buy anything from them is when I am looking for a new rod or reel. I like to hold them before I buy to see how they feel. 

[Deleted account]

On 1/18/2018 at 8:18 AM, TOXIC said:

Hmmmmmmmm......I see a pattern.  Nobody buys from BPS or buys very little from BPS.  Makes me wonder how Johnny is making all that $$???  SOMEBODY is obviously buying BPS merchandise.  {{{{insert sarcasm}}}}

 

Let's face it, y'all are not his target demographic but whoever is, makes him a very wealthy man.  

The mantra of successful sporting goods retailers is "The enthusiast is not your customer". T-shirts, huge cans of pop corn, house brand merchandise and the like s where the margins and sales are. Having to deal with the bass guys trading in the rusty Zebco 33 and coming in with his (much maligned) gift cards and CC points is just for show. 

[N Florida Mike]

The 2 closest bps stores to me are 1.5 and 2 hours away, so that limits my trips there to maybe once a year.

The first time I ever went in one (Savannah) I literally could not leave. After 2-3 hours my wife finally asked if we could please leave.

When I go there, I usually get a hat or shirt , maybe a pack of plastics. It's fun to look at all the stuff but I don't buy much.

I'm old fashioned. I can't remember ever ordering anything on line except a pair of boots once.

My local wal mart has almost everything I normally fish with anyway.

If they don't, I treat myself to the great selection at Academy or dsg.

[LonnieP]

I’ll order bigger purchases from BPS sometimes only because of the 6 pay plan they have. Everything else I order elsewhere or buy local. My closest BPS is 20 minutes from my job and they don’t even stock my favorite fishing line.

[lo n slo]

17 hours ago, reason said:

Having to deal with the bass guys trading in the rusty Zebco 33 and coming in with his (much maligned) gift cards and CC points is just for show. 

my self esteem is at an all time low ?

[MNGeorge]

On 1/18/2018 at 6:13 AM, Oregon Native said:

I have a small local tackle store that is pretty good and he will order anything I want if he can get it.  BPS isn't bad...usually out of what I want when I have the time to cruise through there though.  My biggest complaint about our BPS is the lighting in the place....wish they would have spent a little more on light bulbs.

The BPS I go to most often has the same problem. I go there to look at colors and the lighting is so poor I usually have to walk the baits over to a window to see the colors.

[Crestliner2008]

The BPS store here in MA, is right next door to the famous Fenway Park. Last time I took my son to BPS we shopped around for a bit and bought some stuff. But - on the way out, the game was getting out at the same time! Took me almost an hour to get out of the parking lot! Last time I ever went there.

 

I do frequent Cabelas (in CT) once or twice a year, usually around March or June, to use up all the gift cards I am given for Xmas, BD and Father's Day. But the prices there are just so much higher than you can get from other online retailers. I cringe when I have to pay over a buck more per bag of whatever there. It's a good place to visit to get a "hands-on" on some major items you are planning to buy; like a sonar, new outboard, or a gun you have in mind. But not a great place to buy unless you are pretty well "heeled".

[DogBone_384]

When did they build a BPS in Boston?  You mean I don't have to drive to Foxboro anymore?  YAY!

[JackDaReeler]

On 1/17/2018 at 10:00 PM, Angry John said:

Bps is a great place to go during the winter and get ideas and look at a lot of product.  I do pick up Bps brand stuff there some worms tube etc.  The kids like to go and look makes the trip a little easier 

All my bass came on BPS branded baits this past year

[OCdockskipper]

The closest BPS to me is an hour away, I go to it 1 or 2 times a year.  Typically it will be for a higher end purchase that I want to get my hands on to feel or test.  As long as the price is close, I have no problem paying a little more because BPS incurred the cost to have it there for me to do that.  I personally would feel a little chintzy if I used their store to test out the goods and then went & purchased it elsewhere.

 

All other purchases are BPS online (using gift cards & CC points), Tackle Warehouse (for resupplying baits I have used before) or a couple of local stores (for something I want today or a very small purchase).  Each of the local stores (Turners, The Longfin or Anglers Marine) are of course limited in their selection, but between the 3, they cover most of what I want.

[islandbass]

I bought my first curado bsf 201 from bps online because back then, the closest one was 1000 miles and two states away.  Now there is one that opened up a mere 20 minutes away and a Cabelas 40 minutes. I haven’t even visited the bps yet. I probably wouldn’t buy anything if I went into one anyway, because I too much stuff. When that urge comes, I think bottom line... bottom line... I might want it, but I don’t need it. Yeah, it ticks off the bait monkey but oh well.  I’m free market so I have no problem what they sell products for, bps or anyone else. Some will buy and some will not and that’s how it should be. 

[RPreeb]

12 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

When did they build a BPS in Boston?  You mean I don't have to drive to Foxboro anymore?  YAY!

Google Maps still doesn't show one closer than Foxboro. 

 

There's an REI just west of Fenway.

[Porkrind]

I do 99% of my shopping online due to living in a more rural area. Well that and I’m uncomfortable around more than a handful of people. Honestly I don’t find their selection to be that great due to the fact that I can find anything I want online and still beat their price. I understand they are a major outdoor store but I prefer smaller local places if I’m going to shop in person. 

[DogBone_384]

13 hours ago, RPreeb said:

Google Maps still doesn't show one closer than Foxboro. 

 

There's an REI just west of Fenway.

Thanks.  I live 10 miles from Fenway.  I was Crestliner's chops...  I believe he was thinking of Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play, not Fenway.  

[Lendiesel22]

I live 10 min from BP and I use it for immediate refills on plastics,terminal, or any item I want to implement next trip. Online stores are used for specific/specialty items. I can put 90% of my needs in my hands as soon as I want them. Pair that with my rewards and it is just easier/better than an online order. I bet in the last 3 years I have used 3 or 4 hundred dollars in reward points. I was going to buy those items anyway so points back on it works for me. I have 20 some bucks right now in rewards just from restocking rage baits this winter. BP has double and triple points regularly as well. Sorry other people stores suck but mine is perfect for me. My 3yo daughter loves going with me too.