Interesting experience at BPS yesterday....this ever happen to you?

[Columbia Craw]

Based on the title, I thought it was about actually finding what you were looking for.

[huZZah]

4 hours ago, Jaderose said:

One of those vacation people started walking towards me and I held up my hand and said politely, "Please do not bother me about a vacation"  She started her spiel anyway.

I live 2 hours from nearest one. Went to Dallas for a weekend with wife. 2 minutes in BPS and we left cause the girl simply would not leave us alone.  I avoid malls for the same reason. I don’t care to be chased around a store. It’s like having my extended auto warranty phone call in-person. No desire to go in another one. And I get much better prices at wal mart and online. I’ve just learned to be patient. 

[fin]

This isn't about BPS, really is it? It's about not being able to find anything you want, much less need, because you already have it all (that you can afford).

 

I've driven 20 miles round-trip to Academy, expecting to get that bait monkey fix, but after spending half an hour in the store, picking up things and then putting them back after thinking about it rationally, I've found myself leaving empty-handed. It is a weird feeling. In a way I'm proud of myself for having the restraint and not just throwing away money, but I'm also amgry for not getting a new toy.

 

You could always get into fly fishing.

[PigFarmer]

I live near Pittsburgh, PA so nearest Cabela’s is an hour away. Nearest BPS is 3.5 hours. It’s probably better this way. I spend enough dough with online retailers and a great little bait shop about 20 minutes away. 

[Log Catcher]

Many years ago We took a trip to BPS. I left without buying anything. My wife tried to call 911 and have me checked out at the hospital.

 

These days I have about everything I need so I don't buy much. The last couple of times I was in Cabelas all I bought was reel oil and grease. Our Cabelas store is one of the smaller ones and it is packed with BPS branded stuff so they don't have very much I want anyway.

[Stasher1]

BPS is about 15-20 minutes from home, but I haven't been in quite a while. I have a ton of lures and a couple rods/reels I haven't even used, so why buy more?

 

Last couple times, I went straight to the camping section and bypassed the fishing section(s) completely.

[GRiver]

Wow!! I have never had anyone approach me about a vacation thing in a BPS store…… I go to the one in Daytona Fl. I have a Bass Pro credit card and I get cash back. I just purchased a auto inflatable on my cash back. I do buy the bass pro baits, plastic and hard lures if I can’t find it any where else, and I’ve had good luck with their rod and reel combos. I ordered a fire pit from them too….. a store pick up thing, got there the box was wasted and tore open. I didn’t  want to sign for it said “ I don’t know if all the parts were there”  she pulled a razor knife out of her back pocket and said “ let’s find out”. We found the parts lost and went through everything in the box and it was all there.

I really have had good experiences  with them. 

[Luke Barnes]

I have a BPS a mile from my house so I go there quite often. I dont always but something and there's been times it was stocked and times certain things were just gone. Never the whole fishing section but like one day all jig heads were bare. Like ned heads, crappie jigs, etc.... One time the soft plastic worms were almost non existent. They carry less and less rods that's for sure. Agreed its mainly BPS. ones too. And never any sales on anything!!!!

[Bankbeater]

I'll buy a new bait to try when I get gift cards as a present.  Other than that it's just restocking items I'm low on.

[FishTank]

I stopped in BPS/Cabelas near Chicago and they had quite a few things.  It was a pretty nice store but still not the selection of things I might be looking for.  I was surprised they had about 10 different colors of Megabass Vision 110's, all the sizes of Dark Sleepers and they also had Megabass Hazdogs.   My local Cabela's has none.  When it came to rods and reels though.  They had about the same stuff.  The highest end reel they had was the Curado and the highest end rod might have been the G. Loomis E6X.   I can remember the days when they had everything from the Daiwa Steez to the Shimano Antares in stock along with a full line of rods from St. Croix and Loomis.  

[Munkin]

On 6/11/2021 at 12:47 PM, Jaderose said:

Exactly.  I was in one about a month ago killing a little time messing with gear and baits.  9am on like a Tuesday.  Probably 6 people in the whole store.  One of those vacation people started walking towards me and I held up my hand and said politely, "Please do not bother me about a vacation"  She started her spiel anyway.  I just turned around walked away from her and out the door.  Momentarily ruined what was an easy carefree morning for me.

 

Go with the Parole Officer line next time, it works.

 

Allen

[Allen Der]

I used to live in the same town as a BPS and would go in there all the time.  now I go maybe once a year to do the rod/reel trade in.

[schplurg]

My Bass Pro is still out of so many things I don't go there to browse. Need 4/0 hooks? Favorite color plastic? A rod? Fuhgedabouttit. Order it.

[Avalonjohn44]

On 6/11/2021 at 9:01 AM, Captain Phil said:

My wife and I went to the Orlando Bass Pro Shop last Saturday.  We hadn't been in a long time.  We were shocked to see all the bare shelves that had been picked clean.   There was only one or two bass boats on the floor and we were told they were not for sale. The salesman said we would need to order one and wait 12 weeks for delivery.  They had plenty of shirts and shorts.  Why even have store if there's nothing you want to buy? They should change their name.

 

I was in that same store this past Friday as well and couldn't believe it.  I had a hard time finding enough baits to round out the $50 gift card I had.  Maybe it's just a busy location?

[Bluebasser86]

I live 15 minutes from a BPS but I couldn't tell you the last time I was actually in the store. Most of the time I go it's because my boys want to look at the fish, I rarely buy anything when I go in there. 

[Captain Phil]

Bass Pro Shop started out selling fishing tackle out of a gas station.   Today, they are one of the most profitable privately held businesses in the country.   You can't get to where they are now selling Zoom worms.    I have never had a problem ordering anything from them on-line.  Their stores are something nice to do on a lazy afternoon.  I like their outdoor clothes.  Their prices are decent.   The Orlando store has the worst managed inventory in the country.  They are always out of everything you need.  If I need fishing tackle, I go to my neighborhood tackle shop.  

[LrgmouthShad]

On 6/11/2021 at 10:01 AM, TnRiver46 said:

If I go into bass pro, I get zoom dead ringers and a white bucktail for making jigs no matter what. Some things you can’t have enough of 

(Also they always have those two things while some other stores don’t) 

Really they have white buck tail? Not the craft stuff either?

[J Francho]

I never leave a BPS without raspberry gummies. So good. 

[FishinBuck07]

BPS, yeah I have walked out of there many times without buying tackle.  The tackle store I shop at here near my house, no never!  haha.  

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Really they have white buck tail? Not the craft stuff either?

It smells authentic, You can find it in the fly fishing section

[Derek1]

They usually have all the plastics I use. Works out well for the couple of gift cards I get every year. Last two trips shelves are bare of anything I’m looking for. My problem is I just drove 45 mins to get there and end up buying just some random stuff. 

[TREX1]

Between the grumpy guys in the fishing section, the poor selection and the high prices I only stop by every 6 months or so only to walk out empty handed.

 

They are getting worn out by online stores

 

Just ordered 2 Kaden rods on sale

[detroit1]

I go once a year, to use the gift cards i get. Maybe a sack or 2 of soft plastics or some hooks, but usually just buy line.

[QED]

I love the San Jose BPS.  Most of the mom and pop bait and tackle shops as well as the local gun stores have gone belly up, so BPS is one of the few places where one can actually handle gear of interest before making a buying decision.  Also, before the great reloading component shortage, they had a pretty good stock of popular powders, like H4350.