Dick's Sporting Goods what are they thinking

[HookInMouth]

Cabelas is a 2 hour drive for me and Bass Pro Shops a 3 hour drive. There are a couple very small shops around here that I haven't checked out in a while because they were so small. Other than that, it's order online for me I guess. 

[Crestliner2008]

Hard to believe, but you can all but say goodby to all the brick & mortar stores as far as fishing & hunting equipment goes.  When I use to attend the Sportsman's Show at the Eastern States Exposition grounds, we use to go to Dick's right after. They'd always have loads of gear on sale. No longer I guess.

[GReb]

Im surprised to see so many of you don’t have access to Academy. I figured they had expanded everywhere by now. 

[MN Fisher]

Closest to me is 440 miles - Overland Park, KS.

[HookInMouth]

Yeah I'm in Pittsburgh area. I think Kentucky is the closest Academy? Can't remember. 

[J Francho]

Lol...
 

Quote

Sorry! There are no stores within 250 miles.

 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Crestliner2008 said:

Hard to believe, but you can all but say goodby to all the brick & mortar stores as far as fishing & hunting equipment goes.  When I use to attend the Sportsman's Show at the Eastern States Exposition grounds, we use to go to Dick's right after. They'd always have loads of gear on sale. No longer I guess.

I live close to 2 DSG (one has fishing stuff one doesn't), academy sports, too many wal marts to count, two locations of a mom and pop store called c and c outdoors, edgemoor outdoors, McKee outdoors, 4 live bait/tackle stores near 4 different dams and probably some  I'm forgetting and some I've never heard of. Brick and mortar is alive and well in East Tennessee. I think about the only thing I've bought from the internet is replacement worm gears for my round Abu Garcias and some vibrating jigs from @Bluebasser86 (that flat out catch em)

[J Francho]

In some ways, online ordering has opened the door to niche B&M stores.  I've already seen it in some categories.  I could see the same with fishing gear.

[Mobasser]

Our Academy is about 20min from our house. They blow Dicks out of the water on prices, selection, and service.

[Log Catcher]

The Academy closest to me is near Louisville, Ky. about 75 miles away.

[billmac]

No DSGs near me but I was in one in Poughkeepsie NY and it seemed to have a full fishing section.  I have a Runnings near me and that has a very good fishing section, if a little pricey.

 

For an area that contains (according to Bassmaster) the best bass fishing water in the country, we have very few places besides Walmart to purchase fishing tackle.

[Boomstick]

Wow! My local stores do not have the greatest selection and has discontinued selling some of my favorite line as well, but I hope they don't stop carrying fishing gear altogether. That said, my local store seems to stock up every spring and buy late June the fishing section is cleared out for the year, even for basic things like hooks and weights.

 

I must admit, I am a TackleWarehouse fanboy, they have almost everything. There are a few local stores I can get things like hooks and whatnot at and the people who work there are also helpful should I have questions as well but they're not open at hours I can always get there.

[N Florida Mike]

I used to love the dsg near me when it was new. The fishing and hunting area was great. It still is the only place I can find 4 inch senkos. I haven’t been there in a year or so now , and hadn’t heard about their gun stance until I read it on here. I had about quit going there anyway.When Academy opened up 15 -20 minutes Away , I started going there mostly. Love It ! The second closest wal mart also has a decent fishing section that is run by a friend that bass fishes, so it’s better than average. There are a few mom/pop stores left. The one I like best is Green Acres SG. It’s near my church around 1/2 hr  away. They have more hunting than fishing stuff, but they carry a LOT of zoom baits which I love. A little pricey but worth it for the selection.

 

We’ve heard for several years that BPS is supposed to be opening a store around 20- 25 minutes from me - not sure what’s taking so long.

[txchaser]

Our local shop is pretty good, guys in there actually know what they are talking about. 

 

We have all of dicks/academy/cabelas (2)/bass pro.

 

I can't see any reason to ever go to bass pro or cabelas for fishing gear ever again. Frankly the in-store experience is about as bad as their web sites. Shopping online I don't wander three isles looking for something, I find it in a couple of clicks. And being able to cruise bestselling and new arrivals is really useful too. Likely to have every size and color. Five bucks for two-day shipping? That's less than the cost of the gas. And  if it is urgent I'd rather give it to the local guy anyway. 

 

The only problem with online for me is that it's too easy. Monkey doesn't even have to get me out of the chair. 

 

And yes I'd overpay on Amazon before I give the Dicks any money. You don't have to sell any particular category, that's fine by me, but I don't have to shop there when you make a scene about it either. 

 

ps If you are in north texas, Academy's outlet is around here. I have no idea how they decide what goes there - I went there accidentally as it used to be a regular academy. Last time I went there were piles of owner hooks, larew baits, lake fork ring frys, zoom trick worms, and booyah frogs... in good colors. Much of it for less than a buck a bag. /shrug

 

[JediAmoeba]

I just mapped the closest Academy - 507 miles or 7 hours and 57 minutes of driving.  With tolls

[Spankey]

On 1/22/2020 at 6:32 PM, The Bassman said:

Dick's has always been a letdown to me here in Indy since they bought our local sg retailer, Galyans back in '03 or '04. Galyan's was an institution around here that really catered to the outdoorsman.

I had gotten to Galyans on a few occasions when I'd get down to Virginia. Nothing like that was at my finger tips at home. Was able to pick up many things I couldn't get at home. Would shake my head and say this wasn't fair. I don't live in the bass mecca of the country. Things will be limited and only be what they are for me.

 

There is only one true mom and pop shop in my area, they've been there since the 50's, true family run since than. They are a pleasure to do business with. I use them as much as possible. My grandsons love it there. Hope they can keep it going for them.

 

There was a pop shop (not sure of any mom) in my area that many of the locals including myself did not patronize very much. Guy had an attitude and possessed no people skills what so ever. He sold out to a young guy who is giving it heck. He's doing good and turning that place around. It's a bit of a pleasure to go there now. Pick up a few things, share some fishing tips, order in what you want, share a few pics. Things are looking up there. Word on the street is locals are liking it a lot better. 

 

Owning a tackle shop is a tough business. Location means everything. Internet doesn't help. Maybe have on-line ordering. Have a decent web site. Have to have good hours. Have to have hours that revolve around fishing. Have good live bait selection. This is what most guys complain about in my area. It doesn't really affect me but I can see where people are coming from. I grew up trout fishing at a pretty young age and hammered all the trout streams in the tri-county area. And still do. I remember being in quite a few bait and tackle shops that are no longer around. Different time, different way of life than.

[Tlauz]

I have a Cabelas 15 minutes away. I always try to load up when I find a sale (clearance bins).  Since the merger with BPS they carry a lot more bass tackle. Since 95% of the people in this area fish for walleye, the selection does not really match the market. Last year it was KVD jerkbaits for $1.88 and Zman plastic worms for $.99 

[tander]

Went to my local Dicks last night, no more fishing section. Hardly

anyone in there. 

[moguy1973]

On 1/22/2020 at 10:44 AM, kjfishman said:

Dick's Sporting Goods what are they thinking? First AR's now they quit selling fishing gear in retail stores! Ask an employee if that was just the Wentzville MO store and he said was the whole region. He went on to say well you can order online. I have no reason to go to any of their stores again.

It's kind of sad.  The one at West County Mall used to have a pretty good sized fishing section at the top of the main escalator going to the 2nd floor.  Go up there and it was right in your face.  They had some pretty good deals from time to time and their selection was pretty good too.  Then they moved it over on the other side of the second floor opposite the escalator on the other side of the hunting stuff.  Went from about 5 aisles to 3, and I'm guessing, now to none.  Oh well.  Academy is just down the road and isn't in that horrible mall.

[Harold Scoggins]

21 hours ago, GReb said:

Im surprised to see so many of you don’t have access to Academy. I figured they had expanded everywhere by now. 

When the weather is nice, I ride my bike to Academy. Just under 2 miles. 

[Spankey]

There are 4 DICK'S in close proximity to me. 15 - 30 min. drive. Just have not been to one in awhile. I take it this is going to take place at all DICK'S? Guns and ammo have been a recent issue with them. As Sportsmen they deserve to be boycotted. Which I have. But I'm not going to push my views in that. To each his own. If that's a direction they want to go with their stores I'm fine with it. I hunt and shoot sporting clays also. So this establishment is not geared to me for support anymore.  

[moguy1973]

22 hours ago, GReb said:

Im surprised to see so many of you don’t have access to Academy. I figured they had expanded everywhere by now. 

They've just recently expanded north into Missouri.  Prior to a couple years ago the closest ones were Springfield and Joplin MO.  Other than that, they were mainly spread throughout the southeast parts of the country.

[billmac]

Looks like the nearest Academy is about 900 miles, so I guess I'm stuck with Runnings and Walmart.  And online.

 

You know, when it comes right down to it, other than looking through the bargain bins, I don't really find browsing a fishing section that productive.  I find it a little overwhelming sometimes.  I think I prefer just picking the stuff out online.  That is certainly true for rods and reels.  I find the brick and mortar stores seldom have exactly what I'm looking for.

[Abby]

I only shop Dicks online as they will have some deals on baits. Hate going into either of the stores around here. I do like Academy for online deals also, love their h2o cranks.

[Russ E]

Dicks around here has always been limited and overpriced  for hunting and fishing supplies.

A lot of the workers were also rude.

occasionally you could get a good deal on closeout items.

Since the latest changes, I have no reason to visit.

 

This time of year I make a few tackle runs to Academy, Scheels,  and Bass pro/ Cabelas. 

They can all have a few deals on closeouts.

 

I did notice Bass Pro and Cabelas are a little stingy this year on the deals.

Some of the old model reels are still at full price. and the pro qualifier sale is quite a bit more expensive compared to last year.