Buying From Small Shops vs Big Shops

[KSanford33]

I usually try to support the small privateers as much as I can, so I'm curious as to everyone else's approach.

 

I've bought products from @Siebert Outdoors as well as working out a deal with @PourMyOwn for some hand poured plastics and both products exceeded my expectations.

[PaulVE64]

I go to a fly shop here on my city that is cash only.

No website, no cash register  and no phone.

The owner is near 90 and I love this shop.

[Log Catcher]

I try to support small shops as much as possible. Sometimes you have to go to a bigger shop to get what you're looking for.

[gim]

8 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

Sometimes you have to go to a bigger shop to get what you're looking for.

I honestly don’t remember the last time a small shop had what I was looking for, so I have to visit and buy from the big shops.

[WRB]

Put yourself in the small business shoes, the decision is easy.

Inventory isn’t on hand for you to check out and buy it cheaper on line after touch and feeling it. The mom & pop shop who are dedicated to supporting the local fisherman by borrowing money to have on hand stock to sell, so buy it!

Tom

[Junk Fisherman]

I buy between 95% and 99% of my tackle online or at winter fishing shows.

[GreenPig]

The only local small bait/lure shop around here is right up from the lake and is too high. I'd pay 10 - 15% more but he's 45 - 55% over regular price so .....      

[MidwestBassAttack]

I love supporting the small shops. Here in the Chicago area and suburbs we have quite a few “boutique” tackle shops all while having a Cabela’s, and two Bass Pro Shops all within a 50 mile radius.

 

The smaller shops are more personable and if you become a regular, they will always knock off a few bucks for you. It’s that small personalized service such as knowing your name, stocking some of your personal favorites, or ordering something special. The big box stores are hit and miss but the smaller ones are consistent and special.

 

Anglers International, Lee’s Bait and Tackle, Fishing Connection, Angler’s Outlet, and Angelo’s are my absolute favorites and I will happily give them all my business over a big box store any day!

[PressuredFishing]

Small places don't carry as much, it's good to support them in the beginning but now I really fish niche baits, colors, tackle equiptment, etc that even many online retailers don't carry like TW.  Plus bigger online retailers have bigger sales. 

 

P.S (online shopping is also alot less overwhelming of a experience expecially with strides in shipping speed and cost over the past 40 years.)

[WRB]

6 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

Small places don't carry as much, it's good to support them in the beginning but now I really fish niche baits, colors, tackle equiptment, etc that even many online retailers don't carry like TW.  Plus bigger online retailers have bigger sales. 

 

P.S (online shopping is also alot less overwhelming of a experience expecially with strides in shipping speed and cost over the past 40 years.)

You have Last Chance Tackle within 20 miles!

Tom

[casts_by_fly]

My grandmother owned a bait show in her basement for as long as I was a kid and she was alive. My dad did the inventory and ordering. She ran the shop. He picked worms in the spring for hours and nights on end and I ‘helped’ sometimes. He had a pair of wooden boxes that were 2’x18”x12” deep and I know of some all nighters where he’d fill both on a Friday night after working all day. He’s get in to grandmas as she was waking up, around 4-5 am. I’d usually be sleeping in the truck if it was a night I got to go.

 

My dad would keep a good inventory on of powerbait (or zeke’s before powerbait came

out), rooster tails, hooks and sinkers, some carp bait for the river, and plenty of worms. That’s what sold so that’s what they stocked. My dad was a bass fisherman but he still ordered from Bass pro and others. 
 

Id love to have a local shop that stocked tackle warehouse’s goods. I’m lucky that I have some shops that carry bait for when I take a kid fishing. 

[PressuredFishing]

49 minutes ago, WRB said:

You have Last Chance Tackle within 20 miles

Yeah big news! Hearing good things about it

[Woody B]

I "will" buy some stuff from Academy but I get most of my stuff from 2 local shops.   The Bass Shack is in Shelby NC is a small shop.  They've got a decent selection and competitive pricing.  The Great Outdoors is in Cherryville NC.  It's not just fishing stuff but pretty much anything outdoors.  They sell guns, hunting stuff,  outdoor clothes ect.   They also sell and service boats.   They've got EVERYTHING you could want for bass fishing.   I know the owner, but I think Bass Fishing Hall of Fame member Guy Eaker is part owner too.  I see him there a bunch.  (He's a friend of mines Uncle.  I've known Guy for 50 years)   I've also seen Bill Dance there a couple times as well as several younger guys dress up like professional bass fishermen.  (sponsor clothing).    They got my trolling motor for me, at a decent price back when they were on intergalactic back order.  

 

It's convenient to pick out and order stuff online but I enjoy visiting these places when I have time.  

 

I've also bought stuff online a couple times from Tackle Warehouse, Anglers Headquarters and BPS.   

 

Added: The problem for me with both these stores is they're closed by the time I get home from work.  The only time I can go is on Saturday and I'm usually fishing.  

[Mike L]

I’m at the point now that I rarely try something new. 
I know what I like and what works for me in the conditions and waters I frequent, so most times I just buy on line. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[gim]

Most of the smaller tackle retailers here are bait shops.  Live bait is their primary seller, not tackle.  That's mostly because the primary target is walleye or panfish, and a lot of anglers targeting them them use live bait.  I don't hardly ever use live bait, so there's really no reason for me to go in there regularly.  They make a killing off ice anglers in the winter.  All those guys stop in there for bait, drinks, a snack, etc.  I've seen 15 people in line for that stuff on a Saturday afternoon in February.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

Most of the smaller tackle retailers here are bait shops.

And most of them around Tonka are in the back corner of convenience stores.

 

Though I will admit - the BP at 15 and Interlachen is pretty good - they actually have tanked minnows instead of the bagged ones the Speedway has.

[Junk Fisherman]

8 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Most of the smaller tackle retailers here are bait shops.  Live bait is their primary seller, not tackle.  That's mostly because the primary target is walleye or panfish, and a lot of them use live bait.  I don't hardly ever use live bait, so there's really no reason for me to go in there regularly.  They make a killing of ice anglers in the winter.  All those guys stop in there for bait, drinks, a snack, etc.  I've seen 15 people in line for that stuff on a Saturday afternoon in February.

 

I worked at a local shop and it was the same deal.  Their bread and butter was bait and putting line on reels.  Hard baits, reels, and electronics made little money.  Rods and terminal tackle were more profitable.  To this day, they have fair prices and a decent selection but if you watch the online sales and buy in bulk, you can save quite a bit.   

[gim]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

And most of them around Tonka are in the back corner of convenience stores.

 

Though I will admit - the BP at 15 and Interlachen is pretty good - they actually have tanked minnows instead of the bagged ones the Speedway has.

Yes, that's accurate.  I was specifically referring to Wayzata Bait & Tackle but sadly I think they are done at that location and don't intend to start over elsewhere.

[Spankey]

Not all the “Mom and Pops” are created equal.  Inventory or lack there of, quality, and brands they stock have a lot to be desired. 
 

I’m fortunate to have two fairly close that have a decent selection or quality rods and reels. These are two things I’d rather not buy sight unseen. I have no problems buying from them and after all these years of that’s all I buy from them they must know I’m not all that interested in their bait selection. 
 

My baits I’d sooner buy from a full line dealer. 

[Zcoker]

It's just like all the rest of the small brick and mortars, a thing of the past. Internet sales are vast in comparison to these places. Most of the small shops that are still holding on down here in south Florida thrive on bait sales, mainly on the salty side. The rest of their inventory is next to nothing for fresh water fishing. They just don't have on hand a great selection to choose from and, if they did, the prices are way out there. Many of their other services like rod or reel repair they don't even offer anymore. I certainly don't mind supporting these places and all that jazz but if I need something tackle specific, I just hit a D's Sporting Goods or a Bass Pro Shop else just order it online. 

[Darth-Baiter]

I am looking for two things.  inventory and pricing.  regular pricing.  

 

there are some tiny shops near the Delta and Clearlake that jack up prices due to proximity.  no thanks.  I pre plan so I never go to water with that "oh crap, I forgot my Senkos" thought that would force me to pay the exorbitant pricing. 

 

I dont have any favorites..but I am not driving from shop to shop looking for what I want.  inventory and pricing.  sadly the internet stores fill that role the best. 

[Spankey]

19 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Most of the smaller tackle retailers here are bait shops.  Live bait is their primary seller, not tackle.  That's mostly because the primary target is walleye or panfish, and a lot of them use live bait.  I don't hardly ever use live bait, so there's really no reason for me to go in there regularly.  They make a killing of ice anglers in the winter.  All those guys stop in there for bait, drinks, a snack, etc.  I've seen 15 people in line for that stuff on a Saturday afternoon in February.

Much like many here in PA. Not like bass fishing means nothing to them. They realize bass guys can get specific with their wants and they do realize the outlets for bass fisherman for items they desire. Hard to inventory all that stuff. 
 

Out here in PA if there are trout streams in the proximity, trout items have to be their top priority. Having the full scale of items keeps those places hopping. Baits and supplies for catfish, panfish and carp has to be next. 
 

I don’t think any local bait-shop really cares that I successfully smallie fish with Rapala Shad Raps and DT’s and whatever with. They don’t have anything there to sell me. Use to have a great selection of Zoom and Berkley baits there. Decent crankbait selection for local fishing. I guess those two great companies went out of business (not). I see they like to stock some trendy baits, not selling any. They try to tell you how great they are. Looking for a bite. Flavor of the month baits. I’m not gonna tell the bait shop what I successful use or give them any insight for river smallies. They should be serving me up some info. They can’t, they don’t even know the river. The lesser people I see on the river the more I like it. 

[Bluebasser86]

I like small shops, but they're hard to find around here. Last time I checked one out, selection was limited and what they had was WAY overpriced, like $9 for a Bandit crank and $6 for a pack of Zman plastics. 

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

I worked at a local shop and it was the same deal.  Their bread and butter was bait and putting line on reels.  Hard baits, reels, and electronics made little money.  Rods and terminal tackle were more profitable.  To this day, they have fair prices and a decent selection but if you watch the online sales and buy in bulk, you can save quite a bit.   

I sort of miss what some of what you guys have on a local scale. My area is not a bass Mecca of the country but we did have a few decent shop in the area.
 

There were two shops here in the Allentown area that were fantastic. Not identical by any means but both were geared toward trout, bass and the live bait supplies. Full scale. Not small holes in the walls. Both were full line dealers of rods, reels and tackle manufacturers. 
 

One bailed out and closed up shop right before Cabela’s opened up. The other shortly after Cabela’s opened. They got scared. Had to be because Cabela’s didn’t put either out. This was years back but both could still be open today. I think they had loyal customers and as a customer I thought they were fair and knowledgeable on what they were selling. I have not had a real tackle shop since. 
 

 

[volzfan59]

Personally, even though I do a ton of mail order business with BPS, I love a mom and pop tackle shop. When I was living at home, I supported all the Knoxville, TN area shops and the Kodak, TN BPS.

 

Now that I live in southern Arkansas, the closest mom and pop tackle shops are a minimum of 45 miles away. The one I like best is a 60 mile drive. When I'm in Monroe, LA or El Dorado, AR I always stop by the shops and will pick up a few things but I usually order from BPS or Academy.